Fox Factory Vehicles has announced a Commando variant of the Jeep Wrangler limited to just 250 examples and only available for purchase by active military and veterans.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., (November, 2025) — As the country celebrates Veterans Day and National Entrepreneurship Month, U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur Austin Holmes, founder of Signal Raptor, shines a light on how veterans are shaping the future of technology through mission-driven innovation. This is a purpose-driven tech company in the business of digital trust and secure communication, reflecting Holmes’s journey from combat to the C-suite, where integrity, accountability, and dependability remain the mission.
After years serving in the military, Holmes drew parallels between mission-critical communication in the field and the growing need for clarity and security in the digital environment. Signal Raptor was built on that foundation to ensure that people, businesses, and organizations can operate with confidence and transparency in the digital space.
“Veterans understand that trust is at the heart of every mission,” said Holmes. “That very same principle drives our work at Signal Raptor: building technology that’s dependable, disciplined, and focused on protecting what matters most.”
Signal Raptor is part of a growing wave of veteran-owned technology companies redefining the meaning of entrepreneurship. Holmes brings business and technology development through leadership qualities instilled in his military background: precision, adaptability, and service.
This veteran, father, and founder supports his fellow service members in transitioning from active duty back into civilian life and eventually into becoming entrepreneurs. This season, the outreach efforts of Signal Raptor are in line with that mission, including partnerships with veteran business networks in support of veteran innovation and digital literacy.
The following are highlights of the continued Signal Raptor mission:
Veteran-Led Innovation: Applying the lessons of strategy, teamwork, and resilience learned in military service to drive technological solutions.
Digital Trust Commitment: Building trust, reliability, safety, and privacy into all products surrounding communication.
Community Involvement: Partnerships with organizations that serve veterans to extend technology entrepreneurship resources even further.
This Veterans Day and throughout National Entrepreneurship Month, Holmes and Signal Raptor want to highlight the value that veterans bring to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Indeed, because of their discipline and problem-solving approach, veteran founders are leading the charge in innovation, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
To Holmes, the vision for Signal Raptor goes beyond just building software; it is about building trust in an increasingly complex digital world. His story shows just how much the lessons learned in service can power meaningful innovation in civilian life. “Service doesn’t end when you leave the military-it evolves,” Holmes says. “To us, that means creating technology that serves people, protects them, and helps them connect more securely.”
Learn more at signalraptor.com.
I’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you to my fellow Veterans on this annual celebration of our service to this great nation! We have protected this land longer than it has been an independent country.
The American Legion has collated a list of companies honoring our Veterans. Enjoy your day!
BARNEVELD, Wis. – This Veterans Day, we’re opening our doors at Vortex® to say thank you. From 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on November 11th, veterans and active-duty service members are invited to stop by our headquarters showroom for coffee and conversation, as a show of our appreciation.
Here’s what we’ve got planned:
Coffee on us – Show your military ID and grab a cup from the Boss Cow truck.
Challenge coin – Pick up a Spirit of Service coin in the showroom.
Meet the team – Members of Vortex®, including CEO Joe Hamilton, will be around to say thanks.
Showroom photo booth – Snap a keepsake before you go.
It’s a simple way for us to recognize the people in our community who have served. If you’re a veteran, we hope you’ll join us. If you know a veteran, help us spread the word.
Virginia Beach, VA — EDC Coffee & Tea has launched under the leadership of Veteran Navy SEAL operator Dom Raso. The brand, originally founded in Michigan, is now headquartered in Virginia Beach with an expanded product lineup and a mission-first focus.
The brand’s namesake, Every Day Carry, refers to the gear you keep on hand to stay prepared. EDC Coffee & Tea applies that mindset to keeping warriors fueled up on the move.
Raso is also the founder of Dynamis Alliance and Crush Everything. He is recognized for his work in tactical innovation, leadership, and preparedness.
“Our mission is simple: to deliver no-compromise coffee and tea that fuels people who live with purpose,” said Raso. “EDC Coffee & Tea is about more than what’s in the bag. It’s about the discipline, grit, and daily habits that keep you ready for whatever comes next.”
The brand, which is celebrating its launch week through Oct. 20, delivers premium, organic coffee and tea packaged in Magneclose™ resealable bags to keep every brew mission-ready anytime, anywhere.
A portion of proceeds supports the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which assists Gold Star families and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
Learn more at EDCbrew.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 14, 2025 – GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM) focused on advanced solutions for defense and government customers, and the Medal of Honor Foundation (MOHF) will celebrate a new strategic partnership at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition.
The organizations, which formalized their alliance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last month, invite AUSA attendees to a special meet and greet event. GM Defense leaders, Medal of Honor Foundation and Congressional Medal of Honor Society leaders, and Medal of Honor Recipients will be at the GM Defense Booth (8127, Hall E) on Tuesday, October 14th, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM to discuss how the collaboration will honor valor, inspire citizenship, and promote innovation for warfighter safety and success.
A Joint Commitment to Valor and Innovation
The strategic alliance establishes cooperation to preserve the Medal of Honor’s legacy, promote its core values, and integrate the MOHF mission—to Educate, Connect, Inspire, Preserve, and Support—with GM Defense’s dedication to national service and technological innovation.
“The Medal of Honor Recipients represent the pinnacle of courage, sacrifice, and selfless commitment—values that are deeply embedded in the mission of GM Defense and General Motors,” said Steve duMont, President of GM Defense. “This partnership allows us to align our corporate commitment to national service with the Medal of Honor’s enduring legacy. We are honored to support the Recipients in sharing their powerful stories of citizenship, integrity, and valor, which inspire our employees and the communities we serve.”
The MOU details four key objectives for the collaboration:
Supporting the Mission: Providing direct support to Medal of Honor focused activities, ensuring the continuation of programs that align with its core mission pillars.
Celebrating Medal of Honor Recipients: Leveraging GM Defense’s communications platforms, events, and resources to promote initiatives dedicated to celebrating Recipients and highlighting their service.
Sharing the Recipient Legacy: Creating unique opportunities for Medal of Honor Recipients to associate with GM and GM Defense brands, sharing their lived experiences of valor to foster a renewed sense of purpose and commitment among company teams.
Highlighting Innovation for Warfighters: Increasing awareness of GM Defense’s advanced technologies by strategically aligning Recipient narratives and engagements with the development and deployment of solutions, demonstrating their direct impact on warfighter safety, mobility, and mission success.
“Medal of Honor Recipients continue their service long after their military careers end, engaging with communities nationwide to share the Medal’s enduring values of courage, sacrifice, and service above self,” said John Shertzer, Executive Director of the Medal of Honor Foundation. “The vital support from GM Defense strengthens that mission, enabling us to extend the Medal’s reach beyond classrooms and into boardrooms, neighborhoods, and communities. Together, we are connecting lessons forged in combat with the innovations shaping today’s armed forces and ensuring that the legacy of service continues to inspire, educate, and unite Americans from every walk of life.”
About GM Defense LLC
GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles, power, and autonomy and connectivity solutions to global defense, security, and government markets. The exceptional reliability of GM Defense’s technologies results from decades of proven performance and billions of dollars spent in independent research and development by its parent, General Motors, a world leader in global design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.gmdefensellc.com.
Media Contact: Erica Mitchell, Senior Manager, GM Defense Communications | Email: erica.mitchell@gm.com Phone: 248-706-8273
About the Medal of Honor Foundation
The Medal of Honor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to support and advance the mission of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. As the Society’s fundraising and philanthropic arm, the Foundation exists to honor and preserve the legacy of the Medal of Honor by providing essential financial resources that sustain its programs and extend its reach.
Through its steadfast support of the Society’s educational initiatives, outreach efforts, and national recognition programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Outreach Programs, and Citizen Honors Awards, the Foundation helps ensure that the values embodied in the Medal – Integrity, Courage, Sacrifice, Citizenship, and Patriotism – to inspire generations of Americans. In doing so, the Foundation plays a vital role in protecting the history of the Medal, amplifying the voices of its Recipients, and promoting a deeper understanding of the character and service that define our nation. To learn more and donate, please visit www.cmohs.org.
Media Contact: Morgan Blakley, Senior Director of Communication and Strategy | Email: MBlakley@CMOHS.org – Phone: 972-921-7336
NELSONVILLE, OH. (October 2025) – Rocky® Boots military, tactical and public service division, reaffirms its ongoing mission to support veterans across Ohio through stand down events – 30 years partnering with the Columbus Stand Down and 10 years with the Athens Stand Down – with the most recent event taking place earlier this month.
Each Fall, Rocky donates 600 pairs of boots to the Columbus Stand Down and 100 pairs to the Athens Stand Down events, helping veterans facing homelessness or hardship stay protected and prepared for whatever comes their way. These events bring together local organizations, healthcare providers, and volunteers to provide essential services such as meals and medical screenings to housing assistance and employment support.
“We’re proud to call Ohio home, and we’re honored to stand beside the organizations that make a difference in the lives of those who’ve served,” said Sarah Williams, marketing manager for Rocky® Boots military and public service division.
“These partnerships are bigger than donations. They are about giving back to our community and sharing our gratitude for their service.”
The Columbus Stand Down and the Athens Stand Down, both took place in early October and were free for veterans and their families. Together, they serve thousands of Ohio veterans each year demonstrating Rocky’s brand heritage of hard work, resilience, and service.
For more information, visit www.rockyboots.com.
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 2, 2025 — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently reports a disability claims backlog of more than 190,000 unresolved cases across the country. While this marks progress compared to historic highs, veterans are still facing average wait times of 12 to 18 months — and in many cases, delays stretching two years or morebefore receiving a decision.
In recent years, the backlog has swelled dramatically, topping 300,000 cases and even approaching 400,000 at its peak, driven in part by the implementation of the PACT Act and a surge of new claims related to toxic exposure. For veterans with urgent health needs, these numbers translate into months — and often years — of uncertainty, lost income, and untreated conditions.
Shield of Odin, a veteran-focused healthcare and medical-legal services provider, is working to close that gap by offering veterans an alternative pathway to strengthen their claims and avoid repeated cycles of denials and appeals. Through its nationwide network of licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and vocational experts, the organization provides independent medical evaluations, Nexus Letters, Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), vocational assessments, and peer-reviewed evidence tailored to VA rating criteria.
The goal: ensure veterans can submit fully developed claims that stand on solid medical-legal evidence, reducing the risk of denial and expediting access to benefits.
“The VA’s official backlog today is just under 200,000 claims — but anyone watching this system knows how quickly those numbers can rise, and how devastating the wait can be,” said Ryan Hawley, CEO of Shield of Odin. “For a veteran with lung disease from burn pit exposure or PTSD from combat service, being forced to wait 18 months or longer is not simply a delay; it’s a barrier to care, stability, and dignity. Our mission at Shield of Odin is to ensure those veterans are not left behind.”
Shield of Odin emphasizes that the backlog is not merely a matter of statistics but of lived human impact. Veterans awaiting benefits often face mounting medical costs, difficulty maintaining employment, and mental health struggles as they navigate a system strained by volume and complexity.
“The averages don’t tell the full story — behind every number is a veteran and a family in crisis,”said Dean Johnston, COO of Shield of Odin and a board member of Heros of the Sea. “We see veterans waiting 24 months or more for a claim to move forward. Some pass away before ever receiving a decision. That’s why we’ve built a system to provide timely, accurate evidence that can cut through the bureaucracy and accelerate the process.”
VA Backlog by the Numbers (2025)
Current backlog (May 2025): 190,000+ unresolved claims (VA official reporting)
Peak backlog in recent years: Over 300,000 cases, with spikes near 400,000
Average wait time: 12–18 months for resolution
Extended delays: 24+ months common in complex or toxic exposure cases
First-time claim denials: Nearly 70% linked to insufficient or incomplete medical evidence
Rural veterans: Face 30–40% longer waits due to limited examiner availability
(Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA News, Military Times, Federal News Network, advocacy group analyses)
Shield of Odin’s Role in Solutions
Shield of Odin has developed a nationwide telehealth platform that connects veterans with qualified practitioners across all 50 states, ensuring even those in rural or underserved areas can access timely support. Services include:
Telehealth Nexus Letters and DBQs to establish medical connections between service and condition
Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) for complex or contested cases
Vocational impact assessments linking disabilities to occupational limitations
Peer-reviewed, evidence-based opinions aligned with VA rating criteria and legal precedent
By providing medical-legal documentation that is both rigorous and veteran-centric, Shield of Odin helps veterans avoid common pitfalls that result in denials, repeat appeals, and further time lost in the system.
