▸ DOCUMENTED VETERAN PTSD RECOVERY OUTCOMES
WarriorWOD's reported outcomes are drawn from clinical assessments administered to every program participant, not from attendance counts or self-reported satisfaction. The PCL-5 and the C-SSRS are conducted at intake, at three months, and at program completion. The de-identified dataset is provided to the College of Charleston for independent statistical analysis.
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, call 988 (Veterans Crisis Line) or text 838255
WarriorWOD reports two figures from the last five years because they answer two different questions. The first is the breadth of who we’ve reached. The second is the depth of who we’ve put through the program.
Reached through events, outreach, partner gym programming, and broader engagement since 2021.
Have completed the full six-month program with clinical assessments at intake, three months, and completion.
Enroll each year, with cohort capacity expanding as the partner gym network grows.
The figures below summarize program outcomes through the most recent reporting cycle. The first is the headline finding from an external academic study published by the College of Charleston in 2025. The remaining four are drawn from WarriorWOD’s internal assessment dataset, gathered across every program cohort using the PCL-5 and the C-SSRS.
Program participants entered with a mean PCL-5 score of 43.37 (SD 15.80), above the established threshold for probable PTSD. At program completion, the mean had fallen to 28.95 (SD 15.90), below the threshold. The 14.42-point reduction held at p < .001 with a Cohen’s d of 1.33, well above the conventional 0.80 threshold for a large effect. Published 2025 by Dr. Katie Trejo Tello at the College of Charleston, funded by SCTR CES-P UM1TR005294.
of program participants experience a measurable reduction in PTSD symptoms by program completion.
mean reduction in PCL-5 symptom prevalence across all four DSM-5 symptom clusters.
veterans entered the 2024 cohort reporting active suicidal ideation. All nine are alive today.
reduction in self-reported substance use among program completers, accompanied by improved sleep and lower anxiety scores.
WarriorWOD Foundation combines exercise, nutrition, and mentorship in a research-backed, results-driven recovery program for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, suicidal ideations, and substance abuse.
Founded in 2021 by Phil Palmer — Purple Heart recipient and Marine Corps combat veteran — WarriorWOD was built from lived experience and a clear belief that recovery requires more than a one-dimensional approach.
In 2025, the College of Charleston published an independent academic evaluation of WarriorWOD’s six-month program. The lead investigator was Dr. Katie Trejo Tello, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and Administration. The study received no funding from WarriorWOD, and the analysis was not subject to WarriorWOD review prior to publication.
“We found that the veterans averaged PCL-5 scores prior to beginning WarriorWOD that indicated probable PTSD. These average scores fell significantly after completing the program and fell below the threshold for PTSD, which I think is highly meaningful and speaks to the impact of the program.”
Title: Evaluation of a physical activity-based intervention to reduce PTSD symptoms in US military veterans
Funding: SCTR CES-P UM1TR005294
Study Design: Pre- and post-intervention Qualtrics survey using the PCL-5, with secondary measures of physical activity attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. Six-month program intervention with twice-weekly exercise, biweekly nutrition coaching, and weekly Battle Buddy mentorship.
Status: Findings reported 2025. Peer-reviewed publication is forthcoming.
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The four cluster figures below are drawn from WarriorWOD’s internal PCL-5 assessment dataset. Reductions are observed across every DSM-5 cluster defined by the instrument, with the largest reductions in negative alterations in cognition, the cluster most closely associated with depression, self-blame, and emotional numbness. All percentages represent absolute reductions in symptom prevalence from pre-program assessment to program completion.
IMPROVEMENT
Pre-program average score: 3.20
Post-program average score: 2.10
IMPROVEMENT
Pre-program average score: 2.94
Post-program average score: 1.80
IMPROVEMENT
Pre-program average score: 3.00
Post-program average score: 1.78
IMPROVEMENT
Pre-program average score: 2.74
Post-program average score: 1.76
Every DSM-5 symptom the PCL-5 tracks is shown below, organized by cluster. Each row reports the change in mean PCL-5 severity score alongside the shift in the percentage of veterans who reported the symptom. Both views come from the same underlying assessment dataset.
| Symptom | Pre-WarriorWOD | Recovery | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Avoiding Traumatic Thoughts |
3.2 |
2.1 |
36.41% |
|
Avoiding External Reminders |
3.2 |
2.1 |
34.37% |
| Symptom | Pre-WarriorWOD | Recovery | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overwhelming Guilt or Shame |
3.06 |
1.78 |
41.86% |
|
Aggressively Behavior |
2.79 |
1.64 |
41.04% |
|
Self-Destructive Behavior |
1.87 |
0.88 |
53.12% |
|
Hypervigilant |
3.23 |
2.11 |
34.58% |
|
Feeling Jumpy |
2.92 |
1.83 |
37.31% |
|
Difficulty Concentrating |
3.25 |
2.11 |
35.22% |
|
Trouble Sleeping |
3.44 |
2.25 |
34.52% |
| Symptom | Pre-WarriorWOD | Recovery | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Unwanted Memories |
2.83 |
1.87 |
33.92% |
|
Disturbing Dreams |
2.71 |
1.71 |
36.81% |
|
Reliving Experience |
2.56 |
1.53 |
40.16% |
|
Distress with Memory |
3.02 |
1.96 |
35.16% |
|
Blocking out Memories |
2.61 |
1.68 |
35.60% |
| Symptom | Pre-WarriorWOD | Recovery | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Upset in Remembrance |
2.89 |
1.70 |
41.19% |
|
Strong Negative Beliefs |
2.89 |
1.70 |
43.55% |
|
Blaming Yourself |
2.65 |
1.50 |
43.55% |
|
Loss of Interest |
3.09 |
1.77 |
42.75% |
|
Feeling Distant |
3.31 |
2.00 |
39.60% |
|
Reduced Positive Feelings |
2.90 |
1.72 |
40.50% |
The program targets three distinct outcomes, each measured with its own validated instrument and reported separately. Each outcome corresponds to peer-reviewed research on how structured exercise, nutritional intervention, and peer mentorship affect post-traumatic stress recovery.
The outcomes documented above describe the difference between veterans who complete six months of structured recovery and veterans who do not. The trajectory for post-9/11 veterans without intervention is documented below.
VETERANS DIE ANNUALLY FROM SUICIDE
VETERANS SUFFER FROM PTS
SUFFER FROM INVISIBLE WOUNDS
TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES EACH DAY
DIE FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE EACH DAY
Sources: VA National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report; National Survey on Drug Use and Health; National Center for PTSD prevalence estimates.
37,500+
Family and Community Impacted
2,500+
Veterans Supported
$0
Total Paid by Veterans for Support
Twelve donors at $25 a month cover one veteran’s full six-month recovery: the partner gym, the nutrition coaching, and the Battle Buddy across the entire program.
The figures presented above are documented in two published reports. WarriorWOD’s annual Program Impact Report contains the internal methodology, full participant sample, and symptom-level data.
