STAFF

Ronny enlisted in National Guard as a pipefitter/plumber in 1993, but left college to pursue a career in the Army Special Forces in 1994. He was the first plumber to be selected for Special Forces training in 1997 and also graduated first in his Special Forces engineer course. He was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group where he mastered breaching and close quarters combat. He then trained fellow Operators.

Ronny Sweger joined the Army in 1993 and has served in both the 5th and 3rd Special Forces Group. He had the opportunity to go to many advanced schools and specialized in breaching, assaulting, and target interdiction.

Ronny has multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. His first deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq were both unique. In Afghanistan his team raised, trained, fed and led an Afghan Army to repel the Taliban. In order to have a base of operations, Ronny also planned, coordinated, and supervised the construction of the first Special Forces A-camp in Afghanistan at Orgun-E.

Before the invasion of Iraq, his team flew in early to prepare for the Airborne assault and the subsequent invasion. His A-Team was in the drop zone as the 173rd made their combat jump. The Team was the Combat Search and Rescue for northern Iraq.

Ronny deployed several more times and continued to incur injuries before being sent to a Medical Board. He was honorably discharged and medically retired in December 2009.

While volunteering in 2011, Sweger discovered a grossly overburdened and undeserved group of veterans; Special Operations and those Warriors that have risked their lives and therefore, earned an award for Valor. To fill this void, Sweger co-founded The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors, The FEW, a 501(c)3, which provides therapeutic recreation for Special Operations, the Valorous, Prisoners of War, and also Combat Wounded.

Today Ronny resides in Oklahoma with his wife Claudia and triplet sons Briggs, Brett and Brooks. He is the Executive Director of The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors and travels extensively in support of veterans outreach.

Though decorated for his 14 years of military service, Sweger is even more honored by his more recent achievements for his volunteer service. Ronny has received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, the Maj General Douglas O. Dollar Distinguished Service Award, The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.

Robbie’s position on the board of The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors, has had a profound meaning to him. While he’s never served in the military, his respect for those who have, including members of his family, including a brother, uncle, great uncle’s and grandfather’s has been instrumental in the desire to support both active and veterans alike. 

Robbie is a 1999 graduate of Colorado City High School, Colorado City, Texas and a 2002 graduate of Western Technology College Snyder, Texas. He has since gone on to become a father, husband, and role model to countless others. His ability to see the positive pathway forward has lead him to found multiple successes ventures including, Elite Pipeline Construction, Keystone Pipeline Construction, KWA Properties, KWA Leasing, H&P Boring Services and most recently H&P Energy Services Iron Equipment Rental and President of PLUG, Pipeline Ultra Isolation Group as are examples of his drive to continue to develop the effect he has for the future. 

Robbie’s unique skills as an entrepreneur have equipped him to take charge and make a significant impact in supporting the organizations such as the FEW and the veterans it serves.  His dedication and contributions are a testament to the power of individuals from diverse backgrounds coming together to support a common cause. Robbie’s commitment to The FEW goes beyond his position on the board, he stays deeply involved in the organization. Robbie actively participates in joining veterans on hunting trips and spending quality time with them, but it’s not just about the hunts. Robbie’s end goal is to connect on a personal level. He listens to their stories, the narratives of bravery and selflessness, and he’s there to talk through the trauma they’ve carried with them. In doing so, Robbie embodies the idea that supporting veterans is about being present and forming genuine connections. His hands-on approach shows his dedication and his deep love for the veterans he serves. Robbie actively collaborates in the mission of The FEW, and the impact of those he supports profoundly influences his life.

Major General Douglas O. Dollar grew up in the Cookson Hills of rural Eastern Oklahoma, where he learned to enjoy hunting, fishing and camping in the great outdoors. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Infantry in 1968 as a Distinguished Military Graduate through the ROTC program at Oklahoma State University, and served as a rifle platoon leader in Vietnam, and later as training officer of the 5th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, NC.

Like many veterans of that conflict, he reluctantly decided that perhaps military service was not for him, and left active duty.  But ultimately recognizing the rewards of association with other soldiers, he entered the Army Reserves when he joined the 95th Division (Training) and served in such key assignments as Battalion Commander, Division G3, Brigade Commander, Division Chief of Staff, and Assistant then Acting Division Commander. He became Commander of the 80th Division (Institutional Training), headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, in 2001.

Dollar always felt that he and his fellow rifle company infantrymen in Vietnam had not been trained adequately for the complexities of a counter-insurgency conflict, and thus suffered needless casualties. His reentry into the U.S. Army consequently focused on training soldiers for combat and leadership. He is proud to have been a small part in the U.S. military’s transition to a professional force, and the introduction of innovative training practices.

Throughout his career, he has worked to mentor and recognize junior soldiers and has led through such groups as the Reserve Officers Association and the 95th Division Foundation (http://www.army.mil/article/124202/WWII_vets_rededicate_95th_Training_Division_memorial_at_Fort_Sill/). For more than twenty years, he has worked to preserve the 100+-year-old Military Honor Society, Scabbard and Blade (http://www.scabbardandblade.org), and transformed it for developing future military officers in a new century. He also was the initiator and leader in its early years of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, an effort to help educate the public about the notable military service of the state’s and nation’s men and women (http://www.okmhf.org).

As a result, the Hall of Fame now presents the Major General Douglas O. Dollar Distinguished Service Award to deserving individuals for their service to veterans — for supporting community activities that strengthen the quality of life for members of that community, and for citizenship setting the example for other citizens bringing credit to the uniform services.

In 1981, Dollar established New Forums Press, a venue for scholarly works devoted to professional development in higher education (http://www.newforums.com). Before long, he began publication of various titles related to military service. With the planned publication in 2015 of They Were Families: How War Comes Home(http://newforums.com/respite-positive-proactive-recipes-partners-wounded-warriors/), a call for action concerning the struggles of veterans and their families afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he pursues what he sees as his responsibility, as a former military leader, to support the nation’s servicemembers and veterans throughout life.

“I was immediately drawn to the potential of the FEW program because it serves Warriors from every generation, and because I understand from my boyhood the healing power of the outdoors,” relates Dollar. “Warriors support their comrades in combat selflessly and without question, and we need to do the same as veterans through such efforts as The FEW.”

General Dollar is a Tahlequah, OK, High School and an Oklahoma State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree (Advertising), master’s degree (Mass Communications), and a doctor of education degree (Higher Education Administration). He resides in Stillwater, OK, with his wife Gayla. They have one son, Rodney, and two daughters, Karen and Katherine.

William “Bill” Wilkinson hails from North Carolina. He joined the Marines Corps after graduating high school in 1988. William served with Marine Security Forces and as an mortar man within the Fleet Marine Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. While serving with this Battalion, he was deployed in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, which eventually became the spearhead land force that liberated Kuwait city, in 1991. William finished his contract with the Marine Corps in 1992.

William, entered the civilian workforce and supported his family working in sales and marketing until the September 11th, 2001. A day that would forever change how America’s viewed the world in which we live in. After this tragic event, William entered the Army reserves as a Medic and waited for his school date. William being a person of action and slightly impatient, renegotiated his contract and joined his active duty infantry unit in late 2003. He spent 10 months in Iraq conducting operations in the Southwest and Western regions of Iraq.

William, redeployed in support of OEF in 2006 to the Kunar region of Afghanistan. William and his unit spent 15 months in the mountains of Kunar, where they were tasked with interdiction and establishing operational outposts.

In 2009, William left the Army and moved back to North Carolina where he is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in Social Work, more importantly concentrating his efforts on Veteran services within the field of social work. After graduation in 2018, William plans on continuing his education at UNCC as a Graduate student in the Social work field and eventually become a licensed practitioner.

William’s task and purpose has not changed. His love for our nation and the brave warriors that serve this great country is still his top priory. Although, his uniform may have changed, his commitment to serve his fellowman has not. The idea that it has to after leaving the military is absurd. He feels that one’s personal commitment to the “greater good” takes many different forms and can be implemented at any time. But also believes that any action is better than no action at all.

Due to his exceptional and enduring service to Veterans, The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors (The FEW) is honored to have Major Ed Pulido as an Advisor to the Board of Directors. His constant work with Veterans, their issues, and his knowledge of how outdoor adventures can change and save lives. He is greatly suited for this important Advisory position.

Major Pulido is also the Sr. VP of the Folds of Honor Foundation a Veteran’s charity which provides the spouses and children of the fallen and wounded educational scholarships. Additionally, he is a Founding member of the Warriors for Freedom Foundation a leadership institute focused on the mental, physical and wellness support of our wounded Veterans and their families. Additionally, Major Ed is the Founder of Warrior Nation, a movement focused on the rights of liberty, freedom and patriotism with an autobiography entitled Warrior for Freedom: Challenge, Triumph and Change, the Major Ed Pulido Story. Finally, he is the spokesperson for Acadia Health Care.

During his 19-year military career, Major Pulido hit an Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D) or roadside bomb on the 17th of August, 2004,while serving in Iraq. Due to the extensive injuries to his left knee, doctors had to amputate his left leg on October 1, 2004. On May 16, 2005, he was medically retired from the United States Army.

Major Pulido has excelled both in and out of the military.

For his heroism and valor on that August day when he was wounded, the President of the United States along with General David Petraeus awarded him the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals.

Major Pulido has a degree in Military Science, Marketing, and Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Logistics Management/ Human Relations.

On May 16, 2005, the Army lost a great leader and Warrior when he was medically retired from the United States Army. Today,  Major Pulido sets the example for supporting Veteran’s aftercare.