Part of the 15 for 15 Challenge Partner Spotlight Series
Recorded: Dec 12, 2025
As PsychArmor marks the 10-year anniversary of 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know, the organization is spotlighting the partners, leaders, and visionaries who brought this transformative training to life and continue to carry it forward.
One of those partners is Summit Behavioral Healthcare, a national provider of behavioral health services whose Tactical Recovery Program has become a recognized leader in culturally responsive, trauma-informed care for Veterans. Summit recently achieved a major milestone, becoming the first behavioral healthcare provider to earn Veteran Ready Organization certification across its entire family of residential treatment centers. This distinction was made possible through comprehensive PsychArmor training completed by staff and clinicians systemwide, reflecting years of collaboration to build culturally informed and Veteran-centered care at scale.
Summit’s commitment to this model has also gained national recognition. At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 23rd Annual Citizens Awards, Summit received the Best Health and Wellness Program award for its Tactical Recovery program, developed in partnership with PsychArmor, which delivers tailored and evidence-based care to service members, Veterans, and first responders across the country.
In this Partner Spotlight, we spoke with David T. Vandewater, President and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Behavioral Healthcare, about why Veteran Ready care matters, how PsychArmor training has become a differentiator across Summit’s system, and what it takes to build trust at the most critical moments of recovery.
A Commitment Rooted in Preparation and Respect
What originally drove Summit Behavioral Healthcare’s commitment to culturally competent, Veteran Ready care? How did 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know fit into that larger commitment?
David T. Vandewater:
“When Summit began pursuing this work, the intention was very clear. We wanted to ensure that we were truly prepared to serve Veterans and military connected individuals as they entered our facilities. Our teams wanted to feel competent and confident in how they communicated and how they provided care from a culturally competent perspective.
Partnering with PsychArmor gave us guidance and structure to make that possible. The training helps our teams better understand the impact of military service, not only related to the Veteran, but also their family and support system. That understanding plays a vital role in the treatment process and in building trust from the very beginning.
PsychArmor was pivotal for the Tactical Recovery team in helping us establish ourselves as the culturally competent organization. It remains a differentiating factor for us today. Every employee participating in this program has been PsychArmor trained. They understand the 15 Things, the SAVE program, and the broader context of military service, and that matters. And and for us, you know, we've had very intentional staffing of military connective teams to support care coordination efforts and other recommendations for appropriate placement of care. I mean, if you just look at our team, we have two Marine Veterans, one Army Veteran, one Air Force Veteran, one Veteran caregiver from the Army National Guard, two active duty spouses in the Navy and from the Navy and the Army. And importantly, we just hired our medical director, a Navy veteran as well. So we think that we've done all the things necessary to demonstrate our commitment, not only through PsychArmor, but how we've used PsychArmor to heighten this group of individuals within our organization and our treatment programs."
From Training to Systemwide Change
Summit achieved Veteran Ready Certification across all 23 residential care facilities, becoming the first organization in the field to do so. What did it take to embed this training at an organizational level?
David T. Vandewater:
“Integrating the training at a foundational level allows our providers to gain a better understanding of a Veteran’s point of view. Veterans are everywhere, and their needs are everywhere. This process showed us that clearly. When our teams understand that perspective, they can apply evidence based practices and holistic methods with greater intention.
The questions that come out of the educational process create a broader picture for treatment and open the door to better conversations. It creates a culture of curiosity within the organization. Our providers and team members want to learn more, and as they learn, they continually improve. That mindset strengthens everything we do.”
Where the 15 Things Show Up in Everyday Care
PsychArmor training, including 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know, has been embedded across Summit for several years. Where does that training show up most clearly in your work today?
David T. Vandewater:
“It shows up every day. I was recently in one of our facilities and spoke with an active duty service member and a Veteran. Because of the training I have received, I knew what questions to ask and how to approach the conversation.
This training is important enough that it is not just for clinicians. Leadership needs to understand it as well. Early recognition and knowing the right things to say at the right time can make a real difference. It helps people feel seen and understood at the very start of their recovery process.”
Shaping the Veteran Experience Through Preparation
How have you seen staff engage differently with Veterans as a result of this training?
David T. Vandewater:
“Veterans are entering a place they have never been, meeting people they do not know, and often facing situations they have never experienced before. When someone communicates with them in a way that makes them comfortable, that connection becomes much easier. The preparation our teams receive allows us to ask the right questions and communicate in a way that puts Veterans at ease. That trust opens the door for everything else to work itself out.”
Jamie Regalia:
“So when the preparation's in place, it directly shapes the Veteran experience."
David T. Vandewater:
“Absolutely. It makes the connection so much easier for our organization and our employees with the Veteran. Because the training is in place, we are in a much better position to support successful recovery.”
A Differentiator with Lasting Impact
From your perspective, how has PsychArmor training strengthened outcomes for the Veterans who come into your programs?
David T. Vandewater:
“It helps every single day. Every time a Veteran enters our facility, we are using what we learned through the 15 Things to connect with them. That connection is essential. It calms the situation, builds trust, and helps us gain the information we need to provide the right care.”
Jamie Regalia:
So, it sounds like you see more trust, more engagement, and better outcomes for your Veterans who are in your care through this training.
“We absolutely do. Again, it's a differentiating factor for us from my perspective. I don't know all of the programs that exist in the United States today, in regards to what they may require from their employees, all I know is we've trained 4,000 people. Even when people move on from Summit, they leave with PsychArmor knowledge. That commitment extends beyond our organization, and that is something we are proud of.”
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Gold Standard of Veteran Ready Care
As this work continues to evolve, what role will PsychArmor training play in Summit’s future vision for Veteran Ready care?
David T. Vandewater:
“We remain committed to culturally competent, quality treatment. Our partnership with PsychArmor helps us continue to drive what we consider the gold standard of care. This is not a mission we can do alone. Working with like-minded organizations that understand the unique experiences of Veterans allows us to continually improve how we serve them. Together, we can create better systems of recovery and ensure Veterans receive the care they deserve.”
Why Veteran Ready Care Matters to All of Us
If you could leave our audience with one message about why Veteran Ready care matters beyond healthcare systems, what would it be?
David T. Vandewater:
“First and foremost, it starts with recognizing the contribution Veterans have made. Some transition smoothly into civilian life, while others carry experiences that require ongoing support. It is our responsibility, as organizations and as individuals, to provide the support Veterans need to live healthy, productive lives. That responsibility belongs to all of us.”
A Partnership Built on Trust
Summit Behavioral Healthcare’s partnership with PsychArmor demonstrates what is possible when culturally informed training is embedded across systems of care. By prioritizing preparation, curiosity, and understanding, Summit is helping ensure Veterans feel supported from their very first interaction through recovery.
Jamie Regalia:
“David, thank you for your leadership and for sharing how Summit Behavioral Healthcare and the Tactical Recovery Program are serving those who have served us all. Your commitment to Veteran Ready care sets a powerful example for healthcare organizations nationwide.”
How You Can Support the Next Chapter of 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know
Join the 15 for 15 Challenge
Conversations like this one highlight the real momentum behind community-based prevention. When people gain the cultural understanding they need, they feel confident stepping in, speaking up, and standing alongside Veterans. The Summit Behavioral Healthcare partnership shows what becomes possible when culturally informed training reaches the people and the places where it is needed most.
As we honor the 10-year legacy of this flagship course, we invite you to join us in the 15 for 15 Challenge.
You can make an immediate impact by:
• Watching the course
• Sharing it with your network
• Donating to keep this training free for individual learners
Together, we can ensure the next decade of learners and the communities they touch are even better prepared to support our nation’s Veterans and their families.
👉 Join the challenge and give today: https://giving.psycharmor.org/page/FUNQSPZZJAQ