Force Blue, Gold Star family members visit marine sanctuary
Marine conservation education and honoring fallen veterans
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ALPENA -- The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) hosted another veteran focused nonprofit, bringing children from Gold Star families to the sanctuary to learn about conservation work in the Great Lakes.
Force Blue is a nonprofit that specializes in retraining Special Operations military veterans to use their diving experience for marine conservation work across the country. A branch of the nonprofit established in 2022 invites Gold Star children to gain field experience in marine conservation.
Gold Star children are a special classification which indicates a child's parent was a U.S. military service member who died in the line of duty. The nonprofit also includes programming for White Star children, who are the children of service members who have taken their own life.
Jim Ritterhoff, Executive Director, Co-Founder, said that Force Blue recruits veterans from all branches of special operations, from the Army Green Berets to Navy Seals.
"The idea is we retrain them, once their service ends, to work with scientists," he said. "Become scientific divers and work with scientists and environmentalists on marine conservation missions."
He explained that three years ago, Force Blue started its "Tour of Duty," which is the nonprofit's goal to visit every NOAA marine sanctuary in the country. Currently, there are 18 and the nonprofit has visited eight.
Ritterhoff added that it was Force Blue's promise to “perform whatever work needs to be done" and to "try to engage with the community."
He explained that when veterans visit communities and discuss the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation, it "tends to bring in a whole other audience."
For the Ocean Conservation School (OCS), Ritterhoff explained that the program is Force Blue's attempt to "hopefully inspire the next generation of marine conservation leaders."
He said that the 10 OCS participants come from all over the country. Not only do these participants learn to scuba dive, they also learn the importance of marine conservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
"It's much more than just teaching them to scuba dive," he said. "We're constantly reinforcing that with messages about marine conservation."
"We want to constantly be reinforcing that sense of service," he added. "We're training you to scuba dive, not because it's cool, but because there's work to be done. We're big believers that nobody's coming to save us or these beautiful places. We need to be the ones that are out there, and hopefully inspire them to want to get busy and help."
Ritterhoff explained that fresh water diving is "a very different animal than saltwater diving," due to the Great Lakes' cold temperatures. However, he said the environmental challenges lead to greater treasures, such as the preservation of the shipwrecks in the sanctuary.
"It's like a time capsule," he added.
Ritterhoff commended the Alpena community for its commitment and celebration of the sanctuary and the shipwrecks it boasts. He explained that some communities with NOAA marine sanctuaries are slow to accept government oversight of their home waters. However, he stated that Alpena is the "model" for marine sanctuaries and community engagement.
Steve "Gonzo" Gonzalez, Force Blue events director, said that Alpena has been welcoming to their organization. Force Blue is glad their Gold Star participants are able to witness positive community engagement with a marine sanctuary.
"The entire town has embraced it, and is part of it," Gonzalez said.
"This Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is the prototype, the model ... this is state of the art," Ritterhoff added. "Hopefully the community understands how lucky they are to have something like this in their backyard ... I know they know it because the town very clearly understands the importance of the sanctuary ... that's unique."
Beyond community engagement, Gonzalez explained that the OCS program also aims to help Gold Star family members to preserve the legacy of service for service members who have died in the line of duty.
"We truly pride ourselves in promoting, continuing the legacy of service for your parent," he said. "Nine out of ten times we don't even have to promote it. The kids are like, 'Yep. I got it.'"
"It's so interesting to meet these kids that come from these families because it’s in them to want to carry on that legacy," Ritterhoff added. "It's not like we have to teach them what that's all about. They get it."
Legacy continues to be a driving mission for Force Blue, as the 250th anniversary of the nation was a theme of this year, the organization focused on visiting sanctuaries with OCS.
"If we're going to spend a year celebrating our country, why not celebrate our marine sanctuaries, as well," Ritterhoff said.
This year, Force Blue has led 30 missions and events.
Coincidentally, the Force Blue OSC group is visiting TBNMS during the week of the Extortion 17 anniversary which occurred on Thursday. This year marks 15 years since 31 Americans were killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.
Extortion 17 became the deadliest incident for U.S. forces in the war in Afghanistan, and the greatest loss of life in Naval Special Warfare history.
Gonzalez served in the military for 34 years, serving as a Navy SEAL for 20 years. He said that a friend of his was one of those 31 Americans killed and that their child had gone through the OCS program.
"It’s wonderful and fulfilling for me because I have veterans, family members, that are coming through," he said.
Gonzalez said the legacy continues in Alpena because he trained in Alpena in 2008 and other members of Force Blue have trained in Alpena, as well.
"It's pretty neat to be in Alpena while on active duty and now as a veteran," he said. "But even more so with Force Blue and our Ocean Conservation School, seeing what Alpena has to offer."
For more information about Force Blue and to donate, visit forceblueteam.org/.
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.