Six year old Mason Rudder, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that affects his range of motion and has undergone ten surgeries to alleviate the disorder, had always dreamt of becoming a Navy SEAL.
His wish finally came true on his sixth birthday when former Navy SEAL Jared Ogden surprised him with a real life Navy SEAL experience.
Asked why he wants to be a Navy SEAL, Rudder said, "I want to save the country and I want to save people."
Asymmetric Solutions, the company Ogden works for, was approached by Rudder’s family about the little boy’s wish and happily agreed to arrange the day for the pair. The company has a longstanding tradition of helping their community and said the experience was a no-brainer.
Ogden lead Rudder through a series of operations and exercises that Navy SEALS complete on a regular basis, including Navy SEAL CQB Training, Demolition Training, and Sniper Training.
Rudder eventually led the team on a mission where he blew up a door, which he says was his "favorite part."
"It’s something he’ll never forget. I hope he looks back on that and gives back in the future. I hope he does for others what was done for him," Rudder’s mother said of the special experience.
(h/t IJR)