The Reveille Songwriting Retreat
The Reveille Songwriting Retreat is a transformative, week-long workshop designed to help veterans heal, grow, and connect through the power of songwriting. Held annually at the fully accessible TR Ranch in Hallettsville, TX, this retreat is offered at no cost to participants—covering travel, room, and board—ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of this life-changing experience.
A Unique Experience for Veterans: Reveille is more than just a retreat; it’s a space where veterans come together to find their voice, tell their stories, and build lifelong connections. Through a blend of creative expression, professional mentorship, and community support, participants embark on a journey of personal transformation.
Daily Structure and Activities
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Morning Reflections & Sharing Circles: Each day begins with a sharing circle and guided meditation, fostering trust, camaraderie, and a safe space for self-reflection.
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Workshops & Masterclasses: Led by professional songwriters, these sessions provide expert guidance on songwriting techniques, musical expression, and storytelling.
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Individual Songwriting & Recording: Afternoons are dedicated to writing and recording, with one-on-one coaching and an on-site professional studio introducing veterans to music production.
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Evening Performances & Community Building: Participants and mentors come together for group sessions and performances, inspiring confidence and strengthening connections.
Support Every Step of the Way: Licensed therapists are available throughout the retreat to help participants navigate the emotions and memories that surface through songwriting. The program is designed to provide a balance of creative and emotional support, addressing the unique challenges veterans face.
A Lasting Impact: The retreat culminates in a live-streamed concert where participants perform their original songs for an audience, bridging the military-civilian divide and sharing veterans’ powerful stories with the world. Many leave with not only a sense of accomplishment but also the tools and support to continue their songwriting journey—whether independently or through their local Soldier Songs and Voices chapter.
Through expert instruction, creative exploration, and a supportive community, the Reveille Songwriting Retreat empowers veterans to transform their experiences into music, fostering healing, self-expression, and connection. This experience creates ripples of change that extend far beyond the retreat, strengthening individuals and the communities they serve.
Interested in Attending? Applications for the Reveille Songwriting Retreat open each summer for the fall retreat. If you are a veteran interested in attending, be sure to check back for updates and apply early.
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Written At Reveille
"Not A Day Goes By"
Bobby Henline, Dustin Welch, Phoebe Hunt
Not A Day Goes By is based on the experience of US Army veteran Bobby Henline. While on a mission in Iraq, Bobby's infantry team was traveling to a combat zone when their vehicle hit an IED, resulting in a huge explosion that took the lives of all of his team members, except Bobby. “I Didn't Die”. This traumatic experience dramatically shifted Bobby's physical appearance. Over 60% of his body is covered in scars from the burns received from the explosion and his left arm was amputated at the elbow.
Prior to the Reveille Songwriting Retreat, Bobby had not found an outlet to share the story of his trauma. On the third day of the Retreat, he woke up at dawn with the inner knowing that it was time to share his story. Our songwriting workshop, led by Dustin Welch the previous morning was about how to 'tell your story through a song'. Songwriting coach Phoebe Hunt found Bobby at the breakfast table early in the morning, and Bobby asked her to join him in writing the song. He shared the paragraphs he had written and together they edited his words and created the melody for Not A Day Goes By. Dustin walked by and noticed the two working together, stepped in and helped shape the arrangement of the song so that it would fully express not only the story of what happened but also the emotional trauma that Bobby experienced through his healing process following the explosion, including his suicidal thoughts. A part of the song hints to the feeling Bobby said he experienced wherein he wondered why the bomb had taken the lives of his brothers but left him here to suffer. After reflecting on this, Bobby shared with the team of songwriters that he realized that he is alive so that he can share the stories of his experiences in war with others who may be feeling the same way as him. He thinks of the men who died that day as his 'angels' who now look after him so that he can continue in his work. Phoebe now performs this song and shares the story of Bobby at her lives shows, and also included it in the TEDx Talk she gave on the power of healing through songwriting, hum your pain away.
“Through The Door”
Written by Erika VandenBerg, Libby Kotch,
Susan Gibson, Chuck Hawthorne
Through the Door is based on the experience of US Army veteran Erika VandenBerg. While in Iraq, Erika was part of a unit responsible for securing portions of Baghdad. This had to be done building by building, room by room. To clear and secure a building, a team of four soldiers would silently move to the front door, stand shoulder to shoulder, count to 3 by rocking together side to side, and then burst through the door not knowing if they would face gunfire from the enemy, an empty room or a terrified friendly family. The unit would clear the first room, identify the door into the next room, and repeat the exercise room by room until building after building was secure and the enemy neutralized. It is unusual that a woman would be assigned to this duty, but that speaks to Erika’s strength and skill as a soldier.
From a songwriting perspective, Through the Door began as a stream of consciousness writing exercise by Erika at the Reveille Retreat. She wrote about her experience in dense prose rich with imagery. Several lyrics from the final song are word for word from her prose. She wanted to work with songwriter and fellow veteran Chuck Hawthorne on this particular song, and the two of them started to convert Erikas writings into a song form. The song structure and narrative were well along when Susan Gibson and Libby Koch chimed in. One of the biggest decisions for the song was whether  the narrative of the song would stay in Iraq or extend back home where my mind fights the war. The decision to extend the song back to her return home and the flashback that occurs every time Erika opens a door makes the song even more powerful. Standing on the front porch...fumbling for my keys...count one two three. Butch Hancock provided some finishing insights, edits, and guidance, which gave the song its final form. Libby Koch has been performing this song at her shows for the past 6 months.