Each of our Founding Members has completed airborne training at X-35 Airborne School through the 22 Mohawks Airborne Retreat.
Through this transformative experience, every member has found healing, personal growth, and renewed purpose in their own unique way. United by a shared commitment to service, resilience, and support for one another, they bring their experiences and leadership to the mission of 22 Mohawks.
Meet the team behind the organization and learn more about the individuals who continue to inspire and strengthen our community.
John Delany Dylan Delaney Liam Delaney
Two years ago, I had the privilege of earning my Blood Wings through X-35 Airborne School. This past year, my brother achieved the same milestone, and together we are now all Static Line qualified.
One of the individuals who has inspired our journey is John Delaney, a South African Parabat veteran who served during the South African Border War in Angola. Following his military service, John dedicated his life to Christian missionary work, returning to Angola to share the Gospel and later serving in Mozambique, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sri Lanka, Haiti, and other regions around the world.
In addition to his missionary efforts, John has been actively involved in disaster relief through Mission Inc., helping provide food, blankets, toys, and essential supplies to thousands of people in need.
Committed to supporting the veteran community, John also founded Worldwide Veterans Care in the United Kingdom. Established as a Facebook-based community, the group provides a safe and supportive environment where veterans can connect, share experiences, build friendships, and find a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Ryan Ferland
Article From Close Quarters Group
Ryan Ferland knew what it meant to carry weight.
As a Navy Corpsman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Ryan deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan in 2010. Like many who served during the height of the war, he experienced combat in its rawest form.
On August 31, 2010, Ryan was shot five times during a firefight. Two rounds were stopped by his body armor. One tore through his body from his back to his armpit. Another struck his leg. Another destroyed the watch on his wrist.
He survived.
What followed was more than a year of physical recovery and a much longer battle that few people could see.
Ryan returned home, attended college, rebuilt his career as an electrician, earned his journeyman license, got married, and continued moving forward.
By most measures, he was doing well.
But like many veterans, some wounds never completely healed.
The physical injuries remained.
The stress returned.
The feeling of being disconnected from people who truly understood his experiences never fully disappeared.
For years, Ryan carried those struggles quietly.
As he later described it, he often found himself simply existing rather than truly living.
Then a friend introduced him to 22Mohawks.
At first, he was skeptical.
Like many veterans, he had attended events that felt temporary, well-intentioned, but ultimately disconnected from what he actually needed.
Operation Valiant Belle felt different from the moment he arrived.
Not because of the airplane.
Not because of the parachutes.
Because of the people.
Ryan described walking into the house and immediately being reminded of the military barracks environment he had missed for years. In his room alone were two other Purple Heart recipients. Conversations happened naturally. There was no need to explain military culture, deployments, injuries, or the invisible burdens that often follow service.
People simply understood.
As the week progressed, strangers became teammates.
Teammates became friends.
Friends began to feel like family.
Each jump built confidence.
Each conversation built trust.
And by the end of the week, Ryan realized something important.
He wasn’t alone anymore.
Justin Sousa