May 18, 2026 • 12 mins
Ryan talks to Green Beret Foundation President and CEO Charlie Iacono about Special Operations Forces Week, including event highlights and the mission of the Green Beret Foundation.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Ryan Gorman Show Podcast presented by Farah and Farah
Accident Attorneys from Tampa.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And we're joined by a very special guest, Charlie Iacono,
President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation. You can
learn more about the work they do and support that
tremendous work at Greenberet Foundation dot org. And he's with
me in advance of Softweek, the annual conference for Global
Special Operations Forces, which is happening here in Tampa. You
(00:30):
can check out all the info on this event at
soofweek dot org. Charlie, thank you so much for taking
a few minutes to come on the show, and let's
start with an overview of what Softweek is all about
and why this conference is so important and also why
it takes place here in the Tampa Bay area every year.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Yeah, it's great to be here with you and thanks
so much for spending some time with us. The Green
Bray Foundation is very fortunate to be a partner organization
of GSOFF, who are the coordinators of Softweek.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Can stew Braiden and his team over at.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
JEFSOFT, which is the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation, just
does a fantastic job of bringing a multitude of industry partners,
nonprofit organizations, elements of the Greater Soft Continuum or SOCOM,
Jaysock and use of SoC and it's just a great
(01:23):
showing as well as kind of an opportunity for some
really incredible networking to get an understanding of where all
of these important elements who support the active duty war
fighter are headed, the kind of innovation that they're doing,
as well as demonstrating the success and the support of
the nonprofit community that oftentimes fills the gap that exists
(01:46):
between what the military can offer a war fighter or
their family and where nonprofits like the Green Beret Foundation
has to step up and fill that gap.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And we're not just talking about US Special Operations Forces
who attend this conference. You've got Special Operations Forces from
different countries from all around the world who converge on
the Tampa Bay area for this correct.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yes, it's UH.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It's an international conglomerate of of our Allied forces. It's
it's it's really fantastic because you get to get a
better understanding of just how different and culturally different UH
Allied partners approach soft related operations UH, whether it be
their training or their technology and the equipment to even their.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Industry partners that they're working with.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And I would just say to your listeners out there
that you know what's incredible is is the Allied forces,
whether you know be here at State side or or
Allied partner forces across the pond. It is a It's
a culmination of just strength and the perseverance of our
freedoms as well as uh ensuring that you know, future
(02:54):
generations of Americans and our Allied forces are able to
enjoy the fruits of their labor and their commit meant
to a free society.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
We're joined by Charlie Iacono, President and CEO of the
Green Beret Foundation. He's here for soft Week again, annual
conference for global Special Operations forces that's happening here in
the Tampa Bay area. So tell us about the work
your organization does. The Green Beret Foundation.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
The Foundation was actually, I'd love to tell this story
created and stood up from a hospital bed in two
thousand and nine when the Special Forces Regiment better known as.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
The Green Berets, were really.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Entrenched in the Global War on Terror and our founder
Aaron Anderson came back after being injured in country and
realized that there was not a singular, benevolent or nonprofit
organization supporting the active duty Green Beret. So his vision
quickly began to take hold and eventually turned into a
(03:56):
really powerful reality for not only the active duty force
in their families, but as we have evolved over the years,
all generations of Green Berets and their families, and we
are the only nonprofit in the marketplace that will support
a Green Beret from Vietnam to Persian Gulf, conflicts of
Desert Storm to up to today's current conflict that we're
(04:20):
seeing and whatnesseing across the globe. It has become quite
the powerhouse as it relates to not only fundraising but
actual impact to the community itself.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And everyone can support that work at Greenberet Foundation dot org.
That's Green Beeret Foundation dot org. And you know, since
nine to eleven, we really have leaned on our Special
Operations forces, including the Green Berets, more and more and more.
You're at the front end of so many operations that
(04:52):
take place across the world.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Correct the Special.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Forces Regiment has often been referred to as the tip
of this fear. And I'm fortunate as a civilian to
be able to lead such an incredible organization and really
witness just the pure strength and honor and courage that
these men have really put forward for the last seventy
five years, but really in the last twenty plus years
(05:17):
with the global War on Terror and how our enemy
or our adversaries have not always been conventional in that time,
and unconventional war requires an unconventional war fighter, and that
is exactly what the special forces have.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Become known to be.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And the beautiful thing about the Green Berets is that
they embed into the indigenous populations, the communities, they speak
different languages, they're able to become a part of that community.
Many have you know, continued to be a part of
that community post service. And the reality of it is
is we work with our partner forces, unconventional or conventional,
(05:57):
to ensure that they too are able to support their soldiers.
And so we have great strategic partnerships and alliances with
organizations across Europe and beyond that are supporting their software
fighters and really modeling their organization after the Green Beret Foundation.
So it's again another tip to the hat to the
founders into the incredible leaders of the board that have
(06:20):
worked so hard to make this vision become a reality.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And you do so much beyond just assisting active duty
green berets. You help the families of those who have
been lost serving their country, and you help green berets
who are returning transition back into civilian life, which which,
as I've talked about with so many different organizations, that
can be a very difficult thing to do.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, the you know, the transition can be at times
one of the hardest missions any service member can face,
particularly when they pursue their VA disability rating. I'm just
so incredibly proud of the work our VSO, which stands
for our Veteran Service officers, the work that they do
on a daily basis. They help guide not only the warfighter,
(07:06):
but the family through that transition process lobbying the VA
for their disability rating, and that disability can be anywhere
from one percent to one hundred percent permanently disabled.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
And over the years.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That has gone into our you know, one of our
core pillars of support in the organization, and the annualized
impact of that work is now more than forty two
million dollars a year, where our vsos are generating through
the stewardship of good relationships with the VA and being
able to help administer the claim process for the transitioning
(07:41):
warfighter to become appropriately rated. What we had seen in
the past is guys getting out and not being given
the appropriate rating because they were being rated on a
scale that did not actually match their MOS. And so
an eighteen series MOS, which is the Special Forces designate
thirty years or thirty five years in service under that
(08:03):
MOS looks wildly different than an engineer MOS for the Coastguard,
and it doesn't dilute the service because service is incredibly
important across all branches of the military. But it's a
little bit different of a wear and tear on the body.
And so what we want to make sure doesn't happen
to the GYT generation and every generation moving forward is
(08:25):
exactly what we saw happen in Vietnam and everything up
to and.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Before nine to eleven.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
So that that forty two million dollars a year, that's
funding that comes directly into the green Berets community, you know,
and that's that's a permanent, oftentimes a permanent rating, and
it's well qualified given the fact that our vsos are
highly trained and accredited by the VA, and we're just
(08:51):
incredibly proud of that work that they're doing, because we
believe that that sets them up for a really good,
strong transition into billion life post service.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Charlie Iacono, President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation,
and Charlie want to make sure we spend a little
time on how all of us can help you and
your team continue to do such important work for our
Green Berets and their families.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
The biggest thing that I would say is is one
visit our website green Beret Foundation dot org. If you
are moved by the work that we're doing, please consider donating,
whether it be a monthly gift. We have a recurring
monthly giving program, lots of different ranges of giving that
you can choose from, or just by supporting with a
(09:39):
one time gift. And then also to you telling your
neighbors and your friends about our organization. All of the
programs and services we provide to our community, regardless of
the generation, regardless of if it's a Green Beret, a spouse,
or a family member, are at no cost. So really
the success of the Foundation is largely driven by the
generosity of the American public. And I always like to
(10:02):
say there are two things that are inherently American taxes
and philanthropy. And philanthropy the Latin translation of that word
is love of man, and there is no better way
to show the love of your country by supporting those
who serve and wear the uniform. And whether it be
our organization or other nonprofit organizations. I would encourage the
(10:24):
American public, particularly those in Tampa, who are just obviously
so acutely aware of everything that happens in Tampa, that
we have the finest military on the face of the earth.
And that's largely because we have the finest citizenry, and
it is because our men and women in uniform know that.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
The American public have their back.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I have a saying that I often say that we're
stronger together, and I love to lead from the positivity
wins the day mindset, and it's through that mindset that
we've been able to grow the Foundation significantly over the
last three years.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
We're not done yet. We have ambitious goals.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
We have ambitious efforts, and those range from bringing missing
in action Green Brays home from Vietnam to supporting the
active duty warfighter right now who wears the green Berey
that's deployed across seventy different countries today and we're going
to hear a lot of those stories this.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Week at SOFT Week. It's a big pull on.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
The heartstrings of family members when their loved ones are deployed,
and we need the American public to realize that freedom
is not free. And I think the timing of the
fact that SOFT Week is right before Memorial Day it
gives us a somber reminder that.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Freedom is in fact not free.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
And so how you can give thanks is by living
a life worth living and defending, but then also supporting
organizations like the Green Bray Foundation.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Absolutely again, SOFT Week the annual conference for global Special
Operations Forces happening here in Tampa. You can learn more
about that at soofweek dot com dot org. And with
us Charlie Iacona, President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation,
you can offer your support to all the great work
(12:10):
they're doing at Greenberet Foundation dot org. Charlie, I want
to thank you so much for taking a few minutes
to come on the show, and of course thank you
for the tremendous work you and your organization are doing
to take care of our Green Berets. We really do
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Appreciate you as well. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
God Boss Week The Ryan Gorman Show Podcast up pre
set on iHeartRadio, presented by Vera and Farah Accident Attorneys, Tampa,
The Ryan Gorman Show Podcast presented by Farah and Farah
Accident Attorneys from Tampa.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And we're joined by a very special guest, Charlie Iacono,
President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation. You can
learn more about the work they do and support that
tremendous work at Greenberet Foundation dot org. And he's with
me in advance of Softweek, the annual conference for Global
Special Operations Forces, which is happening here in Tampa. You
(00:30):
can check out all the info on this event at
soofweek dot org. Charlie, thank you so much for taking
a few minutes to come on the show, and let's
start with an overview of what Softweek is all about
and why this conference is so important and also why
it takes place here in the Tampa Bay area every year.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Yeah, it's great to be here with you and thanks
so much for spending some time with us. The Green
Bray Foundation is very fortunate to be a partner organization
of GSOFF, who are the coordinators of Softweek.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Can stew Braiden and his team over at.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
JEFSOFT, which is the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation, just
does a fantastic job of bringing a multitude of industry partners,
nonprofit organizations, elements of the Greater Soft Continuum or SOCOM,
Jaysock and use of SoC and it's just a great
(01:23):
showing as well as kind of an opportunity for some
really incredible networking to get an understanding of where all
of these important elements who support the active duty war
fighter are headed, the kind of innovation that they're doing,
as well as demonstrating the success and the support of
the nonprofit community that oftentimes fills the gap that exists
(01:46):
between what the military can offer a war fighter or
their family and where nonprofits like the Green Beret Foundation
has to step up and fill that gap.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And we're not just talking about US Special Operations Forces
who attend this conference. You've got Special Operations Forces from
different countries from all around the world who converge on
the Tampa Bay area for this correct.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yes, it's UH.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It's an international conglomerate of of our Allied forces. It's
it's it's really fantastic because you get to get a
better understanding of just how different and culturally different UH
Allied partners approach soft related operations UH, whether it be
their training or their technology and the equipment to even their.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Industry partners that they're working with.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And I would just say to your listeners out there
that you know what's incredible is is the Allied forces,
whether you know be here at State side or or
Allied partner forces across the pond. It is a It's
a culmination of just strength and the perseverance of our
freedoms as well as uh ensuring that you know, future
(02:54):
generations of Americans and our Allied forces are able to
enjoy the fruits of their labor and their commit meant
to a free society.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
We're joined by Charlie Iacono, President and CEO of the
Green Beret Foundation. He's here for soft Week again, annual
conference for global Special Operations forces that's happening here in
the Tampa Bay area. So tell us about the work
your organization does. The Green Beret Foundation.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
The Foundation was actually, I'd love to tell this story
created and stood up from a hospital bed in two
thousand and nine when the Special Forces Regiment better known as.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
The Green Berets, were really.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Entrenched in the Global War on Terror and our founder
Aaron Anderson came back after being injured in country and
realized that there was not a singular, benevolent or nonprofit
organization supporting the active duty Green Beret. So his vision
quickly began to take hold and eventually turned into a
(03:56):
really powerful reality for not only the active duty force
in their families, but as we have evolved over the years,
all generations of Green Berets and their families, and we
are the only nonprofit in the marketplace that will support
a Green Beret from Vietnam to Persian Gulf, conflicts of
Desert Storm to up to today's current conflict that we're
(04:20):
seeing and whatnesseing across the globe. It has become quite
the powerhouse as it relates to not only fundraising but
actual impact to the community itself.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And everyone can support that work at Greenberet Foundation dot org.
That's Green Beeret Foundation dot org. And you know, since
nine to eleven, we really have leaned on our Special
Operations forces, including the Green Berets, more and more and more.
You're at the front end of so many operations that
(04:52):
take place across the world.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Correct the Special.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Forces Regiment has often been referred to as the tip
of this fear. And I'm fortunate as a civilian to
be able to lead such an incredible organization and really
witness just the pure strength and honor and courage that
these men have really put forward for the last seventy
five years, but really in the last twenty plus years
(05:17):
with the global War on Terror and how our enemy
or our adversaries have not always been conventional in that time,
and unconventional war requires an unconventional war fighter, and that
is exactly what the special forces have.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Become known to be.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And the beautiful thing about the Green Berets is that
they embed into the indigenous populations, the communities, they speak
different languages, they're able to become a part of that community.
Many have you know, continued to be a part of
that community post service. And the reality of it is
is we work with our partner forces, unconventional or conventional,
(05:57):
to ensure that they too are able to support their soldiers.
And so we have great strategic partnerships and alliances with
organizations across Europe and beyond that are supporting their software
fighters and really modeling their organization after the Green Beret Foundation.
So it's again another tip to the hat to the
founders into the incredible leaders of the board that have
(06:20):
worked so hard to make this vision become a reality.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And you do so much beyond just assisting active duty
green berets. You help the families of those who have
been lost serving their country, and you help green berets
who are returning transition back into civilian life, which which,
as I've talked about with so many different organizations, that
can be a very difficult thing to do.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, the you know, the transition can be at times
one of the hardest missions any service member can face,
particularly when they pursue their VA disability rating. I'm just
so incredibly proud of the work our VSO, which stands
for our Veteran Service officers, the work that they do
on a daily basis. They help guide not only the warfighter,
(07:06):
but the family through that transition process lobbying the VA
for their disability rating, and that disability can be anywhere
from one percent to one hundred percent permanently disabled.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
And over the years.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That has gone into our you know, one of our
core pillars of support in the organization, and the annualized
impact of that work is now more than forty two
million dollars a year, where our vsos are generating through
the stewardship of good relationships with the VA and being
able to help administer the claim process for the transitioning
(07:41):
warfighter to become appropriately rated. What we had seen in
the past is guys getting out and not being given
the appropriate rating because they were being rated on a
scale that did not actually match their MOS. And so
an eighteen series MOS, which is the Special Forces designate
thirty years or thirty five years in service under that
(08:03):
MOS looks wildly different than an engineer MOS for the Coastguard,
and it doesn't dilute the service because service is incredibly
important across all branches of the military. But it's a
little bit different of a wear and tear on the body.
And so what we want to make sure doesn't happen
to the GYT generation and every generation moving forward is
(08:25):
exactly what we saw happen in Vietnam and everything up
to and.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Before nine to eleven.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
So that that forty two million dollars a year, that's
funding that comes directly into the green Berets community, you know,
and that's that's a permanent, oftentimes a permanent rating, and
it's well qualified given the fact that our vsos are
highly trained and accredited by the VA, and we're just
(08:51):
incredibly proud of that work that they're doing, because we
believe that that sets them up for a really good,
strong transition into billion life post service.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Charlie Iacono, President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation,
and Charlie want to make sure we spend a little
time on how all of us can help you and
your team continue to do such important work for our
Green Berets and their families.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
The biggest thing that I would say is is one
visit our website green Beret Foundation dot org. If you
are moved by the work that we're doing, please consider donating,
whether it be a monthly gift. We have a recurring
monthly giving program, lots of different ranges of giving that
you can choose from, or just by supporting with a
(09:39):
one time gift. And then also to you telling your
neighbors and your friends about our organization. All of the
programs and services we provide to our community, regardless of
the generation, regardless of if it's a Green Beret, a spouse,
or a family member, are at no cost. So really
the success of the Foundation is largely driven by the
generosity of the American public. And I always like to
(10:02):
say there are two things that are inherently American taxes
and philanthropy. And philanthropy the Latin translation of that word
is love of man, and there is no better way
to show the love of your country by supporting those
who serve and wear the uniform. And whether it be
our organization or other nonprofit organizations. I would encourage the
(10:24):
American public, particularly those in Tampa, who are just obviously
so acutely aware of everything that happens in Tampa, that
we have the finest military on the face of the earth.
And that's largely because we have the finest citizenry, and
it is because our men and women in uniform know that.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
The American public have their back.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I have a saying that I often say that we're
stronger together, and I love to lead from the positivity
wins the day mindset, and it's through that mindset that
we've been able to grow the Foundation significantly over the
last three years.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
We're not done yet. We have ambitious goals.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
We have ambitious efforts, and those range from bringing missing
in action Green Brays home from Vietnam to supporting the
active duty warfighter right now who wears the green Berey
that's deployed across seventy different countries today and we're going
to hear a lot of those stories this.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Week at SOFT Week. It's a big pull on.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
The heartstrings of family members when their loved ones are deployed,
and we need the American public to realize that freedom
is not free. And I think the timing of the
fact that SOFT Week is right before Memorial Day it
gives us a somber reminder that.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Freedom is in fact not free.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
And so how you can give thanks is by living
a life worth living and defending, but then also supporting
organizations like the Green Bray Foundation.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Absolutely again, SOFT Week the annual conference for global Special
Operations Forces happening here in Tampa. You can learn more
about that at soofweek dot com dot org. And with
us Charlie Iacona, President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation,
you can offer your support to all the great work
(12:10):
they're doing at Greenberet Foundation dot org. Charlie, I want
to thank you so much for taking a few minutes
to come on the show, and of course thank you
for the tremendous work you and your organization are doing
to take care of our Green Berets. We really do
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Appreciate you as well. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
God Boss Week The Ryan Gorman Show Podcast up pre
set on iHeartRadio, presented by Vera and Farah Accident Attorneys, Tampa,
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