Our “Why”

The Veteran Suicide Rate

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report:

  • Veterans die by suicide at roughly double the rate of the general U.S. population (34.7 vs. 14.2 per 100,000 in 2022).

  • Male veterans have a significantly higher suicide rate than non-veteran men, and female veterans have more than double the rate of non-veteran women.

  • Young veterans (18-34) experience the highest suicide rate among veterans – much higher than same-age adults in the general population.

  • 2022 is the most recent year of available data, with an estimated 17.6 veteran suicides per day.

The Benefits of Strongman (Strength) Training

There is significant evidence that shows the benefits of strength training on an individual’s mental health, including:

  • A recent VA-supported study found that veterans who take part in regular exercise programs — including strength training — often see meaningful drops in PTSD symptoms and improvements in mood. (Source: Integrative Exercise Trial, 2025 — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40021975)

  • In a structured 12-week exercise program for older veterans with long-term PTSD, participants reported feeling less depressed, less anxious, and more confident in their physical abilities. (Source: Warrior Wellness Pilot Program — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31264055)

  • Veterans in that same program also became stronger, improved their endurance, and reported better day-to-day quality of life — benefits closely linked to stronger mental health. (Source: Warrior Wellness Physical Outcomes — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31646339)

  • A large study of Gulf War–era veterans found that those who stayed physically active were much less likely to report suicidal thoughts than veterans who were inactive. (Source: Gulf War Veteran Physical Activity Study — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12078248)

  • A recent analysis of over 80,000 service members and veterans showed that reducing PTSD symptoms is one of the most important ways to lower the risk of suicidal thinking — and exercise is a proven tool that can help with that. (Source: PTSD & Suicidal Ideation Meta-Analysis, 2025 — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41086541)

The Origins of Strongman

Strongman’s origins can be traced back thousands of years to ancient warrior cultures, where lifting stones, carrying heavy objects, and performing feats of strength were practical methods of preparing soldiers for battle and demonstrating their physical prowess. These traditions evolved over centuries into formalized tests of strength found in places like Scandinavia, Scotland, and ancient Greece.

By the 1800s and early 1900s, strongman shifted into the realm of entertainment, becoming a staple of traveling circus shows where performers astonished crowds with barbell lifts, steel bending, and other jaw-dropping displays of strength - laying the foundation for the modern sport of strongman that we know today.

Why Veterans and Strongman?

The Veteran Strongman Association strives to leverage the natural connection between military fitness and strongman training to support veteran mental health. The core movements of strongman training require similar physical demands of military training, particularly the Army Fitness Test (AFT) and U.S. Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT), which emphasize functional strength and endurance.

Like the rigorous standards of military physical fitness testing, strongman training requires athletes to endure intense physical challenges and develop a high threshold for pain, which provides veterans with a familiar environment that fosters discipline, mental toughness, and camaraderie.