TAKE UP YOUR MANTLE 

I wanted my faith in Jesus Christ challenged, leaving me in a state of wonder, saying.. “What if..” I took the leap of faith and flew from Texas to Connecticut. God empowered me to hike 33 miles alongside President Dana Corriveau, and it was an honor to help support our USAF Special Warfare veterans and families who have sacrificed for our freedoms. The whole experience was legendary and felt divinely orchestrated. It was an absolute honor and unforgettable moment to meet Lori Longfritz Chapman as we remembered her fallen brother, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient John Chapman.

-Thomas

Faith has been something that I've always recognized in life, but never fully walked in and still learning to do and what it means to. Having been through many challenges in my life, even with many today, it is events like this where intentionally being present with ourselves, being out in nature, and reflecting on the stories shared that there is definitely something spiritual that is bigger than ourselves going on and I'm grateful for every moment I can be present to be still.

Our journey to the Mantle Challenge was preceded by our son’s interest in joining the USAF,

which goes back 2 years when he stopped by a USAF kiosk at the Boston Marathon, where his

cousin was competing. From that point, he has researched different roles both within the USAF

and Army/Infantry, attending events sponsored by prior USAF that expose him to the people

that make up this incredible community.

When he discovered the Mantle Challenge would be taking place and honoring Msgt. John A.

Chapman, there was no stopping him from going - we were all in. The service was very moving

and listening to John’s sister Lori talk about who John was as a person and a warrior, we all

came away with an even deeper appreciation for his sacrifice. The personal story shared by the

Mantle Challenge President, Dana Corriveau, was powerful and reminded us to be our authentic

selves; we appreciated how open and authentic he was in sharing his story. His advice to go

after opportunities that will take you out of your comfort zone resonated strongly and it is

precisely what the Tier 2 hike did for us. 

From a physical standpoint the Tier 2 hike was a solid challenge, and we are so glad we

participated. We are not experienced hikers and had a lot of questions about the terrain before

registering - Dana was incredibly thorough in answering all our questions and explaining the

trail. Once there, he expertly guided the group, explaining what kind of terrain was coming up

and good points on the trail to end if we were running out of steam! 

The day was one of the best Saturday’s we spent as a family and has had a lasting, positive

effect on us, both emotionally and physically. 

Thank you.

From our son: 

Learning about Msgt. John A. Chapman gave me more perspective on the reality of the Combat

Control training pipeline and the different types of people that are successful within the career

field. Meeting his sister was unbelievable and being surrounded by the community of people

there was amazing. I learned a lot in a short amount of time. 

We unfortunately did not finish the entire hike; however, we got 15 out of the 20 miles in. The

hike was not grueling; it focused more on endurance and being uncomfortable. In my mind only

being able to see the trees, not seeing any roads or hearing any cars made it feel like the hike

would never end. Near the end I ran out of water, my feet were hurting, and I started to get

stressed and wanted to be done with the hike. Knowing the only way to get out of the forest was

to keep moving, and being surrounded with high-caliber people motivated me. 

Looking back everything felt worse than it was, and I am very humbled and thankful to have met

everyone there. I still take that experience and apply it to every workout.

Thank you.

The Mantle Challenge was easily one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had. The day started with us listening to some really powerful stories of military heroes families who shared what they had been through and the challenges their family faced. Hearing about their sacrifices, resilience, and the way they pushed through difficult situations really set the tone for the day. It made me stop and think about how strong people can be when they’re faced with things that are way bigger than themselves, and it also reminded me how important faith and trust can be during hard moments.

By the time I finished the hike, I felt proud of myself for getting through it and grateful for the experience. It pushed me physically, but it also helped strengthen my faith and gave me a lot to think about. I walked away from the day feeling more motivated, more grounded, and with a better appreciation for resilience, faith, and the importance of challenging yourself. 

Embarking on a journey to the mountain to deepen our relationship with God is a cherished tradition, embraced by figures like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. The Mantle Challenge (TMC) offers us a wonderful opportunity to do just that. At its core, even in the simplest moments this experience lets us step outside, breathe in the fresh air, and support the dedicated men and women of AFSW. But at its heart, it's much more...it's a chance to intentionally connect with the Holy Spirit.

During my own hike, I witnessed God's powerful presence among the men I joined. We shared our testimonies, our griefs, and our concerns, and through this fellowship, with both one an another and the Holy Spirit. We emerged rejuvenated in our faith. If you're contemplating the idea of takin your mantle alongside like-minded individuals, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive in without hesitation. The potential for growth and connection is truly limitless!

-Tyler Mace

Owner, Guardian Academy

As someone who lives out of state, in MA, who strongly believes in overcoming adversity, challenge, and personal growth, I had chosen to sign up for Tier 3 of the mantle challenge. Much of my career has been in healthcare and a huge part of what I do believe is to always give back to my community and if there’s any way to help show my support to those of service, it is an opportunity that I would gladly do.

When I had signed up for tier 3,  it was primarily to show support however in turns I gained much of a bigger lesson than I had came in looking for. Although I am not significantly religious in faith, but I have always believed that everyone carries a story with them as well as a greater purpose in life. There was a moment in our hike where my friend and I, we had both stopped, sat down and took a breather to reflect on our life. As we sat there, and shared our personal life experiences, there was something humbling about being in that present moment, in nature and recognizing and reminder to be where your feet are. I have always believed that in adversity and the challenging season of our life, is where the lessons are and when you shine the most. It comes down to having faith and never losing sight of that.

We all have a purpose that is greater than ourselves and let faith and hope be the reason, you never stop putting your best foot forward. And this, was the reason why I chose this challenge. It was a humbling experience and this experience really allows you to slow down, be in the present moment and reflect on what is important to you in life, as well as giving back to a good cause. Thank you for creating such a wonderful challenge and opportunity to help raise awareness for all the right reasons. This is a challenge that I hope will bring everyone some sort of peace or contentment in their life, wherever you are at, as much as it did for me. God bless.

-Megan