With a 26,000 mile paddle board voyage from Corpus Christi, Texas to New York City under his belt, a Merritt Island veteran is looking forward to the next leg of his journey around the world.

  • Josh Collins created Veterans Voyage 360
  • Collins plans to cross three oceans during his journey

Josh Collins began his "Veterans Voyage 360" to raise awareness for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI (traumatic brain injury). He just got home after the first leg of his trip to become the first person to paddle board unassisted around the world.

"2,629 miles later, all the pain, all the struggle, it just kind of, pow, hit me right there," said Collins.

Collins went on to say emotions bubbled up as he neared New York City and saw the Statue of Liberty.

"When I saw it, I got choked up, when I got closer I got choked up," said Collins.

Collins got quite the welcome from NYC firefighters as he entered the harbor. They gave him a ceremonial spray down by boat.

The Special Operations veteran, who suffers from PTSD due to traumatic brain injuries inflicted during combat missions in the Middle East, said 94 out of 140 days spent on the water the past several months was grueling at times.

"In four days, I covered 211 miles," said Collins. "I really had to dig deep and think about my brothers to 'my left and right', and why I was doing this."

Photo courtesy of Josh Collins

The 'why' for Collins is, among other things, veterans committing suicide. According to a 2013 Department of Veterans Affairs study covering suicides from 1999 to 2010, roughly 22 veterans commit suicide per day, or 1 every 65 minutes.

"We have to take a really hard look at this," he said.

While he's grateful to be back on his hometown Indian River Lagoon waters, Collins is still reflecting on the patriotism he witnessed as he paddled on the waters from state to state. People consistently asked if he was OK, which is what Collins believes struggling veterans must get.

"'Is there anything you need today?'" said Collins, repeating the question he heard the most often. "'You can't fail.'"

Collins is required to rest for 30 days per doctor's orders. According to his website, he'll begin his next expedition in January 2017.