Steven Rindahl

Steven Rindahl: A Life of Service, Faith, and Healing

Steven Rindahl grew up with his parents and brother in Illinois, while also spending long stretches of time with extended family in North Dakota and Montana. It was there that he developed a deep love for the outdoors and dreamed of grand hunting adventures. Always looking for the next challenge, Steve joined the Army at just 17 years old with the goal of becoming a paratrooper and serving in combat.

Only a few months after enlisting, Steve was serving within the U.S. Army Special Forces community and jumping out of airplanes. During his early years in the Army, he completed numerous military schools, including the Basic Airborne Course, Parachute Rigger Course, Jumpmaster Course, Rough Terrain Parachutist Course, and Air Assault Course. Although eager to serve in combat, it would be more than two decades before that opportunity arrived.

Military service runs deep in Steve's family. His father served in the Army during the period between the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and his family lineage includes veterans who fought in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Believing he had left formal education behind when he enlisted, Steve was later encouraged by his Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) to attend college. Once he began taking classes and was able to choose subjects that interested him, he discovered a genuine love for learning. Long before online education became commonplace, Steve attended classes at or near every duty station where he served. His dedication eventually led to earning a degree in History shortly before his promotion to Sergeant First Class.

As his military career progressed, Steve sensed a call to ministry. He transferred to the Army Reserve to attend seminary and complete the ordination process before returning to active duty as an Army chaplain.

As a chaplain, Steve deployed to Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division from October 2006 through January 2008. Following that deployment, he served with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and later as a Curriculum Developer and Instructor at the Army Medical Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. After a distinguished military career spanning decades, he retired from active duty service.

Steve is married to a schoolteacher who teaches fifth- and sixth-grade mathematics. Together, they raised two children who have gone on to successful careers of their own—one as a librarian and the other as an occupational therapist.

Retirement did not mark the end of Steve's service. Instead, it became the beginning of a new mission. He founded Warriors on the Way, a veteran-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping combat veterans heal from PTSD and Moral Injury. As Founder and Director, Steve leads a team of professionals who guide veterans on healing pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the third-oldest Christian pilgrimage route in the world after the Holy Land and Rome.

Today, Steve continues to pursue his passions for reading and hiking. After more than forty years away from the sport, hunting has also returned to his list of favorite activities. Whether serving his country, his faith, or fellow veterans, Steve's life has been marked by a commitment to adventure, learning, leadership, and helping others find healing and purpose.