FORT BRAGG, N.C. – In 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), remembrance is not confined to a monument or a single day on the calendar. It is carried by the formation itself. On the last Friday of every month, the Tribe convenes in an act of remembrance, executing physical training to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation. During the workout, biographies of the fallen are read aloud, recounting their service, their character and the sacrifices they made. Members of the Group are then given the opportunity to speak, offering personal memories of teammates and friends whose loss continues to be felt across the formation.

At the conclusion of the event, two American flags that hold 60 sets of dog tags move through the ranks, linking the newest Soldier to the oldest and binding generations of the Tribe to the memory of its fallen. The tradition is a cornerstone of 3rd Group culture, reinforcing brotherhood and accountability while honoring the 60 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The practice began in 2021 under former Group Command Sgt. Maj. Lee Strong. During a 2020 deployment to Afghanistan, Strong carried the two American flags while conducting a battlefield circulation of firebases across the war-torn country. When he later assumed responsibility as the Group’s senior enlisted advisor, he established a tradition of passing the flags during Memorial PT. It has continued without interruption as a key element of remembrance within the organization.

“This tradition highlights the legacy of the Tribe,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Rivas, 3rd Group’s senior enlisted advisor. “It embodies the foundation of family at its core and signifies the history of this great organization.”
“It is a time to honor our fallen,” said Rivas. “It provides a chance for newer members of the Group to learn about them and the legacy of 3rd Special Forces Group.”

One flag is carried by the oldest serving member of the Group, known as the ‘Tribal Elder,’ until retirement or departure. The second flag is entrusted to the newest Soldier, regardless of rank or position. Each is responsible for safeguarding the flag until it is passed to the next recipient.

Enclosed in the flags are 60 dog tags created by Col. Andrew Morgan, the former 3rd Group surgeon. Following his tenure in 3rd Group, Morgan went on to become an Army Space Operations Officer and NASA astronaut, where he carried these dog tags during a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

“The flags are symbolic, but it is what they carry that matters,” Rivas said. “Each dog tag represents a life lost, a family forever changed, and a sacrifice that must never be forgotten.”

For the Group’s Tribal Elder, carrying the flag reflects stewardship rather than authority.

“In 3rd Group, becoming a tribal elder is not something you chase or even recognize at first,” said Col. Shane Jones, 3rd Group’s deputy commanding officer and flag bearer. “It’s on me to protect the people and the culture when rank, rules, or plans fall short. My job isn’t to lead forever, but to leave the unit stronger, steadier, and better than I found it.”

Since November, SGT Austin Omarrah, has been entrusted with the second flag. As the newest member of the organization, he said the responsibility was both unexpected and meaningful.

“I was surprised,” Omarrah said. “I did not know the history at first, but I felt proud knowing I was trusted to carry the flag for the organization.”

Omarrah said that carrying the flag and dog tags immediately connected him to the culture of the Tribe.

“It means a lot that I am able to carry on the memories of the Soldiers who have passed away,” he said. “Knowing those dog tags are with me all the time reminds me of the responsibility we have to protect their legacy.”

As the Group continues to evolve, the responsibility to remember does not change.

“The flags are only one part of it,” said Rivas. “The duty to remember will always remain.”

From the newest Soldier to the Tribal Elder, the passing of the flags ensures the Tribe remains connected to its past, accountable in the present, and committed to the legacy of 3rd Special Forces Group.