For veterans, first responders, and service members, healing doesn’t always happen in traditional settings. Sometimes, it happens far from cell service—on remote desert trails, around shared campfires, and through the quiet confidence built by overcoming challenges together.
In 2025, with support from a $7,500 grant from the Overland Expo Foundation, Fox Bravo Overland (FBO) delivered two transformative 10-day expeditions—Operation Desert Fox I and II—designed to reconnect participants with purpose, community, and themselves through overland adventure. The grant ensured that one full Desert Fox expedition could be delivered at zero cost to participants—removing financial barriers and making access possible for those who needed it most.
Building Strength Through Shared Experience
Each Desert Fox expedition brought participants into vast, remote landscapes where teamwork wasn’t optional—it was essential. From navigation and vehicle recovery to camp setup and meal preparation, every participant played a role in the success of the team.
These intentional challenges created an environment where trust formed quickly and confidence grew daily. With limited connectivity and immersive teamwork, participants were able to step away from daily pressures and focus on the present—learning new skills, supporting one another, and rediscovering a sense of mission.
More than 45 veterans, first responders, and service members participated at no cost, many experiencing overlanding for the first time. For many, it was the first time in years they felt fully engaged, capable, and connected.
Impact That Extends Beyond the Trail
The impact of Operation Desert Fox didn’t end when the vehicles returned home. Through pre-, during-, and post-trip surveys, participants reported meaningful shifts in perspective and well-being:
Over 40 participants shared improved outlooks on mental health, self-worth, and connection
Many described a renewed sense of belonging and brotherhood formed in just days
Participants expressed increased confidence, resilience, and motivation to reengage with their communities
"It made me realize I’m not alone in my thoughts and experiences—and that with help from the same peer group, things can get better."
“I have a better overall attitude about life. I’ve learned my mental health is not who I am—and that I can be better.”
These expeditions created space not just for adventure, but for reflection, growth, and healing.
Stewardship as Part of Healing
Impact also extended to the land itself. Throughout the expeditions, participants received Tread Lightly! education and actively practiced stewardship—collecting over 500 pounds of trash, restoring 15 campsites, and performing light maintenance across more than 1,200 miles of traveled trails.
By pairing conservation with adventure, Fox Bravo Overland reinforced the idea that caring for public lands is inseparable from enjoying them—an ethic participants carry forward into future trips and communities.
How You Can Get Involved
Operation Desert Fox demonstrates the powerful role overlanding can play beyond recreation. These expeditions create space for healing, restore confidence through challenge, and build communities rooted in service, stewardship, and shared experience.
Support Fox Bravo Overland at their website: fboverland.com.
Become a member of the Overland Expo Foundation to help fund similar on-the-ground projects. Visit our News & Projects page to learn more about past projects.
By investing in people and places, the Overland Expo Foundation is proud to support programs that use adventure as a pathway to lasting impact—on the trail, in communities, and in the lives of those who serve.