The Plan Forward
(Vision)

The Rick Herrema Foundation addresses a critical gap in military deployment and reintegration services for active duty soldiers and their loved ones. Our foundation was founded in 2014 by Special Operations Force soldiers to honor the late Rick Herrema, a soldier who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our mission is to support relationships and build community for the military family – as broadly defined – through fun, quality activities.

We currently host approximately 800 visits from soldiers, friends, and family members each month at Ft. Bragg, the largest US military installation. These soldiers face brutal warfare and return to a difficult social reintegration process. A near constant alert status often confines their travel to areas near Ft. Bragg.

We provide evidenced-based, fun group activities that promote familial cohesion, reduce stress, improve quality of life, and offer tailored social support. Examples include team relays, family obstacle courses, educational gardening groups, horse and other animal interactive fun, and other activities soldiers say help them reintegrate and reduce stress. We work at a 50-acre greenspace 5.5 miles from Ft. Bragg, thus within the travel perimeter allowed.

According to Max Dolan, Dept. of Defense Region 9 PEER Support Coordinator, “No one is doing what RHF is doing.” Several top U.S. Army leaders use our work and support it to address relationship concerns related to deployment and reintegration. With the success and broad support we have enjoyed at Ft. Bragg, we believe that there is tremendous potential for replication at different bases across the nation.