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About Us

Our Mission

The mission of Warrior Sportsmen, Inc. is to provide US Army Special Forces Warriors (Green Berets) a means to enhance recovery from the physical, mental and emotional stress caused by injury or long-term overseas deployments.

About Us

We Are In A Mission To
Help Green Berets

Our mission is to advance physical and emotional healing, provide comraderie and mentorship, help transition heroes from the battlefield or long-term overseas deployments back to life at home, and develop fishing and hunting skills for lifelong enjoyment and for possible career endeavors.

  • Support warriors through outdoor activities
  • Promote physical and emotional healing
  • Help transition heroes from the battlefield
  • Develop fishing and hunting skills

Why Take Warriors Hunting & Fishing

There are few activities that can be more relaxing and rewarding than hunting, and there are several reasons why the sport can make you a happier person. Not only is hunting good for the environment and animal populations, but it is great for physical and mental health as well.

Therapeutic experts claim that, because fishing requires focus, it helps take a person’s mind off internal conflict. Locating fish, developing a strategy, choosing the correct fly or lure, and properly presenting that lure to the fish all require critical thinking and creativity, which allow a healthy escape from stress, depression, and anxiety.

“I was here last year during SF Week as a regular camp client. I brought my son this year because I wanted him to see and experience the truly unique camaraderie that Green Berets have between themselves and how quickly they make everyone in the camp one of the valued team members.”
Civilian
Alaska Salmon Fishing 2021

Fran Beaudette

Lieutenant General (Retired)

Chairman

Fran Beaudette

Lieutenant General (Retired)
Board Member

 

Lieutenant General Beaudette was commissioned in 1989 as an Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer, in his first assignment he served as a Battalion Assistant S-2, M1A1 crewmember, and armor platoon leader in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Beaudette volunteered for Special Forces, completing the SF Qualification Course in 1995 and transferring branches to Special Forces. His first assignment was to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he commanded at both Operational Detachment-Alpha and company levels and as the Group assistant Operations Officer. Beaudette commanded a Special Forces company at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Kosovo, as well as serving as a Battalion Executive Officer and Group Operations Officer for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), both at Fort Carson and in Iraq. Following a tour on the Joint Staff in the J3 Deputy Directorate for Special Operations, he commanded 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Germany and Special Operations Task Force 10 in Afghanistan. He then served as the G3 Operation Officer and Chief of Staff for the United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). Beaudette was then selected to command the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines. He then served as the Executive Officer to the commander, United States Special Operations Command. Beaudette served as the Deputy Commanding General, 1st Armored Division and Director of United States Central Command Forward-Jordan. He then served with Joint Special Operations Command as the Assistant Commanding General. Beaudette commanded the United States Army Special Operations Command from 2018 until his retirement in 2021. He is a graduate of The Citadel, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College. In retirement Beaudette continues to serve our nation and Special Forces through numerous advisory panels and councils.  His life-long love for the outdoors, fishing and hunting brings an unequalled, unique perspective of how a Warrior Sportsmen experience can be life changing.

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Douglas Frank

Chief Warrant Officer Five (Retired)

Co-founder, Secretary, and Executive Director

Douglas Frank

Chief Warrant Officer Five (Retired)
Co-founder and Executive Director

 

Doug served in uniform for 38 years, the last 29 years as a Green Beret. He led small teams of Green Berets, served in key and critical staff positions, and advised commanders at all levels within the Special Forces Regiment during peace and war, with overseas deployments including Operations Just Cause, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and numerous Mobile Training Teams and Joint and Combined Exercise and Training missions throughout Central and South America. Since his retirement from the Army, Doug has continued to show his support for the Special Forces Regiment most notably though his active involvement with various Special Forces related associations and nonprofit organizations.  He has served as the Honorary Warrant Officer of the Special Forces Regiment where he continued to serve as a “Grey Beard” mentor to active-duty Special Forces Soldiers. Doug earned an Associate of Arts from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College of New York. Doug is a life-member of the Special Forces Association and a life-member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He continues his life-long love for the outdoors, and strongly believes that fishing and hunting are viable, sustainable conservation management methods of our natural resources.

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Jean Moore

Treasurer

Jean Moore

Board Member

Jean is a finance/accounting professional with over thirty years’ experience, including working initially in Big Five public accounting.  Most recently, she works as a Controller for an Alaskan fishing business and part time as a Financial Consultant for a Defense Contractor.  She volunteers her time to serve as Treasurer for two non-profit organizations.   Additionally, she volunteers at a food bank, and visits with the homebound elderly.  In her spare time, Jean and her husband enjoy running, hiking, and reading.

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Pete von Jess

Colonel (Retired)

Co-Founder and Board Member

Pete von Jess

Colonel (Retired)
Co-Founder and Chairman

Pete is a Green Beret who served in the US Army active and reserve components for 22 years including tours with the USAJFKSWC, 7th SFG(A), and 11th SFG(A). He has served in Korea, Honduras, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Afghanistan. Pete is a serial entrepreneur whose companies include USfalcon, Inc. and Greyhawk Ventures LLC. He served as Director of Business Development at Computer Sciences Corporation and as Program Manager at General Dynamics Corporation. Pete is a Knight Commander and the Chancellor of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem and is a fourth degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. Pete is the former Vice-Commander of Legion Post 178, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Pete holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Master of Science in Applied Management from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He is also a Graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College. Pete is a Life Member and a notable supporter of the Special Forces Association. His philanthropy extends to numerous charitable organizations who support the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets. As an active, certified, and licensed Alaska Fishing Guide Pete demonstrates his true love for the outdoors and good stewardship of our natural resources.

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Chris Zets

Command Sergeant Major (Retired)

Board Member

Chris Zets

Command Sergeant Major (Retired)
Board Member

 

Chris Zets is from Grovetown GA and always enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors as he was growing up.  He entered the Army in 1978 and after completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in January of 1979 was assigned to the 7th SFG(A) at Ft. Bragg, NC.  For the next 30 years, Chris served with Special Forces all over the world to include most of the countries in Latin America, two deployments to Africa, four combat rotations to the Middle East, and two four-year tours of duty in Panama.  His final assignment before he retired in 2008 was as the Command Sergeant Major for the 7th Special Forces Group.  After he left the Army, Chris worked for the Joint IED Defeat Organization for nine years, after which he attended and graduated from the Montgomery Community County gunsmithing program in 2019.  He also has an MA degree in Management from Webster University.  Chris was selected to serve as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Special Forces Regiment for four years and was recognized as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment in 2019.  He currently does some occasional support of the Special Warfare Center and School, but most of his time is spent keeping up with his small farm and enjoying retirement.  For more than a decade, Chris has worked with many different benevolent and fraternal organizations in support of Green Berets and their families.  He is life member and former board member of the Special Forces Association, a former board member of the Green Beret Foundation, and is currently the Vice-Chairman of the JFK Special Warfare Museum Advisory Council.  He is also a life member of the American Legion, DAV, and VFW.  Chris’ life-long love for the outdoors continues to this day as he remains an avid hunter and fisherman, and most recently began tournament bass fishing with his son.  

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Joe Fancher

Command Sergeant Major (Retired)

Board Member

Joe Fancher

Command Sergeant Major
Special Advisor to the Board

 

Command Sergeant Major Joseph L. Fancher currently serves as the Command Sergeant Major of the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the Army Special Operation’s Center of Excellence.
He began his military service in 1990. CSM Fancher has served as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant, Intelligence Sergeant, Special Operations Detachment Alpha Operations Sergeant and in multiple positions as a sergeant major. He is a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course and the Joint Special Operations University Summit Course. His civilian education includes an Associates in Science from Jefferson Community College, a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College of New York and a Master’s in Business Management and Leadership from the George Herbert Walker School of Business at Webster University. CSM Fancher has multiple deployments in the Middle East and the Special Operations Command-South area of responsibility. His Special Forces career experiences and life-long love for the outdoors provide him a unique perspective how the Warrior Sportsmen program mitigates the adverse impact of multiple long-term, overseas deployments. He advises the Board of Directors about programs and participant selection.

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Our Board

Meet The Team

The Warrior Sportsmen team is composed of veteran and non-veteran volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors who genuinely appreciate and respect our Warrior’s sacrifices. Our team shares a passion for fishing, hunting, the outdoors, and the desire to provide our Warriors and their families with the best opportunities with like-minded volunteers.

Warrior Sportsmen is a way for people to give back to the men of US Army Special Forces, and their families, who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice every day to protect the freedom of our country.

The Warrior Sportsmen team shows its grateful appreciation to our Warriors and their families and help our Warriors by sponsoring, supporting and funding outdoor events through private and corporate contributions and fundraising events.

Warrior Sportsmen, Inc. is organized and incorporated under North Carolina law as a non-membership, nonprofit corporation exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. It is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

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We show unending gratitude to our brothers in arms, the warriors we attract, the ones who have given total sacrifice to give liberty to all.

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