Doe River Gorge Father/Son Challenge will feature retired Army Gen. Carl Stiner

By Staff Reports

Four-star U.S. Army Gen. Carl Stiner will speak at Doe River Gorge Ministries for the annual Father/Son Challenge Sept. 7-9.

The Father/Son Challenge is designed by Doe River Gorge to bring fathers and sons closer together through challenging speakers and high adventure activities.

Stiner has had more challenges than most in his lifetime, many of which he will share at the Doe River Gorge event.

Stiner is retired from the U.S. Army, where he served as commander and chief of special operations from 1990 to 1993. As commander in chief, he was responsible for the readiness of all special operations forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force, both active duty and reserve.

During his 35-year career with the U.S. Army, Stiner commanded the Army’s preeminent contingency strike forces including the Joint Special Operations Command, the 82nd Airborne and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Among the many missions in which he was involved was the capture of the terrorists in the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Panama invasion and the capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and all special operations activities during Operation Desert Storm. His awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army General Staff Identification Badge and Joint Chiefs of Staff Service Badge.

The Father/Son Challenge will also include rappelling, caving, ziplines, technical tree climbing, vertical challenge courses and much more.

For more information about the Father/Son Challenge, visit www.doerivergorge.com or call 725-4010. Reservations are required, and there is room for only 200 participants.