This past April, SOWF, along with 15 donors, gathered for ‘A Day Inside Special Operations’ at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This unique experiential opportunity provided participants with a glimpse into both the training regiments and the breadth of sacrifices made by Quiet Professionals and our Special Operations community as a whole.
The first stop consisted of a visit to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS), where SWCS primarily trains and educates United States Army personnel for the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Our guests were briefed by SWCS Commander, Major General Pat Roberson, regarding details surrounding the training and courses offered at this prestigious school. After the briefing, participants viewed a live Close Quarters Combat demonstration, which highlighted tactical training using live ammunition, followed by an interactive Q & A session, complete with hands-on viewing of different weaponry and gear used in the field.
Next up, our guests visited the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) compound where everyone was met by command historian, Steven Cage. Steven guided a tour of the JSOC Memorial, highlighting the risks that our Special Operators take to protect our country. This beautiful and respectful memorial honors those men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
We rounded out the overall experience with target shooting at Trigger Time, a facility that provides modern and comprehensive firearms training to federal agencies, the defense department, state, and local police as well as the private security sector – our thanks to HADES Consulting for donating the guns and ammo. The afternoon session concluded with a traditional North Carolina BBQ luncheon.
That evening, our hosts, Brian Sudler and Peter Sudler, welcomed guests to a private dinner at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Compelling talks were given by SOWF’s President and CEO, Major General (Ret) Clay Hutmacher, former Commanding General of the United States Special Operations Command (USASOC), US Army Lieutenant General Fran Beaudette, and former Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Scott Howell, and Sara Wise, daughter of U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Christopher Sheaffer, who lost his life in 2000 while assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. Sara is a graduate of Sandhills Community College where she earned her credentials to become a Fire Fighter/EMT.
SOWF would like to express our gratitude to Brian and Peter, who spearheaded various elements of this outing, and ensured that the individuals present could learn about and ideally embrace the mission of SOWF. To Brian, Peter, and all in attendance, we thank you for your involvement and subsequent contributions to our scholarships program. SOWF would also like to thank those from both SWCS and JSOC who assisted in the planning and facilitation with respect to logistics at Fort Bragg.
Together, may we all continue to honor the fallen.
