September 2026 Mission Update

RECONNECTING WARRIORS • RESTORING PURPOSE

THE MISSION IS GROWING

Summer has been a busy one for the Special Operations Adventure Foundation.

What started with a simple idea — reconnecting Special Operations veterans with the sense of purpose, camaraderie and adventure that defined so much of our military lives — is becoming something much bigger.

Over the past few months, we have put serious miles on motorcycles, traveled across the country, built new partnerships and, most importantly, continued creating opportunities for veterans to reconnect with one another through challenging outdoor experiences.

And we're just getting started.

1,000 MILES THROUGH APPALACHIA

One of the biggest highlights of our summer was SOAF's participation in the Backroads of Appalachia Appalachian 1000.

We rode more than 1,000 miles through West Virginia and Kentucky as part of the 72-hour endurance event, experiencing some incredible country along the way while helping raise awareness and support for Special Operations veterans.

And yes… there were a few memorable moments.

During one river crossing, I managed to put myself — and the motorcycle — completely underwater.

Not exactly the plan.

But that's adventure.

You don't remember the easy miles. You remember the moments when things go sideways, the people who help you get moving again, and the places you never would have seen if you hadn't been willing to take the road less traveled.

Beyond the riding, the Appalachian 1000 allowed SOAF to raise $6,800 for our foundation.

That support directly helps us continue developing the outdoor experiences and retreats that are at the heart of our mission.

We're also excited about what comes next.

Our relationship with Backroads of Appalachia is continuing to grow, and we're exploring the possibility of establishing an East Coast base of operations that will allow SOAF participants to experience the incredible backcountry of Appalachia through adventure motorcycles, side-by-sides, overlanding and other outdoor activities.

This could become a major part of SOAF's future.

WHY THE OUTDOORS?

At SOAF, outdoor adventure Isn’t the mission.

It’s the vehicle.

The real mission is connection.

For many Special Operations veterans, leaving the military means leaving behind something that is difficult to recreate in civilian life — a team, a purpose, a shared standard and people who understand what you've been through without needing an explanation.

That's why we believe getting veterans outside, challenging them physically and putting them alongside other veterans can be so powerful.

There is something about standing around a campfire after a long day on the trail, sitting around a table sharing a meal, or helping another rider through a difficult section of trail that cuts through all the noise.

No resumes.

No titles.

No expectations.

Just people who understand each other.

That's what we're trying to build.

FALL IS HERE — AND THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE

As summer winds down, we're turning our attention toward our fall programs.

Our upcoming women's retreat is designed specifically for women who have served in the Special Operations community.

The retreat will bring participants together for several days of outdoor adventure, camaraderie and personal growth in an environment designed to get them away from the noise of everyday life.

Rather than simply talking about reconnecting with purpose, participants will have the opportunity to experience it through activities like hiking, fishing, mountain biking and time spent together in the outdoors.

One of our upcoming retreats will be hosted at Grit Moto Ranch in Park City, Utah, where participants will have access to fishing, hiking, mountain biking and the opportunity to sleep under the stars in the ranch's unique yurts.

It's exactly the kind of environment we believe in at SOAF — challenging, beautiful, remote and conducive to building genuine relationships.

LOOKING AHEAD: COLORADO'S BACKCOUNTRY

We're also developing a new adventure concept for Colorado.

Our upcoming 24-hour Colorado Adventure is intentionally different from a traditional endurance race.

This isn't about winning.

It's about exploration.

Participants will travel through some of Colorado's most spectacular backcountry on a route consisting primarily of dirt roads, connecting mountain passes, historic mining areas and scenic routes that most travelers never experience.

The concept is designed for both street-legal adventure motorcycles and four-wheel-drive vehicles, creating an opportunity for friends and families to experience the adventure together.

Expect roads and terrain around places like Victor, Shelf Road, Phantom Canyon and the high mountain passes of Colorado.

Approximately 70% of the route will be dirt.

The goal is simple:

Cover some miles. See some incredible country. Challenge yourself. And come home with a story.

Most importantly, your participation helps support the mission of SOAF.

BUILDING FOR 2027

The success of our inaugural Dual Sport Adventure weekend in Park City, Utah, gave us a tremendous amount to build on.

We're already planning the 2027 SOAF Dual Sport Adventure Weekend, scheduled for June 10–13, 2027, at Grit Moto Ranch in Park City.

The inaugural event proved that there is a tremendous appetite for this type of experience, and we're taking everything we learned from that first event and making the next one even better.

We're also bringing back some of the veterans who participated in the inaugural event to help serve as guides.

That is exactly what we want to see.

Participants becoming leaders.

Veterans helping veterans.

The people who experienced the program helping create the next generation of the program.

That's how a community is built.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

None of this happens without the people and organizations willing to invest in our mission.

From the riders who show up and put miles on the odometer, to the companies that donate equipment and services, to the individuals who make financial contributions — every bit of support helps us put another veteran in the outdoors.

We are especially grateful to the partners who have helped us build these programs, including Grit Moto Ranch, Colorado Motorcycle Adventures, REV'IT! Denver, Bivouac Coffee, Fay Myers Motorcycle World, Backroads of Appalachia and the many individuals who have supported SOAF along the way.

Your support isn't simply funding an adventure.

It's helping us create an opportunity for a warrior to reconnect with his or her tribe.

GET INVOLVED

There are several ways you can become part of what we're building.

Ride with us.
Join one of our upcoming adventure events.

Support a veteran.
Your donation helps us provide transportation, lodging, equipment and programming for veterans participating in SOAF retreats and adventures.

Become a sponsor.
If your business wants to support Special Operations veterans while becoming part of the adventure community, we'd love to talk with you.

Spread the word.
Follow us on social media, share our stories and introduce someone to SOAF who might benefit from what we're doing.

The more people who understand the mission, the more veterans we can reach.

RECONNECTING WARRIORS. RESTORING PURPOSE.

We're building something different.

Not another organization that simply tells veterans that help is available.

We're creating opportunities for them to do something.

To get outside.

To challenge themselves.

To meet other veterans.

To build new friendships.

To rediscover the feeling of being part of a team.

And maybe, somewhere along the way, to remember that the best chapters of their lives don't necessarily end when the uniform comes off.

Sometimes they're just beginning.

Thank you for being part of the SOAF community.

— Jason Borges
Founder
Special Operations Adventure Foundation

RECONNECTING WARRIORS — RESTORING PURPOSE