Observing Lasting Change Through the Lens - Bryan Ray’s TRP Experience

I am, by default, an observant person. Something that has benefitted me both as a videographer and as a Special Forces officer. To me, keying in on facial expressions, body language, and tone is not unlike assessing an adversary’s capabilities on the battlefield. It’s these small observations that bring you closer to the truth.

I learned not to focus solely on what I was hearing or seeing, but on the subtle characteristics that tell the real story. Just as an adversary hides intent, a person may mask or overemphasize emotion when there’s something to gain. Through the long lens, I’ve had the rare opportunity to witness what real change looks like. Unfiltered, emotional, and enduring. That’s why I’ve nested myself with The Reboot Project.

My name is Bryan Ray, a 20-year Army veteran with five years as an infantryman and fifteen as a Special Forces soldier, ultimately retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 2. Like many who’ve transitioned out of service, I’ve wrestled with anxiety, impostor syndrome, and a sense of lost purpose. I share that here for context, though I’m far more comfortable being “Bryan the video guy.” That’s who I am now. A storyteller.

I first joined The Reboot Project as a videographer supporting a summit event in the mountains, but as I continued documenting the Heroes’ journeys, I became part of it. Hearing the stories of these Heroes, their struggles and their victories began to refine my own sense of purpose. I watched people who had lost hope regain their footing, and I captured those moments when they realized they could climb again, both literally and figuratively.

Unlike many nonprofits that focus on one-time experiences such as a hunt, a celebrity meeting, or a NASCAR weekend, The Reboot Project invests in sustained transformation. Participants are held accountable to their fitness and life goals for a full year under the guidance of expert coaches. The most important element is that the culminating 14,000-foot summit isn’t a graduation. It’s an entry point into an alumni program that celebrates the success of the Heroes through continued engagement and events, with an expectation that members continue to redefine and conquer their goals.

I’ve seen it up close, the hidden tears, the pain of pushing through, and the empathy shared among alumni. This program doesn’t just create memories; it builds momentum. It's a real change, and that’s rare.