Special Ops Survivors

EVERYDAY SPECIAL OPERATIONS PERSONNEL FROM THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINES TRAIN AND ENGAGE IN MISSIONS AROUND THE GLOBE OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. EVEN WHEN LARGE SCALE MILITARY OPERATIONS CEASE, THEIR WORK CONTINUES. AND SADLY, MANY HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN GIVING THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY. THEY LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY OF HONOR, SACRIFICE, AND COMMITMENT, AS WELL AS THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES AND FAMILIES. SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING SURVIVING SPOUSES OF ACTIVE DUTY SPECIAL OPERATIONS PERSONNEL WHO HAVE DIED IN COMBAT OR TRAINING SINCE JANUARY 1, 1980 - THE YEAR WHEN THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND WAS FORMED.

GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS (SOS) CHANNELS THE HEALING POWER OF BONDS SO THAT SURVIVORS DO NOT WEATHER THEIR TRAGEDIES ALONE. SPOUSES HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE AS MILITARY FAMILIES OPERATING IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITIES - LIFESTYLES THAT CAN BE MARKEDLY DISTINCT FROM MORE TRADITIONAL MILITARY UNITS. AS SUCH, THE BONDS FORMED AMONG THEM ARE BOTH STRONG AND LASTING. SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS PROVIDES COMMUNITIES SO THAT SURVIVORS MAY STAY STRONG TOGETHER. RESILIENCY RETREATS (GROUP): ANNUALLY, SOS HOLDS A NATIONAL SURVIVOR'S RESILIENCY RETREAT. THOUGH EACH YEAR THE RETREAT HAS A UNIQUE THEME, THE CONSISTENT OUTCOME IS TO OFFER PEER-BASED EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE AND TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING FOR SURVIVORS TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. SOS COVERS COSTS, INCLUDING LOCAL TRANSPORTATION, MEALS, LODGING, SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. "FORGET ME NOT" OUTREACHES (INDIVIDUAL): SOS MAINTAINS REGULAR CONTACT WITH OUR SURVIVORS THROUGH DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS AND QUARTERLY REMEMBRANCES OR OUTREACHES. THESE ENDURING OUTREACHES ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SURVIVORS' WELL-BEING BECAUSE THEY DEMONSTRATE TO OUR SURVIVORS THAT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. OVER 1,300 OUTREACHES WERE SENT THROUGHOUT FY2019 TO MORE THAN 250 SURVIVORS IN 38 DIFFERENT STATES. THE OUTREACHES WERE SENT AROUND VALENTINE'S DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, CHRISTMAS, THE SURVIVOR'S BIRTHDAYS AND SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE DAYS WITH THEIR FALLEN HERO.

SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS EMPOWERS SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH (A) EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT AWARDS TO REWARD THEM FOR THEIR STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY AS THEY PURSUE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS, AND (B) LIMITED AMOUNTS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSIST THEM WITH UNEXPECTED EXPENSES: EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT AWARDS: WHEN THEIR PARTNERS ARE KILLED IN ACTION OR TRAINING, SURVIVING SPOUSES ARE THRUST INTO THE ROLE OF PROVIDER. THEY ARE OFTEN LEFT TO FIND NEW SOURCES OF INCOME FOR THE FAMILY. HOWEVER, MANY CAN BE ILL-EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES. SOS' EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM HELPS SURVIVING SPOUSES IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIVES BY HELPING THEM INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION AND IMPROVE THEIR JOB SKILLS. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: SOS AWARDS LIMITED AMOUNTS OF VITAL EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID TO SURVIVING SPOUSES TO ASSIST THEM WITH UNEXPECTED EXPENSES (E.G., HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, WEATHER DAMAGE, MORTGAGE/RENT ASSISTANCE, PURCHASE OF HOME APPLIANCES, AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, HEALTHCARE EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE, EMERGENCY CHILDCARE, ETC.)

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OR RESOURCES: SOS UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR SURVIVOR'S LIVES CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE LOSS OF THEIR FALLEN HERO AND THAT THEY FACE NEW AND DEMANDING CHALLENGES. WITH APPROPRIATE FUNDING, WE OFFER ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP SURVIVING SPOUSES ALLEVIATE STRESS, LEARN COPING SKILLS, AND TO STAY HEALTHY IN THEIR POST-LOSS JOURNEY. WE STAND READY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS OUR SURVIVOR'S PARTICULAR NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS. JOIN OUR CIRCLE - FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS AND WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR MISSION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SPECIALOPSSURVIVORS.ORG OR EMAIL OUR TEAM AT CONTACT@SPECIALOPSSURVIVORS.ORG.