TF166 | Big Sky, MT
A note from the Task Force Director.
TF 166 was a reminder of why we do this - and why Montana is the perfect backdrop for it. Our group of 5 recipients arrived in Big Sky on Sunday evening, and by the time we sat down for our first meal together, you could already feel the walls starting to come down. That's the thing about this place - it accelerates vulnerability in the best possible way.
Monday morning, we hit the mountain with Jim Mikulich, our trusted ski instructor and military veteran who has become a cornerstone of the Big Sky Bravery experience. A couple of our recipients had little ski experience, and yet by lunch, they were linking turns with a confidence that would suggest otherwise. Jim has a way of meeting people exactly where they are and pulling the best out of them - a rare quality, and one our recipients respond to immediately.
Tuesday had us back on the slopes, this time pushing further and skiing with noticeably more fluidity than just 24 hours prior. The progression was remarkable but not surprising - these men are conditioned to adapt, overcome, and perform, and the mountain is simply another environment in which that instinct takes over.
Wednesday was an adrenaline shift. We loaded up snowmobiles and headed 15 miles into the backcountry, up Buck Ridge and past the Sphinx. The snow conditions were dramatically better than expected, and the backcountry did not disappoint. There's something about being that deep into the Montana wilderness on a machine - surrounded by nothing but mountains, snow, and silence - that strips everything else away. It's raw, it's freeing, and it's always a highlight for the group. A huge thanks to Ed and his team at Canyon Adventures for making it happen.
Thursday brought something none of us will soon forget - dogsledding through the Montana backcountry outside of West Yellowstone. There were 4-6 dogs per sled, and it was immediately clear what they were bred to do - pull hard. There's an unexpected chaos to dogsledding that catches everyone off guard. One moment you're laughing at the mayhem of the dogs losing their minds, and the next you're gliding through the snow as the dogs settle into their stride. It was a welcome change of pace and a powerful way to close out our final full day of activities together.
That evening, we gathered for our final dinner - we cooked by hand over 500 degree Himalayan salt blocks, a Montana meal consisting of game meat procured by our local volunteers including elk, mule deer, antelope, moose, and bison (we bought the bison…). As is always the case on the last night, the conversation went deeper than any of us probably expected. These men carry weight that we will never fully understand, and to witness them set some of it down, even temporarily, in the company of new brothers, is humbling, affirming, and very rewarding.
It's hard to articulate the cumulative impact of a week like this. But I'll try: we arrived as strangers and left as brothers. That's not hyperbole - it's the product of intentional, shared experience in one of the most beautiful places in America, facilitated by civilians who genuinely care. Big Sky Bravery exists because of its donors, and I can't thank you enough for making weeks like this possible.
Special thanks to my fellow volunteers Matt, Travis, and Jesse. Your presence, energy, and commitment to this group made all the difference.
Respectfully,
Adam Callinan
TF166 Director
Volunteers to Thank
Adam Callinan, Task Force Director
Matt Ryan, Assistant Task Force Director
Travis Lowry
Jesse Gilligan
Patriots to Thank
Big Sky Resort
Canyon Adventures
Jim Mikulich
Lone Mountain Ranch
Stone Glacier
Welcome Bag Patriots: Anthem, Darn Tough, Dermatone, FHF Gear, FlasKap, Graplrz, LMNT, Melissa Ferraro, onX, & Wild Society Coffee
“This entire week was wild and unbelievable. I rarely ever take time for myself to have fun where I have zero responsibilities and zero decisions except for picking food from a menu. Just having fun and socializing with cool people is one thing, but I also felt a deep connection with everyone in the house, despite starting the week as total strangers.
There was never a dull moment or a lack of food. We did things I never would have thought to do, like snowmobiling up seemingly vertical cliffs, driving a sled pulled by dogs, and even cooking meat from many different wild animals over a heated salt brick. I can't thank this organization and task force enough. This whole experience meant so much to me.”
-TF166 Recipient
“For a long time, I carried the weight of my military service in silence. Like many veterans, I was trained to push through, stay strong, and never let the cracks show. As I continued throughout my career, the battles didn’t stop—they simply became quieter and lonelier.
Big Sky Bravery gave me something I didn’t even realize I had lost: a safe place to feel human again.
This organization understands military mental health on a level that goes far beyond any other organization I’ve encountered. They understand the sleepless nights, hypervigilance, guilt, anger, and the deep sense of disconnection that can follow service. Here, I didn’t have to explain myself or soften my experiences. I was surrounded by people who truly understood—people who had stood similar watches and carried similar burdens. Through daily conversations, I was able to express the thoughts that were eating me up inside, alongside powerful experiences that helped me grow as a person.
What makes Big Sky Bravery truly special is the way they help veterans rebuild, not just cope.
They focus on strength through healing and meaningful, unique experiences, reminding us that asking for help is not weakness—it’s courage. Through peer support, honest conversations, and unwavering compassion, they helped me confront things I had buried for years and begin reclaiming my mental and emotional well-being, along with parts of myself I believed had been lost long ago.”
-TF166 Recipient
“I participated in TF-166 in January 2026 for a week at Big Sky, and it was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in a long time.
Day one was in Big Sky for skiing and snowboarding with IV support for acclimatization. Day two was another full day on the slopes, followed by sports massages, and then a sleigh-ride dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch that night. Day three was snowmobiling up through Buck Ridge with outstanding guides, using sleds provided by Ed from Canyon Adventures, with a backcountry lunchtime BBQ. Day four was split with some of the group dog sledding near West Yellowstone, while others squeezed in one more day of skiing.
What stood out wasn’t just the activities; it was how everything was handled. Volunteers Adam Callinan, Matt Ryan, Travis Lowery, and Jesse Gilligan were exceptional—professional, capable, and completely focused on the recipients rather than themselves.
And a lot of the week’s value happened after the day’s activities were over. Most nights, we ended up around the table in the living room next to the fire, talking about life, hardship, and how to keep moving forward. Nothing felt forced, just space to talk honestly and connect. The last night captured that perfectly: the volunteers put on an incredible dinner using wild game they’d hunted (elk, antelope, moose, deer), and we cooked it together on hot Himalayan salt slabs—simple, hands-on, and a perfect end to the week.
The support behind Big Sky Bravery never felt performative or attention-seeking to me. It was meaningful, direct, and clearly designed to support active duty servicemembers quietly, competently, and without expectation. That’s rare. I’ve seen plenty of other charitable organizations focused on the wrong things.
The week meant a great deal to me and the other recipients. I’ll happily support Big Sky Bravery going forward and hope others do the same.
Many thanks,
-TF166 Recipient”
“I’m genuinely grateful for the week you gave me. Every detail was taken care of, including lodging, food, drinks, and experiences like snowboarding, snowmobiling, and dog sledding, so all I had to do was show up and be present. More than the activities, it gave me something I don’t get often: real time to slow down, decompress, and reset.
That kind of space is rare, and it meant more to me than I can easily put into words.
Thank you for making it possible.”
-TF166 Recipient
“Attending the winter Task Force with Big Sky Bravery was truly one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Every day was thoughtfully planned and deeply meaningful. Beyond the activities, the program fostered an atmosphere of encouragement, inclusion, and connection.
The entire staff was supportive, inspiring, and genuinely invested in what the program stands for. I can't thank Big Sky Bravery staff, volunteers, and donors enough for giving me the opportunity to be on a Task Force. I left Montana with unforgettable memories and new friendships that I'll carry with me a long way down the road.
To Adam, Jessie, Matt, and Travis: thank you, brothers.”
-TF166 Recipient
