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SK Customs Partners with Omar “Crispy” Avila to Honor our Nation’s Heroes this Independence Day

Saturday, July 1st, 2023

HAYMARKET, Va. June 29, 2023 — SK Customs® is proud to commemorate Independence Day along with with Omar “Crispy” Avila to honor recipients of the Military Badge of Merit, the modern-day Purple Heart Medal.

“As Independence Day approaches, we recognize the sacrifice and unwavering dedication of those who have served our great Nation,” said Simon Khiabani, owner and founder of SK Customs. “Last year, we partnered with Purple Heart Homes, the Purple Heart Integration Project and U.S. Army veteran and content creator, Omar “Crispy” Avila. This partnership pays homage to our combat-wounded veterans through the limited-edition 240th Purple Heart Colt 1911 firearm, representing the spirit of freedom as we celebrate America’s independence.”

After being deployed to Iraq in 2007, Avila’s vehicle was struck by a 200 lb IED, resulting in burns up to 75% of his body and amputation below the knee of his right leg. Sergeant Avila retired from the U.S. Army in 2010 after serving for nearly a decade and devoted his life to serving other Veterans and helping wounded warriors across the Nation.

As a Purple Heart recipient, Avila shows us what it means to commemorate wounded veterans through his video of the Purple Heart Commemorative Colt.

Through the SK Gives Back initiative, SK Customs donates a portion of the proceeds raised by the sale of this production to Purple Heart Homes and Purple Heart Integration Project.

To learn more about SK Guns®, and SK Customs®, visit skguns.com. ?

Posted in Charity, Firearms, Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on SK Customs Partners with Omar “Crispy” Avila to Honor our Nation’s Heroes this Independence Day

Sneak Peek – Global War on Terror (GWOT) Rifle Package from Daniel Defense

Monday, June 5th, 2023

Tomorrow, 6 June 2023, Daniel Defense is releasing an exclusive Global War on Terror (GWOT) rifle package which is based on an upgraded M4A1 RIII and includes a Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling, Magpul MBUS Pro flip-up sights, a Mil-Spec Flat Dark Earth (FDE) Cerakote finish on the rifle’s RIII rail instead of anodizing, custom Global War on Terror engraving on the lower, and a matching commemorative challenge coin. This isn’t the rifle you carried, it’s better.

I spent and afternoon on the range with the GWOT rifle and it’s everything you’d expect from Daniel Defense and more. DD guns are rock solid, reliable builds that incorporate lessons learned from their military and LE contracts. In fact, it’s that experience that makes this rifle so special. The US military and our Allies have used multiple Daniel Defense weapons and parts during the GWOT.

Since their founding around the sunset of the Assault Weapons Ban, Daniel Defense has been based near Pooler, Georgia, but they didn’t open their own dedicated factory until 2009. For a time they also manufactured in Ridgeland, South Carolina, but in 2017, they consolidated all of their operations in the state of-the-art, 300,000 Sq ft facility you see here. They manufacture everything themselves except for a few small parts like springs and fasteners in-house and have begun to integrate additive manufacturing for their suppressor line.

Daniel Defense wanted to honor those who served to protect our nation with a special price on these rifles. In a statement, Daniel Defense Founder/Executive Chairman Marty Daniel said, “This is our way of honoring and thanking the brave men and women who serve—and have served—this great country of ours.”

Daniel Defense tells me it will only be available for purchase by active-duty and retired military and law enforcement professionals, U.S. veterans, and those who diligently and selflessly served our nation in times of need.

They also want me to let you know that to see pricing and order the GWOT rifle package, you must first create an account and provide your military or law enforcement credentials or proof of service to ddmile@danieldefense.com. The rifle goes on sale 6 June 2023, and the sale runs through Independence Day, July 4.

www.danieldefense.com/gwot

Posted in Black Rifle, Veterans | 3 Comments »

Military, Veterans and First Responders Get 10% Off at Academy Sports + Outdoors Now Through July 4

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023

To thank service members this Memorial Day and Independence Day, Academy Sports + Outdoors is offering a 10% discount to active military service members, veterans and first responders now through July 4, 2023. The discount will be applied to the entire purchase, both in-store and online. More information can be found here: www.academy.com/military-and-first-responders.

To use the discount online, verify your military or first responder status with the id.me buttons on the Shopping Cart page. Once verified, copy and paste the promo code into the promo code section on the Shopping Cart page for single-use redemption. To use the discount in-store, simply present your military or first responder ID at checkout.

Academy is proud to show its thanks and appreciation for all active military, veterans and first responders for all they do to protect our nation and serve in our local communities.

Posted in Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on Military, Veterans and First Responders Get 10% Off at Academy Sports + Outdoors Now Through July 4

Battle Buddy Month Encourages Students to Share Comeback Yoga with Fellow Active Duty, Veterans

Sunday, April 30th, 2023

Trauma-informed classes help military members develop resiliencyDENVER (April 24) – Comeback Yoga, the original Colorado organization serving veterans and their supporters through yoga, is excited to host Battle Buddy Month for active-duty military personnel and veterans during the month of May. Each class participant is invited to bring a buddy to class during May, and earn points toward prizes at the end of the month.

All military members know how important a battle buddy is, though they know them through different names: Shipmate, Wingman, Liberty Buddy. Battle Buddies ensure every member of the military always has one person in their corner, in and out of combat. Comeback Yoga wants veterans and military members to share the experience of free, accessible, trauma-informed yoga classes with a buddy who would benefit from the skills students gain on the mat.

“Battle Buddy month is a way for students to really share what they get out of Comeback Yoga. Veterans, active duty and their supporters all receive the benefits of free yoga classes taught by our highly trained teachers, and we think it’s an exciting time to spread the awareness of what yoga is capable of,” said Kelly Wulf Executive Director at Comeback Yoga. “Regardless of the branch of service, battle buddies ensure every member of the military always has one person in their corner. We bring that same concept to yoga: we’re always in your corner.”

Battle Buddy month is the perfect time for new students to try Comeback Yoga and spend time with old friends and make some new ones. Whether a new student or someone who has been practicing with Comeback Yoga for a long time, students are encouraged to bring a friend to a class as many times as they can throughout the month. Each class shared earns the student duo a point, and the pair with the most points at the end of the month win a Comeback Yoga prize pack. Students who have participated in Comeback Yoga’s classes know how much they can help develop resiliency in response to their life experience that may include post-traumatic stress.

Attend Battle Buddy Month’s Kick Off class on May 1 online and in person at The River Yoga – Golden Triangle from 2-3 p.m. MDT. Learn more about Comeback Yoga’s class schedule and mission at www.comebackyoga.org.

Posted in Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on Battle Buddy Month Encourages Students to Share Comeback Yoga with Fellow Active Duty, Veterans

Ninety-Pound Rucksack Recounts Story of World War II’s 10th Mountain Division

Monday, April 17th, 2023

A new podcast, Ninety-Pound Rucksack, is recounting the story of World War II’s 10th Mountain Division and its contributions to outdoor recreation in America.

Hosted by veteran alpinist and climbing historian Christian Beckwith, the podcast offers a deep dive into the origins of the 10th, an unprecedented unit of US Army climbers and skiers who trained for more than two years in the Colorado Rockies to fight the Axis powers in extreme cold and mountainous terrain.

Informed by an advisory board of the 10th’s foremost experts, the podcast details a different chapter in the unit’s history with each episode, providing a sweeping overview of the Division’s influence on both American military and its outdoor recreation industry. Post-war, 10th Mountain Division veterans founded and developed ski areas across America, started companies like NOLS and Nike and launched the fields of avalanche science and wilderness rescue.

Based on the podcast’s first few episodes, Beckwith was invited to keynote the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Leadership Forum at Ft. Drum, New York, in February. He is now serving as an advisor to the 10th Mountain Alpine Club, a nascent organization that is helping the unit reconnect with its historic identity, and will keynote the 10th Mountain Division’s Mountain Fest 2023 in June.

Ninety-Pound Rucksack is available at www.christianbeckwith.com

Posted in Media, Mountaineering, Press Release, Veterans | 2 Comments »

New Military Thriller by Brigadier General Anthony J Tata: Total Empire

Sunday, March 19th, 2023

BELOVED FICTIONAL HERO GARRETT SINCLAIR DIVES INTO THE MAW OF DEATH TO THWART CHINESE GLOBALIST AGENDA AND NUCLEAR WAR

FLORIDA – Powerhouse military thriller author Anthony J. Tata returns with a brand new book, using his vast military experience to create stories that feel all too real. In Total Empire: A Garrett Sinclair Novel (St. Martin’s Press; on sale March 21, 2023; $27.99), Tata sends his hero General Garrett Sinclair on a rogue mission in the Sahara Desert to thwart an international nuclear threat.

When Sergeant Major Sylvester “Sly” Morgan is killed on a mission, his daughter Zoey tells General Sinclair that she discovered her father’s death wasn’t a random killing. Her father accidentally recorded a high-level meeting between Chinese, American, and French diplomats as they spoke with tech moguls about a plan for a new global government.

The Chinese-U.S. Partnership (CUSP) intends to combine the world’s two largest economies and militaries to usher in a new era of partnership and global control. But China’s offer to partner has a deadline and penalties for noncompliance. As a safeguard, China launches five high-tech hypersonic glide vehicles, armed with nuclear weapons, from a strategic point in the Eye of Africa. When Zoey disappears after her father’s funeral and reappears in the Eye of Africa, seemingly in pursuit of her father’s killer, Sinclair and his team scramble to catch up with Zoey’s rapid movements once she activates a distress signal.

Without authorization, Sinclair takes Dagger Team into Dakhla, Morocco, and points beyond in the Mauritanian Desert as he attempts to save Zoey’s life. With too many missions to execute and not enough information, Sinclair and Dagger Team discover that the Chinese plan is nearly complete. Facing insurmountable odds and without support from the American government, Sinclair takes matters into his own hands, leading his team into the Sahara death pit to find Zoey, prevent a nuclear war, and stop the globalist agenda from taking hold.

Posted in Media, Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on New Military Thriller by Brigadier General Anthony J Tata: Total Empire

Financial Instructions for Survivors of Deceased Veterans

Saturday, March 18th, 2023

We recently had a death in the family and we’ve had to deal with DFAS and the VA so I thought it would be worth posting again.

If you are retired military (or DoD/USG Civilian), please save this and pass it to your family so they know what to do with your retired pay, SBP, VA, DEERS, VGLI and Social Security when you pass.

Retired pay ends when the retiree dies. Survivors must promptly report a retiree’s death to help avoid delays and possible financial hardship to surviving annuitant beneficiaries, family members or executors who will be required to reimburse any retired pay overpayments.

Please follow the steps below to report the death of a military retiree:

Step 1 – Notify the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Casualty Care Team at 1-800-321-1080. Please have the retiree’s Social Security Number and the date of death when you call.

Upon notification, DFAS will begin to close out the pay account to prevent any overpayments.

Step 2 – Contact your financial institution and inform them of the death of the retiree.

Step 3 – Within 7-10 business days of reporting the death to DFAS, you should receive a condolence letter.

If the member is due arrears of pay you will also receive a Claim for Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Member of the Uniformed Service (SF 1174).

If the decedent was enrolled in the Survivor Benefit Plan or the Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan, you should also receive an Annuity Care Package for completion and return.

Step 4 – Complete the SF 1174 you received with your condolence letter and return with a copy of the retiree’s Death Certificate that reflects cause of death to:

DFAS U.S. Military Retired Pay

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

U.S. Military Retired Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1200

If you need assistance completing your claim form please contact the DFAS call center at 800-321-1080.

Contact List: In addition to notifying DFAS, you should also notify the following agencies/departments as soon as possible:

* Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.

* Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System at 800-538-9552.

* Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at 800-827-1000 for military retirees receiving disability compensation.

* Office of Personnel Management at 888-767-6738 if the member was a current or retired federal civilian employee.

* VA at 800-669-8477 for retirees enrolled in a VA-sponsored life insurance policy, such as National Service Life Insurance.

* Office of Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473 for retirees enrolled in Veteran’s Group Life Insurance.

Information provided by CSM Jeff Mellinger (USA, Ret)

Posted in Veterans | 2 Comments »

The Long Wait Is Over: Vietnam Veteran to Receive Medal of Honor

Saturday, March 4th, 2023

WASHINGTON — The White House announced retired Army Col. Paris Davis will receive the Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery as a commander during the Vietnam War.

President Joe Biden will present the award to Davis during a ceremony at the White House Friday.

Davis commanded American Special Forces as well as an inexperienced South Vietnamese company against a large North Vietnamese force June 17-18, 1965. His tactical leadership allowed the company to gain an advantage and surprise the enemy.

Davis was wounded in the initial assault, but he continued to push forward, killing several enemy soldiers.

Following a counterattack from the North Vietnamese and facing intense gun fire, Davis led a small group of Soldiers as they destroyed locations defended by the enemy.

Davis then regrouped with his company and ordered air strikes on the enemy. The North Vietnamese, however, launched another attack with increased numbers. Davis was again wounded but managed to hold off the enemy.

Noticing two of his Soldiers seriously injured, Davis disregarded his own safety and went to save them. He was shot in the leg as he pulled the first one to safety.

Davis went back to get the second Soldier and drew heavy enemy fire. He crawled 150 yards and was hit by grenade fragments, causing multiple wounds. He didn’t let that stop him and was able to get the Soldier to safety.

After rescuing both men, Davis directed the helicopter extraction of the wounded but refused it for himself. He continued to fight the enemy until his entire company made it out safely. He then remained on the battlefield to coordinate the final aerial and artillery attacks, ensuring victory.

Davis saved the lives of multiple Soldiers during the battle and led his company to victory over a much larger enemy force. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism.

Now, after nearly six decades, Davis will receive the nation’s highest award for military valor.

By Christopher Hurd, Army News Service

Posted in Army, Guest Post, History, Veterans | 2 Comments »