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At the heart of the organization is its flagship fellowship program, a rigorous three-month experience designed for active-duty SOF operators. Fellows participate in evening workshops focused on professional development, personal storytelling, financial literacy, and career exploration. And just as important, they confront the deeper challenge of identity: learning how to carry the values and leadership forged in uniform into civilian life. At the same time, the foundation recognizes no warrior transitions alone. Military service is a family commitment, and the challenges of transition extend beyond the retiring service member. In response, two years ago, e Honor Foundation launched Transition Is a Team Sport, a workshop designed for spouses and partners. e program provides tools and community, helping families navigate identity shifts, career changes, and the realities of postservice life together. "In the beginning we were serving about 30 people a year. Now, at each of our ten physical campuses, we serve 70 to 80 fellows along with their partners and spouses," says McGraw. "What makes the program truly powerful is the community that surrounds it," says Hugh-Michael Higgs, a 30-year Navy SEAL veteran who is now e Honor Foundation's director of programs in San Diego. Like Higgs, alumni frequently return as mentors and instructors, creating a self-sustaining network rooted in trust and shared experience. "Clarity of purpose is one of the greatest gifts of military service. It is also one of the things veterans miss the most when they leave it," says Higgs. "Here, our fellows are supported by an extraordinary network of volunteer coaches, mentors, faculty members, corporate partners, and donors who believe deeply in helping these veterans succeed." Today, Musselman serves as chairman of the Honor for Life Foundation, an endowment effort created to support e Honor Foundation in perpetuity. To support this initiative, visit honorforlife.com. To learn more about the foundation and its signature fundraising event, Swim for SOF, held each September, visit e Honor Foundation's website. honor.org INTRO Participants running to Glorietta Bay for the start of the 2025 Swim for SOF event OPPOSITE LEFT The Honor Foundation's annual Swim for SOF is a high-performance athletic event that embodies the grit and determination of our Special Operations Forces, giving us a glance at how hard they work to defend our freedom OPPOSITE RIGHT Poonacha Machaiah,Chopra Foundation; Dr. Tyler Forbes, Breathe Degrees; Michael Higgs, The Honor Foundation; Justin Nahama, Veterans Fund; Paul Pintek, Merrill Lynch & Entrepreneurs Organization TOP Closing Ceremony of last year's Swim for SOF event with The Honor Foundation alumnus Peyton Knippel speaking on the deck of the USS Midway ABOVE PFC Leif McGraw, USA; Capt. Matt McGraw, SEAL, USN (Ret.); The Honor Foundation Chief Impact Officer Kelly McGraw, and Shea McGraw @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE APRIL 2026 47