A note from the Task Force Director…

“Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship.” - Oscar Wilde

This quote perfectly sums up TF 103. It was filled with incredible women, all with different backgrounds, stories, hardships, and achievements.  Laughter was a commonality that brought us all together. Despite what burdens were carried at the start of the week, laughter filled the week and pushed those burdens away.  There simply wasn’t room for sadness as we laughed until we cried and our stomachs and cheeks hurt and what an incredible sound it was. We started the week as strangers and by the end of the week, we were a group of friends who will be there for each other through all of life’s ups and downs. Watching the light come back as we conquered rivers, clay pigeons, fish, mountains, and mud puddles, was heartwarming and inspiring. 

It was truly humbling to be in the presence of these women, who so many years ago, raised their right hand and entered a life of service to protect.  Thank you to each and every supporter who has made it possible to bring these women here for a week of restoration. Your generosity is changing lives and offering hope where only darkness used to exist. You are helping build relationships that will lift each other up and cheer each other on.  You are making a difference. To the volunteers of TF 103 - without you this week would not have been a success. You poured your heart and soul into this week to ensure the recipients could enjoy it to the fullest. I can’t thank you enough for being you, for sharing your stories, for giving more than you take, for all the laughter, and for helping ease the burdens these women carry.  

Jennie Cohen
Task Force 103 Director

Volunteers to thank:

• Jennie Cohen, Task Force Director

• Maddie Peek

• Ennea Dailey

Patriots to thank:

• The Montana Dinner Yurt (discounted meal)

• Lone Mountain Ranch (rodeo)

• Moonlight Basin (sporting clays)

• Geyser Whitewater (discounted whitewater rafting, guides - Archer and Ortiz)

• Canyon Adventures (side-by-sides)

• Dave Dexter (Fishing Guide)

• Kaley Burns (IV Therapy)

• Linda Wilton & Carly (discounted massages)

• Marci Gehring (meals)

• Butter and Salt - Lindsie Feldner (meal)

• Welcome Bag Donations: ANTHEM Snacks, LMNT & Wild Society

“When I raised my right hand in 2005 ‘… to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic,’ I couldn’t fathom how that declaration would practically pan out. 

18+ years later, with over 48 months deployed to areas of active armed conflict, I can now attest, that the toll was immense.

Unbeknownst to me (when I first commissioned), my military service would lead me to units that expected a pursuit of excellence in everything I did. Yesterday’s successes were irrelevant, and all I was evaluated on was my performance that day.  However, despite the demanding nature of these assignments, I knew that’s what my nation required of me, and I remained committed to my profession.

Unfortunately, the cost of operating at this type of high tempo would compound over time, ultimately manipulating my identity into an expectation of 100% excellence - always. Sleep, relationships, simple bliss, and frankly so many other facets of my life, began to suffer. That was until Big Sky Bravery (BSB) stepped in.

From the moment we landed on Sunday morning at the Bozeman Airport, Jennie, Ennea, and Maddie facilitated an environment for each of us to thrive as our authentic selves. We were enough, we were already excellent, and there was nothing more we had to prove. Ironically, all my BSB mates were women I had once commanded, instructed, and/or deployed with in some capacity. Yet, despite our many previous professional encounters, this incredible trip facilitated my first true opportunity to genuinely appreciate these women as individuals.

Through BSB’s organized activities of white-water rafting, mountaineering, fly fishing, clay shooting, and any planned personal care undertakings, my six BSB mates and I embarked together, on our individual journeys of healing. We laughed until our bellies hurt, revealed some of our greatest anxieties, and by the end of the trip formed a bond that more resembled a sisterhood.

Feelings of regret were replaced by gratitude, resentment evolved into forgiveness, and disappointment was reframed into opportunity. 

BSB was our stepping stone - our green light – our permission to move out unapologetically.

Thank you BSB and to all those that support this incredible organization.  Your investment in in Task Force 103 not only helped six women once again believe in their individual worth, but facilitated a lifelong bond, a sisterhood.

With so much gratitude,

-A”

“Having recently returned from deployment, BSB provided an opportunity to truly reset in the best way I could have imagined - surrounded by nature and in good company. I am most grateful for the powerful impact of the intimate and raw discussions that will undoubtedly yield enduring relationships with teammates from across the Special Operations Community.

6 women, 90+ years of active duty service, and 27+ trout later, BSB provided an unparalleled opportunity to connect and heal. I could not be more grateful. 

-J”

“Big Sky Bravery brought me back to life.

This may seem like hyperbole to you, but I can assure you it is not. I was a shell of a person when I arrived at Big Sky. I was burnt out and stressed out beyond belief, I would wake up, go to work, go home...repeat. I was working and deploying myself into an early grave. I had lost the things that brought me true joy. It's no exaggeration to say I found that joy again at Big Sky Bravery. 

I don't even know where to start with how much this trip meant to me, so I guess I'll start from the beginning. I came down the stairs at the airport in Montana and was immediately welcomed by a group of women. Now this may not seem strange to you as you're reading it, but being a woman in SOF, I'm not often surrounded by other women. This was an immediate and welcome change. I didn't know for sure then, but I had a sneaking suspicion that I had found my tribe. 

I won't drag you through all of the specifics of this trip, since each Task Force is a bit different with their activities, but of this I am sure: the mountain air heals you in a way that you don't understand until you're there. And what the mountain air can't heal, the nighttime discussions with your new Task Force family take care of the rest. 

The overwhelming generosity and compassion of everyone involved with Big Sky Bravery cannot be captured in a short testimonial, it can only be reflected in the smiles of every single woman in our Task Force. As the week went on, the smiles grew bigger, the shadows behind the eyes grew smaller, and the bonds formed grew stronger. I don't know that I will ever be able to express my gratitude for what Big Sky Bravery has done for me. 

Now I waited a bit to write this testimonial. I wanted to ensure that the oxygen deprivation caused by the altitude difference wasn't giving me false euphoria. I'm happy to report (no pun intended) that my dog and I went for a very long walk today. This may not seem like much, but it's something that I haven't had the energy to do in a very long time. The Big Sky Bravery effect is lasting! 

Forever Grateful,

-L”

“The opportunities BSB and its staff provide are not only improving the quality of lives, it’s saving them. It helped save mine. 

-A”

“Laughter is healing. That's what comes to my mind when I think of the TF103 Big Sky Bravery trip. And I didn't know how much I needed it until I was there. Just a few weeks prior to the trip, I made a difficult decision at work to walk away from my last position I had poured in years of my life. It chipped away pieces of me over the years, and I was left with a sense of failure and defeat, health issues, and anger. I wasn't sure if I was ready to meet and connect with those with probably remarkable achievements in their career and beaming with confidence. Plus, I had never bonded with female peers at work in my career and my experience was even worse in the SOF community, a cut-throat environment.

So, I arrived at the Bozeman airport, feeling insecure and somewhat nervous. But the next six days in Montana were the complete opposite of what I was worrying about. Over the six days, I felt a sense of belonging and bonded with absolutely amazing eight women. First of all, I am so thankful to the TF Director and staff, Jennie, Maddie, and Ennea for all the hard work they put in to coordinate and facilitate everything during the trip. More than anything, their genuine kindness and care for us allowed me to put my guard down and be myself. Being in nature and doing and learning things I hadn't done before was a fun and exciting experience. (Who would have thought I would be good at flyfishing???)  And the five sisters in arms! We shared tears and laughter, lots and lots of laughter. I still giggle when looking at some of the photos from whitewater rafting and flyfishing.

I hadn't laughed so much in a long time, and it was such a powerful healer. All that laughter tended to my invisible scars and gave me the courage and strength I needed to pick up my broken pieces to make myself whole again. I feel the strength inside me to put the past behind me and continue on with my mission.

Knowing that I have these five strong women in the community and that I could reach out to them makes me feel strong.  

E.”