The Navy SEALs are some of the most exclusive and elite US military forces — they make up less than 1% of even just the US Navy Personnel.
Throughout their careers, Navy SEALs undergo some of the harshest and most grueling training and missions known to man. Both they and their families make enormous sacrifices for their country.
Fortunately, there is an organization that provides support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community and their families: the Navy SEAL Foundation.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about the incredible programs and wondrous accomplishments of the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is the Navy SEAL Foundation?
The Navy SEAL Foundation provides ongoing support to the NSW community and their families. NSW members sacrifice their lives for their country, so the Navy Seal Foundation does everything it can to promote peace of mind for them.
It was established in 2000 as a nonprofit organization. They provide over 30 crucial programs for SEALs, SWCCs, veterans, and their loved ones through five Pillars of Support:
- Strength
- Resilience
- Health
- Education
- Community
The Navy Special Warfare community is an incredibly unique community that has special needs that the foundation addresses. They help keep the warriors in the fight as well as allow them to transition smoothly into the civilian sector.
The Five Pillars of Support
The Naval Special Warfare Foundation's programs separate into five categories representing the Navy SEAL community. Let's take a deeper look at each of them.
Strength
Although the members of the Navy SEAL community and their families have proven to be some of the strongest people in the entire world, everyone needs a support structure that can help them build a comfortable life.
The programs in the Strength Pillar provide several forms of assistance to active duty service members. This can include respite care, morale-building events, and command all-calls.
They also give members great career transition opportunities with experts in networking, resume-building, and world-class institutes to help military members transition into the civilian sector. They even have programs that can give veterans that are experiencing financial hardship emergency funding.
This Pillar keeps the warriors of the program and their families strong throughout their lives.
Resilience
When the worst happens for active duty, veterans, and families of the NSW, the Foundation is there to help aid and assist in recovery.
This includes helping Gold Star Families with financial help to cover any costs when it comes to memorial services, dignified transfer of remains, and travel expenses.
Afterward, the NSF continues to provide several services to the families of fallen warriors, including:
- Counseling
- Retreats
- Remembrance gifts
- Specialized kids camps
The NSF also assists warriors who suffer a death in their family. They have recently also begun providing help to those with suicidal thoughts as well.
The Foundation is committed to keeping veterans and their families resilient even through the toughest times.
Health
It's no secret that life in the NSW can take both a physical and mental toll on warriors as well as their family members. If a SEAL or SWCC ever becomes critically injured or ill, the NSW has programs to back them up both logistically and financially.
The NSF's programs address the unique physical and mental challenges that the warriors go through to make sure they get the highest quality of life possible.
Programs include:
- Human performance
- Wounded and injured support
- Service dog support
- Dependent and family illness
- Mental health support
- Whole Warrior Health Forum
The NSF keeps its members healthy during and after service.
Education
For those in the SEAL community, whether they are warriors or members, it can be difficult to find school and development opportunities.
The Education Pillar programs empower soldiers and their families by giving them scholarships for higher education. They also provide educational support for dependent children of soldiers that are geographically separated.
They also provide funding for college entrance exams and other areas where support might not be available. Programs in the Educational Pillar include:
- Transition education
- Scholarships
- Educational grants
- Gratitude Initiative
- Private school and tutoring support
- Partnership education
The NSF ensures that its members and their families get a quality education when they seek it out.
Community
The SEAL community is based on a proud tradition that stretches back to World War II. The members of this community have achieved extraordinary things with exceptional courage and need to be recognized and remembered.
The Community Pillar programs empower the preservation of this brotherhood with things like veteran reconnect events, summer camps, and legacy preservation. They also provide financial support for monuments and national memorials.
The Foundation for Navy SEALs keeps the history and community of these extraordinary warriors alive.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NSF
Still have questions? Here are a few answers to the most frequently asked questions about the NSF.
Why Is the NSF Necessary? Shouldn't the VA or "Big Navy" Cover These Things?
The NSF's programs do not overlap with any government support. It fills in the gaps in different types of coverage that the DOD or VA does not provide. The programs are constantly being updated to meet the needs of the NSW community.
Who Makes Up the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors of the NSF is 100% voluntary. They do not receive compensation for their work. It is made up of 60% SEALs, while the rests are business professionals and NSW spouses.
How Much Support Is Given to Gold Star Families?
There are several different types of programs that provide support to Surviving Family Members and Gold Star Families. 15% of the NSF budget is directed toward Gold Star programs to ensure that the families of fallen warriors are never forgotten.
Learn More About Navy SEAL Programs
That's everything you need to know about the NSF but please go direct to their website to learn more or better yet, donate for this inspiring cause... go to Navy SEAL Foundation.
It's no secret that the warriors of the Naval Special Warfare community voluntarily sacrifice more than the average person daily. The NSF was created so that they and their families can sleep easy knowing that they have someone supporting them in every facet of life.
If you'd like to learn more about other Navy SEAL programs, make sure to check out our other articles today.
