Give a Gold Star Family a Golden Opportunity!
As part of our ongoing mission to educate and inspire the next generation of citizen scientists and marine conservationists — and to give back, not only to our veteran community, but to those gold star families who have sacrificed so much — FORCE BLUE, in partnership with NAUI Worldwide, will be conducting a series of “Ocean Conservation Schools” (OCS) for Gold Star children and their families across the country.
Candidates selected to participate will receive their Open Water Dive training from NAUI dive instructors, go through physical training (PT) with FORCE BLUE Special Operations veterans and be introduced to the organization’s culture of “continuing service” — all the while learning about why the fight to preserve and restore the world’s oceans and marine habitats is so important.
Much like the FORCE BLUE Special Operations veterans who will be their instructors and mentors, the Gold Star families who participate in FORCE BLUE OCS have experienced tremendous heartache and pain. They are members of a club nobody wants to belong to — and, as such, are more likely to develop feelings of anger, isolation and despair that can, if left unchecked, lead to destructive behaviors. FORCE BLUE plans to change that narrative by giving these families a renewed sense of purpose and belonging, and by equipping them with the skills, training and confidence needed to move forward in a positive direction.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a cadre of future conservation leaders instilled with a profound sense of duty and service. And to give all who participate a tangible way with which to honor the legacy of the servicemen and servicewomen they’ve lost.
It costs $2500 to send a Gold Star family to and through the four (4) days of FORCE BLUE Ocean Conservation School (OCS). Your tax-deductible donations can help offset those costs. Please consider donating today!