Operation ReConnect’s Charrier named Outstanding Young American

Operation ReConnect’s Charrier named Outstanding Young American
His Gulf Shores based foundation is finding vacation homes for returning vets

Operation ReConnect Foundation founder Ryan Charrier, a Gulf Shores resident, has been named one of the 2016 Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the National Jaycee’s Assn.
Charrier and the nine other recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony on Saturday, September 24 in Detroit. Previous honorees include Bill Clinton (1979), John F. Kennedy (1946), Kurt Warner (2010), Elvis Presley (1970) and Missy Franklin (2015). The program is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs in America, honoring ten young people under the age of 40.
“The fact that my name is included among those people is amazing,’’ Charrier said upon receiving the news. “I’m still speachless. It has not even registered yet.’’
Charrier started Operation ReConnect as a way to provide returning veterans and families a relaxing complimentary week long beach vacation as a way to reconnect with their families.
“Each year we receive nominations from across the country for the award,’’ said Angela Clock, this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Americans director.
“Through an intense judging process, these ten individuals being honored as recipients of the USJC Ten Outstanding Young American recognition are truly accomplished in their fields, in giving back to their communities,’’ Clock said. “These ten individuals represent the best of the best and individuals we should strive to emulate in our everyday actions. Each honoree has shown a commitment to that hope, reminding all Americans that no problem is too difficult when handled with grace, ingenuity, courage, and determination.”
While deployed to Afghanistan as a crew chief on an A-10 Wort Hog in 2014, he shared with his crew how beautiful it was on the Alabama Gulf Coast. He was even able to use his connections in the area to set up one of his fellow soldiers with a vacation here when he returned stateside.
When Carrier saw how important that vacation was to that family and learned the trip marked the first time his friend’s children had ever seen the ocean, he gave up his mechanical engineering job and moved from Missouri, where his 442nd Fighter Wing is based, back to the Alabama Gulf Coast to start Operation ReConnect.
Between its launch in August of 2014 and the end of 2015, the non-profit managed to serve 33 families. Charrier’s goal is to help as many as 1,000 families reconnect every year.
Operation Re-Connect’s five advisors and a five member Board of Directors are all combat veterans and include a 1-Star Air Force General and a diverse group of local leaders.
“I’m just trying to surround myself with good people,’’ Charrier said. “We’ve put together a great team of great people doing unbelievable things. Everybody is doing their little bit, and it all adds up.’’
Leadership development through community involvement has been the basis of the Jaycees since its inception in 1920. The goal of the not-for-profit is to provide members a means to reach their full potential through networking and personal growth opportunities, and is ideal for proactive young people ages 18 to 40. Members enhance their leadership skills as they plan and run civic activities that affect positive change in their communities.