Force Blue Veterans Conduct Tour of Duty in Your National Marine Sanctuaries

All national marine sanctuaries rely on the energy and passion of volunteers.With the mission of healing veterans and healing the ocean, Force Blue redeploys Special Operations veterans and military-trained combat divers to work alongside scientists on conservation projects. When Special Operations veterans team up with NOAA's marine scientists---there's nothing we can't accomplish. The former Special Operations divers of Force Blue are working with top scientists and environmentalists from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries on a multi-year Sanctuaries Tour of Duty campaign to conduct marine conservation missions in and around each of America's iconic national marine sanctuaries. In addition to providing the person-power to conduct onsite research, each mission also involves public engagement to instill ownership and inspire action in those communities that are nearest to and benefit the most from our nation's treasured marine sanctuaries.

All national marine sanctuaries rely on the energy and passion of volunteers. Force Blue is a volunteer organization that unites two worlds by helping veterans and helping the environment. A team from Force Blue volunteered to conduct an initial survey of the subaquatic vegetation in Mallows Bay – Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The data that they collected provides much needed information on the various species and the health of the sanctuary.

Click on each mission below to learn more, and stay tuned for updates and details on current and upcoming projects across the National Marine Sanctuary System.

Completed Missions

A woman wearing a life vest holds a handful of aquatic vegetation while on a boat

Force Blue Veterans Conduct Tour of Duty in Your National Marine Sanctuaries

Completed Missions

Aquatic Vegetation Survey

Assessing Sea Turtles

Monitoring Shipwrecks