To Our Loyal Customers,

Since our last newsletter, Salute The Brave has come a long way and is continuing to grow. We would like to show you our three new styles of hats that are now available for purchase in our online store as a pre-order. (These will be shipped out April 1st)
The first hat is our new red white and blue snapback. We heard lots of feedback about how our first snapback fit, so we have fixed these problems and promise you a perfect fitting snapback.
Our next two new items are in honor of the USC Trojan baseball team. The team will be wearing these hats in one of their games this spring to honor the troops overseas. They are digital camo with the interlocking SC on the front. The Trojans hat is available in both a flatbrim snapback, as well as a curved brim. These are a limited edition style and are in very high demand, so order quickly!
www.salutethebrave.com
The promo code for 20% off for the new items is BETTERFIT

Salute The Brave was recently featured in Inc. Magazine as one of the top college start-ups of the year! We appreciate all of your loyalty to help us get to that point. You can read the article here:

http://www.inc.com/coolest-college-start-ups-2012/abigail-tracy/salute-the-brave-ryan-morris.html

Vote for our Inc. Magazine video by clicking the “LIKE” button next to Salute The Brave here:

http://www.inc.com/coolest-college-start-ups-2012/videos.html?vid=b318c89553321

Remember, for every product purchased, one is then donated in a care package to a United States Serviceman or woman! BE A HERO, FOR A HERO!

All the best,
Ryan Morris
Salute The Brave CEO

http://www.inc.com/coolest-college-start-ups-2012/abigail-tracy/salute-the-brave-ryan-morris.html

1) What made you decide to want to join the military?
I decided to join the military because I was told by my mother, that when I hit 18 I was out of the house and on my own. Not taking high school very seriously left me little options. I knew that I needed to mature and get out of my comfort zone, which was home. I also told myself that I wanted to do something that was pro active and honorable. That gave me my decision and I decided to enlist in the Marine Corps. After I decided to enlist, I figured if I was going to commit then I might as well find a way to get on the front line. I enlisted as a 0311 infantrymen and after my first deployment took the Scout Sniper indoc and passed. I served my last two deployments as a Scout Sniper.

2) After being deployed, what does it feel like to be back on U.S. soil?
After deploying you have such a great appreciation for the little things. Driving on the freeway and enjoying the breeze that is so common off the coast by Camp Pendleton. Family is the most important thing.

3) Are you still in contact with other servicemen and women that you served with?
Not many. The guys that stayed in I have lost contact with because it is hard to talk about that lifestyle if you’re not in it. My best friend Kyle, who also got out, I still keep in contact with. I also started a friendship with another guy who got out that same time that I did.

4) What is your fondest memory of being part of the armed forces?
Graduating Sniper school (earning my hogs tooth) and the fact that I was able to deploy and operate in our efforts to fight the Taliban/Insurgents. Deploying three times in four years and conducting the R&S missions that our keep conducted was a blast and something that I will never forget.

5) What does a company like Salute The Brave ,that gives care packages, mean to the troops overseas?
Salute The Brave is a great company! My girlfriend (now fiancé), family, and friends spoiled me with packages all the time. Many are not so blessed and to have a guy like Ryan and a company like Salute the Brave who give back to those men and women who do not have a great support system is huge. I am so happy to have met Ryan and Salute the Brave has my full support.

“When I first decided to try bullfighting, I had no idea what to expect. I had seen a few Professional Bull Riders events and was impressed not by the riders, but by the bullfighters. Bullfighters are in charge of keeping the riders safe once they are thrown off the bull’s back. They present the bull with an easy in hopes that it will chase them instead of the vulnerable rider. When I got the opportunity to go to Houston to go to bullfighting school, I talked to Ryan and we both decided it would be a great way to show off the Salute the Brave logo.

While bullfighting takes some courage, it pales in comparison to the bravery shown by our servicemen and women who are fighting for our great country. I have 2 cousins and numerous good friends who are in various branches of the armed forces, so I take any chance I get to show gratitude for the sacrifices they have made and may make in the future to protect the freedoms we all enjoy every day. Putting the Salute the Brave logo on my jersey is a small way for me to show how much respect and appreciation I have for our soldiers.”

Below are pictures from of Robert in action while sporting his Salute The Brave uniform:

Here are some pics of the Barstool hats (one picture is of the custom red, white, and blue Barstool logo, and the other is of El Prez rockin’ his STB hat):

Here is what the images on the shirts look like:

BIO:
James T Smith 31y/o, Born and live in Thousand Oaks CA.Thousand Oaks HS grad. Joined USMC in 1998, Honorably Discharged 2006. 4th LAR Camp Pendelton CA . Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003.Currently Fireman in Ventura County 10 yrs. Love my family,my country,baseball,fishing and surfing.

1) What made you decide to want to join the military?
My decision to join the military was mainly based on how Patriotic my family is ,especially my father. He is a decorated Navy Vietnam Vet and is very proud of his service and always impressed upon me how important God ,Country and Freedom are.

2) After being deployed, what does it feel like to be back on U.S. soil?
Coming home and setting foot on the concrete at March AF Base is a moment I will never forget. We landed to a very warm welcome of fire trucks with lights flashing, banners ,signs, families and friends. America is the best country on earth and its great to be back and to be an American!

3) Are you still in contact with other servicemen and women that you served with?
I do still keep in contact with a few guys but stay in close contact with my Platoon Commander.

4) What is your fondest memory of being part of the armed forces?
The Marine Corps provides so many memorable moments… hahaha bootcamp, cold nights on the beach, scolding hot days in the sand…. Just being a United States Marine is an honor.

5) What does a company like Salute The Brave ,that gives care packages, mean to the troops overseas?
Folks back home will never understand how much of a moral booster it is to receive a package when you are away from home, especially in combat!! Mail and packages are sometimes the only thing to look forward to other than coming home. Anything was appreciated and coveted when received. My dad has a bumper sticker that explains it all. It reads, ” For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know” The thoughts, prayers and packages from a wonderful company like Salute The Brave, is what keeps the Men and Women of the US Armed Forces Fueled and Fighting and I thank you !!

To our loyal fans and customers,

School is back in session, the summer is dwindling to an end, and we continue to hear of news about the war in the Middle East every single day on our news channels. We absolutely love seeing letters from the troops showing their appreciation of the care packages they receive. We have this note from Cpl. James Smith:

Folks back home will never understand how much of a moral booster it is to receive a package when you are away from home, esp in combat!!
Mail and packages are sometimes the only thing to look forward to other than coming home. Anything was appreciated and coveted when received. My dad has a bumper sticker that explains it all. It reads, ” For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know” The thoughts, prayers and packages from a wonderful company like Salute The Brave, is what keeps the Men and Women of the US Armed Forces Fueled and Fighting and I thank you!!
Cpl. James Smith

Salute The Brave is continuing to come out with new products, such as our new t-shirt line that you can see at www.salutethebrave.com. This is keeping our customers excited to buy products that will then send a care package overseas. I was at the Operation Gratitude headquarters this past week dropping off hundreds of hats, shirts, and bracelets, and I can honestly say that it gave me chills walking into the building. The enormous warehouse had gifts all set up in an assembly line fashion, and I was able to see where the Salute The Brave products are going. This first wave of donated Salute The Brave products will be part of the December delivery to give our troops a merry Christmas and something to put under their trees.

We thank you so much for your continued support of Salute The Brave, and will continue to do all we can to keep coming out with new products and more promotions. To celebrate schools being back in session, enter the promo code “BACK2SCHOOL” to receive 25% off of your entire order!

Sincerely,

Ryan Morris
Founder & CEO of Salute The Brave

Biography:
By the time I was 14 years old, I dropped out of high school and stayed on the streets. I had a home but I refused to stay there. A native of Los Angeles, I hung out with a mix of street gangs and teens who also ran away from home. Not long after socializing with this type of crowd and making a series of bad choices, I hit rock bottom. But I did not want to be beaten by the mistakes I made early in life. I worked with tutors and counselors, and on my 16th birthday, I earned a General Education Diploma. I used my G.E.D. to get into Pasadena City College. I wanted to redeem myself by accepting the challenge to change my life.
It was difficult for me to adjust to college life at first. My first semester was especially challenging because I lacked a strong high school background. The next two semesters, I passed all my classes with A’s and B’s. But then my neighborhood friends started looking for me. It was difficult to focus on school and deal with my old friends, but it was something I could not ignore. This obstacle started to get overwhelming and I knew I was not going to succeed if things did not change. This was when I met a recruiter named Gunnery Sergeant Harmon, who offered what he claimed to be “a challenge of a lifetime”.
Harmon is a United States Marine. He explained that the Marines have the toughest training the military has to offer. I explained to him my situation. I told him that I wanted to change and become something that was good. It normally takes three to four months to process and prepare someone for boot camp, but Harmon and I did it in 30 days. The Marines challenged me every day, physically and mentally. During training, we had to deal with fatigue, loneliness, and sleep deprivation. We went on 10-mile hikes with 80-pound bags strapped on our backs. For three months I trained, and at least once a day I thought about giving up. For example, I could not climb a rope or do pull-ups. It was frustrating, but I knew I had to improve to keep from getting held back. So at night I exercised on my own while everyone slept. I studied shooting techniques and combat rules in case I was tested in an oral exam. I tried to remember that I joined the Marines to better myself and I could not let anything stop me. My performance improved quickly because of this extra effort and I was out-performing my squad leaders by the end of boot camp. It was the mistakes I made early in my life that motivated me. I did not think I had many chances left, and giving up was just not one of my options.
While stationed in Camp Pendleton, California, I was treated like any new Marine. The platoon leaders assigned the hardest and dirtiest jobs to me. This did not bother me like it did the others. I took my duties seriously and tried to do things better than everyone else. I was successful in the service fleet because of one simple rule I followed: Anything that other Marines, including my supervisors, believed to be hard, I trained to master. This often led to commendations and promotions. Soon I was in charge of my own platoon and I was given an opportunity to test my leadership skills in a real war. I took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. People often asked me what I thought about the United States being involved in this war and I had no answer for them. Fighting in a war on the ground, unfortunately, does not afford one the luxury to have an opinion about it. Foreign affairs and government policy were the farthest things from my mind. I thought about my survival and the safety of my platoon. I thought about coming home safely to my family. I trained my platoon to think that one mistake can cost us our lives. We were constantly moving, anticipating danger at every turn. There was no comfort or rest, even while we sleep. Living like this made me tired and paranoid. I appreciated the meaning of hyper-vigilance because for 11 months I felt like something bad was going to happen at any given moment. I had to draw on my last reserves of strength and persistence, which I needed for myself and for the young men I was assigned to lead. My performance during the war led to a promotion and commendation for performing duties two ranks higher than my pay grade, but I felt exhausted.
At the end of my tour, I was ready to leave the service. Most of my men thought someone as successful as I was in the Marine Corps would stay in for life. But I wanted something else. I knew I was no longer the same boy who thought his life was over at 15. I am now a college student applying everything I have learned from my life experiences in the classroom. With my work ethic, willfulness, and the wisdom of a person who has known rock bottom, I do believe I have the formula for success. Marshall Business school is my current big challenge, and with perseverance and hard work, I might live through it.

Q & A:
Q
What was the most difficult thing about being deployed overseas?
A
One of the most difficult things I experienced being deployed into combat was the uncertainty of coming home. I was part of the first surge teams to invade Iraq. The Marines did not establish an estimated return date because it was the beginning of the war. As far as my company was concerned, we were there to stay. But not having a return date was like waiting for an enemy’s surprise attack – we were in constant anticipation of something that may or may not actually happen. We were all trained for this type of mental stress. But at some point, the continuous hyper-vigilance, fatigue, fog-of-war, and sleep deprivation began to take its toll. I dealt with it by trying to forget that I had a family or a home, which helped me focus more on the war. I was the platoon leader and I felt responsible. Any mistake on my part could cost a Marine his life.
Q
How does it feel to come back to the States after being overseas?
A
At first, no one believed it. It felt unreal. Also, I didn’t think that anybody knew or cared about us coming back. We arrived in an empty, quiet hangar. We were all very tired and from the looks of the pictures I took many years ago, you wouldn’t think we were happy to be back. But as we came through processing, civilians greeted us with hellos, handshakes, a thank you here and there. During a layover in a commercial airport in Michigan, people clapped and cheered as we walked through. But one of the most memorable moments after returning from combat was the greeting we got as our buses pulled up late at night in Camp Pendleton. Hundreds of families had been waiting there for hours and the crowd began to roar as we approached. I stepped out of the bus not expecting to see my own family. I was picking up my bags to get ready to leave when I saw my mom’s face in the crowd. I had no idea that my family would be there because I never wrote to them, and didn’t tell anyone when I was coming back. It was a happy reunion. But then I looked back and noticed that many of my Marines didn’t have families there. Some people from the base brought out cases of beer for them, which was enough. I knew I would never see most of the people I served with again because our company would get disbanded and restructured, but I had hoped to keep in touch with at least a few.
Q
How well-connected are you today with the people you served with?
A
The people I served with are scattered throughout the United States, from Alaska to Iowa, Florida to New York. We catch up through Facebook, but in a limited way. I do know that I have a handful of loyal comrades who would drop whatever they are doing to come help me if I asked them to. In that sense, we are geographically distant, but close enough to aid and protect one another.
Q
What does Salute the Brave mean to you and your fellow servicemen?
A
There were no organizations like Salute the Brave that reached out to us in the beginning of the war. Much of the support came upon our return to the U.S. A Marine in combat can adapt and overcome anything, including isolation and loneliness, but some support would have helped. When people find out that I am a veteran, they say thank you. But I am also grateful to them. When I sit in a classroom, I don’t expect respect or special treatment. I am happy to see young people going to school, speaking about their beliefs, enjoying their freedom and using it to succeed. I thought about them even during the war, and this was enough gratification for me. I can only say that fighting a war without support is a burden only a Marine can bear. Salute the Brave can make a huge difference for those who may feel like they have been forgotten.

BIOGRAPHY:
I played football and lacrosse for four years at Menlo School in Atherton, CA, and I graduated in 2007.
I graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in May of 2011 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Management.
I graduated from the United States Army Airborne School in 2009 at Fort Benning, GA.
I am in the Armor branch, and I will report to Fort Benning, GA for the 18-week Basic Officer Leader Course. Upon completion, I will report to my unit in the 2 HBCT, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Q&A:
1) What persuaded you to join the service and go to West Point?

Serving the country as part of the military is personally important and valuable to me, and in this time of war, I felt that I could contribute to something bigger than myself. Deciding to go to West Point was the first step in a journey that will provide me with that opportunity.

2) Did you always know that you were going to go to the Army?

We wrote letters to ourselves as part of a mentorship program at our high school during our freshman year, and we sealed them in an envelope and finally opened them again on our graduation day. The goals I set for myself then included attending West Point. I may not have actively pursued the Army until it came time to apply for college, but the desire to serve has always been on my mind.

3) What is the most rewarding part of being in the Army?

The most rewarding part of being in the Army is having the opportunity to serve with men and women who all volunteered for and are all committed to their service. It’s very powerful and uplifting to be surrounded by people who join the Army because they want to and not because they have to.

4) Is there one moment that stands out to you when you realized your decision to join the Army was worth it?

As a part of my last summer as a cadet, I spent three weeks at Fort Hood, TX shadowing officers and getting the know the soldiers of Cobra Company, 1-8 CAV, 2 HBCT, 1st Cavalry Division. This positive experience not only influenced my decision to branch Armor, but it solidified my desire to serve with such dedicated, motivated, and professional soldiers.

5) What is your favorite Army tradition?

Officially, it’s a good dining in. Unofficially, it’s blood pinning. Either way, the Army knows how to have fun.

6) What does the Salute The Brave hat mean to you?

To soldiers coming back home from their deployments, I can imagine how receiving a hat or seeing someone wear a hat from Salute The Brave would remind them of the public support for the troops. The apparel stands out as a public message that there are people who care about the military, and it’s nice to know that those we’re fighting for are also thankful for our service.

Message to visitors of www.SaluteTheBrave.com:

Thank you for the constant reminders of your love and support. Your gratitude is a powerful reminder of what we are fighting for, and we all are grateful for your appreciation. God bless you all, and God bless America.