BIG SKY BRAVERY WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. TO CELEBRATE THEIR GENEROSITY & INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS, WE INVITE YOU TO READ OUR MONTHLY VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!

This month’s volunteer: Sam Maschino

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 solider comes back to Montana, that’s a sign we have made a significant impact.

Big Sky Bravery’s motto “GIVE MORE THAN YOU TAKE”, serves as a simple, daily reminder to help wherever that help is needed - whether monetary or a simple gesture. Being kind and generous to everyone around you is an important characteristic that everyone at BSB instills.

Outside of Big Sky Bravery, I own and operate Maschino Property Inspections, LLC, a Bozeman-based property inspection business. We work side-by-side with our clients, educating them on making important financial decisions when purchasing a property. It’s exceptionally rewarding helping people make such big decisions in their lives that will go on to benefit both themselves and their families.

When I’m not volunteering with Big Sky Bravery, you will find me out on my next adventure! Most of my time is spent with my beautiful wife, Sara, and our adventure dog. We love to travel, play in the mountains, run, bike, hunt, and float down the many rivers in Montana. We take full advantage of the beautiful place we live, and thanks to the heroes I’ve had the honor of spending time with, not a moment of it is taken for granted.