Oscar Roan, former NFL tight end, speaks to Soldiers and family members, Feb. 3, 2023, during the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Leader and Family Spiritual Readiness Breakfast at Po Valley Chapel on Fort Drum, New York. Left: Roan takes a photo with a Soldier after the breakfast. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Neysa Canfield,
10th MDSB Public Affairs Office)
Former NFL player talks resiliency with Soldiers at spiritual readiness breakfast on Fort Drum
Sgt. 1st Class Neysa Canfield
10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Feb. 3, 2023) – The 10th Mountain Division’s (LI) Unit Ministry Team hosted a spiritual readiness breakfast, Feb. 3., at Po Valley Chapel, with guest speaker Oscar Roan, a former NFL tight end.
“I wanted them to understand that it doesn’t matter who you are in life, you will get defeats,” Roan said. “I have gotten smacked around and knocked down, but I found victory in that. I want to encourage them to fight through their difficult times.”
Roan said he remembers hearing his father, a military police Soldier, talk about the importance of resilience.
“Nobody gets to slide through (life) without getting smacked down. It’s never easy,” he added.
Capt. Edward Andrews, commander of C Company, 548th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, said that hearing Roan’s personal stories helped him to feel a sense of reassurance.
“All of us, regardless of rank or position, can really apply the lessons we learned today to any situations we face on a daily basis,” Andrews explained.
Aside from the lessons learned, Andrews said it was also an excellent way for leaders to care for themselves.
“This was a nice forum where leaders had the opportunity to take a breather, see each other, while also being exposed to a speaker that was able to give some helpful information,” Andrews said.
Whether it’s gaining insight on how to deal with difficult situations or helping to create a relaxing environment, Roan said he enjoys speaking to and with service members.
“They make me want to do more, encourage more because we all have a small amount of time in this world, and in this fourth quarter, I want to give it everything I got, even after the two-minute warning,” Roan explained.