'Hope does exist. You are not alone': Willow veteran turns struggles in to hope with Outreach22

Far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, nestled in the hills that abut the various mountain ranges that surround Willow is where one can find Joshua Robbins, an OIF/OEF veteran and dog musher who has turned his passion into a non-profit to help other veterans in need.

“It’s such a different thing to be the one kicking in doors in Iraq,” he said.

Robbins 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.

“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.

“You compartmentalize and push it back, but you can only do that so long until it surfaces, then it’s time to get help,” says Robbins’ business partner, friend, and fellow dog musher, Brenda Howard.

“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.

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.”

Robbins acknowledges the decision to seek help wasn’t an easy one, but something that is necessary.

“Asking for help was the hardest decision I ever made, but I’m thankful I did and appreciate the resources that were available to help me feel like myself again. It’s an awesome feeling.”

The Army sent him to Alaska in 2010 and when he got out, he decided to stay, although unsure of which side of the highway he wanted to call home-Willow or Glennallen. And 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 Mackeys dog 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 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.”

“It’s therapeutic too,” adds Howard.

Howard and Robbins met while in the middle of a winter storm during the Knik 200.

“We were the only 2 around and I needed help getting to the Deshka checkpoint, and at 3:00 am he came out, in the pitch dark and high winds when I asked for help. He (Robbins) was really kind and generous and gave the best directions, where others might not. Ever since, we’ve just been buddies,” recounts Howard, who says she does more behind-the-scenes, helping with social media, photography, write-ups and helping coordinate upcoming events.

“She’s been so instrumental, such a huge help, moral support, and a heck of a teammate to have on board” Robbins adds.

Robbins started Outreach22 in July 2021 as a project to bring hope and emotional support to veterans with mental health struggles. It gives him the opportunity to take everything he learned while dealing with his mental health and apply it and show others.

Most veterans and civilians are perhaps familiar with the number 22 in Outreach22, which stands for the number of Veterans who commit suicide a day.

“It’s actually increased quite a bit, it’s almost doubled after dropping down to 17.”

In a recent study from America’s Warrior Partnership, in a joint study with University of Alabama and Duke University, officials reviewed census death data from 2014 to 2018 for 8 states and found thousands of cases of suspected or confirmed suicides not included in federal calculations. If those numbers from those 8 states are repeated across the other states, it has the potential to push the veterans’ suicide rate from about 17 individuals a day (the official estimate released by the Department of Veterans Affairs last year) to 44 veterans a day.

The rate of suicide among veterans may be more than double what federal officials report annually because of undercounting related to drug overdose deaths and service record errors, according to an analysis released back in September.

“I’ve served alongside soldiers who’ve returned home, only to lose the battle to suicide,” says Robbins. He is hoping that by having veterans coming out, interacting with the of his dog team, taking advantage of the quiet spaces, even just coming out to feed the reindeer that veterans will feel a level of comfort and walk away feeling uplifted and cared for.

A huge part of Outreach22 is the dog team, which currently consists of 28 Alaskan huskies, some he acquired from other dog mushers, and some that aren’t competing anymore, but all of them show nothing but happiness and love.

“We’ve done some mid-distance races, qualified to compete in the Iditarod,” although he has not made a final decision on the upcoming Iditarod. “We plan to sign up for more mid-distance races this season: 100, 200, 300, 440 mile races, then we’ll see.”

If Robbins and his team do decide to run, he wants to see veterans come out and help.

“I encourage veterans to help handle at the checkpoints of each race. They’re exciting events to be a part of, and it was a successful experience when we fundraised to bring Veterans to Alaska last winter.”

Outreach22 sits on 80 acres of land that still bear the scars from the Sockeye fire, in many ways a fitting backdrop for the people he hopes to serve.

“The vision here is to keep opening up more land and be able to utilize it for more events,” says Robbins.

Some of the land has been cleared to allow for amazing vistas that takes in Denali, the Talkeetna Range, Matanuska and Susitna, while offering up a stunning view of the Little Willow Creek below.

“It’s so amazing, the views of the northern lights and the mountains, and the water below. We can often hear the people floating by or trying to catch some fish.”

His home is off the grid and modest. For now. He had planned to move into the yurt on his land, but when it was assembled, he decided it would be better served as a facility for groups to meet and people to use as a base camp.

“Veterans have contributed to the building of the yurt, dog houses, and even helping with yard work.” Robbins looks to the next project of clearing some more trees to make accessing Outreach22 a little easier in the future.

While Robbins and Howard both say that Outreach22 is still “very much under construction,” they are eager and hopeful for the future. One such thing is offering sled dog tours. The hope is that the tours would provide a hands-on, fun way for people to learn about the sport, the dogs, and experience riding on a sled from a musher’s perspective.

“We want to provide something for others. Most people find great joy in this activity and walk away smiling, having great appreciation for the dogs’ sweet demeanor and hardworking nature,” says Robbins proudly.

Howard echoes his thoughts, and believes not only will veterans find joy with the dogs, but many may actually find they like doing the work that comes along with taking care of the dogs, giving a sense of purpose or contribution to something bigger.

“I think that coming out here for a day or 2, or however long folks want to stay, it could get them through to the next day. You never know what people are going through, so having that positive experience here is great. We like to see that.”

When people are depressed, it’s hard for them to go out and enjoy things because their mind isn’t in the moment. Sometimes, seeing the view or hearing the water is soothing in itself. Or the dogs coming out and giving you so much attention and love

Outreach22 is also hoping to become someplace to host veteran gatherings on the homestead and offsite fun activities as well.

Recently, Outreach22 expanded with the recent addition of 2 reindeer back in September, Clyde and Tiny Tim that came from the Reindeer Farm. Visitors can add in handfeeding and interacting with the reindeer as a part of their Alaskan experience.

“Animals can have such a positive impact on mental health, so my goal is to provide an environment that is considered a therapeutic retreat.”

“If I was where I was at internally to where I’m at now, being able to help, and everything that comes with this, being able to provide something like this, it’s unbelievable.”

“Each day I’m reminded to count my blessings and don’t take anything for granted. Today, I feel like a testament for those who are in a dark place looking for the light,” Robbins says. He also wants to add a message to any veterans out there who are struggling:

“Hope does exist. You are not alone.”

For more information about Outreach22, visit their Facebook page.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please call 988.