The Chickasaw Council, Scouting America, invite you to join us for our annual Friends of Scouting Dinner.  This year, Will Chesney, a Navy SEAL out of Texas, will be our guest speaker at a dinner on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Hilton Memphis. The reception will start at 6:00 p.m., with dinner to immediately follow. Donations from this event directly support the Chickasaw Council's misstion of serving youth in the Mid-South. Scouting programs and outdoor adventures prepare young people for a lifetime of positive values and leadership. We focus on building their character and ensuring they are prepared for something more: we will prepare them for life.

About Will Chesney

Texas Native Will Chesney chose to serve his country in 2002 when he joined the United States Navy. After completing BUD/S Class 246, Chesney was stationed in Virginia Beach and nobly served as a SEAL in multiple deployments around the globe. For most of his career, Chesney was a member of the elite United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) or SEAL Team Six, serving as both an operator and a handler of military working dogs. He and his dog, a Belgian Malinois named Cairo, took part in hundreds of missions together including the mission to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. Together they served America as quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in unthinkable circumstances.

A grenade explosion in 2012 ultimately led to Chesney’s medical retirement after 13 years of dedicated service, during which he received various medals and commendations, including a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Eager to give back, Chesney has now directed his attention to helping veterans, like himself, who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Many corporations, sports teams and leaders from a spectrum of industries are seeking Will to bring his inspirational story to their team building events. Will and Cairo’s military stories, including one of the most famous military campaigns in history, along with his personal struggle with injuries and the transition to civilian life, are the definition of inspirational. His story serves as a reminder that giving up is the easy way out and through a never quit attitude, a pure heart and relying on the team we build around us, we truly can persevere through the seemingly impossible.

Please RSVP by February 12, or mail your check, payable to the Chickasaw Council, 171 South Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee 38112.