Details
OUR MISSION
To Support the United States Special Operations Community through direct support to families of fallen Operators, healing programs designed to combat the effects of PTS, TBI and loss of a loved one, and youth scholarships for children of active duty members of our community.
Vision Statement
To provide Active Duty members of the Special Operations Community and their families the opportunity to honor our fallen and advance their careers and family life despite prolonged deployments and family separation.
Core Values
- Altruism: Conduct business without personal gain. Motivated only by our mission and vision.
- Transparency: All activities, events, and programs conducted in full public display; every aspects of each operation will be made available to the public.
- Family Participation: Committed to including the families of our honored fallen; we will honor their loved one in the manner they deem most fitting.
- Inclusion: Inclusion of family members, Special Operators, volunteers, vendors, supporters, and the general public is paramount to our success.
- Humility: Remaining humble and true to each other, our roots, and our families. Self reflection is a requirement. Understanding and receiving constructive criticism will allow us to serve the community better each year.
"BIG MIKE" DUSKIN
Warrant Officer Two Michael Duskin was a native of Orange Park, Florida, born on 21 September, 1970. He died 23 October, 2012 of wounds received from small arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
In 1993, CW2 Duskin volunteered for service by enlisting as a Forward Observer in the U.S. Army. Upon graduating from Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, CW2 Duskin attended the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. CW2 Duskin’s first duty assignment was with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as a platoon Forward Observer. After serving three years with the 75th Ranger Regiment, he left active duty and later joined the Florida National Guard. In 1998, CW2 Duskin attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and later graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in August of that year. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant.
In 2001, CW2 Duskin was mobilized to deploy with ODA 361, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne). After his deployment, he returned to active duty and remained a member of the unit until December, 2007. He deployed four additional times with 2nd Battalion before being selected as an instructor for the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. While serving as a Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTAETC) Instructor, CW2 Duskin attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course. Upon graduating from the course in May 2010, CW2 Duskin was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne) as an Assistant Detachment Commander in Alpha Company. He was on his second deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in that position.
CW2 Duskin’s military education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Jungle Operations Training Course, SFARTAETC, the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Jumpmaster Course, Warrant Officer Basic Course, Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
CW2 Duskin’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2), Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
RILEY STEPHENS
Sergeant First Class Riley Gene Stephens was born in Tolar, Texas on 26 August, 1973. He died 28 September, 2012 of wounds received from small arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
SFC Stephens enlisted in the U.S. Army in January, 1993 as an 11B, Infantryman. Upon completion of his initial training, SFC Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327 Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served in several infantry positions including squad automatic gunner and Fire Team Leader. SFC Stephens later served as a Scout Section Leader at his next duty assignment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment.
SFC Stephens volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. In March, 2005, following completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.
SFC Stephens deployed on five separate deployments to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. This was SFC Stephens sixth deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
His military education includes the U.S. Army Air Assault School, U.S. Army Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Hostage Negotiation Course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course, Emergency Medical Technician – Ambulance Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, USASOC Jumpmaster Course, the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
SFC Stephens’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, Bronze Star Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with Valor device, Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3 device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3 device, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger tab, and the Special Forces tab. His permanent unit awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation. SFC Stephens was also awarded the Canadian Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation Medal.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.
DUSKIN AND STEPHENS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
A major part of our mission at The Duskin and Stephens Foundation is to provide educational scholarship opportunities to the children of our brothers in arms. We believe that instilling strong values and leadership skills at a very young age will pay dividends in our communities and in our nation. Because of this belief we offer three-year primary school scholarships to selected children of active duty members of Special Operations Forces. Our independent Scholarship Selection Board grades each of our applicants based on Financial Need, Family Size, Family Community Involvement, Selfless Service, and Other Exceptional Family Circumstances.
To See Our Upcoming Events please visit:
www.eventbrite.com/d/nc--pinehurst/duskin-and-stephens/
Links to other Duskins and Stephens Foundation Initiatives:
www.duskinandstephens.org/kilimanjaro-climb.html
www.duskinandstephens.org/freedom-project.html
www.duskinandstephens.org/gold-star-family.html
www.duskinandstephens.org/honor-teammates.html
