Third Option Foundation Fundraiser - USA Five Eye

Supporting The CIA Special Operations Community With A Patriotic Take On The Five Eyes Nylon Watch Strap

The TOF USA Five Eye is available NOW

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With roots dating back to the earliest days of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC) is responsible for covert and paramilitary operations. The SAC’s motto is Tertia Optio, Latin for "Third Option," a reference to the organization’s position as the president’s final course of action when military force is inappropriate and diplomacy is inadequate. Since 2013, Third Option Foundation has supported officers and families associated with SAC, providing medical services, help for the families of fallen members, mental health assistance, and transition support for separating members.

At W.O.E., we were honored to be able to donate over $20,000 to Third Option Foundation in 2024 after the initial run of the TOF USA Five Eyes Strap. Many have asked if and when the straps would return, and we’re excited to announce we’re going to make this an annual release starting this summer. For every strap sold, we’ll donate $20 directly to TOF, we’ll be sure to post when all is said and done. To be clear, this fundraiser is organized by W.O.E. to benefit TOF and has no direct connection to the organization or any other non-profit.

Special Activities Center & Third Option Foundation

There is no such thing as a real-life Jason Bourne. The closest resources in CIA’s toolbox are the men and women of the SAC and specifically Paramilitary Operations Officers (PMOOs). PMOOs are trained as case officers and conduct traditional foreign intelligence (FI) collection, but what makes them unique is their focus on covert action.  

PMOOs have been on the ground before, during, and after most of the major conflicts of the past 70 years, having been particularly effective in carrying out train-advise-assist operations with local partner forces during the Global War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe. Currently, they represent the tip of the spear in the multifaceted power competition in Europe and Asia.

This line of work comes with no shortage of risk, and many within SAC have been killed in action or wounded to the point of requiring lifelong care, which is exactly where Third Option Foundation comes in.

Watch Culture Among CIA Paramilitary Officers

SAC recruits primarily college graduates from Special Operations Forces (SOF), including Army Rangers/Special Forces, Navy SEALs, and Marines, with a requirement of eight years of active duty service and multiple combat tours. While the majority of PMOOs rely on Digital Tool Watches (D.T.W.) in conflict zones, there is a strong watch culture inside the SAC, directly influenced by each operator's military background. Many PMOOs rely on the usual tool watch suspects from brands like Rolex, Breitling, Panerai, Sangin Instruments, and Bremont. There are several SAC unit watches as well, but unfortunately we cannot go into detail at this time.

Luxury timepieces also play an outsized role in the murky world of intelligence while serving as effective operational gifts for assets and developmentals (individuals being assessed for clandestine recruitment). Timepieces are also often received by CIA Officers as gifts from “liaisons,” a colloquial term to capture third-country intelligence services that work jointly with CIA. To learn more about watch culture among CIA Paramilitary Officers, click HERE.

The TOF USA Five Eye Strap

Ideal for Fourth of July and Veterans Day, the USA Stripe Five Eye honors our military and intelligence services while directly supporting the Third Option Foundation’s programs to help the CIA Special Operations community. Just as at home sipping PBR in your local dive bar as it is sailing the Cape on your dad’s catamaran, the USA Five Eye is the undisputed strap of summer.

Executed in a subtle red, white, and navy color scheme, the USA Five Eye highlights W.O.E.’s American heritage without appearing ostentatious or attracting undue attention. Beyond the limited color scheme, the strap is identical to our standard Five Eye, with our own proprietary matte weave construction, a custom 316L stainless steel “WOE” buckle, and beveled keepers. We also reinforced the tip of the strap with stitching for longevity, providing a refined look.

To suit a wide array of different tool watches, the USA Five Eye is available in 20 and 22mm sizes and with either stainless steel or PVD hardware. Click HERE to learn more about the USA Five Eye.

*The TOF USA Five Eye is available now in limited numbers

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This Dispatch has been reviewed by the CIA’s Prepublication Classification Review Board to prevent the disclosure of classified information.

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