FORCE BLUE: Diving To Save The Oceans
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
All it takes is the right formula topped off with that determined and strong warrior spirit to create a positive impact on ailing coral reefs. Out of this strength and resolution is born FORCE BLUE, a new non-profit organization focused on assisting former Special Operations veterans to utilize their training and teamwork in an effort to preserve and protect the coral reefs, the gems of our oceans.
On Monday, September 26, 2016, FORCE BLUE will hold its inaugural fundraising reception in Dallas, Texas, to honor the veterans. The top priority of this newly born organization is to hold a training class comprised of six veterans in gorgeous Grand Cayman in the Caribbean at the popular Sunset House Dive Resort (sunsethouse.com)The class is targeted to begin in early 2017.
“The response to FORCE BLUE has been astounding, and we’re honored to have the support of some very prominent people,” said Sunset House General Manager Keith Sahm who just happens to be the co-founder of the organization.
Texas real estate magnate and Earth Day Texas founder Trammel S. Crow is hosting the event in Dallas, and the guest list includes some big names from both the veteran and business communities. Individuals expected to attend this magnetic fundraiser include (Ret) U.S. Navy SEAL Admiral Ed Winter, (Ret.) USMC General David Garza, former Recon Marine and star of the HBO miniseries Generation Kill, Rudy Reyes, Benghazi survivor Kris “Tanto” Paronto, whose story was told in the film 13 Hours, and Chuck Pfarrer, former SEAL Team Six member and author of the NY Times bestseller, SEAL Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden.
The idea for FORCE BLUE developed in Grand Cayman last summer during discussions at Sunset House between Sahm, Rudy Reyes and long-time friend, Jim Ritterhoff. Diving became their daily routine while together for this period of time and Sahm gave them a tour of the resort’s new coral nursery where restoration work was currently underway. The diving proved therapeutic for Reyes, who himself had been battling with the challenges of civilian life after multiple combat deployments.
“We all know the struggles our veterans, particularly our Special Forces veterans, face coming home after years at war, “said Ritterhoff. “Our thought was, if we could somehow use diving and marine conservation to give them a positive mission, we could not only help them, but the planet as well.”
“It’s a win, win for everyone,” Sahm echoed. Not only will FORCE BLUE train these highly-skilled men and women how to help restore damaged reefs, but it will also teach them to be spokespeople for ocean conservation world-wide.”
“We’re giving warriors a cause and a cause its warriors,” said Reyes.
Sunset House will be the home base for FORCE BLUE in Grand Cayman as soon as the first mission is announced and team members are ready to hit the water. The warriors will be trained in coral restoration by marine science experts and they will help tend the resort’s new coral nursery. Banding together for the sake of our precious oceans, other Cayman dive operators have committed to help with the program, as has the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman. Sahm says ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff, who was himself severely wounded in Iraq, has expressed interest in covering the first class at Sunset House.
Sunset House/Sunset Divers has been welcoming divers to the Cayman Islands for more than 58 years. Sunset House stands out amongst the rest because It is the only resort in the Cayman Islands, designed by divers, operated by divers, for divers. It’s also the only resort on Grand Cayman that has its own coral reef, with modern and ancient shipwrecks in shallow water right off shore. Underwater visibility on Sunset House’s reef can exceed 200 feet, and a remarkable variety of marine life to be seen there. There is even their very own spectacular 9’ bronze sculpture of the mermaid Amphitrite not far from shore and has proven to be one of the most popular shore dive sites in the world.
“Starting out, Cayman just makes the most logistical sense for us,” said Ritterhoff. “We have the contacts and support in Cayman to launch Force Blue in a powerful way. And Cayman affords us, not only access to one of the world’s healthiest and most vibrant coral reef systems, but access to some of the world’s finest conservation minds as well.”
With the world’s coral reefs under threat by global warming, massive bleaching events, overfishing and pollution, a helping hand from America’s best is needed. The organization’s initial two-week training program will take place entirely in Cayman, but the plan calls for expanding FORCE BLUE’S influence to different destinations around the world and bringing other teams aboard. This, in turn, will create a wider sense of awareness and educate the world on the dangers that face our oceans and the amazing work that veterans do.
These valuable reinforcements are welcomed by Keith Sahm who has been fully involved in the local environmental battle to save Cayman’s reefs from destruction ahead of a planned cruise ship dock in George Town Harbour.
“It’s all about raising awareness and reaching a new audience with a message of conservation and care and our veterans are the perfect ambassadors,” said Sahm who is asking for donations to support FORCE BLUE. “Help us. Help vets. Help the planet. There is a lot of good that can be done by joining our team.”
The fundraising reception will be held on Monday, September 26 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Pecan Room of the Old Parkland in Dallas, Texas. For more information about FORCE BLUE or to donate to the organization visit www.forceblueteam.org or email co-founder Keith Sahm at keith@forceblueteam.org.
