7th Annual Appreciation Dinner at Circle Square Commons in Ocala Florida

Sat May 09 2026 at 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm UTC-04:00

Circle Square Commons | Ocala

Soldiers Freedom Outdoors
Publisher/HostSoldiers Freedom Outdoors
7th Annual Appreciation Dinner at Circle Square Commons in Ocala Florida
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We are excited to announce that our 7th annual appreciation dinner will be held at Circle Square Commons in Ocala, Florida this year. Doors will open at 4:00pm with dinner beginning at 5:00pm. There will be numerous Veterans sharing thier story and our surprise guest speaker will be announced in February. It is sure to be a fun filled evening with a live auction, silent auctions and plenty of raffle items. There will be hunting and fishing trips up for auction and some cruises . More information about these trips will be released at a later date. Tickets will be on sale staring February 5th .So grab your while you can and get ready for a fun filled exciting night of good music, good food and camaraderie.
Business Casual attire.

Our guest speaker is Sergeant Major Lance Oufnac!
Sergeant Major Lance Oufnac concluded a distinguished and impactful 27-year career with the United
States Marine Corps, retiring as the Sergeant Major of the prestigious Engineer School at Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina. His journey is a testament to dedication and leadership, having ascended from an enlisted
infantry Marine to a senior enlisted leader, holding one of the highest ranks achievable for an enlisted
service member.
His operational and training experience spans a wide array of vital units, showcasing a versatile and
comprehensive understanding of the Marine Corps mission. His unit assignments included foundational
roles in security and combat arms: Marine Corps Security Forces; the infantry battalions of 1st Battalion
5th Marines, 3d Battalion 1st Marines, and 3d Battalion 2d Marines; the logistics and support function of
Combat Logistics Battalion-1 (CLB-1); the reconnaissance and maneuver capability of 4th Light Armored
Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion; and the critical training environment of Weapons Training Battalion
(WTBN). Furthermore, he dedicated a significant period to shaping future Marines and leaders, serving as
a highly decorated Drill Instructor and a skilled Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival at Marine
Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island.
Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Oufnac was a consistent presence in vital global operations. His
deployments included support for Operation Southern Watch, Desert Strike, and Cobra Gold. He was
deployed in Operation Determined Response and a combat veteran of the Liberation of Iraq and
subsequent actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). His humanitarian and disaster response
experience was forged during Operation Unified Response. In the later stages of his career, he served in
Afghanistan, contributing to the historical operations surrounding the closure of Camp Leatherneck.
Post-Military Service: Continuing the Mission of Leadership
Since hanging up his uniform in January 2021, Sergeant Major Oufnac has seamlessly transitioned his
commitment to mentorship and character development. He now serves as a Marine Corps Junior Reserve
Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Instructor, dedicating his retirement years to guiding young men and
women, instilling in them the core values of the Marine Corps—Honor, Courage, and Commitment—and
preparing them to be responsible, productive citizens and future leaders.
Awards and Decorations
Sergeant Major Oufnac's dedication and sacrifice are formally recognized through a collection of
distinguished personal awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal with three gold stars (signifying four total awards), the Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medal, and the highly respected Combat Action Ribbon, attesting to his participation in
direct ground combat.
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Event Venue

Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St, Ocala, FL 34481-9121, United States

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