Matthew Roland Foundation

he Air Force Academy Sandhurst Team, a non-varsity club team that participates in inter-service and international military competition.
3. The Intrepid Teen Leadership Camp Gold Star youth scholarships.
4. Supporting Gold Star Families, service members, military families, and survivor support. We are a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Captain Matthew Roland, was an Air Force Special Tactics Officer assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He was killed Aug. 26, 2015 when two Afghan National Defense and Security Forces individuals opened fire on a convoy he was leading at a checkpoint near Camp Antonik, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Roland posthumously received the Silver Star medal for heroically giving his last full measure to save the lives of his teammates. They had just completed 36 hours of airfield operations receiving special operations forces who had just arrived at the forward operating base during a surge into the Helmand Province as part of NATO’s Operation Resolute Support. Because he knew the way Captain Roland volunteered to drive the bus back to their operating location. They cleared the first two checkpoints and reaching the third he stopped the bus. Their Afghan interpreter approached the two guards. The first guard raised his M-16 five feet from the driver’s window and opened fire as the second guard moved to a belt feed machine gun. Recognizing the imminent threat Capt Roland gave his convoy enough time to react to the insider attack with a radio call. Simultaneously, he knowingly put himself in the line of fire by moving the bus to protect the vehicle occupants, giving them precious time to react and neutralize both gunmen. He was born at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. He was an avid Cross Country runner and active Boy Scout, earning the Eagle Scout award in 2002. Graduating from Lexington Catholic High School High School in 2006 he was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy class of 2010. Captain Roland joined the Academy Sandhurst Team and competed with sister service academy teams at West Point. He served as the Sandhurst Team Captain his senior year.