About SEA WAVES
SEA WAVES is a 501C3 nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing eating disorders within the military community. We serve active-duty service members, veterans, and military families by increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to education, resources, and support.
Eating disorders affect readiness, health, and lives, yet they remain widely misunderstood and underrecognized in military culture. SEA WAVES exists to change that.
Founded by a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief with lived experience, SEA WAVES bridges the gap between military culture, clinical understanding, and real-world solutions. Our work centers on education, advocacy, and connection, ensuring that no one has to navigate an eating disorder alone.
Our Mission
SEA WAVES is dedicated to transforming the military community’s approach to eating disorders. We support, educate, and advocate for service members, veterans, and their families through awareness, prevention, and access to resources. By breaking down barriers to care and challenging stigma, we work to ensure that no one has to navigate an eating disorder alone.
Our Vision
We envision a military community where eating disorders are recognized as serious health concerns, prevention efforts are proactive, and access to care is readily available. Through education, advocacy, and systemic change, we strive for a future where every service member, veteran, and military family member is met with understanding, support, and hope.
Why SEA WAVES Exists
Military culture values strength, discipline, and resilience. While these values are essential, they can also make it difficult for individuals to speak up when they are struggling.
Eating disorders do not discriminate by rank, gender, age, or body type. They often go unnoticed until they reach crisis levels, impacting physical health, mental health, and operational readiness.
SEA WAVES was created to fill a critical gap by:
- Bringing eating disorders out of the shadows
- Equipping leaders and providers with military-specific education
- Supporting individuals and families with accessible, credible resources
- Advocating for systemic change that improves access to care
What We Do
SEA WAVES advances its mission through education, advocacy, and community connection, including:
- Education & TrainingDelivering military-informed education for service members, veterans, families, healthcare providers, and leaders through programs such as MEDAL Training (Military Eating Disorder Awareness & Literacy).
- Advocacy & Systems ChangeAdvocating for improved policies, training requirements, and access to evidence-based eating disorder care within military and veteran healthcare systems.
- Community Support & OutreachCreating spaces for conversation, connection, and hope through awareness campaigns, peer engagement, and resource sharing.
- Suicide Prevention & Wellness InitiativesAddressing the strong correlation between eating disorders, mental health, and suicide risk through education, prevention, and early intervention efforts.
Who We Serve
SEA WAVES serves:
- Active-duty service members
- Veterans
- Military spouses and families
- Military leaders and decision-makers
- Healthcare and mental health providers
- Veteran-serving and community organizations
Our Commitment
We are committed to:
- Reducing stigma through honest conversation and education
- Centering lived experience alongside clinical expertise
- Creating culturally informed, military-specific solutions
- Ensuring compassion, dignity, and inclusion in everything we do
Join Us
Change happens when awareness turns into action.
Whether you are a service member seeking support, a family member looking for resources, a provider wanting military-specific education, or a partner ready to create impact, there is a place for you at SEA WAVES.
Need a light; Be a light.
About our Founder
Leah Stiles is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist and the Founder and Executive Director of SEA WAVES. After two decades of military service, she transformed her lived experience with an eating disorder into a powerful platform for education, prevention, advocacy, and support within the military community.
A recognized leader in military mental health reform, Leah develops programs that challenge stigma, promote early intervention, and connect service members, veterans, and families with life-saving resources. Her work centers on the critical intersection between eating disorders, suicide prevention, and readiness—issues too often overlooked in military culture.
Leah is the author of the Best Selling book Battle Scars & Body Wars: A Personal and Professional Journey Shining a Light on Eating Disorders in the Military and a sought-after keynote speaker who brings her story to life on national stages.
Leah’s mission is clear: to shine a light on what’s been hidden for too long and ensure that every service member, veteran, and family has access to the care and understanding they deserve. Through SEA WAVES and her advocacy, she carries forward one message above all: Need a light? Be a light.
Love, A Stranger
Love, A Stranger is a nonprofit organization providing free, volunteer-run peer support for individuals struggling with eating disorders, body image concerns, and self-worth, as well as support for loved ones navigating a family member's eating disorder. We are home to the nation's only eating disorder helpline offering support by both text and phone, available daily from 4:00–10:00 p.m. EST. While we are not a crisis service, we provide compassionate listening, personalized resource connections, and ongoing support to help ensure no one has to face these challenges alone. Our mission is simple: to remind every person who reaches out that they are worthy of support, hope, and healing.
Executive Leadership
Board of Directors
Gallery
Do you have questions or need support? Don’t hesitate to reach out – our team is here to help and would love to hear from you!