We Are Outdoor Valor

Every day, we lose 22 veterans to suicide. Too many of our brothers and sisters come home from war only to fight an invisible battle alone. We refuse to stand by and watch.

In 2016, our founder, Matt Schwanke—a 100%
disabled Iraq War veteran—discovered firsthand how the outdoors could be a
lifeline. Struggling with PTSD and the weight of his service, he found peace in
offshore fishing, hunting, and long-range shooting. It gave him purpose, a way
to breathe again.

That summer, while on a trip to the Florida
Keys, Matt invited other veterans to join him on the water. Something powerful
happened—through fishing, they talked, they laughed, they healed. That’s when
he knew this was bigger than just a hobby. It was a mission.

At Outdoor Valor, we fight for our veterans the best way we know how—by giving them an escape, a community, and a reason to keep going.

We focus on peer-to-peer therapy, bringing
veterans together in a space where they don’t have to explain themselves—where
they just belong.

Most of our vets return for multiple trips, finding strength not just in the ocean, but in
each other. We prioritize those with combat-related PTSD, but we welcome

all veterans who need this.

No red tape. No invasive questions. No proving you’re "hurt enough."

If you served, you’ve earned this. Show us your DD214 or active military ID,
and you’re on the boat.

You are not alone. The fight isn’t over. Come fish with us.

Our Team:

Executive Director and Founder/ Boat Captain: Matt Schwanke . US Army Tanker OIF 05 Vet.

President: Brien Weidemiller, USMC and founder of Weide Automotive

Vice President and Founder: Dr. Larry Schwanke is a Doctor of Chiropractic and practices in Ocala, FL at Back to Basic's Chiropractic. He has been in practice since 2000 and is also currently serving as the first mate for the Atlantic operations on the weekends.

Treasurer: Lori Porter, owner of S&P Accounting

Secretary and Founder: Kate Schwanke is a certified school teacher for Marion County Schools and teaches 2nd grade. Kate keeps books and holds all of our float plans back on land for the USCG while we are off shore while plotting our movements via GPS trackers.

Chaplin: Matthew Flint