By Cory Lehr, United States Air Force Veteran and Achieve Tahoe Participant

My name is Cory Lehr. I served in the United States Air Force from 2010 to 2016 as a C-130 loadmaster. I’ve had the privilege of participating in missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in humanitarian and search and rescue operations across the country.

I first heard about Achieve Tahoe through the Reno VA Hospital, when I participated in a ski day at Northstar last winter. Things in my life weren’t going so well but having the support of Josephine from Achieve Tahoe made a significant difference. That day on snow helped me reignite a passion I had recently drifted away from. Even though I’ve spent my entire life skiing and living in the mountains, that day was not about ski instruction – it was about skiing with someone who truly cared about how I was doing. Participating with Achieve Tahoe helped me re-find the joy in the activities I grew up doing that I had forgotten about after the military.

Since participating at Achieve Tahoe, I’ve started working as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist and Operations Supervisor at The Differents, a residential addiction treatment center in South Reno. I help facilitate recreational activities and empower clients to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in their own recovery paths. When I learned that Achieve Tahoe was offering a free American Canoe Association (ACA) Instructor Certification for people who teach veterans with disabilities, I signed up; I knew it was my next step in helping others rediscover recreation as I had.

During the course, the days spent on Lake Tahoe were long, but the experience was amazing. One of the things I remember most is an Achieve Tahoe staff member giggling as I attempted to rescue her during one of our practice exercises. Even though the course material was serious, we all managed to have a lot of fun along the way. The skills I learned during the ACA certification course not only helped improve my own kayak knowledge but also provided the skills to share my new knowledge with others. With the certification, I plan to hold courses for other veterans who are in recovery or have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.