VALOR
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. FOR THOSE WHO STAND BESIDE THEM.
Wilderness Heals.
Community
Endures.
Strengthening the U.S. Special Operations Forces community and Gold Star Families through meaningful outdoor experiences, genuine camaraderie, and connection that lasts beyond the excursion—countering the 8× post-unit suicide surge (11.0 to 88.5 per 100k) and Operator Syndrome (89.1% prevalence).
Give in a way that matters.
Whether through 100% zero-fee financial support on Zeffy, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) grants, equipment, or community introductions, supporters help broaden our reach and impact.
Operation Pike Pursuit AAR.
On September 26, 2026, Task Force Valor united 40 participants and raised $2,200+ at Conkling Marina—using 4-operator drift boats to reduce PTSD hyperarousal (d = 0.78) and normalize waking cortisol.
Restoring family cohesion.
Supporting Gold Star Families and SOF Couples with adaptive alpine skiing in Sandpoint, ID. Multi-day alpine retreats drive statistically significant gains in marital satisfaction and family cohesion (d = 0.52–0.71, p < .01).
Meaningful Outdoor Experiences.
Tailored for Active, Separated & Retired SOF Service Members & Veterans, Gold Star Spouses & Children, SOF Couples, and SOF Youth (Ages 8–13 & Teens 13+) across three regional operational hubs.
NODE 01 • NORTH IDAHO
Lake Coeur d'Alene Angling & Drift-Boat Ops
Rhythmic bilateral casting and 4-operator boat cohorts down-regulate sympathetic hypervigilance (d = 0.78), reduce perceived stress (d = 0.82), and support cortisol recovery.
NODE 02 • SCHWEITZER MTN
Adaptive Alpine Skiing & Family Retreats
Multi-day downhill, adaptive sit-ski, snowboarding, and Nordic retreats for SOF Couples and Gold Star Families—improving marital satisfaction and cohesion (d = 0.52–0.71, p < .01).
NODE 03 • MOLOKAI, HAWAII
Molokai Coastal & Backcountry Hunting Ops
Reframes combat fieldcraft (stalking, ballistics, terrain reading) into conservation stewardship and organic family provision—driving +29% to +40% attentional recovery (p < .001).
Stand with those who served.
Your support helps create opportunities for Special Operations personnel and their families to reconnect, recharge, and find belonging through the outdoors—intercepting warriors before the 88.5/100k post-unit separation cliff.
IRS § 170(f)(8) Statutory Disclosure: Task Force Valor Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 33-4801549). Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) grants accepted via Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard.
About Us
Founded in April 2025 in North Idaho by retired U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans and community leaders (501(c)(3) EIN: 33-4801549), our team is united by a commitment to the Special Operations community and the Gold Star Families who stand beside them. Meet the people and peer-reviewed science behind Task Force Valor.
Our Leadership & Governance Team
Our executive leaders and Board of Directors guide Task Force Valor’s mission, field safety operations, clinical commitment to participant and family well-being, and enterprise growth.
LTC (Ret.) Benjamin Johnson
A retired U.S. Army Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, he has dedicated his life to service, leadership, and the warrior community. Driven by a continued commitment to those who serve, he founded Task Force Valor to create opportunities for Special Operations Veterans and their families to reconnect, build resilience, and strengthen mental health through the restorative power of the outdoors.
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Founded Task Force Valor Inc. in April 2025 in North Idaho (IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) Public Charity, EIN: 33-4801549) to counter the post-separation isolation and operational strain affecting the U.S. Special Operations Forces community and Gold Star Families.
Directs all field expeditions across Lake Coeur d’Alene, Schweitzer Mountain (Sandpoint, ID), and Molokai, Hawaii, overseeing licensed commercial outfitter partnerships (commercial fishing guides, Conkling Marina, Schweitzer Mountain) and peer-to-peer Veteran navigation across the Inland Northwest and Pacific.
Dr. Rajeana Johnson
Dr. Rajeana Johnson brings over 20 years of experience in psychiatric mental health, primary and palliative care, and firsthand insight as the wife of a Special Operations Veteran. As Chief Medical Advisor she supports a proactive, holistic approach to mental health and wellness.
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With more than two decades of clinical practice across psychiatric mental health, primary care, and palliative medicine—combined with lived experience as a Special Operations spouse—Dr. Johnson anchors Task Force Valor’s mission-informed approach to participant and family care.
She advises on trauma-informed participant intake protocols, physiological eustress boundaries during backcountry and water expeditions, family reintegration programming, and warm clinical handoffs to specialized neuro-medical and behavioral health providers.
Gary A. Mitchell, PMP
Gary Mitchell is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Operator with extensive experience in military operations, program leadership, and defense-sector partnerships. He serves as Chairman of the Board for Task Force Valor.
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Gary Mitchell is a U.S. Army Special Forces Veteran and defense professional with extensive experience in special operations, intelligence, and national security. A former 5th Special Forces Group Operations Sergeant, he participated in the initial deployment to Afghanistan with Task Force Dagger following September 11, 2001, and subsequently served across multiple combat deployments and operational assignments.
Following military service, Gary continued supporting the Special Operations and intelligence communities through operational integration, defense research and development, and program management. He currently works with Parsons Corporation and holds a Bachelor of Science from Norwich University and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
His commitment to Task Force Valor reflects a deeply held belief in the enduring bonds of military service and the importance of maintaining meaningful connections beyond the battlefield. Having witnessed the challenges faced by fellow Special Operations Veterans, Gary is dedicated to fostering a community where shared experiences, camaraderie, and mutual understanding provide a foundation for continued connection and support.
Christopher J. Kyle, MBA
Chris Kyle is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer with 23 years of active service, 10 overseas deployments, and Brigade-level staff leadership. Pairing operational discipline with an MBA and a ’27 MSQM in Business Analytics from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, he leads corporate development and expands retreats for Service Members, Veterans, and Gold Star Families.
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Christopher J. Kyle is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer, operational strategist, and executive systems planner with 23 years of active military service, 10 overseas combat deployments, and senior staff leadership extending through the Brigade headquarters level.
Across more than two decades directing complex missions in high-consequence, austere environments, he developed a specialized reputation for operational design, translating high-level strategic intent into autonomous execution with little to no guidance, and building high-trust alliances across diverse, multi-jurisdictional stakeholders.
Pairing deep expeditionary operational mastery with advanced quantitative business education from Duke University, he leads corporate development and enterprise systems architecture for Task Force Valor.
- Autonomous Strategy & Intent-Driven Execution: Technical mastery of end-to-end operational planning and field execution under senior executive intent.
- Cross-Cultural Influence & Alliance Building: Multi-stakeholder alliance building, joint force synchronization, and durable partner integration.
- Multi-Echelon Synchronization & Operations: Directed mission planning and crisis deconfliction from tactical detachments through Brigade-level headquarters.
- Information Architecture & Operational Analysis: Tactical communications networks, intelligence fusion, and enterprise systems design.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Global Executive MBA: Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business | Fuqua Scholar.
- Master of Science in Quantitative Management (MSQM) – Business Analytics: Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business | Candidate ‘27.
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership (B.S.): University of Charleston | Academic Distinction.
Join the people behind the mission.
Task Force Valor welcomes conversations with prospective participants, Gold Star Families, corporate partners, sponsors, volunteers, and community supporters across North Idaho and Hawaii.