New for 2026-<\/p>\r\n
Shields Under Fire was born out of a moment that no first responder ever forgets, a call involving the tragic loss of an infant. The weight of that single event didn\u2019t stay on the scene. It followed a local firefighter home, stirring up old wounds from a previous personal loss and triggering sleepless nights, emotional withdrawal, and noticeable changes in behavior. When the firefighter\u2019s spouse reached out for help, Chief Watts stepped in, recognizing that what this firefighter was experiencing wasn\u2019t weakness, it was pain that had nowhere to go.<\/p>\r\n
As Chief Watts walked alongside this firefighter, he began to see a much larger truth. Volunteer first responders were carrying the same burdens, witnessing the same tragedies, and absorbing the same emotional impact as career departments, yet they had almost no support systems in place. The need was undeniable. Out of that realization \u2014 and a calling to stand in the gap \u2014 Shields Under Fire, Inc. was formed. What began as a response to one firefighter\u2019s struggle quickly grew into a mission to ensure that no first responder would ever have to face the weight of their experiences alone.<\/p>\r\n
By 2019, it had become clear that the challenges facing first responders extended far beyond one department or one incident. What began as a small, local effort quickly grew into a vision for something broader and more enduring. Chief Watts and Joshua Phillips formalized Shields Under Fire as a nonprofit organization, committed to reaching volunteer first responders who often serve without access to the emotional, mental, and spiritual support they need. As the organization expanded, the team began responding directly to departments, offering chaplain services, on\u2011scene care, and steady follow\u2011up for those carrying the weight of difficult calls. In 2022, Brandon Kuhnz joined the mission, bringing his heart for service and stepping into the role of Fulton County Fire Chaplain in Indiana.<\/p>\r\n
Today, Shields Under Fire walks beside first responders and their families, offering support to everyone who bears the burden of service. Our mission is anchored in compassion, strengthened by faith, and driven by the conviction that no one should have to navigate the unseen impact of this work alone. We exist to stand with those who run toward danger, offering hope, healing, and a place to breathe in the midst of the fire.<\/p>\r\n
As part of our commitment to caring for the whole person \u2014 mind, body, and spirit \u2014 Shields Under Fire now offers REBOOT Recovery<\/strong> courses. These 12\u2011week, faith\u2011based programs provide a structured path toward renewed strength, clarity, and resilience. REBOOT aligns with our Christian beliefs and enhances our ability to walk with first responders through the challenges that come with a life of service.<\/p>\r\n First responders can reach out to Shields Under Fire to request an Emergency Chaplain visit their department, participate in REBOOT Recovery courses, or receive support in a safe, familiar environment. Whether on scene, in the station, or through ongoing care, our purpose remains the same: to stand with those who serve, offering hope, guidance, and practical tools for navigating the weight of their calling \u2014 because no one should face the fire alone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New for 2026- Shields Under Fire was born out of a moment that no first responder ever forgets, a call involving the tragic loss of an infant. The weight of that single event didn\u2019t stay on the scene. It followed …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2511,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions\/2511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldsunderfire.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}