What is RELO Forge?

RELO Forge was born from a simple but powerful idea: even after our time in uniform, we are never done forging ourselves. The civilian world may look different from the battlefields, training grounds, and operations centers we knew — but the fire that forged us remains. And sometimes, it takes reconnecting with that fire to remember who we are.

RELO Forge is a program by veterans, for veterans. It’s a gathering place where warriors come together not to rest, but to rise. Through shared challenges, backwoods adventures, and brutally honest conversations, we help each other sharpen our edge, rediscover our purpose, and reignite the sense of mission we carried in service.

This isn’t a retreat. It’s a forge. A place where old bonds are reforged, new ones are made, and veterans remind one another that the fight doesn’t end when you hang up the uniform — it just changes.

How RELO Forge Started

Like many good things in the veteran community, RELO Forge started with a conversation — one held during one of the most uncertain times in recent history. During the COVID lockdown, Project RELO alumni stayed connected through virtual meetings, leaning on our shared experiences to navigate the isolation and uncertainty.

In one of those meetings, someone asked a simple but powerful question:
"Why can’t we just come together, go camping, unplug from the world, and be with our own brothers and sisters as veterans?"

And with that, RELO Forge was born.

RELO Forge Experience

What started as an idea turned into a unique, grassroots experience — a few times each year, we invite veterans to gather for RELO Forge: every Forge is different based on our needs – describing exactly what is done here can’t be accomplished.

It’s about reconnecting with ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and the values that shaped us. It’s about telling stories around a fire, forging new bonds, and reminding each other that while our uniforms may be hung up, our mission isn’t finished.

At RELO Forge, we come together not to escape life — but to refuel, refocus, and rise again.