SigMT

SIGNATURE MONTANA | 87 Offering scuba training sessions twice a month in an indoor pool, Underwater Soldiers caters to all experience levels. ey encourage veterans to take these newly acquired skills into real-world applications during cleanup dives held at various waterways across the state. From May through September, the team undertakes one cleanup dive each month, removing an impressive 30 tons of trash from local watersheds. e ripple effect of their success has recently reached Great Falls, where Tami Lukas has taken the helm of their first official sub-chapter. "I've always wanted to give back to my community," Tami explains. "I saw them on the news, and I'm like, we need that here in Great Falls. We have a lot of veterans here." ough not a veteran herself, Tami's life has been deeply intertwined with the military. Her husband, Mike Lukas, served 29 years in the Air Force, and her father was a Vietnam veteran. roughout her life, she has witnessed the profound impact of PTSD on veterans, some of whom have contemplated suicide. Tami's personal experiences and passion for diving naturally led her to Underwater Soldiers. "My dad is a Vietnam veteran who suffered horrible PTSD," she shares. "Had these programs been around to help veterans when my dad needed help back in the eighties, maybe he could have been a beer parent, spouse, husband, brother." Photo Courtesy of Underwater Soldiers Photo Courtesy of Underwater Soldiers Veterans from Underwater Soldiers proudly load a trailer with trash collected during a recent cleanup dive. The veteran-run program has removed around 30 tons of garbage from Montana waterways.

• Cover