Camp Chosen

Our Story
Both of us are veteran combat pilots. We’ve seen and done things that are hard to live with. We know others who have experienced the same, and some who experienced far worse. It’s a bad gig to be given, but it’s part of what came with signing up. Now we, along with every one of those who deal with the same issues, must learn to live with or work through it all. We have to find our place in this world. We have to be that loving friend or family member we were before experiencing whatever it is each of us went through. Our friends, family, and colleagues were there for us during that time, now we need to make sure we’re there for them again.

Camp Chosen is our way of helping get people through some of those issues. We want Camp Chosen to be a place where people can come to find adventure, laugh uncontrollably, build bonds with others, and hopefully help move forward in life. Sometimes we just need to know we have somewhere to go and someone who will be there that cares. Camp Chosen is that place and we’re those people.

Origin of the Camp Name
While providing support in our OH-58D Kiowa Warrior from FOB Jalalabad, we operated under the callsign “Close Combat”. One day, while at the FOB, a young kid (E-2, maybe 19 years old?) tracked me down and asked if I was “Close Combat” and if I was flying on a specific day. I was. He simply said “I’m alive because of you. My team is alive because of you guys. We heard your voice and knew you were coming for us. Thank You”.

That moment stuck with me from that day on. His outfit? Chosen Company.