1st SFG (A) Green Beret volunteers in community, country

By Spc. JONATHAN RIVERA COLLAZOMarch 20, 2018

1st SFG (A) Green Beret volunteers in community, country
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel White, a Green Beret and Equal Opportunity advisor at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) pours salt into a bucket at the Tacoma Community Boat Builders youth program on March 3, Tacoma, Wa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st SFG (A) Green Beret volunteers in community, country
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel White, equal opportunity advisor at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) utilizes traditional tools to carve a wooden spoon in the woodshop at the Tacoma Community Boat Builders center on Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st SFG (A) Green Beret volunteers in community, country
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel White, equal opportunity advisor at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) mentors a young man as part of his volunteer work at the Tacoma Community Boat Builders program on March 3. White tak... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st SFG (A) Green Beret volunteers in community, country
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel White, a Green Beret and Equal Opportunity advisor at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) pumps fresh water off a boats surface to avoid algae growth March 3 at the Tacoma Community Boat Bu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - A Green Beret assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) volunteers at Tacoma Community Boat Builders as a mentor for at-risk youth from the local community.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel White, a native of Orange County, Calif., is no stranger to volunteering. He rose his hand to serve his country as an Airborne Paratrooper, and as a Special Forces Green Beret not just once, but three times over the course of his 24-year career.

White has now volunteered to serve again but, this time to give back to his community by mentoring a few hours a week. He hopes to share some of the skills, lessons and values he's developed in his time in the Army and in the Special Forces.

"What motivated me to volunteer was to continue to do something positive by giving back to the community," said White. "Being a good life role model, and helping those [youth] out, provides a good meaning of self-worth."

As a weapons sergeant, White has deployed in support of operations in Bosnia, Philippines, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. He is currently the Equal Opportunity advisor at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st SFG (A). During his free time White volunteers alongside fellow veterans, retirees and others willing to give up time to serve as a life coach, youth mentor, and friend.

Tacoma Community Boat Builders is a community-based program that focuses on teaching at-risk youth life skills through boat building, carpentry and mentorship. With the use of hands-on learning and productive environments they hope to deter youth from risky behaviors and provide them with other opportunities and familial support systems according to Dr. Shannon A. Shea, the Executive Director of TCBB.

"Many of our young men are 'child soldiers'," said Dr. Shea. "We are looking to short circuit the fast track towards jail by restoration and prevention."

White has had first-hand experience with the transformative power and influence this program has on young minds.

"Watching the kids graduate the program and then come back on their own is one of the most rewarding feelings," White said. "Knowing that we made a difference and that they understand there is more to life than mischief is great."

One of the most difficult challenges White, other staff, and coworkers encounter is connecting with a group of young men from a different generation, White said.

Relating to these young men is not the only obstacle White finds himself with. According to White, motivation or lack thereof is another barrier the youths he mentors struggles with.

"A lot of these kids are here because they have to be here, so, their motivation isn't quite the same," said White. "That sometimes can be a little trying because their focus is elsewhere. But when they see the things they are able to do and accomplish they get a greater appreciation for what we do."

Despite these challenges, Karlie Johnson who works as an administrative assistant at TCBB, says White has an easier time relating to the youth in the program since he is younger than most of the staff working at the center.

"He is a lot of fun and the kids like him because he is funny," said Johnson. "I like having his energy around because it bridges the gap between our regular volunteers and our youth."

Johnson believes White's understanding of where these kids are coming from and where they are at has improved since his volunteering at the program. White's military presence and empathy towards the children in the program make him a relatable role model. The ability to share stories and experiences helps take down barriers and builds strength, according to Johnson.

"The benefits and rewards of volunteering and giving back to the community go beyond the feeling of self-worth and accomplishing personal goals. What programs like this do for the community is give the youth a chance to deviate from destructive paths and explore opportunities and careers that not many people have access to," said White.