RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond's Guitars for Vets chapter helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder find reprieve through learning to play guitar. Throughout the year and across the River City, veterans and musical expert volunteers with Guitars for Vets get together in a quiet space, o ne-on-one, for a jam sesh.  The veterans can come with no musical experience at all. The goal is to have the healing power of music in the hands of our nation's heroes, Guitars for Vets' slogan.    Like Army veteran Jason Habich, who enlisted when he was barely 19.   "Right out of high school," Habich said. "I graduated, and I was in front of a drill sergeant about a month and a half later." That was in 1995.  He was in the maintenance field to start out, but about two years in, Habich decided to go to Airborne School and learn how to jump out of planes.  Habich comes from a line of service members -- his father and uncle both served in the Army, both grandfathers served, and now, his two sons.  One son is stationed in Massachusetts as a finance officer for the Air Force. His youngest is enrolled in ROTC at James Madison University.   "I have never been more proud of them," Habich said. "They could've done anything better with their lives. I'm just to the ends of the earth proud of both my sons." During his 26 years in the Army, Habich spent a combined five years in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of four tours that lasted 12 months, 15 months, 18 months and another 15 months at a time.   Jason Habich in Afghanistan. (Photo: John Habich) When he got out in 2018, the adjustment was, like for so many veterans, hard.  "I personally needed some -- a little bit of time away from everything to kind of reflect and get myself reintegrated into what I would consider civilian life," he said. "I struggled with getting out of my house. I felt very safe and comfortable in my home. I didn't really want to leave it very much."  Habich's instructor, John Chamberlain, is a self-taught guitarist who first picked up the guitar at 12 years old. He's been teaching others how to play since he was 21.  "Playing the guitar has a very calming effect," he said.  Chamberlain guided Habich through the 10-week Guitars for Vets (G4V) program starting at the end of 2025. The pair was scheduled to meet once a week for an hour, but that time often went over as the two said they just enjoyed talking.  John Chamberlain (left) and Jason Habich (right) "He's had a very impressive military career, and he's a good father, he loves guitar and music, and he also loves cars. And I know he enjoys our sessions as much as I've enjoyed being with him," Chamberlain said.   Students, like Habich, are referred to G4V by the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center or through a community referral process.  Chamberlain, since becoming a volunteer 12 years ago, has graduated over 50 veterans.  At the end, the veteran is given a free guitar in hopes they make playing a lifelong habit.  "At my age, I'm grateful to be able to continue sharing the musical knowledge that I've gained over the years with these people that have given so much to our country," he said.  G4V is an almost exclusively volunteer-run organization with 146 chapters nationwide. 184 veterans have graduated through the Richmond chapter since its founding in 2011. Eleven veterans have graduated this year, with more expected to by the end of the year.   The 501(c)(3) organization was originally founded in 2007 in Milwaukee and has touched the lives of over 13,000 veterans. Over 1,807 veterans completed the program in 2024 alone.  But the organization faces some challenges, like the number and availability of instructors (there are seven in Richmond), the availability of accessible learning space, and the number of veterans allowed to participate based on donations of guitars to give at graduation and overall funding.  Even though their official 10-week sessions are done, Habich and Chamberlain said they want to continue meeting up to play and spend time together. It's been a therapeutic escape.   "This almost in a way forced me to get out, see the world, explore other people, and you know get to meet them. So, for me personally this was a huge deal 'cause it got me out of my own way," Habich said.   G4V works in partnership with the Virginia War Memorial to host monthly jam sessions every third Saturday of the month. It's open to all veterans, not just those who've gone through the program.  ...read more read less