Son thanks 20th SOS for taking care of their own Published July 31, 2008 By Aaron Schoenfeld 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Many people in special operations say the most important thing in combat is the group of people who surround you. Some Air Commandos from the 20th Special Operations Squadron have brought that mantra home from the battlefield and are finding the results very inspiring. Jarmal Riley, the son of a 20th SOS member that was killed in a motor vehicle accident 12 years ago, recently graduated from college and sent an e-mail to share the news with the group that has helped him along the way. "I would like to personally thank you and everyone from the 20th SOS for your support throughout my career as an undergraduate student," he said in an e-mail to a retired member of the squadron. Mr. Riley received financial support for college from the Special Operations Helicopter Association, a non-profit support organization for families of all members of the special operations helicopter community that have died while on active duty. The group was created in 1984 after two helicopter crashes in the same year killed nine members of the 20th SOS. The organization was then incorporated as an official 501(3)c non-profit group in 1987. "Ten of us came together to start this in 1984. We were just a few low ranking dudes, and we've kept it going ever since," said John Grove, a retired member of the 20th SOS. Many support organizations offer assistance to those children whose parents were killed in the line of duty, but Mr. Grove is quick to point out that their organization will go beyond that. "We're not just here for the families of crash victims," Mr. Grove said. "We're here to cover everybody. Maintenance folks, operations guys, anyone in the special operations helicopter community that has passed away while on active duty for any reason." Mr. Riley says the group has offered more than financial support, though. Now 23, he says a large part of who he has become as a person is due to the moral support he received from those that stood by him after the accident. "Losing my father at a young age, I wouldn't have had much of a positive male role model in my life," he said. "A lot of guys from Hurlburt helped me through my maturation as a man. They were the first people I would turn to for help and advice." Mr. Riley appreciates the fact that the organization came forward to offer him the support. "The guys from the 20th SOS stepped up to help right off the bat," he said. "That was one of the great things. Even though I didn't know about any of the help that was available to me, they contacted me to let me know." Mr. Riley also points out that he really appreciates the 20th SOS mantra of taking care of their own. "People in the military don't do things for accolades or recognition. That's just what they do," he said. Although young when he was first offered assistance for college, Mr. Riley knew he would take the help. "I always knew I was going to go to college," he said. "My father was adamant I go. I was the only one in my family to venture into post high school education." Mr. Riley insists his motivation to make it through school was the thought of not letting down the people at Hurlburt that have helped him along the way. "It was something I worked hard for that I wanted to finish," he said. Now that Mr. Riley has achieved that goal, he's considering a career with the Air Force. "I'm thrilled," Mr. Grove said. "We've had a few success stories through the years, and it's always great to hear someone else has made it through."