Army veteran prepares for rookie run in Iditarod

Among the many dog mushers set to take on the Iditarod March 3 is a rookie musher who also has the unique distinction of being the only military veteran to run the race this year.

“As a rookie to the Iditarod this year my goal is to complete the race and inspire others to try new things and not be afraid of failure. I look forward to wearing my patriotic parka to represent the veteran community and honor those who fought for this country," says Joshua Robbins of his rookie run in the 2024 Iditarod.

Robbins, who now calls Willow home, served in the US Army from 2003 until 2014, first as an infantryman, then later as a long-range marksman instructor, with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a sniper squad leader throughout his enlistments.

After the Army sent him to Alaska in 2010, he completed his tour, and like many veterans, when he got out, he decided to stay, although unsure of which side of the highway he wanted to call home-Willow or Glennallen. It came down to an ad he saw for a cabin with an eye-catching tagline “Dogs Rule, Cats Drool.”

“I knew I had to reach out. This sounded fun, sounded like an adventure-cut your own wood, plow your own driveway, and enough electricity to run a light,” he says with a hearty laugh of the rugged cabin. There was also the bonus of having the Mackey’s dogs training above his cabin, which gave him his first taste working with the dogs and learning about mushing.

“The dogs didn’t know me, but after a while, I would come in the driveway and they would howl, it was so cool,” he says about the time at the cabin, getting to know the dogs and learning the ropes.

“I never knew what to expect when I first got on the runners, but I would call it a magical experience. It just made sense. These guys (the dogs) give you 110%.”

Robbins is also a huge advocate for veterans struggling with mental health issues, starting Outreach22 in July 2021 as a project to bring hope and emotional support to those with mental health struggles. It gives him the opportunity to take everything he learned while dealing with his own mental health issues during his time in the military and apply it and show others healing is possible.

“I think it took its toll after my first deployment, but I was just in denial. You can’t look weak or unreliable, so it was all about doing my job,” Robbins says.

“I re-deployed back to Afghanistan and was pretty much under the radar, still able to perform, do my duties,” he says, acknowledging that life seemed much easier over there, that it felt more like home on deployment than back home.

He didn’t know at the time what was happening to him, only knowing that he once was “into everything” that included snow machining, trapping, anything outdoors, and that something had changed, the things he loved to do had lost their appeal.

“You were not going to catch me sitting down. But when I hit the bottom, I was going through the motions, not having fun anymore,” he said. Not long after, Robbins says he recognized that he had hit a wall with his own mental health struggles and sought out different treatment options.

“I was feeling good for a while, until I wasn’t feeling good at all. In fact, I hit rock bottom. My mind was not in a good place from experiencing war and I made the decision to get help.”

He tried medications and different things, and there were some people that less than what he needed. But he persisted and finally found what worked for him.

“In 2013, I went to a treatment facility where they helped me to better understand my thoughts, emotions, and practice healthy coping mechanisms. After 11 weeks of therapy I was released and ready to transition from war to civilian life.”

A huge part of Outreach22 is the dog team, which currently consists of 22 Alaskan huskies, and a few he acquired from other dog mushers, and some that aren’t competing anymore, but all of them show nothing but happiness and love.

“Josh’s Iditarod team this year consists of dogs purchased from other teams… dogs that Josh was willing to give a chance, train, so that they could grow and learn together. He accepted the challenge to develop the dogs and it’s been 2 years of adventure,” says Robbins’s business partner, fellow musher, and friend Brenda Howard, who says that Team Outreach22 has been growing their pack and had 2 litters last June.

“The dogs respond well to Josh’s leadership and their bond has strengthened...He is especially excited to train the puppies and feels like the kennel could be more competitive in a couple years.”

To help prepare for the long-distance race to Nome, Robbins and his dogs have participated in several mid-distance races, building up to 100, 200, 300, 440 mile races. Even though he had to scratch from the Knik 200 in January, Howard says that he and the dogs feel ready for the Last Great Race.

“His goal is to finish the Iditarod this year with healthy dogs.”

Robbins said that things clicked for him and the dogs, something that he relates to the chemistry and symmetry he felt when he was in the Army: “It was just like when you’re in the service, the same crew always gives you that willingness, dependability, looking out for each other.”

“He’s been enjoying connecting with Veterans and inspiring them to take chances, don’t be afraid of failure, and try new things.”

For more information about Outreach22, please visit www.outreach22.com, or follow his Outreach22 Facebook page.