northwest chapter of safari club international 38th ... - Scinw.com

The Northwest Chapteris Proud to Announce Our:38th Annual Sportsmen forConservation Banquet & Fundraising AuctionSaturday, February 2, 2013Hilton Seattle Airport Conference CenterFeaturing Guest Speaker:CAPTAIN CHAD FLEMING (RET)United States Special Operations Command,75 RANGER REGIMENTTHBorn and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Chad decided to stay and graduate college in his home town at the University of Alabama. While attending classesduring the day, he worked the midnight shift at the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Office as a Deputy Sheriff. In the fall of 1999 he decided to enlist in the UnitedStates Army as an Airborne Ranger, after completing basic training and airborne school he arrived at the Ranger Regiment where he began a grueling monthlong selection process that has an attrition rate of 67%. His leadership skills and attitude earned him the honor graduate award for his class. He was thenassigned to the elite 3 rd Ranger battalion where he served with distinction.In 2003 he made the decision to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia where he graduated as the honor graduate and chose to take anassignment with the 4 th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado. After serving for one year in the 4 th Infantry Division he decided it was time to go back to theSpecial Operations Unit that had raised him in the Army. He once again attended another selection process within the Ranger Regiment. Upon successfullycompleting the Ranger Orientation Program he was selected to be a platoon leader with 3 rd battalion, 75 th Ranger Regiment. He has served, as an officer in themost demanding jobs the Ranger Regiment has to offer.During his six deployments overseas Captain Fleming has been wounded in combat on three separate occasions (Gun-shot wounds and hand grenades). He hasundergone 23+ surgeries, which would later result in a trans-tibia amputation of his left leg.While most would assume this type of injury would conclude ones military service, this is far from the path Captain Fleming has taken. He has deployed notonce but twice since his injuries and both times he chose to go back to the same unstable area of Iraq that cost him his leg. He has even chosen to return as aDetachment Commander of a Special Operations Sniper/Reconnaissance unit and lead his men on combat missions in Iraq.While receiving therapy and rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Texas he has competed in events that help raise money for veterans. Hehas competed and finished 5K runs, Triathlons, a 360 mile bike ride from San Antonio to Dallas, Texas, San Francisco to Los Angeles (460 miles), he ran theNew York City Marathon in November of 2009, and most recently completed The Army 10 miler in Washington, DC.Chad also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Lone Survivor Foundation, which was formed by Marcus Lutrell, former Navy SEAL and author of theNew York Times Best Seller “Lone Survivor”!He continues to help raise awareness and money for organizations that help wounded warriors, most of which are the same organizations that helped him overthe last several years of his life.Sports Teams and corporations all across the country have asked Chad to bring his inspirational story to their team building events. Not only is his storyinspirational given all of the obstacles he has had to overcome but it is also motivational. It reminds us that giving up is the easy way out, and with perseveranceand motivation we can overcome anything life throws at us!