​Keith Helfrich Sergeant Major, US Army (Ret.) - Mentor

Keith is one of VCR's most valuable team members. He brings his leadership skills to help mentor all the veterans. Keith's been riding since he was a kid and is an accomplished rider.  He returns for his 6th straight year as Lead Mentor. 

Keith grew up in Splendora, Texas. His uncle had served in Vietnam, and his grandfather served in WWII, it was a family tradition. Keith joined the Army in 1986 as an 11B Infantryman, training in Fort Benning , GA.  He then spent three years at Fort Drum, New York where he competed in the Best Ranger competition and tried out for Special Forces. After two years of training in Fort Bragg, NC, Keith was assigned to 10th Special Forces as an operator 18B (Special Forces Weapons Sergeant).  He was promoted and worked as an 18F (Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant) and finally as an 18Z (Special Forces Operations Sergeant).

Keith served for 26 years including 4 tours in Iraq. Keith had the privilege to lead the most elite soldiers onto the battlefield as a Team Sergeant and as a Sergeant Major of Special Forces Group 10.  His combat experience includes Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort II, Bosnia, and Iraq.​

Keith has become an integral part of the Veterans Charity Ride organization. His dedication and friendship have helped us grow the program to help more and more of our fellow veterans. Thank you for all you do! 

I want to thank Veterans Charity Ride for all you’ve done for our family. We started with just a nomination for the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis and have developed lifelong friendships, amazing memories, and a forever support system for me as well as my family. The healing and happiness I’ve experienced in this short period of time takes me to a place I never thought I’d be again. The support of people from across this nation restored my faith that Americans know what we fought for and why. It was so good to be with a group of my brothers again and to be able to talk about issues we deal with trying to get back to a normal life again. Returning as a Mentor for Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis 2018 is an honor for me. I want to continue to give back to other veterans as much as they, and VCR have given to me. I would love to help every veteran, but if I reach out to just one and change their life, as mine was changed, that would be rewarding and make the experience of being a returning mentor worthwhile.”

Keith Helfrich
Army