Even heroes need heroes sometimes.

Special Forces Operator Tim Kennedy is tough as nails. He has been blown up and shot at, and he kept moving toward the enemy.

He’s one of the best shooters in the world, finishing the famed El Presidente target shoot in less than three seconds. He can literally curve bullets as a sniper. He has conquered almost every rigorous Army school there is, including Ranger School. And to top it all off he is one of the best middleweights in MMA.

But this time, none of that would save him.

He needed MMAjunkie.com.

As Kennedy was leaving a recent training session at Sityodtong in Boston with UFC veteran Jorge Rivera, he was contacted by LTC Douglas O’Connell out of the Texas National Guard. Last week MMAjunkie.com posted a story about Kennedy leaving the service because he couldn’t get cleared to stay in the military awhile remaining a fulltime professional MMA fighter, Mere hours after the story was posted, O’Connell reached out and asked Kennedy to represent Texas.

Today Kennedy confirmed he will be moving to Dallas after his next fight, expected to come in Strikeforce on Sept. 25 vs. Evanlegista “Cyborg” Santos, to serve in the Texas National Guard. He will serve as a shooting instructor, tactics instructor and Army Combatives instructor.

Kennedy also was contacted by LTC John Sheard from the New Jersey National Guard, who discusses a similar offer. While Kennedy ultimately did not opt to move to New Jersey, he was overwhelmed by the support he was shown from the state.

Both men’s calls were as thrilling as they were unexpected.

“I honestly cannot thank both of these men enough for taking a chance on me,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been trying for two years nonstop to find a way to stay in uniform and fight. It crushed me when I thought it wouldn’t be possible.”

Kennedy has done everything imaginable to stay in the Army. With support from <i>Fight! Magazine</i> writer and active duty officer LTC Kelly Crigger, Mark Gross of Oak Grove Technologies, trainer “Crazy” Bob Cook, and even this author, Kennedy has approached anyone who would listen about the prospect of representing the Armed Services in the cage. He’s delivered presentations, spoken at the Pentagon, and even volunteered for an extra tour of duty – one in which he almost lost his life and still has the neck and back scars to prove it – to show his passion for service.

“The military is my life,” Kennedy said without hesitation, “I am going to serve as long as they’ll let me. I’d love to retire in uniform. Right now, I am just so thankful to LTC O’Connell for taking the chance on me. I’m going to make my brothers and sisters in arms, and especially the state of Texas, very, very proud.”

(Author’s note: Tim Kennedy and all of his friends from 7th Special Forces Group, Team ROC and Ranger Up want to thank MMAjunkie.com from the bottom of our hearts for continuously supporting Tim’s efforts. You made an incredibly positive impact on his life.)

Nick Palmisciano is the founder and president of RangerUp.com. He is heavily involved with troop issues and charities, including Soldier’s Angels and the Wounded Warrior Project, and is one of the principal proponents of military MMA.

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