TF148 | Crazy Mountain Ranch, MT
A note from the Task Force Director.
Planning a BSB Task Force is always a combination of detailed preparation and a heavy dependence on serendipity. A location is sourced, activities are planned, and a director and team come together with a vision to create an amazing experience. At the same time, the units we serve are preparing to send us the men and women who are ready for this experience. Given the dynamic nature of their work, recipients often change at the last minute, so we don’t always know exactly who we’ll be spending time with until they walk in the door. That’s part of the magic of a BSB Task Force!
TF148 started the way most of them do. Four or five recipients get off a plane, arrive at our lookout, and cautiously begin to size up the whole scene. When the last operator arrived, we headed toward the Crazy Mountain Ranch in Wilsall, Montana, while getting to know each other and enjoying drinks in the van. The CMR is a very unique piece of land tucked into the foothills of the Crazy Mountains, with stunning views everywhere you look. As we made our way from the ranch entrance down the long single track that led to our remote cabin, conversations paused, and the awe and wonder of Montana began to set in.
Over the next four days, memories were made and fun was had in almost every way seven grown men could find in a paradise like Montana! We rode the side-by-sides, tried to catch trout, rode horses, hiked drainages, crossed ice-cold rivers, shot at steel targets, practiced sporting clays, and even shot a few gophers. We enjoyed some amazing food and drinks, which fueled some deep, reflective conversations during our evening chats. Simply put, the fun in Montana was plentiful, and as it always does, it worked to ground, quiet, and bring peace to our hearts.
Each Task Force has a moment or two that stand out in vivid relief for me. On this one, it was undoubtedly on Wednesday afternoon. After several days of unwinding and getting to know each other, a viral laughter erupted during a van ride that caught me in my tracks. Seven grown men’s bellies, laughing, fully caught up in the moment, experiencing a type of joy that would’ve been hard to imagine just a few days earlier. You can’t engineer moments like this; you can only hope to be present when they happen. I don’t even remember what started the laughter, only that it struck me as nearly divine in its significance.
I can tell you, faithful patriots, that this moment wouldn’t have happened without your generosity. Sometimes, recovering the simple joy of being alive, being well, and surrounded by beauty is enough to bring that childlike joy back to the surface — even if just for a few hours. Please know that your generosity and your commitment to this mission make a bigger impact than you could ever imagine.
Respectfully,
Matt Brubaker
Task Force 148 Director
Volunteers to Thank:
Matt Brubaker, Task Force Director
Andrew Engle, Assistant Task Force Director
Mike Weiner
Patriots to Thank:
Crazy Mountain Ranch
Engel & Völkers
Flanagan State Bank
The River’s Edge
Stone Glacier
FHF Gear
FlasKap
Graplrz
Melissa Ferraro
ANTHEM Snacks//LMNT//Wild Society Coffee
Special thank you to a recipient from TF148 for sharing your incredible talent with us in the following photographs.
“I want to offer my immense gratitude and strongest possible praise to Big Sky Bravery for my recent experience at TF 148. My week in Montana was nothing short of life-changing and came at a pivotal and extremely challenging point in my life.
After 22 years of active-duty service and over 50 months of deployed combat time, much of my life is in shambles. BSB not only helped me to look past my current struggles and have hope for the future, but it also helped me to find joy in today.
Far and away, my fondest memory is just laughing with the guys all day long as everyone let go and settled into the magnificence of the experience.
Matt, Mike, and Andrew were amazing! Mike’s experience as a SOF veteran and now successful businessman and entrepreneur gave me hope and excitement for life after the Army. Andrew is among the most authentic and caring people I have ever met and will be a lifelong friend. Matt’s wisdom and genuine interest in each of the TF members is something I’ve seldom found in life and will never forget.
The fishing (not catching), the hiking, the driving, and drinks by the fire all added up to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I simply cannot put a value on BSB and the impact it has had on my life.
I am eternally grateful.
-J.”
“Team BSB,
I want to offer my deepest gratitude to Big Sky Bravery and their donors for the extraordinary generosity, selflessness, and steadfast support in facilitating Task Force 148 and your continued commitment to the SOF community. The opportunity to spend time in Montana was a truly exceptional experience, one that renewed my perspective, reinforced the strength of our brotherhood, and reminded me just how powerful genuine connection and support can be in the most demanding chapters of life.
After 16 years of service in Special Operations, I didn’t realize how deeply the weight of the profession had worn me down. I arrived in Montana carrying the mental and emotional fatigue that accumulates from years of high-tempo operations and the unrelenting expectations placed on us in this line of work. What I found there was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. True care, brotherhood, and the kind of purposeful connection that reminded me I’m not alone.
The men of the BSB TF Team, Matt, Andrew, and Mike, gave their time, presence, and hearts without hesitation. They listened, truly listened, and through simple moments and shared experiences, they helped me rediscover balance, gratitude, and clarity. The environment created during this past week allowed me to be vulnerable in a way that is rarely possible in our world. No judgement. Just honesty, openness, and restoration.
What struck me most was discovering how deeply Americans like you care, not just in word, but in action. That realization alone was powerful. It restored a part of me I didn’t realize had gone quiet. It gave me hope that the sacrifices we make are seen, valued, and even shared in spirit by those who support us from afar.
I returned from Montana with a renewed sense of purpose and connection, not just to my work, but to my family, to my fellow warriors, and to myself. The conversations, the laughter, the quiet reflection in those wide-open spaces, all of it will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Your generosity created the conditions for meaningful rest and perspective, something I hadn’t realized how much I needed.
Thank you for being a steady reminder that we are supported and not forgotten.
This experience has left a lasting impression, and I’m eternally grateful.
With sincere appreciation,
-J.”
“This trip came at a truly critical time for me. After 19 years in the military, 17 of those with Special Operations, I'd recently found myself becoming increasingly cynical at work, towards colleagues, and even in my personal life with friends and family. This, unfortunately, led to isolation from these important connections, which in turn deepened the cynicism and increased my anxiety about life and the future.
However, since our BSB Task Force, things have shifted dramatically for the better. I've actually planned an international vacation with my partner to focus on strengthening our relationship. I've also reconnected with several friends and coworkers on a personal level, making an effort to repair our friendships. And of course, I've gained six new friends in my fellow TF members, with whom I feel a deep connection. This week wasn't a complete fix, but it definitely provided the boost I needed to start moving forward.
From the moment I arrived, I was met by incredible people who were dedicated to ensuring I had everything I needed – I didn't have to worry about planning, preparing, or expenses. The food, lodging, equipment, and supplies were all outstanding (especially being in MONTANA!). The planned activities were a great mix of exhilarating and relaxing, striking a perfect balance that allowed for both engagement and rest for my mind, body, and soul.
It's almost unbelievable that Big Sky Bravery exists; it seems too good to be true.
Having experienced it firsthand, I will absolutely be encouraging all my fellow service members to sign up for a TF as soon as possible.
Forever grateful,
-K.”
“I am incredibly thankful to the Big Sky Bravery donors for their generosity, which makes this possible.
The time away from daily stressors allowed me to heal, reflect, and recharge.
It served as a reminder of nature's healing power and the importance of taking time for ourselves.
-Y.”
