TRB Newsletter 11/03/26

March 11, 2026•5 min read

TRB Global Engagement: Supporting Veterans and First Responders Through Community, Tradition and Trauma Awareness.

Dear Friends and Colleagues

The Trauma Regulation Board (TRB) continues to expand its international engagement through collaboration with organisations supporting veterans and first responders across the world. During recent travel between Nepal and the United States, The TRB founder Rachel Fairhurst had the opportunity to engage with two organisations working at the forefront of community-based veteran and first responder support:

X35 Airborne School and 22 Mohawks.

These organisations are developing innovative approaches that combine tradition, camaraderie, and structured peer environments to strengthen protective factors known to reduce suicide risk.

X35 Airborne School was developed to honour and preserve the traditions of airborne service while delivering high-level training rooted in discipline, courage and excellence. The programme focuses on static line round-canopy parachuting, recognisable within airborne military forces across the world and provides training opportunities that bring together veterans, first responders and members of the airborne community.

The organisation’s mission reflects the deeper cultural significance of airborne service:

“X35 Airborne School was developed to honour and preserve the traditions of airborne service while offering high-level training rooted in honour, discipline and excellence. Through world-class training, commemorative jumps and historical engagement, we continue the legacy of airborne service while fostering a supportive community for veterans and first responders.”

The school’s ethos “A Jump to Honour, An Honour to Jump” reflects the long-standing airborne tradition of shared identity, trust and mutual support.

22 Mohawks

The airborne programme took place in partnership with 22 Mohawks, an organisation dedicated to suicide prevention among veterans and first responders. Delivering a range of veteran-led initiatives designed to strengthen the protective factors that research consistently identifies as central to suicide prevention, including community connection, shared identity, and meaningful peer support.

Their programmes include:

companion dog partnerships
airborne retreats
performance training
veteran-led community engagement

The organisation emphasises early intervention and complementary support.

“All 22 Mohawks programs are veteran and first responder-led and community-based. From companion dog partnerships to airborne retreats and performance training, Focusing on rebuilding protective factors proven to reduce suicide risk. Not to replace clinical care; but to complement it by intervening earlier.”

Their guiding principle is simple and powerful: “Deeds Not Words.”

TRB Participation and Observation

The TRB participated in the event through Troy’s involvement as a strap hanger, a qualified parachutist who had previously completed the X35 airborne course. This allowed him to support participants and remain embedded within the training environment. Rachel attended in an observational capacity, gaining insight into how programmes of this nature support veterans and first responders through shared experience, community, and structured challenge.

During the event, the TRB representatives were able to observe how environments grounded in trust, identity and camaraderie can create powerful opportunities for stabilisation and peer support. Several individuals benefited from informal mental health support and stabilisation conversations prior to participating in the course. These interactions provided valuable insight into the ways in which operational communities can complement clinical approaches to trauma recovery.

Alignment of Mission and Values

The visions and mission statements of X35 Airborne School and 22 Mohawks strongly resonate with those of the Trauma Regulation Board. Across military and first responder communities globally, there is growing recognition that trauma support must combine multiple elements:

professional trauma knowledge
peer connection
identity and purpose
operational culture
community belonging

Organisations such as X35 and 22 Mohawks demonstrate how these elements can be integrated into meaningful programmes that strengthen resilience and support recovery.

Troy’s role within the TRB, as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Trauma Integration reflects this same philosophy: building collaborations that bridge operational culture, mental health understanding, and practical community support.

Looking Ahead

The next iteration of the X35 and 22 Mohawks airborne programme is scheduled for October and discussions are already underway regarding potential future collaboration.

The TRB’s role within these emerging partnerships is to support organisations by sharing trauma-informed knowledge, strengthening service delivery, and helping to expand the reach of suicide prevention initiatives for veterans and first responders. We are excited to be working alongside organisations demonstrating leadership, innovation and commitment within this field.

Supporting the Work

If you would like to learn more about these organisations or support their work, please visit their websites:

X35 Airborne School https://www.x35airborneschool.org/

22 Mohawks https://www.22mohawks.com/

If you are a serving or veteran member of the military or a first responder and are interested in participating in future programmes, we encourage you to reach out directly to these organisations. Together, through collaboration and shared purpose, we can continue strengthening the support available to those who have served.

Stay Connected

The TRB will continue sharing updates from the U.S. throughout March, including insights from our work with military partners, developments in suicide‑prevention strategy, and new research emerging from our policy team.

If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to receive future newsletters directly through the TRB website.

How TRB Training Supports You

The TRB is offering the UK’s first trauma-governed workforce standard. Our CPD's and accredited programs help youengage with individuals affected by trauma and equip you with a solid foundation of trauma awareness by grounding practice in the Universal Trauma Practice Standards. The training reinforces the safeguards required for the trauma informed practitioner. It supports practitioners across all sectors Most importantly, it enables anyone working with traumatised persons to align their practice with emerging regulatory expectations, ensuring that their approach is ethically robust, trauma‑aware, and compliant with the TRB’s evolving oversight framework.

Take Action Today

How to Register Your Interest

Reply to this email or contact:

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Organisations wishing to participate in pilot conversations or early collaborations are welcome to get in touch

Together, we are building the first statutory pathway for trauma therapy and transforming how the UK defines, delivers, and regulates trauma care.

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