It was an incredible honor to participate in All American Week, an annual celebration held the week before Memorial Day in partnership with my company, US Drift Circuit, and The Veterans Trust. This event gives service members and their families, past and present, a chance to celebrate their service in America's Guard of Honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Traditionally, All American Week includes various activities such as boxing, flag football, basketball, and Jiu-jitsu. However, this year, thanks to Chris Jackson, the brainchild behind the motorsports portion of this event, and our partnership through US Drift Circuit (USDC), and USDC's partnership with The Veterans Trust, we were thrilled to introduce a motorsports element to the celebration. Being on Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) to witness drifting on a military base was an amazing experience. Fort Liberty is home to the 82nd Airborne Division, a highly specialized airborne infantry division of the United States Army known for being the first units into hostile areas. They have to be in readiness to deploy within 18 hours of notification.
The opportunity to bring drifting to a military base was historic, as it had never been done before. Members of the 82nd Airborne had the unique chance to ride shotgun with some of the best drifters in the world, who showcased their skills and shredded tires around the base. These talented drifters came from the US Drift Circuit Formula Drift Pro-AM program and Formula Drift, a professional drifting league in the United States. They volunteered their time and cars to give these soldiers an unforgettable experience.
In addition to the drifting excitement, soldiers had the chance to sit in exotic cars and make high-speed runs on Pope Field's runway, testing the limits of Lamborghinis, Porsches, Vipers, and Mustangs. Adding to the thrill, an Apache Attack Helicopter flew approximately 250 feet overhead, chasing the cars down.
While the motorsports activities were exciting, the most meaningful aspect of the event was the opportunity to bond with the members of the 82nd Airborne Division. Over the three days, I had the privilege of learning about their backgrounds, motivation, and experiences. Each day, we continued our conversations, laughed, learned, and deepened our understanding of one another. This experience was a powerful reminder that our heroes do not wear capes or possess superpowers; they are, in fact, human beings who dedicate their lives to serving our country.
Bringing my two sons, aged six and ten, on this adventure was particularly special. Watching them interact with the soldiers and seeing their awe and admiration was heartwarming. They spent the last day collecting over 200 signatures from soldiers, giving high fives and hugs. In those moments, the soldiers were larger-than-life figures, surpassing even the likes of LeBron James and Michael Jordan in their eyes. My boys learned who our real heroes are, and I am deeply grateful for that realization.
All American Week at Fort Liberty was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, not just because of the cars or being a part of a mental break for the US Army, but because of the connections made and the stories shared with our nation's true heroes.
For more information about the organizations involved, please visit their websites and social media pages:
The Veterans Trust
US Drift Circuit
82nd Airborne Division
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