Crafted from recycled plastic bottles and hemp by Veterans in the Seattle area, the Chest Rig is available in Agency Black, Scorched Earth, Claymore Green and Grey Man.
In production now. Delivers Late September.
www.combatflipflops.com/products/chest-rig-neck-tie
Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska will soon be introducing the Veteran Entrepreneurial Transition Act (VET) to the Senate. The VET Act will create a 3-year pilot program that will enable 250 veterans to use their GI Bill benefit as collateral to start a small business or purchase an existing business. Please take the time to write your Representatives in support of the Veteran Entrepreneurial Transition Act which would allow Veterans to use their GI Bill benefits to start a business.
Below is a draft language sample letter.
Dear (Senator/Representative),
I am contacting you to express my strong support for the proposed Veteran Entrepreneurial Transition Act.
This act will greatly assist the Department of Defense in making the entrepreneurial transition pathway a reality for our deserving veterans.
Our Nation benefits when we have a thriving and self-sustainable veteran community. Research shows that veteran-owned businesses perform better and stay in business longer, and they have a positive impact on communities across the country. Also, many young Americans join the military based on the positive recommendations of our veterans.
Nearly half of our Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are not currently using their GI Bill, and the unemployment rate for this cohort of veterans has exceeded the national average for years – especially for our female veterans.
In FY2013, the Department of Defense spent $1.359B on unemployment for former military personnel.
It’s time to turn this trend around and ensure greater transition opportunities for our veterans. I believe that this can be done by enabling more of them to start small businesses.
The fact is that many of our veterans, especially those that have done the “heavy lifting” in combat on multiple tours since 9-11, simply are not inclined to return to a college classroom filled with 18-year-olds, but their military experience and accomplishments have “hardwired” them for success in small business.
Our veterans are proven, disciplined leaders who are capable of making sound decisions in complex and confusing environments. They are mission-focused and capable team-builders and small-unit leaders. While they are rich in experience and drive, almost all of them are under-capitalized when it comes to starting a business. I believe that the VET Act will provide them the collateral needed to start a business outright or provide the leverage needed to collateralize a subordinated business loan.
As a pilot program, the VET Act represents a real opportunity for 250 of our veterans. I strongly encourage all members of Congress to support this important initiative.
Thanks for your continued support of our military community,
/S/
We received this great note from our friends at SOTech. They continue to do great things with the Veterans community in SoCal.
Normally we are announcing new product designs, but today we are honored that we were able to apply our skills to support the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital. Secretary Robert McDonald came out to ceremonially reopen the gates of the campus signalling a new day for the campus. A lot of momentous changes have been instituted by the VA and they are returning it to being a “Home for Veterans” rather than just a hospital. The VA asked Vets Corps to make copies of the original 1888 bronze plaques that read “National Soldiers Home”. Vets Corps volunteered SOTech employee Clark Acton who spent years in the film industry making rubber dummy guns to create the casts. At SOTech, Clark pours molds to make resin forms of radios, trauma plates, optics and weapons for pouches from originals that customers supply. This time Clark, a veteran himself, got to make a symbol that will welcome Veterans in Los Angeles to their Soldiers Home for decades to come.
Jim Cragg
President, CEO and Founder
S.O.TECH / Special Operations Technologies Inc.
www.SpecOpsTech.com
Battle Dawgs Racing is a professional sled dog racing kennel based in Big Lake, Alaska. They are also extremely supportive of the Veteran community, as you can see in their new campaign for this year’s Iditarod: #stop22. Recognizing that 22 Veterans a day end their own life in the USA, Battle Dawgs Racing will be wearing Wild Things Tactical jackets adorned with the Stop22 logo. Team members will sport the patches unit and combat style and will also display two flags also adorned with the Stop22 logo. These MultiCam ponchos also happen to be lined with wolf fur. Through the use of the MultiCam jackets, and patches, their goal is to raise awareness for Veterans during the Iditarod sled race, an event which will be viewed by millions of fans, insuring a high level of coverage.
Additionally, the non-profit side of Battle Dawgs is bringing two Veterans up for a retreat trip. Both currently suffer from PTSD, having served in the Army with multiple deployments. They will witness the start of the Iditarod in Anchorage and Fairbanks then travel to Nome to witness the finish. During the week of the race, they’ll both be treated to snowmobiling trips, sled dog mushing, ice fishing, skiing, snowboarding, all to enjoy the beauty of the Alaskan outdoors. They’ll also be involved in the making of their own personal custom-built knife, and will enjoy additional activities in Nome.
Update: Here’s a picture of the jacket in use.
#Mission22, a nonprofit veteran’s organization committed to raising public awareness and support of veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI and to end veteran suicide in America wants to raise $20,000 between now and 25 May 2015. #Mission22 was created by Special Operations Veteran Tom Spooner who chose the name Mission 22 because we are losing 22 Veterans a day to suicide!
You could win a custom 1911 built by the man himself, Dalton Fury who has transitioned from a shooter in the Unit to best selling author and now, pistolsmith.
DF Custom 1911 .45 ACP SN# MISSION22 w/custom leather holster by J.R. Custom Holsters
A hand built and blued .45 ACP pistol with custom aluminum grips highlighting the #MISSION22 logo. Custom dark walnut presentation case by Dave Lauck of D&L Sports, DF Customs certificate of authenticity, and a custom hand crafted holster from J.R. Custom Holsters in Emmett, ID.
Pistol specs:
-Gunsmith fit forged Caspian Govt. 5″ slide with laser engraved DF Custom 1911 logo
-Precision machined Caspian frame serial number MISSION22
-Bar-Sto Match Target stainless steel barrel hand fitted
-Hand blended Smith & Alexander Mag guide to frame well
-Hand blended Wilson Combat beavertail grip safety
-Hand blended Cylinder & Slide thumb safety
-Hand blended Wilson Combat slide stop
-Hand blended EGW bushing to EGW recoil spring plug
-Hand checkered and angled Ed Brown mag release button
-Serrated front strap and slide top
-Undercut trigger guard/front strap connection
-Dehorned entire pistol
-Hand blended slide rear to frame and beavertail
-Custom grips from WickedGrips
-Novak Lo-Mount rear sight
-Hand blended Chambers Custom front sight
-Greider precision V-series match trigger
-Custom case hand made by Dave Lauck of D&L Sports
-Hand polished and hot blued by Precision Bluing
Holster specs:
-Hand crafted by Jim Ryan
-Outside the waistband / 1911 Govt. Model 5″
-Burgundy horsehide with Burgundy Ring Lizard and Black Frog trim
-Underside of holster laser engraved with #MISSION22 logo
Custom #MISSION22 blade by Joey Watson w/custom leather sheath from J.R. Custom Holsters
Blade specs:
-Custom made by Joe Watson Knives in Austin, TX
-Grounded CTS-B75P steel in Mini-Bowie pattern
-Heat treated with satin finish and polished convex edge
-Hand sculpted carbon fiber handle slabs and set off with mosaic pins
-Laser engraved #MISSION22 logo near the hilt
Sheath specs:
-Hand crafted by Jim Ryan
-Outside the waistband loop
-Burgundy Horsehide with Burgundy Ring Lizard and Black Frog trim
-Full welt construction with floating welt retention tab
For full details visit, rafflecreator.com/pages/4978/win-a-df-custom-1911-45-acp-and-support-mission22.
According to a story in the Fayetteville Observer, 83-year-old retired Army CSM Pete Morakon will be honored by being inducted into the US Army Operational Tester Hall of Fame.
CSM Morakon retired from the Army in 1980 after a career in the 82nd and SF and later went to work as a civilian at the Airborne and Special Operations Test Board serving for a total of over 50 years.
Read the full story here.
James Creek Subdivision is a gated community based in Harker’s Island, North Carolina focused on providing lots and homes for retired members of the US military and their families. Located just 28 miles from Cherry Point USMC Air Station, the community is in close proximity to a Commissary, Base Exchange, and hospital. James Creek Subdivision has their own in-house VA certified builder which allows them to modify homes to account for any disability such as the inclusion of ramps, escalating chairs, and handicap accessible bathroom accommodations. James Creek Subdivision also has a wealth of activities including boat slips on the Atlantic Ocean, local firing ranges, deep sea fishing, and golf.
For more information, visit www.bledevelopment.com or call 919-810-4929.
Earlier today, during the Warrior Expo setup day, Chief Steve Bronson and Axl Rose, his Dutch Shepard Pitbull presented Wounded Warrior Brad Lang with his new service animal, Diego, on behalf of the EOD Warrior Foundation.
A Wounded Warrior, Brad Lang retired from the Marine Corps as an EOD SSgt after receiving graves wounds on July 24th, 2011 in the Sangin River Valley in Helmland Province. He recovered and nowadays, Brad keeps his head in the game by running Stumpy’s Custom Guns, Inc. in Swansboro, NC along with Johnny Morris who also lost a leg as a Marine EOD NCO. They named the shop “Stumpies” because they’ve got one good leg between the two of them. They also employ other Wounded Warriors.
Diego is a two year old Belgian Malanois. He’s undergone seven months of training for his new assignment as Brad’s service dog. Steve Bronson has really brought Diego a long way over that time.
This is a reunion for Brad and Diego. They last saw each other during SHOT Show in January. Brad had Diego initially for about four months and then he turned him over to BMC Bronson (USN, Ret) to train him as a service dog. Diego has been learning how to recover Brad’s chair, assist with handicapped doors and crosswalks as well as regular doors. Most of all, Diego will be someone to, in Brad’s own words, “watch my Six.”
EOD Warrior Foundation has paid for the entire training process. Everything from food to vet bills to training. They even purchased a Jog-a-Dog treadmill for Diego so that he can work off his excess energy. I spoke with EOD Warrior Foundation Founder and Chairman of the Board BMCM Ken Falke (EOD) (USN, Ret). He said, “We’re honored to be able to sponsor Diego’s training in order to make a difference in Brad’s life. We’re also grateful to Chief Bronson for his time and patience training Diego.”
Diego and Brad have one more challenge to surmount. Diego will be taking a public access test to assess his abilities to work with Brad in a public setting. Based on what I saw today, they’ll do just fine.
