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Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd, and his father, bonded with military veterans at retreat
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd, and his father, bonded with military veterans at retreat
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd has been surrounded by the military and its culture of service and duty since birth: his parents, Joe and Ronyta Johnson , are both Navy veterans.
That's why Lloyd has always jumped at the chance to help military- and veteran-related charities and organizations, and when you can have a little fun in a scenic part of the Pacific Northwest, well, that's a bonus.
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Lloyd and his father Joe spent five days in June at a Project Odyssey retreat at a small hotel in Bend, Ore., with around a dozen veterans involved in the Wounded Warrior Project , the Jacksonville-based veterans service organization that assists with the "well-being" of post-9/11 wounded, ill and injured veterans, active-duty personnel and their families.
Project Odyssey was launched by the Wounded Warrior Project in 2007 to address mental health among veterans. The 12-week program helps them deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression to overcome what WWP describes as "unseen wounds."
Devin Lloyd said wounds take many forms
"It doesn't have to be just about being wounded in battle," Lloyd explained. "It can be physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally or all of those things combined. Our wounded warriors are not alone in this. [Project Odyssey] does a great job of connecting people together. We're all human. We're all in this thing together."
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Over the five-day period in Bend, around a dozen veterans, Lloyd and his father, plus Atlanta Falcons defensive end Morgan Fox and his father Joe Fox (a Project Odyssey regional director) went rafting on the nearby Deschutes River, mountain biking and hiking as team-building activities, and also learned coping and communications skills.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (back row, second from the left) and his father Joe Lloyd (back row, first from the left) participated in a Project Odyssey retreat in Bend, Ore., in June. The retreats, for veterans with mental health issues, was sponsored by the Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project. Provided by Wounded Warrior Project
While the Project Odyssey retreats call upon the veterans to test their physical limitations in some ways, there's a relaxed side to the program. During one afternoon in Bend, the veterans were handed inner tubes and drifted slowly down a stream, taking the time to slow down and commune with nature.
Evenings included sessions around a fire pit. One included the veterans and two NFL football players making S'mores.
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"We'd tell stories, play card games, and just get to know each other," Lloyd said. "There is a community aspect to it, uniting people who have had shared experiences in the military. It was understanding that we're all connected."
Project Odyssey retreats can involve couples, families
Project Odyssey retreats can be all-male, all-female, or coed situations, such as the one Lloyd and his father attended in Oregon. They have been held across the nation at all times of year, and there is a couples retreat being held later this month in Vilano Beach for veterans and their spouses.
Other retreats have included couples and their children. Accommodations, meals, activities and travel costs are borne by the Wounded Warrior Project.
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For information on Project Odyssey or Wounded Warriors, visit woundedwarriorproject.org . Veterans who want to be a part of a future Project Odyssey retreat must first register with WWP.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd talks with veterans during a Wounded Warrior Project "Project Odyssey" retreat last June in Bend, Ore. The retreats help veterans cope with issues such as PTSD. Provided by Wounded Warrior Project
Devin Lloyd is an avid supporter of military organizations
Lloyd said being brought up in a military family has served him well in college football and Utah and with the Jaguars, since many of the principles of being in the military also apply to his chosen profession.
"Military people are wired in a way that there's a lot of discipline, a certain mindset," he said during a 2023 interview. "The biggest thing is holding yourself accountable and putting your country ahead of yourself, like putting a team ahead of yourself."
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Lloyd has visited the area's naval bases and hosted youth football camps for military dependent children at Naval Station Mayport and Fort Stewart in Georgia. He has represented the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO on his cleats during the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign.
His parents were the Jaguars' "Veterans of the Game" in 2023 for a home game against San Francisco.
"They served our country proudly and I think it's special that this organization would give them that special moment they will remember the rest of their lives," Lloyd said at the time of the honor the team gave his parents. "I'm thankful for not only my parents but for everyone who served."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars Devin Lloyd, father, bonded with Wounded Warriors
