Today, nearly 200,000 of our American service members are deployed in more than 100 countries around the world. But our troops are not as equipped as we’d like to think. Many times, they need resources faster than the government can supply them. Red tape, supply chain issues, or equipment failures mean that our service members are sometimes in the field without the equipment they need to protect themselves or to do the job effectively. When our troops need operational gear, they don’t need it in a few weeks or months. They need it now. Troops Direct fills the gap to protect our service members by supplying them with the equipment they need— usually within days, anywhere around the world. Our troops sacrifice daily to protect us, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. It’s our duty to support them - to provide what they need to accomplish missions and come home safe and in one piece.
It started with a simple package to a longtime friend and Marine Corps Infantry Commander deployed to Afghanistan. His email of thanks not only expressed his gratitude, but also the need for him to share the contents with the troops under his command. Shocked to learn there were tens of thousands of service members on the front lines who would benefit from an ongoing supply of hygiene, nutrition, medical supplies and operational gear. These essential staples would keep them healthy, sharp and motivated, and perhaps even alive.
Over a decade later, Troops Direct continues to supply our forces across all continents, and on every type of mission. Still at zero cost to them. Because of you, Troops Direct has helped accomplish missions and protected the lives of our sons and daughters in the process.
Troops Direct provides our service members with any critically-needed items they request. Delays or declined requests for resources can mean loss of limb or loss of life. Your donation ensures they get the resources they need—usually in days, not months. Whether it is a pair of boots, medical kits, metal detectors, or tools to defuse bombs, your support makes an immediate and dramatic difference in the lives of our service members.
You can find out more about Troops Direct and keep up with other community events at troopsdirect.org or their social media accounts @troopsdirect.
After stepping away from the Navy in 1985 to pursue civilian life, Don soon realized that the challenges, camaraderie, and sense of purpose within the SEAL Teams were irreplaceable. He returned to the Naval Special Warfare Community in 1988, sharpening his skills at the Defense Language Institute for Spanish before joining SEAL Team FOUR. His deployments took him across the globe, including missions in the Persian Gulf and Panama, where he served with Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT.
