The Big Dreams of Big Sky Bravery

Montana-based organization gives elite warriors and their families a sanctuary for restoration

Founded in 2015, Big Sky Bravery exists to serve a population often overlooked: active-duty Special Operations Forces (SOF). They make up just 3% of the U.S. Armed Forces, yet they have sustained more than half of all combat casualties in recent years, carrying the weight of the longest conflict in American history.

Big Sky Bravery was created to give these elite warriors, along with their spouses and families, a rare opportunity to step out of constant operational intensity. Through world-class, all-expense-paid Task Force programs set in Montana’s restorative landscapes, participants are given space to decompress, reconnect, and reclaim what sustained service often requires them to set aside.

Measurable and profound impact

According to recent assessments by those who have experienced the Big Sky Bravery program:

• 99% of active-duty participants reported feeling rejuvenated and restored.

• 100% said the experience was worth the time away from work and family.

• Among SOF families, 100% reported improved family connection, stronger relationships with their children, and a renewed sense of being understood and supported.

One spouse described the experience as “finding my compass again,” while another family shared that the trip transformed deployments from “Daddy’s next trip” into “our family trip.”

Building a permanent sanctuary

In 2024, with a generous donation by Nan and Wayne Kocourek, the organization secured 85.33 acres in Big Sky, Montana. Now, the land is home to the Big Sky Bravery Ranch. The ranch will be operational in December 2027, and will be a permanent sanctuary where SOFs and their families experience restoration and time for reconnection. 

The organization’s mission will be celebrated at Fight Night, Big Sky Bravery's annual black-tie event. It’s a powerful evening dedicated to honoring the nation's most elite warriors and raising the vital support they deserve, and will take place March 28, 2026, in Bozeman, Montana. Fighters are professionally selected and will include both civilians and active-duty military. The goal of the evening is to raise crucial funds for Big Sky Bravery's 372 active-duty SOF and spouse recipients awaiting programming in 2026 and beyond.

Visit bigskybravery.org to donate to this incredible organization. To learn more about the Big Sky Bravery Ranch, go to bsbranch.org.

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