They’re always the first on scene โ trained to run toward danger, remain calm in chaos and help others through the worst moments of their lives. But what happens when those moments leave a lasting mark on them?
A first-of-its-kind program based in Fort Worth is helping first responders do something they rarely get to do โ slow down, step away and begin to heal. The program is called R3: Respond, Restore, Resolve, and it’s quietly transforming the way departments support the mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of their first responders. Established by the American Warrior Association, R3 offers a powerful new approach to a growing problem: the emotional and moral toll that often comes with a career in emergency response.
“We see everybody’s worst day,” said Fort Worth Fire Department Chaplain Cliff Weaver. “We don’t get called when something good is happening; it’s always the worst-case scenario.” Rather than waiting until a responder reaches a breaking point, R3 takes a proactive approach, offering participants paid time away from the job to decompress. Not at a clinic or office, but on a mountaintop retreat.
