Meet Zach Collett — 2017 Veteran
Zach Collett was born and raised in a small town in Ohio. He joined the U.S. Army fresh out of high school as an Airborne Military Police Officer. He was assigned to the 16th MP Brigade, 108th MP Company Airborne/Air Assault out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Zach deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi freedom where he spent a total of 28 months deployed from 2003 to 2006. During his deployments Zach was exposed to multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D.s) and responded to numerous severe casualty incidents while serving as the combat lifesaver. During his second deployment he also suffered a severe back and neck injury resulting in multiple surgeries. Zach was medically retired as a Staff Sergeant in 2010.
Zach struggled through the next 10 years fighting alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, unemployment, depression and a suicide attempt. Two aspects of his life were very important to him: the game of golf and his family. When he finally realized how important both were to him, he began to get better through the therapeutic use of golf.
His wife also started to see it and to this day she urges him to go out and practice or play when he is having a bad day or when she simply wants to see him smile. Zach has always been an athletic individual. He enjoys sports such as mountain biking, weightlifting and shooting as other holistic therapeutic outlets.
Zach is heavily involved in advocating for veterans with PTS and TBI. He serves as the Veteran Golfers Association's Executive Director for Ohio. Zach continues to be involved with the George W. Bush Institute after taking part in the Warrior 100K Mountain Bike Ride and the Warrior Open. Most recently Zach had the great honor to be featured in President Bush's newest book, "Portraits of Courage".
~~~~~~~ ### ~~~~~~~
Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
