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About the Nautical Salute Program

The journey home from military service is often far more challenging than the journey into it. For many veterans, the battles do not end when they leave the field; they continue in the mind and spirit.

While the uniforms are stored away, and the medals are displayed on shelves, the invisible wounds of war—PTSD, depression, anxiety, and the profound sense of isolation—can linger for years.

Navigating civilian life after service can feel like being adrift at sea with no clear course. Nautical Salute offers a compass to help these heroes find their way back to peace, connection, and purpose.

At the heart of Nautical Salute is Shawn Hibbard, a combat Army veteran who intimately understands these struggles.
After serving in Afghanistan and experiencing the difficulties of reintegration firsthand, Shawn found solace and healing in an unexpected place: the water. His vision for Nautical Salute is born from a deep desire to help fellow veterans reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with the natural world.

Through therapeutic boat excursions, Shawn and his team provide veterans with an opportunity to step away from their daily challenges and immerse themselves in an environment that promotes healing, camaraderie, and reflection.

This book, Nautical Salute: A Therapeutic Approach to Honoring Our Heroes, is a guide to understanding the power of water-based therapy and how it can offer veterans a new way forward. It explores the science, stories, and strategies behind Nautical Salute and demonstrates how the simple yet profound act of being on the water can heal deep emotional wounds.

Whether you are a veteran, a family member, a mental health professional, or someone who supports the veteran community, this book will illuminate the path to healing through the transformative experience of nautical therapy.

The Vision of Nautical Salute

Shawn Hibbard's personal journey of healing through water inspired the creation of Nautical Salute. As a combat Army veteran, Shawn knows firsthand the weight of trauma and the struggle to find peace. After returning from service, he experienced the debilitating effects of PTSD and the overwhelming sense of isolation that often accompanies it.

Traditional therapy methods were helpful, but something was missing. It was on the water—surrounded by the rhythmic waves, the expansive sky, and the soothing sounds of nature—that Shawn found a sense of calm and clarity that had eluded him for so long.

Recognizing the transformative power of these experiences, Shawn set out to create a program that would bring this healing to other veterans. Nautical Salute was born from a desire to honor, heal, and reconnect those who have served.

Through guided boat excursions, veterans are given the opportunity to leave behind the pressures of daily life and immerse themselves in a setting that promotes relaxation, reflection, and connection. These trips are more than just boat rides; they are therapeutic experiences that offer veterans a chance to heal, bond, and rediscover a sense of purpose.

The Author

His military career is marked by excellence and bravery. In 2003, Shawn attended Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) School and completed Sniper School that same year. He deployed to Afghanistan two times — from 2004 to 2005 and again in 2009. Then he served a six-month deployment to the United States Pentagon.

His valor in combat earned him the prestigious Bronze Star Medal with Valor in 2009 for his actions in Afghanistan. In 2012, his dedication and heroism were recognized when he was selected as a Hero Soldier for the U.S. Army All-American Football Team.

After 22 years of Honorable service, Shawn retired from the Army in 2018.