Turning a Humvee into
a Hero's Vehicle
The idea for Operation Relentless began with a simple realization.
After purchasing a military Humvee and taking it on off-road adventures, BJ found himself transported back to the camaraderie, teamwork and sense of mission he experienced during military service.
As he reflected on the growing challenges facing veterans - including isolation, PTSD and suicide - he began asking a question:
"What can I offer veterans that nobody else is doing?"
The answer became Operation Relentless.
Through guided off-road adventures in military Humvees, veterans, first responders and their families are invited into experiences that take them out of their everyday environment and into the outdoors, where connection, challenge and healing naturally occur.
"It's about taking people somewhere they've never been or maybe could never go on their own," BJ shared. "We want to give them an experience."
But for BJ, the Humvee represents something much deeper than adventure.
One moment forever changed how he viewed the vehicle.
When he brought his Humvee to a mechanic he trusted, he was surprised when the veteran repeatedly refused to work on it. Eventually, the mechanic broke down and explained that he had lost friends in Humvees during military service and couldn't bear to be around them.
That conversation became a turning point.
"I want to make this a hero's vehicle - not a memorial vehicle," BJ said. "Something that brings positive experiences back to veterans."
"That's when I realized these vehicles have an impact on people," he added.
More Than an Off-Road Trip
Anyone who has participated in an Operation Relentless adventure quickly learns that it's about much more than driving trails.
The experiences create opportunities for vulnerability, resilience and authentic connection.
Participants often find themselves navigating difficult terrain, relying on one another and overcoming fears together.
For many participants, those lessons become deeply personal. One of those moments came during a Warrior Spirit and Operation Relentless adventure in Palo Duro Canyon, when Warrior Spirit Co-Founder Ashley Onofre found herself navigating more than rugged terrain.
"There were moments when I wanted out of the vehicle because I was nervous," Ashley recalled. "I had to trust Gabe and trust the process. For me, it became an experience of overcoming fear."
Ashley was riding alongside her husband, Army veteran and Warrior Spirit Co-Founder Gabe Onofre, as he navigated challenging terrain through the canyon.
Gabe later described experiences like these as "high-risk moments where dependence upon others is experienced." In an environment where participants must rely on one another for guidance, safety and support, trust becomes more than a concept - it becomes a lived experience.
Whether it's trusting a driver to navigate difficult terrain, following instructions through an obstacle or working together to overcome a challenge, those moments create bonds that are difficult to replicate anywhere else.
For many veterans, that sense of trust, teamwork and shared purpose feels familiar. It echoes the camaraderie of military service and helps rebuild the connections that are often lost after leaving the military.
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