The Department of Defense Operational Organization EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE (ESGR) announced that Freedom Divers International, headquartered in Sycamore, Illinois, was recognized with the coveted “Seven Seals Award.” Freedom Divers was founded in 2010 by Kurt and Karen Clifton who also own Clifton Diving Ventures.
Illinois State Chairman Renato “Ron” Bacci cited the Not for Profit for “extreme patriotism and/or exemplary efforts toward supporting our nation’s military members and the mission of the National Guard and Reserve.”
ESGR is a Department of Defense organization, comprised primarily of volunteers, that seeks to create a culture in which all American employers value the military service and support of their employers.
The ‘Seven Seals Award’ is the broadest and most inclusive award given by ESGR and it may be awarded to any person or entity that significantly advances the ESGR mission. It is presented at both the state and national levels to honor significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission.
At its very core, Freedom Divers International teaches people with disabilities that “the underwater world is a great way to escape their land challenged bodies.”
Their mission is to help the warrior transition into a family-focused mindset by providing the training and accreditation of a diving diversion that can be shared, together.
One of the group’s most emotional moments was witnessing a father who, with the buoyancy of water, was able to hug his young child. This simple but profound gesture, often taken for granted by the more fortunate, was unattainable for this soldier on land.
Founder Kurt Clifton intimately understands the hardship of physical challenges. On terra firma he navigates with a cane or scooter as a result of severe spine and back injuries. “When I’m in the water, I can do anything I used to do!” he exclaims.
Volunteers from eleven states (mostly certified rescue divers, Dive-masters, and instructors from the police, fire and veteran community) offer their time and expertise to provide the excitement and freedom of the underwater world to Wounded Warriors and their families.
Twice a year, the group hosts participating Wounded Warriors and their families to a vacation adventure in the Florida Keys with the generous participation of area resorts and business owners.
Clifton and his advance team of two other instructors load up a trailer with an array of specialized equipment and drive twenty-eight hours to prepare for the special needs of their guests. Custom gear and equipment to accommodate the individual injuries of the warriors include items such as ‘water legs’, underwater propulsion vehicles, custom wet suits and underwater microphones.
The adaptive gear is often designed and donated by patriotic manufacturers such as Oceanic Worldwide, Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Equipment and OCEAN REEF, Inc.-USA.
Freedom Divers work with Warrior Transition Units at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky during the year, guiding their students through their classroom work, pool training and open water dives.
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