Big Sky Bravery Foundation

My opportunity to work with Big Sky Bravery was given to me back in 2019. I was fortunate to have my brother already involved in the organization, and to say that I was excited to work with our SOF community along with my brother would be a precipitous understatement. I had heard about the effect BSB was having, but it wasn’t until I met a couple Operators that I knew this program was much more than a little peace and quiet.
BSB has evolved and curated an immersive environment that translates the peace and quiet of Big Sky Country into what we call “decompression”. Decompression goes well beyond relaxing; it is an all-encompassing term. It can have quite a different meaning for each recipient. Whether the pressure is physical, emotional, spiritual, family, the battlefield, or more likely... all the above. It’s our task as volunteers to begin to understand the struggles while providing guidance and mentorship.
My favorite part is digging into conversations and trying to understand where we at BSB can be the most effective to the soldiers we serve. Inevitably these weeks end with new, strong-bonded brotherhoods. I wish words could express to you all how close such strangers can become, almost overnight.
Big Sky Bravery has had a huge impact on my life. It has shown me the value of vulnerability, it has shown me true giants breaking down right before my eyes. In the truest sense of the term, I was in awe. My heroes are standing right before me in need of help. And having the gumption to ask for it. I have never been good at sharing my problems. Internalizing and compartmentalizing? You bet. BSB and our SOF community have shown me a better way. I intend to carry it with me and promote these types of tough conversations well beyond our programs.
Our credo, Give More Than You Take, is a baseline behavior that BSB instituted from its inception. It is our anchor, and we will remain married to it. So many organizations lose sight of their mission. We will not. BSB is constantly reaching back to our roots as we continue to evolve and refine our programs. Give More Than You Take is also a top personality trait we require in volunteers, staff, and board members. It is our backbone, it is our guiding hand, and it is a guarantee to our donors that your support is directly converted into decompression for our Nation’s Finest.

Red, White, and Thank You to all our warriors, donors, and team at BSB!

I have been volunteering for Big Sky Bravery since 2018 and was instantly drawn to their mission. Volunteering with BSB allows me to give back to the military community, specifically SOF soldiers and their families. It is truly an honor to be able to spend time with America’s heroes and give back to them through our mission at BSB. We can never repay the debt that our nation’s front-line soldiers and their families go through during their careers, but BSB fills a major gap that existed prior to the founding of this organization; the gap of aiding our active-duty soldiers through recreational decompression. It’s incredible to spend time with such elite men and the benefit we gain as volunteers from being with them is priceless.
The most impactful moments for me throughout each Task Force have been when the recipients drop their guards. We are strange men to them at the start, and they are conditioned to stand off and observe. Once that barrier drops, strong trust is gained and the entire group dynamic changes. Sometimes this can take hours and sometimes it’s on the second day. Being able to teach America’s most elite soldiers activities that we take for granted and do regularly is incredibly humbling. There’s a bond that naturally forms over the struggle that accompanies these activities.
Each week of the Task Forces finishes off with exhausted and thankful recipients and volunteers. The memories, friendships, and sore bodies from the adventures and the amazing laughs are a direct sign of a successful program.
The best compliment we volunteers can ever receive from the recipients is whenever they return to MT, outside of the programs, and come back to either volunteer themselves or bring their families to meet us. Whenever a soldier comes back to Montana, that’s a sign we have made a significant impact.

I have been volunteering for Big Sky Bravery since 2018. I have also been fortunate enough to be the beneficiary of this fantastic organization and witness what it truly does for our Special Operations Men & Women!

I volunteer because I understand the need to take care of our active-duty service members. Without them, we risk losing the very freedoms we have, especially the ones most take for granted. I try to ensure we do not forget this. Spending Quality Time with these Men and Women and seeing the pressures and tensions of work leave their faces during and after a Task Force is worth every second. We need these men and women to have the ability to focus on the task at hand, defending and protecting our beloved country.

On my last Task Force, I was with a guy who I’ve known for a decade. After the second day, he told me his face was sore and I assumed it was from the cold, wind, and sun. He then told me he hadn’t stopped smiling since he got off the plane. Every time I’m feeling sorry for myself, down, or unhappy, I think of that and I can’t help but smile!

Even though I’m no longer in uniform, I choose to continue to give. The BSB value “Give More Than You Take” is something I hold close. This is something I can show by giving my time and energy to supporting BSB.

None of this is possible with out the support of our Amazing Donors!

I started volunteering for Big Sky Bravery in 2018 and this past summer, I completed my 5th Task Force.
I volunteer to give these men that I have been blessed to meet, the opportunity to live a week in the life that I get to live because of the lives they have chosen. Every experience we have on a TF is because somewhere out there people are protecting the world for us, and this is how I can provide a way to share my appreciation and gratitude.
It is amazing when like-minded people get together from different walks of life and have the opportunity to share with one another. I’ve been able to continue these relationships for years which is why this program is different. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the men and women who sacrifice so I get to live the life I do.

I’ve been a volunteer for Big Sky Bravery since 2016. My first program was in July 2016 and I was lucky enough to be volunteer #11!
Volunteering for BSB has always been a huge honor for me. It’s something I “get” to do, not something I “have” to do. I was all-in on BSB’s mission as soon as I was told what they were doing, and I wanted to be a part of it in any way possible. Having the opportunity to spend time around these SOF Operators that come through our program has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life. We owe everything to these men and women and I will continue to give back to them as long as BSB will let me. If you told me I had to start paying to be a volunteer and go on programs, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Every program I’ve done has been special, but I’ll never forget my first one. It was truly life-changing and I don’t throw that term around lightly. The connections I made that week, the stories I listened to, the outpouring of emotion, the bonds that were built, the imprint that was put on my heart, that will be forever.

I’ve been volunteering for Big Sky Bravery (BSB) since 2020 and completed 5 female programs each summer since then. My brother-in-law has been involved with BSB for some time and whenever we would get together, he always had stories of meeting some amazing men and how he was trying to make a positive impact on their lives. I had wanted to learn more about military life and be able to gain perspective about what these people are going through. Giving a week of my time is the least I can do for the people that serve or who are home, taking care of their families.
There are so many favorite and impactful moments of being involved with BSB that it’s hard to narrow it down, but I would say mine are the friendships created, perseverance I’ve witnessed, and hearing stories of the immense bravery shown by others. I’m awestruck by these heroes. At each Task Force I’ve done, there has always been someone that has pushed themselves to do something they’ve never done before. It’s inspiring to watch it in real time. They come out feeling proud and usually with a smile and sometimes there’s even laughter. It’s given me courage to keep trying when something seems hard at work or at home. I’ve found lifelong friendships with incredible women. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve sang. We’ve danced. And then we’ve laughed again.
I try to live the BSB motto to “give more than I take” during each Task Force week, but also outside of that when I’m home in Seattle. There are a lot of people in this world that need help so I try to do my part by taking action and doing something about it.
Thank you to all my Task Force ladies (participants and volunteers!) that have forever changed my life. You are strong and brave.
Thank you to Big Sky Bravery for entrusting me as a volunteer to help show these special humans a good time, provide them community, and make a positive impact on their lives.

I have been volunteering with Big Sky Bravery since 2016. 1 first started to volunteer because I believed in the mission and wanted to give back in some way to the men and women who have sacrificed so much. As time has passed and the organization has flourished, I realize it is for so many reasons that I continue to volunteer my time.

The men & women BSB serves and that make up the BSB family are some of the best people I have had the pleasure of knowing and am lucky enough to call my friends. They continue to inspire me to be better and have touched my soul to the core. I hope that I may continue to give myself to the mission for many years to come.

Every year and every Task Force have left strong impressions on my memory, some full of joy and laughter, some sadness and pain, some pure admiration and love, others adrenaline, excitement, and many moments of pure contentment and fulfillment. To pick a favorite moment would be impossible, but the nights around the table or a fire after an exhilarating day in the mountains are my favorite moments.
Big Sky Bravery's motto, "Give More Than You Take", is a motto that instills a sense of generosity and compassion in my life. It reminds me to lead with my heart. Like Christmas morning, opening presents is amazing, but the joy of watching a loved one open the perfect gift is even better.

I have no idea how to express in words what Big Sky Bravery means to me or why I volunteer. I've been volunteering over the years by participating in fundraisers and things along those lines. In 2021, I had the honor of volunteering on my first Task Force and it was life changing, to say the very least.

My parents raised my brother, sister, and I to be patriots and I've had a strong love for my country and those that protect it for as long as I can remember. When Big Sky Bravery was started, I was so incredibly proud and to be honest, so relieved. Relieved because I knew the need was there, relieved because I knew the fight had never ended, relieved because I finally felt there was an opportunity to show the incredible gratitude I have for the SOF community and their families.

Meeting the ladies on my first Task Force has had the biggest impact on me personally and not even the years of hearing stories from other volunteers could have prepared me for that experience. The bonds we formed during that time are unbreakable. I went into that week with two sisters and ended it with eight more. It was humbling to be surrounded by women with such incredible strength, character, and courage. Women who sacrifice the unimaginable, who are heroes in their own right and yet are genuinely blown away by any form of gratitude and appreciation shown to them.

To me, Big Sky Bravery’s motto of "Give More Than You Take" is a call to action. Not only to find ways to directly give back to the SOF community, but also a call to action to do whatever I can to hold the line in my little piece of America. I believe that the responsibility of our country falls on the shoulders of every American.

I’ve been volunteering for BSB for almost 7 years. Before the women’s Task Forces began, I watched my husband volunteer numerous times and heard all his stories and how impactful it was for him. When I found out about the first female Task Force, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Volunteering for BSB gives me a greater purpose and pushes me to do things outside of my comfort zone. I always return from the week feeling extra grateful for the men, women, and spouses who fight for our country. Freedom isn’t free, and I’ve learned so much more about the sacrifices these families make to protect us as Americans.

I’ve been with BSB since the very beginning (2015), when it was only an idea in a tiny apartment in NYC, so I’ve been able to watch it grow into what it is today. It’s amazing to see the hard work and dedication of all the employees and volunteers that have helped grow this organization and to see how many lives have been changed, both on the recipient side and the volunteer side. I’ve been lucky enough to meet many of the recipients that have come through, several that I now consider great friends. I love when they come back to visit Montana and choose to spend time with us while they’re here. It’s an honor to introduce them to my kids and have them grow up around such inspirational men and women. Also, the conversations we have at night during a Task Force are some of the most meaningful conversations I’ll ever have. To have them open up and share their joys and struggles to a group of strangers is a pretty awesome thing to be a part of.

“Give more than you take” is a motto we should all strive to live by. I’ve always been a pretty quiet and reserved person and like to sit back and take it all in. These Task Forces are no different. It’s amazing what you’ll hear if you just sit back and listen, and sometimes that’s all they really need, a listening ear. Volunteering for BSB is such a small part that I can do to give back to those who have given so much to me and my family.