Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Foundation Inc

The Coast Guard's Special Operations component, the Deployable Specialized Forces, conduct high risk missions across the United States and around the world. Training for these missions is often just as high risk. Every year, members are seriously injured or killed conducting their mission. The Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Foundation exists to bolster this community during the times of greatest need through two programs: Bereavement Assistance and Educational Scholarships.

Bereavement Assistance: "Nate" was conducting a counter drug boarding on a cargo ship in the Caribbean when the lead smuggler crushed him with heavy equipment,. With a broken leg, broken arm, collapsed lungs, and a broken collar bone, Nate was MEDEVAC'ed to an emergency room in Puerto Rico where doctors pronounced he would probably not make it. His wife, desperate to see him, needed to fly from the U.S. to visit him but there was no money.

Unfortunately, this type of scenario plays out multiple times a year in this community. Filling this void is one of the main reasons the Foundation was launched. The Foundation lets "You worry about your family, while we worry about the rest." The Foundation dispenses a fixed amount of money ($500 at present) to provide financial assistance to the immediate family of Deployable Specialized Forces operators who are seriously injured or killed in training or operations, and when travel is required of the family to facilitate hospital visitation or funeral activities.

In this particular situation, Nate is a tough guy and made it through, but it doesn't always go as we hope and that's why this fund is so important.

Educational Scholarships: The Foundation benefits actual members of the Deployable Specialized Forces who are obtaining a Bachelors or Masters level degree. Due to the nature of the career path, it is impossible to advance ones education while serving in this capacity. We feel it it is important to give back those who are giving so much. The Foundation serves to give back to those who give so much by rewarding their selfless service and sacrifice with targeted educational assistance.

Our immediate goal is to raise $100,000, which will establish a scholarship endowment in perpetuity. We will combine this with our regular funding from memberships to directly fund the bereavement fund. Clearly this will not be possible on our own - that is why it is crucial that you get the word out to as many people as you can! We can do this!

Visit www.cgtlea.org & www.facebook.com/CGTLEA for more information.