SPECIAL OPS SURVIVORS

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. 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.)