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Silent Warrior Foundation 2017 Raffle

Thursday, September 28th, 2017

I met with Silent Warrior Foundation at this week’s TYR Tactical worldwide HQ grand opening in Phoenix. They had a very cool TomCar in their display. I asked what it was for and they told me about their annual fundraiser as well as the history of the charity. First off, it is 100% volunteer run. Additionally, it is non-parochial charity. Although it began in 2016 as an academic scholarship fund for the families of Marine Reconnaissance and Critical Skill Operators, the charity now focuses on Veterans in need as well as providing scholarships.

There are three prizes this year. The Grand Prize winner will receive a new, custom 2016 TM4 by Tomcar. The Second Prize this year is a BCM RECCE-16 KMR-A with ELW barrel rifle, hand-painted by First Sgt Timothy LaSage (USMC Retired). The Third Prize is a WK II knife by Daniel Winkler.

Tickets are $100 but there are only 1000 available. Once they are sold, they will conduct the drawing. To get your raffle ticket and support this charity, visit silentwarriorfoundation.com/product/silent-warrior-foundation-2017-raffle.

Tags: Silent Warrior Foundation
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Frank Cappo of 5.11 Tactical Joins Spirit of Blue Board

Wednesday, September 27th, 2017

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – September 26, 2017 – The Spirit of Blue Foundation is excited to announce that Frank Cappo, Vice President of Law Enforcement Sales at 5.11 Tactical, has joined the Spirit of Blue Board of Directors. 5.11 Tactical is a leading manufacturer of purpose-built apparel and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and enthusiasts worldwide and is based out of Irvine, CA. Frank previously served as a police officer with the Overland Park (KS) Police Department for 12 years with assignments as both a patrol and SWAT officer, a police academy instructor, department quartermaster and director of training. In his volunteer role with Spirit of Blue, Frank will be focused on new sponsor acquisition and advising on the administration of the Foundation’s Safety Grant Program.

“I’m very excited to join the board of the Spirit of Blue Foundation,” said Frank Cappo, newly appointed Spirit of Blue Board Member. “After leaving a career in Law Enforcement I always felt there was something missing for me personally. And I wanted to find a way to continue to give back. With my association with the Spirit of Blue I now have a way to help agencies and communities around the country who cannot afford quality, life-saving equipment.”

Spirit of Blue’s Board of Directors is comprised of business professionals who each have either previously served in law enforcement or have a special connection to that community and the cause of Officer Safety. The Board is relied upon heavily for governance, regulating financial affairs and fundraising to support the day-to-day operations managed by the Executive Director. Additionally, each Board Member helps in presenting grant awards around the country and advocates for Officer Safety where they live and work.

“Frank became a fast friend of the Foundation after a chance encounter and conversation passing through an airport,” commented Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue. “That conversation led to others and it was apparent that Frank connected with our mission of protecting police officers. And, he knows the job inside and out, along with the risks and the needs. When we asked him to sit on the Board he responded quickly and enthusiastically and his contribution has already been significant.”

Since 2011, the Spirit of Blue Foundation has awarded 47 grants in 24 states valued at over $200,000. The grants have varied from patrol rifles, body armor, riot control gear, AED’s, K9’s, forensic software, flashlights, Police/Youth Dialogue training, night vision optics, LED flares, ballistic helmets and self-contained breathing apparatus. The Foundation is supported on an ongoing basis by Law Enforcement United, Sportsmen Organized for Law Enforcement and LMT Defense, along with a number of other premiere brands who manufacture safety equipment across a broad range of categories. For more information or to learn how to support Spirit of Blue please go to: www.spiritofblue.org

Tags: 5.11 Tactical, Frank Cappo, Spirit of Blue Foundation
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Chase Tactical Partners with Big Sky Bravery

Wednesday, September 27th, 2017

Bozeman, MT
Chase Tactical is proud to announce its partnership with Big Sky Bravery in Bozeman, Montana. Big Sky Bravery is an official 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organization with a mission of providing our Military’s Active Duty Special Operations Forces with post-deployment decompression programs throughout Montana’s restorative surroundings. Big Sky Bravery tailors its programs to these elite forces by focusing on psychological and emotional well-being, and by building trust, brotherhood, and friendships that last a lifetime.

AS A 100% CIVILIAN BASED ORGANIZATION, WE OWE A “DEBT” TO THE SOF COMMUNITY. THE PRINCIPLES BELOW OUTLINE HOW WE SPEND OUR WEEK AND THE OPPORTUNITY IT CREATES TO FORGE A LIFELONG BOND WITH OUR RECIPIENTS.

OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOT, AND NEVER WILL BE, A VACATION FOR AMERICA’S ELITE…

DECOMPRESSION

• To feel human again and foster freedom of thought

• Value of adrenaline and therapeutic recreational activities

ENGAGEMENT

• Activities that require execution

• Discussions that warrant ideas, implementation and meaningful conversations

• Proficiency in skills that promote teaching to future generations and opportunities

BROTHERHOOD

• A lifelong pledge to the recipient of friendship, mentoring, and guidance

TRUST

• The foundation of our program, without it, we have nothing

• Secrecy, minimal community knowledge of our operations

• The volunteers’ role, brothers, not volunteers

• The importance of communication and letting your guard down

• Respect. Each individual gets out of it what they put into it

Chase Tactical is now offering its customers the opportunity at checkout to donate to Big Sky Bravery.

Veterans supporting ACTIVE DUTY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES, this is a cause many can embrace. Chase Tactical and Big Sky Bravery have collaborated to put their money where their mouths are in supporting our Active Duty Special Operations Forces.

You can also donate directly to Big Sky Bravery at www.bigskybravery.org.

Tags: Big Sky Bravery, Chase Tactical
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Best Military Charities for Hurricane Harvey Disaster

Friday, September 8th, 2017

The last few weeks have been difficult for people living in Texas. First, they had to survive the wrath of Nature that came as Hurricane Harvey and second, they now have to deal with the aftermath of the said hurricane (floods, landfalls, and more).

The unprecedented rain and floods left behind a lot of damage so, if you want to help, it will be most welcomed. If you’re not close to the disaster area, and you can’t participate in the rescue missions, you can offer help by donating money to charities involved.

Still, it’s not recommended to write checks with your eyes closed – even in the darkest times, some people still try to profit. To make sure your money will reach people in need take a look at the list of trusted military charities below.

#1: Army Emergency Relief Fund

Donation page: Click here
Their main focus is on helping soldiers (active and retired) and their families. However, they also get involved in major disasters (such as the events in Texas right now). Right now, the AER offers assistance for anyone in need of an evacuation or any other needs associated with the impact of the storm.

The AER is one of the most credible military charities in the USA and they are active through 75 sections located all over the world on Army installations. They are also working with the American Red Cross so you can get easier in touch.

#2: Operation Supply Drop (OSD)

Donation page: Click here

The OSD was founded in 2010 but, as they grew, they shifted focus to military veterans and their families. Nowadays, they work on helping veterans re-integrate into society by collaborating with various local experts such as GoogGun, and offering people a new view on life as a retired soldier.

Nowadays, the charity has both veterans and civilians who help local military populations. They have 37 locations in the country and the team of volunteers is strong and reliable.

#3: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Donation page: Click here

Their main mission is to provide active and retired Sailors and Marines and their families with financial, educations, and other types of support.

Right now, they offer assistance to service members and their families if they were impacted by the Harvey Tropical Storm. The charity has a good reputation and the members of the NMCRS are always reliable so you don’t have to worry about funds being diverted another way.

#4: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)

Donation page: Click here

As the name says, this military aid society focuses on helping the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. The CGMA is the official relief society for these people and they function as an individual organization.

Right now, the CGMA is prepared to help coast guard families and active or retired members who need to be evacuated due to the hurricane. They have locations all over the US but, in case people can’t reach a local representative, they can be reached via the American Red Cross as well.

They are active in major disasters and their main purpose is to provide emergency assistance to anyone who gets in touch. So, if you want to support their actions, your help is welcomed.

A Few Final words…

In the end, you should know that civilian charities cover the Hurricane Harvey situation as well, in a try to reduce the number of victims and to help people get over this natural disaster. It will take a long time before Texans will rebuild their homes and lives, which is why your help is paramount right now.

– Michael N
Michael is a passionate gun supporter and writer.

Posted in Charity, Guest Post | 2 Comments »

The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Presents Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation With a $1 Million Grant

Thursday, August 24th, 2017

Reston, VA – Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots) is honored to be awarded a noteworthy $1 million grant from The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund (JMSF) to provide additional scholarships for children of the fallen. This gracious donation will help the growing demands on Fallen Patriots and ensure an education by college-bound children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

The check was presented to Fallen Patriots’ team by MaryEllen Picciuto, President of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. Another notable attendee of the patriotic presentation was Hollister K. Petraeus, a founding member of Fallen Patriots Board of Advisors, a former Department of the Army civilian employee and wife of retired four-star General David Petraeus.

Inspired by the death of Colonel John “Johnny Mac” McHugh, who was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 18, 2010, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is dedicated to helping military families in need. With a mission to give back to those who have given so much, the foundation has successfully raised money to help surviving military families acquire financial stability.

“Loyal support from JMSF is making it possible for more surviving children to make their dreams a reality by attending college affordably. Having known the JMSF namesake, Colonel John McHugh at West Point and having helped two of his children with college through our organization, it’s personally very gratifying to be able to work with the JMSF in support of military families,” shared David Kim, Co-founder and CEO of Fallen Patriots. “We are immensely grateful and honored for our partnership with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund.”

Since its inception, Fallen Patriots has provided more than $17 million to support 890 college students. College graduates supported by Fallen Patriots include Colonel John “Johnny Mac” McHugh’s children.

“We’re extremely pleased to partner with Fallen Patriots on this endeavor to give back through education,” said MaryEllen Picciuto, President of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. “We believe it is our duty to help children of the fallen realize their college dreams, and it’s the least we can do to honor the service and sacrifice of their parents.”

American military families cope with the loss of their loved ones every day. The need for financial support is significant as government aid does not cover the full cost of college, leaving an average funding gap per student of $32,000 for four years. Nearly 20,000 gold star children across America will need future assistance. Grants and donations make it possible for Fallen Patriots to achieve their mission of helping every child of the fallen.

Tags: Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund
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Gerber Sponsors Bicontinental Motorcycle Expedition Led By Army Veterans

Thursday, August 24th, 2017

PORTLAND, OREGON (August 23rd, 2017) – GERBER, a leading direct supplier of mission-essential knives, tools and equipment to the US Military, is proud to be the primary sponsor of Where the Road Ends – supporting a team of US Army veterans as they embark on a dangerous expedition from the artic-circle to the southern-most tip of South America on custom-built motorcycles. The journey will last the better part of 3 months and take the team through the infamous Darien Gap, a 100 mile stretch of untamed jungle between Panama and Colombia.

Four Army vets. Four motorcycles. Fourteen countries. One impassible jungle.

[ From left: Wayne Mitchell, Richard Doering, Mike Eastham, Simon Edwards ]

The team will depart from Deadhorse, Alaska in mid-November where they will brave subzero temperatures and treacherous ice to reach the Darien Gap during January’s dry season, the only time when passage is possible.

The trip will be documented along the way through Gerber’s blog The Range, as well as through Gerber’s social feeds (Facebook & Instagram), and culminate in a full-length documentary produced post-expedition.

Gerber’s contributions to the expedition include cash to support planning, reconnaissance, operations, provisions and fuel as well as a variety of mission-essential gear including Machetes, Multitools, Knives and Equipment. Additionally, Gerber has donated its famed ‘Black Boar’ Ford Quad Conversion Van that previously traveled the country in 2012 on the ‘American Expedition’. The ‘Black Boar’ will act as a chase vehicle for portions of the trip supporting video production, carrying mechanical supplies and acting as an emergency aid station.

“Wayne and team are a determined group of professionals with a thirst for adventure.” said Andrew Gritzbaugh, Vice President of Marketing at Gerber. “They represent the unwavering spirit of the American Veteran, and we are thrilled with the opportunity to provide support for their ambitious journey.”

Follow the Journey here: http://blog.gerbergear.com/challenges/where-the-road-ends/

Meet the crew and see their vehicles at these upcoming Media Dates:

August 26-31 Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah Bonneville Speed Week,

September 21-24 Columbus, OH – AIM Expo Booth #1459, Columbus Ohio

November 4 Anchorage, AK – 2017 Kick Off Party & LSF Fundraising Dinner

About WTRE: A team of U.S. military veterans will ride motorcycles from the Arctic-Circle to the tip of South America, crossing the infamous Darien Gap in the process. The team will overcome subzero temperatures, sweltering heat, and miles of untamed jungle to complete an expedition which can only be considered an ultimate test of will. For more information visit www.wheretheroadendsmoto.com

About Gerber: Gerber is a leading global supplier of activity-specific knives, multi-tools, and problem-solving gear. Built on the pillars of craftsmanship, innovation, and an unrelenting commitment to quality and service to others, the trusted brand features a diverse portfolio of equipment for recreational and professional end users. For more information visit www.gerbergear.com

Tags: Gerber, Gerber Gear, Where The Road Ends
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Craig Morgan, Spirit of Blue Foundation Present Safety Equipment Grant to Dickson County Sheriff’s Office.

Saturday, August 12th, 2017

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – August 10, 2017 – Yesterday, the Spirit of Blue Foundation partnered with country music star Craig Morgan to present a safety equipment grant to the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office. The grant includes 70 tourniquets along with tactical belt holders that will be issued to all patrol division and reserve deputies that serve the county. Craig formerly served as a Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office in Dickson County before embarking on his country music career and was on hand to present this grant to the Sheriff’s office in his hometown. The grant, with a combined value of $4,238, is the first of Spirit of Blue’s 2017 Tourniquet Project campaign and was funded by a generous donation from Law Enforcement United (LEU). LEU is an organization of over 1,000 active and retired police officers who honor fallen officers and raise funds to assist charitable organizations that serve the law enforcement community.

The Dickson County Sheriff’s Office received a grant for 70 tourniquets and duty belt holders from Spirit of Blue. Receiving the grant (left to right) were Chief Deputy Jerone Holt and Sheriff Jeffrey Bledsoe. Presenting the grant (center) was country music star Craig Morgan and Spirit of Blue Executive Director Ryan T. Smith. Representing the grant sponsor, Law Enforcement United, (right to left) were Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Officer Joshua Black and Sergeant Anthony Brooks.

“Having served as a Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office, I know firsthand how critical it is to have this kind of lifesaving equipment available for all of our men and women on the force,” said Craig Morgan, following the event. “I’m glad for the opportunity to take part in this donation to Dickson County and proud to help kick off Spirit of Blue’s Tourniquet Project Campaign.”

Tourniquets are vital pieces of medical equipment that officers and deputies require on the road in the event of a traumatic injury to an extremity. When only precious minutes exist to treat such an injury, tourniquets are able to be applied individually or on a co-worker to prevent excessive blood loss until that individual can be placed into medical care. As a secondary benefit, officers and deputies who carry a tourniquet are also able to use them to rescue a member of the community who may have experienced a similar type injury as happened with the Monroe County (NY) Sheriff’s Office in July of this year with tourniquets that Spirit of Blue granted to them in October of 2015.

“Being the recipients of this grant from Spirit of Blue means a tremendous amount to a sheriff’s office of our size. We operate on a limited budget and being able to supply all of our deputies with a new piece of equipment isn’t always feasible,” commented Sheriff Jeffrey Bledsoe of the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office. “The tourniquets and duty belt holders we are receiving will be an asset to each of our deputies. Dickson County has a lot of areas that are rural and remote. These tourniquets could mean the difference between life and death for any one of our deputies who are out there putting their service to Dickson County ahead of themselves on a daily basis. We are very appreciative of what Craig Morgan and the Spirit of Blue are doing for us here.”

The C-A-T Tourniquet, manufactured by North American Rescue, has proven to be 100% effective in occluding blood flow in both upper & lower extremities by the U.S. Army’s Institute of Surgical Research and has been the official tourniquet of the U.S. Army since 2005. The duty belt holder, manufactured by Blue Force Gear, is constructed with their proprietary, lightweight ULTRAcomp material and was specially designed for Spirit of Blue’s Tourniquet Project Campaign to hold the C-A-T Tourniquet. Spirit of Blue has granted 463 C-A-T Tourniquets since its first tourniquet grant in 2014. In 2017, Spirit of Blue has a goal of granting another 1,000 tourniquets to officers who need them across the country. To learn more, or participate in the campaign, visit: www.spiritfoblue.org/TQ

Tags: Spirit of Blue, Spirit of Blue Foundation, The Spirit of Blue Foundation
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Navy Veteran Named Director Of Operations For Counter Human Trafficking Organization

Friday, August 4th, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (August 1, 2017) – Michael “Fulli” Fullilove, who served 20 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, has been appointed Director of Operations for DeliverFund, a national nonprofit private intelligence organization providing counter human trafficking services to law enforcement who combat human trafficking.

During his military service Fullilove deployed to numerous locations around the world including multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo as well as many developing nations where he worked with senior-level foreign government officials in combatting violent extremist organizations.

Fullilove is an expert in Risk, Threat and Vulnerability Assessment, Counter and Anti-Terrorism operations, Surveillance, and Counter-Surveillance. He has worked extensively with law enforcement and inter-agency stakeholders in sharing resources and assets to expand training for the Special Operations community. Since retiring from the military, Fullilove has been an operations consultant for select military and government agency clients.

Fullilove is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous specific Commendation Medals. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College and a Master’s Degree from Penn State. He is a qualified Special Forces Medic and speaks conversational Spanish. Before joining DeliverFund, Fullilove was Managing Director of Security Services for Barrister Global Solutions, LLC.

Fullilove’s responsibilities with DeliverFund will include supervision of the organization’s operational team and contractors; overseeing law enforcement support services and coordination of DeliverFund intelligence operations.

DeliverFund is a registered 501c3 organization whose team is composed of individuals from the US Special Operations and Intelligence communities. Collectively they have decades of experience understanding and dismantling illicit groups around the world. DeliverFund has redirected their training and expertise in counterterrorism to combat the prolific problem of human trafficking in the United States. DeliverFund partners with law enforcement to provide the additional data needed to do their jobs by outlining strategic intelligence opportunities increasing their success rate arresting traffickers and freeing victims.

Posted in Charity, Press Release, Veterans | 6 Comments »