Todd Opalski has been many things in the military, with a professional background and history of service in the Marine Corps where he was non-commissioned officer in the Marines prior to attending Officer Candidate School and commissioning as a officer. He served in Recon and Force Recon units, was the distinguished honor grad at the infantry officer course, honor grad at Ranger School, and platoon honor grad at boot camp, just to name a few. He was a qualified combat diver and military free fall jumper. He taught explosive breaching, mountain, and arctic warfare. Todd also attended an Army selection course as a part of cross training, was selected and served as a Troop commander in the Army's counter-terrorism unit.
Suffice to say, Todd excelled in the military.
However, through his personal experiences and seeing those of his former team mates and friends, he realized that once military service ends a lot of veterans have trouble reintegrating into civilian life.
In the true spirit of the Marine Corps, rather than sit around and complain about the issues veterans face, Todd decided to attack them head on. He founded Zen Commando, a retreat in Costa Rica that hosts veterans to help them recalibrate their mind and body. The emphasis is on meditation, personal development, improving relationships, and of course, physical training. Connecting Vets conducted a interview with Todd from his jungle redoubt in Costa Rica.
1. What inspired you to create Zen Commando?
I share with folks, “I’ve studied combat my entire life, but I never truly studied peace.” It wasn’t until I left the military, did some time in the civilian world, and then thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail did I truly recognize and understand peace and harmony as it applies to being mindful of our inner-being, our environment, and with others. It’s now time to share those lessons I’ve learned from the streets of combat and walking in peace so I can assist others to live more healthy and prosperous through eliminating unnecessary internal friction in their life.
What has truly inspired me are those I’ve had the great fortune of serving and working alongside that influenced me to do things I couldn’t do myself or didn’t think I could… my comrades, leaders, and mentors.
2. Is it designed primarily around veterans? If so, what specifically is happening amongst veterans that you would like to help with?
Zen Commando is designed for all, including vets, that are interested in taking their performance to the next “tier” in a healthy manner aligned with the principles of nature.
We live in a society with more “externalities” than ever before. Every day is spent maneuvering through various types of ambushes and battles on multiple fronts. This battle rhythm can be increasingly tiresome leading to undue “internal friction” such as stress, anxiety, and anger all of which have negative consequences on our life, sometimes leading to alcoholism, drug use, divorce, depression, and even worse. I lost count of mates I’ve known who sacrificed their life due to bouts of depression and it’s truly tragic and disheartening. Being assigned to tell a spouse her husband took his life was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. Being a vet myself, I can relate to the mindset of a vet, especially a combat vet who’s been carrying a gun and pulling the trigger as a profession their entire adult life.
Our mindset is wired for combat…to attack, move forward, attack again, and prepare again to attack. “Rangers Lead the Way” and “Semper Fi, Do or Die” are our mantras. “Rest and recover,” “breathe and meditate,” are not in our vernacular or part of our tech manual. When the operating system is overloaded, it will eventually malfunction and BREAK - it’s not a question of “if,” but when. In basic training, military academies and courses, we’re not specifically taught how to be “mindful” of our mind and body. For some, we grew up in a combative environment so the effect is compounded even greater. Sure, we kind of talk about preserving the force, but not really. Sometimes we forget, neglect, or ‘don’t know how’ to put it on “safe” and become present - to adjust and reconfirm our BZO (battle sight zero) prior to getting a new sight picture.
What I’ve seen with some vets is difficulty in taking the finger off the trigger, “putting it on safe,” and being aware of their current situation and location on the map. It’s not an easy thing to do and the first step is being able to recognize when to take a knee, drink water, put it on “safe’ and do a map check so you have a clear sight picture and solid route plan, a “security halt,” per se.
There is a package we offer at Camp Zen Commando called the “Recalibration Retreat” which is highly beneficial for service members and vets. Think of the Recalibration Retreat as upgrading your entire operating system… mind and body. First, we disassemble it, perhaps tweak a couple of parts, then outfit it with new parts…. the parts that get you more efficiently on target. The parts, in this case, being your mind and body.
I want to help vets, and others, to “put it on safe” and upgrade their operating system. To get them thinking more clearly and operating efficiently like a well-oiled machine whereas much of the internal friction (anger, stress, anxiety, depression, etc.) is eliminated so we can better engage those uncontrollable “externalities” we confront daily.
3. What has it been like building the camp in the remote Costa Rican jungle?
Definitely not a rapid buildup! Things happen at a different pace in Costa Rica and resources are in limited supply. Couple that with an isolated location in the jungle requiring six river crossings - and it becomes even more problematic. But, it’s all been doable… just requires time, patience, and remaining fluid, because the plan will inevitably change.
4. What was the biggest hurdle you had transitioning to civilian life that you would like to help other veterans with?
“Assessment and Selection is an ongoing process,” even in the civilian world. The civilian world is an entirely different operating environment compared to what we might be accustomed to in the military and the threats are even greater and potentially deadlier due to their complicity. Sure, the principles remain the same, but the tools and procedures are different, even from a leadership standpoint. When you leave the military, the camaraderie is different, and you no longer have organizations, or platoon sergeants, looking out for your individual morale, welfare, and recreation. You’re on your own! On top of that, you need to recreate yourself so you can somewhat assimilate into the new and strange operating environment.
My biggest hurdle was finding and creating what it was I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. I suppose a new identity and purpose. A purpose not centered on service to God, Country, and love of Corps, or how many combat tours and achievements attained, or which unit I belonged.
I think there are a few different categories of military vets. 1.) Those having a desire and longing to do the same, or something similar, as they did while they were active duty. Normally, these folks go into contracting jobs or become first responders. 2.) Those just wanting to relax, hunt, fish, or countless other outlets. 3.) And then those seeking new endeavors and extremes, e.g., entrepreneurship, public or private corporate employment, or going back to school. I fell in the latter category. I wanted to test myself in “the civilian world” and didn’t want to do the same as I did in the military - I sought something totally opposite. Getting out of the military and starting from ground zero isn’t the easiest thing to do and I found relationships to be one of greatest contributors to overall mission success. Relationships not only as they apply to people, but also the relationship you have with yourself and the environment around you. Developing, fostering, and forging these rings of relationships is what we want to help others with. “Create strong relationships, NOT networks."
5. When will Zen Commando open? How can people apply?
Zen Commando will launch in early 2020 and you can apply starting mid-November at www.zencommando.com.
