Occasionally, an idea comes along that is so decent, logical and humanitarian, it makes one wonder why no one thought of it sooner.That’s arguably the case when it comes to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a 23-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to providing surviving children of Special Operations Forces (SOF) with the college education their fallen parent would have wanted for them. The concept is straightforward: not only helping the families of American patriots, but also not penalizing them for being part of an extended part of a high-risk force.
Because of the SIU’s role as part of the nation’s fourth arm of defense, Seafarers undoubtedly can appreciate both the importance of SOF missions as well as the risks involved.
Further, in light of Operation Enduring Freedom—sometimes described by military officers as America’s first special operations war—the number of SOF personnel at risk inevitably will increase.
In describing its mission, the foundation noted, “As the war on terrorism continues to unfold, Special Operations Forces will be facing new challenges all too frequently. In fact, there has never been a greater need for Special Operations Forces than right now—and Special Operations Forces will continue to be the force of choice time and time again during this tumultuous period.
“Special Operations personnel are conducting more missions, in more places, and under a broader range of conditions than ever before. These missions entail high operational tempos, heavy and unpredictable deployment schedules, personal hardships and, by their very nature, inordinate casualties both in operations and training. Since the Iranian hostage rescue attempt in 1980, America’s Special Operations Forces have suffered casualties at more than 15 times the rate of conventional forces. Most of these casualties occur at an early age, at the beginning of their careers, thus leaving behind families who have yet to accumulate the resources to provide for their surviving children’s college education.
“The Special Operations Warrior Foundation strives to relieve Special Operations personnel of the one concern, their families, that might distract them from peak performance when they need to be—and when America needs them to be—at their very best.”
Today, according to the foundation, more than 400 such deserving children exist who should not be denied the education their fallen parent would surely have wanted for them. With nearly 100 children eligible each year for college in the years 2003 through 2010, the Foundation’s estimated financial need through 2010 is $25 million.
The foundation began in 1980 as the Col. Arthur D. “Bull” Simons Scholarship Fund. The Bull Simons Fund was created after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt to provide college educations for the 17 children surviving the nine men killed or incapacitated at Desert One. It was named in honor of the legendary Army Green Beret, Bull Simons, who repeatedly risked his life on rescue missions.
Following creation of the United States Special Operations Command, and as casualties mounted from actions such as Operations “Urgent Fury” (Grenada), “Just Cause” (Panama), “Desert Storm” (Kuwait and Iraq), and “Restore Hope” (Somalia), the Bull Simons Fund gradually expanded its outreach program to encompass all Special Operations Forces. Thus, in 1995 the Family Liaison Action Group (established to support the families of the 53 Iranian hostages) and the Spectre (Air Force gunship) Association Scholarship Fund merged to form the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. In 1998 the Foundation extended the scholarship and financial aid counseling to also include training fatalities since the inception of the Foundation in 1980. This action immediately added 205 children who were now eligible for college funding.
The forces covered by the Foundation are stationed in units throughout the United States and at overseas bases. Some of the largest concentrations of Special Operations Forces are at military bases at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Coronado Naval Station, Calif.; Dam Neck, Va.; MacDill AFB, Fla.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Campbell, Kentucky.; Little Creek, Va.; Fort Carson, Col.; Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom; and Kadena Air Base, Japan.
To date, 48 children of fallen special operations warriors have graduated from college. Children from all military services have received or been offered Warrior Foundation scholarships, to include: 246 Army, 148 Air Force, 26 Navy, and 3 from the Marine Corps.
As Fox News anchor John Wilson said in a recent commentary, “If you’re looking for a pressing need that will have real results in the future, there is no question that these children of fallen patriots deserve special help.”
For more information, visit the web site www.specialops.org.
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