The Green Beret Foundation released a new flagship video highlighting the organization’s mission to provide lifelong support for veterans of the U.S. Army Special Forces “Green Berets” and their families.
The video, released Thursday, shows the foundation’s support through the stories of three Green Beret veterans and the Gold Star family of a Green Beret killed in combat.
5th Special Forces Group veteran Trevor Shelden developed seizures after his platoon was hit by numerous improvised explosive device (IED) attacks during a deployment.
“The injuries that we sustained were not immediate,” Shelden said. “They evolved later in my career.”
Shelden described problems focusing on anti-seizure medications he was prescribed, including zoning out and not being attentive to his children. Shelden said he began looking into hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the Green Beret Foundation supported the treatment, which is not covered by military healthcare benefits. Shelden said the treatment brought on a “dramatic change” in his seizure treatment.
Shelden said the hyperbaric treatment “allows my wife to trust me to pick my daughter up on time.”
Mike Morales, a 7th Special Forces Group veteran, described his own story, narrowly surviving a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on June 17, 2017.
Morales said he was able to duck away from an incoming RPG only a moment before it impacted against the windshield of his military vehicle. He said, “A lot of details get pretty fuzzy after that.”
“The foundation, very early on, offered assistance in every way that they possibly could,” Morales said.
Lance Jordan, a 19th Special Forces Group veteran, described another aspect of the Green Beret Foundation’s support through guidance, mentorships, and networking.
Jordan described his passion for playing golf and going to a golf tournament hosted by the Green Beret Foundation.
“I was able to use golf to meet my current employer,” he said. “The Green Beret Foundation gave me the confidence that I could back out into world and take the things I’ve learned from being a leader and being an SF guy and it gave me the ability to not just be able to be an employee but to excel with the things I did.”
Tabitha Farmer, whose Green Beret husband was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria, described the foundation’s support for her family after their loss. Farmer said, “He was my everything, he was our kids’ everything and we feel him every moment of every day.”
“The Green Beret Foundation does so much for active duty,” Farmer said, “but I did not realize how much they do for Gold Star families.”
Brent Cooper, the executive director for the Green Beret Foundation, said, “When a Green Beret is killed it’s very impactful, it hits home to everybody.”
Farmer described being placed in contact with a Gold Star liaison, who she said understood what she was going through as a Green Beret’s wife. Farmer said, “It was just amazing having someone that understood without even speaking.”
According to the Green Beret Foundation, since it began, the organization has invested more than $15 million in support programs and services benefiting nearly 13,000 special forces families.
“Since our inception in October 2009, the Green Beret Foundation has continued to meet its commitment to support the U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers and their families,” the foundation said in an emailed statement to American Military News. “The stories behind each Green Beret and family may differ, but the common theme is that the Special Forces Regiment has borne an incredible burden since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Green Berets were the first ones in Afghanistan representing America’s response to the attacks. And since that date, 60% of all special operations casualties have been sustained by Green Berets. The Green Beret Foundation has been the first responder and premier benevolent organization for Green Berets and their families, providing them the tools and resources they need to prosper and thrive.”
