Master Sergeant (MSG) (Ret) Phil Hudicourt, SFA M-12962, served 45 years in support of United States Army Special Forces, the Special Forces Association (SFA), and America’s Global War on Terrorism.“Big Phil” grew up overseas. School in Switzerland led to a 5/5 qualification in French; he graduated high school from the American School, Seoul, Korea.Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1973, one of SGT Hudicourt’s first selections was as LTC Wayne Downing’s driver for the 2d Ranger Battalion, Ft Lewis, OR, in 1977.SSG Hudicourt was assigned as the 1-505 Infantry (Abn) Battalion Assistant Operations Sergeant, 1978-80. He represented the battalion (bn) as a liaison officer on numerous occasions. Aviation legend COL Jim Mowery, the Bn S-3 at that time, rates Phil as the best NCO he ever served with--Phil could have been the Bn Ops Sergeant, Company First Sergeant, or anything the unit needed.Joining the 10th Special Forces Group at Ft Devens, MA, SSG Phil was assigned to the Group’s High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) “Green Light” Operational Detachment-A team, where he routinely jumped and refined tactical employment of the Special Atomic Demolitions Munition (SADM).SFC Hudicourt was specially selected to join the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Ft Bragg, NC, as the Joint Operations Center (JOC) Operations NCO, a key position which saw him deployed world-wide.We still cannot say all we know about MSG Hudicourt’s selection, training, and assignment to an Army Special Mission Unit. With highly unique capabilities, America deployed him overseas in the early 1990’s as a non-official cover singleton in combat. In 50 years Post-WWII, less than 10 soldiers achieved his level of success conducting real-world clandestine missions.Selected for sergeant major, Big Phil retired instead in 1995 in order to support America’s war in the Balkans. He spent the next 23 years as an overseas contractor, including 17 years in combat and 6 in a foreign internal defense (FID) role.Phil deployed in combat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1996-1999, as a Training Specialist and Military Stabilization Program Developer (MPRI).• Developed and conducted operations and training programs for battalion, brigade and corps level units of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. • Developed and implemented organization, structure and procedures for the Emergency Operations Center of the Joint Command of the Army of the Federation. • Met and married the love of his life, Belma.Six years in an overseas FID role included:African Crisis Response Initiative, Washington DC, 1999- 2000 as a Training Specialist and Developer (MPRI)• Developed and conducted training in support of U.S. State Department African Crisis Response Initiative. Training was conducted in French. • Developed brigade and battalion task force training programs (in French) in operations, focusing on post-conflict, peace-keeping and humanitarian assistance operations. Senior Trainer, Special Operations Command, United Arab Emirates, 2000-2003 and 2005-2007.• Primary weapons instructor for the brigade-size UAE Special Operations Forces Command. Soley responsible for designing and implementing an extensive and effective weapons maintenance and repair program throughout the Command.• Conducted pre-mission planning and preparation for UAE task forces deploying on 6-month rotations to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Command’s subject matter expert on mobility and contested movement operations.• Primary weapons and tactical movement instructor for the 6-month UAE SOF officer course, including duty as one of the three lane graders for the 6-week reverse cycle desert/mountain mini-ranger course.14 years in combat, in Iraq, including:Operations Officer (MPRI), Research Triangle Institute, Hillah, Iraq, 2003-2004• Managed the logistics, local staff, finance and security in South Central Iraq.• Supervised an International staff of 66 and a local staff of over 800 in the south central Region. Director, Falcon Group, 2007 to July 2018, including: • Program Manager in Mosul for US Military Personal Security Detachment (PSD) contract • Program Manager in Baghdad for US Military contract Abu Ghraib warehouse• Program Manager in Kirkuk for US Military contract• Director of Operations for Southern Iraq• Director of Operations for all of Falcon Group Iraq Operations • Director of Falcon Security at Falcon Group where he managed the security contracts of Hunt, Total, HESS, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petronas and Marathon.Phil is a life-time member of SFA Ch 91-101 (The Combat Chapters, Iraq-Afghanistan), Chapter 91 President 2011-2 and 91-101 Secretary, 2024. He makes his home in Boynton Beach, FL. Phil’s priority was encouraging and supporting success for his daughters Michelle (University of Alabama School of Law) and Rebecca (Florida State University). Phil’s brothers remain those who served with him in stressful environments.

Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Ronnie A. McCan of Beaver, Oklahoma, was drafted into the United States Army on November 11, 1970. During his time at the reception center, he seized the opportunity to volunteer for Special Forces. CSM(R) McCan completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in February 1972 beginning almost three decades of service in the Special Forces Regiment.During his long and distinguished career, CSM McCan’s service included assignments in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Company B, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Bad Tolz, Germany; Senior Instructor, COMMEL Committee, Camp Mackall, North Carolina; Company Sergeant Major, Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Japan; University of Florida Reserve Officer Training Corps; CSM, 112th Signal Operations Special Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and CSM, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.His final three assignments in uniform were as the Command Sergeant Major, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Ft Bragg, North Carolina; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis Washington; and Command Sergeant Major, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.While serving on Active Duty, CSM(R) McCan was selected to be on the Board of Directors for the Friends of SOF organization. Friends of SOF was one of the first organizations of its kind and was created in the early 1990’s to support the Soldiers and families of the special operations community. He joined the board in 1992 and participated in this effort through the end of his career in uniform and continued being a board member well after his retirement until 2015.CSM(R) McCan’s military education culminated with the United States Army Command Sergeants Major Course (Class 35), and also included Airborne and Jumpmaster Schools, Special Forces Qualification Course, Combat Diver Course, Pathfinder School, Military Free Fall and Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Courses, International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Course, Malaysian Combat Tracker Course, Urban Warfare Course – Berlin, French and German Mountain Schools, German Military Ski Instructor Course, and Basic German Language Course.CSM(R) McCan’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), Special Forces Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Badge, Combat Diver Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and the Parachutist Badges from Germany, Greece, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, and The Netherlands.CSM(R) Ronnie A. McCan retired from active duty in December 2000 after 30 years of service, all of it while either training for or serving in Special Forces.In retirement, Ronnie McCan has steadfastly continued his service to the Special Forces Regiment. He served as the Lead Training Specialist, Training and Doctrine Forces Regiment, Directorate of Training and Doctrine (DOTD), at the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, where he oversaw the design and development of the training curriculum for the Special Forces Qualification for 15 years. His work as the Lead Training Specialist had a direct impact on every single SFQC student for decades. CSM(R) McCan received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service and the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service for his outstanding service while in DOTD.CSM(R) McCan is a lifetime member of the Special Forces Association and served as National Vice-President for two years (2006–2008) and was the Association’s President for four years (2008–2012), which at the time had 82 Chapters and approximately 9,000 members. He continues to support the SFA by serving on both the Teller’s Committee and the Constitution Committee.Seeing a gap in the benevolent support provided to our Soldiers and units, CSM(R) McCan co-founded the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in 2010 and later served as the Operations Director for six years. He continues to serve as a member of the Trust’s Board of Directors. The SFCT’s programs benefit SF units, Soldiers, and their families as well as retirees and the veteran community, most recently providing support in response to the floods in Western North Carolina. The SFCT currently raises about $5 million annually to support programs for the Regiment which is a direct result of the Ron McCan’s efforts over the years.In his role as the Operations Director, he also supported numerous SWCS and USASOC Soldier Ceremonies to recognize the great work of our active-duty Soldiers.In 2020 after the unexpected closure of the JFK Special Warfare Museum, CSM(R) McCan volunteered to participate in a panel to provide a recommendation to the USASOC Commanding General on the future of the Museum. After months of studious work reviewing the situation and assessing the options, the panel presented the Commanding General with a sound recommendation which included the re-opening of the museum, which he approved. Had it not been for the work of Ron McCan and the panel the museum would have been closed forever at a tremendous loss to the SF Community.CSM(R) Ron McCan has a long and distinguished history of service to the Special Forces Regiment and community that is second to none. His 54 years of service, both while in uniform and after retirement are a true testament to his dedication to the Regiment and his love for its Soldiers. Not only is he the epitome of a life-long Special Forces Soldier and leader, but he is also a dedicated father and husband. Ron Special Forces Soldier and leader, but he is also a dedicated father and husband. Ron married to the former Suksaward Sokankate of Chaing Mai, Thailand, and has two children; daughter Lanna Leigh and son Trevor Lee McCan.

SGM Brockelman gave 27 years of his life to the United States Army – 20 of those were in the Green Berets. After being drafted into the Council Grove National Guard during the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the Green Berets. He retired from the armed forces in 1981 as a Sergeant Major with two Purple Hearts, which he jokingly calls his “dumbass awards” for letting himself get hit.Ron Served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1981, retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major. He served multiple tours of duty in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple heart twice. He readily embraced the entire Special Forces paradigm achieving top status in Green Beret, Scuba, Airborne, Ranger. He served as a Ranger instructor for jungle survival and combat training at Ft Gulick in the Panama Canal Zone. He will be remembered and missed by many within the MAC SOG brotherhood. Rons military style and character has been captured best in Col Tom Davis’ book “The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On” You’ll find a whole chapter that best honors the dedicated soldier he was.