Serving Those Who Serve: Introducing Darkhorse Benefits and Operation Guardian

Life has a way of presenting challenges that can feel overwhelming, but imagine having a team dedicated to overcoming those obstacles with courage, integrity, and community spirit, values deeply rooted in the Western way of life. That team is Darkhorse Benefits, a veteran-led nonprofit committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of Special Operations veterans and the communities they serve.

A Mission of Service and Empowerment

Darkhorse Benefits empowers current and former Special Operations members through targeted initiatives designed to promote healing, create purpose, and provide continued opportunities to serve:

• Operation Shut Eye and Preservation of the Force & Family: These programs deliver critical medical recovery support and reintegration retreats to help veterans recover physically and mentally. With over 17,000 in-kind donations made worldwide, these efforts have become historically significant in supporting Special Operations warriors.
• Special Operations Forces Entrepreneurship Program (SOF-EP): SOF-EP provides comprehensive business training, equipping veterans with the skills and resources necessary to launch successful businesses and transition effectively into civilian life.
• Global Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HA/DR): Darkhorse deploys rapid-response teams to crisis zones worldwide. Notably, teams recently evacuated over 250 civilians under challenging conditions along the Dnipro River in Ukraine, highlighting their unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts.
• Operation Guardian: A flagship program, Operation Guardian directly partners with law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking and ensure community safety by providing elite expertise, advanced intelligence capabilities, and operational support, all at no cost to taxpayers or local agencies.

Operation Guardian: Protecting Communities at Home

Operation Guardian brings together highly skilled teams of former Special Operations Forces and law enforcement professionals. Each team includes certified Special Agents, intelligence analysts, and engineers who deploy with advanced communication systems, tactical operations centers, and sophisticated surveillance capabilities.

Operation Guardian is filling critical gaps for law enforcement agencies to fight the most important fight of all, protecting our children.

We do have certified police officers on staff but we’re not the police, we’re a loyal, dedicated and vigilant support mechanism. – Rob Mott, Partner (Darkhorse Benefits and Operation Guardian)

These teams work closely with local law enforcement under their direct supervision, enhancing public safety without additional burden on local budgets. A recent example of their impactful work includes assisting authorities in Georgia to apprehend a community official involved in criminal activities, underscoring their critical role in safeguarding our neighborhoods and children.

Narcotics, fraud, DUI’s, robberies and other crimes are inherently a government responsibility.  Protecting our children falls on all our shoulders.

Vigilantes work outside the law, Operation Guardian works directly under law enforcement agencies delivering critical military grade capabilities to protect our children.

Values Aligned with the Western Way of Life

The initiatives led by Darkhorse Benefits resonate deeply with the values cherished by those who appreciate the Western lifestyle, including courage, community responsibility, integrity, and service. Veterans who once protected our nation abroad are now utilizing their extraordinary skills and dedication to protect and enrich their local communities.

Rated Platinum by both GuideStar and Charity Navigator, Darkhorse Benefits ensures transparency and effective use of donations, prioritizing the community and directly supporting essential public safety missions, veteran reintegration, and frontline training.

Committed to Excellence and Inclusivity

Operation Guardian was developed in partnership with leading legal authorities, including state attorneys general, sheriffs, police chiefs, federal agents, and defense attorneys, ensuring all missions adhere to the highest legal and ethical standards.

Originally founded by Special Operations veterans, Darkhorse Benefits now proudly supports veterans from all military branches, reflecting their broad commitment to service and community.

Military grade capabilities donated to fight those that would harm children may seem excessive, until we’re assisting law enforcement in your community.

Support the Mission: Get Involved

Your support directly contributes to safeguarding communities, empowering veterans, and expanding the reach of essential programs like Operation Guardian. Consider supporting this important mission today because your involvement truly makes a difference.

Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA’s) budgets are often determined by population and size of the municipality or county.  No one wants to pay more taxes so an agencies budget is typically not funded enough to provide 100% protection on 100% of the possible crime in an area.  Commanders must balance their personnel against multiple shifts in a 24 hour period, time off, illness/ injury and training requirements.  For small agencies on razor thin budgets it’s nearly impossible to focus on any one type of crime.

This is where Operation Guardian steps in.  While directly working under law enforcement on sanctioned operations, we are dedicated to stopping child exploitation.  We provide LEA’s with military grade capabilities like intelligence, reconnaissance, communications, surveillance and other assets to fight this form of human trafficking.  In some cases, the teams we bring in for operations are larger than the number of officers in the department.   The costs associated with just a single mission could exceed the training budget for the entire agency for half the year.  While the agency must focus on homicide, robberies, domestic abuse or fraud, Our focus is linear- protecting America’s children. 

Donate. Volunteer. Partner.
Visit DarkhorseBenefits.com or contact via email at info@darkhorsebenefits.org to learn more and get involved. Together, let’s stand with those who serve, protect, and heal.

Darkhorse Benefits is a fiscally responsible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, proudly recognized with a Platinum rating by GuideStar. This distinction reflects our strong commitment to channeling a significant majority of donations directly toward advancing our mission

Stay connected and follow their impactful work through social media:

Darkhorse Benefits

Facebook: facebook.com/darkhorsebenefits

Instagram: instagram.com/darkhorse.benefits

Operation: Guardian

Mission & fundraising updates for the @darkhorse.benefits Counter Human Trafficking program “Operation Guardian”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operation_guardian

ARIZONA FANS: Charity Pickleball Tournament 2025

Join CLN for a Charity Pickleball Tournament on September 7 at Chicken N Pickle in Glendale—benefiting Operation Guardian, a local nonprofit on the front lines of combating child exploitation and human trafficking in Arizona.

Last Updated on 08/01/2025 by Aaron Kuhl

About the Author:

Aaron Kuhl

Biography:

Aaron Kuhl is a passionate advocate for the western lifestyle, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Cowboy Lifestyle Network (CLN). Growing up as an Arizona native, with a mother who worked for Wrangler Western for over 30 years, Aaron was immersed in the cowboy culture from a young age. Aaron and his sister Heather grew up watching rodeos, as their grandfather and uncle were PRCA ProRodeo cardholders. This early exposure has given him a profound understanding and appreciation for the western way of life.

Aaron went to Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, AZ, then to the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, where he received a Bachelor of Science after creating his own major. This unique course of study wove together Business Marketing, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy, and Religion.

After graduating from the University of Arizona, Aaron joined CLN in its nascent stages, contributing to its growth and development over the past decade. As COO, Aaron manages operations, using AI to streamline processes and analyze data, ensuring CLN remains a leading voice. With expertise in business development, he innovates and cultivates client relationships, supporting CLN’s exponential growth.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Aaron values his faith, family, and friends, which are the cornerstones of his life. This personal foundation, combined with his professional expertise, makes him a trusted and authoritative voice in the western lifestyle community.

Aaron’s commitment to philanthropy is the bedrock of his personal ethos. He actively supports local Arizona organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, Chandler Compadres, Horses Help, Harris Brothers Charity Foundation, and the American Heart Association (among others), reflecting his dedication to giving back and strengthening the community he calls home.

Through his work, Aaron aims to preserve and promote the traditions of the west, ensuring that the spirit of the cowboy lives on for future generations.

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