Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2017 - 42

After he separated from the Army in 2006, Griff
returned to Afghanistan as a contractor. When
he was on a tour of an Afghan boot factory, he
saw a worker punch a flip flop thong through a
combat boot sole. Combat Flip Flops was born.
Through their work in conflict areas, Combat
Flip Flops and Griff provide sustainable products for gear enthusiasts, as well as monetary
support and economic stability with their factories. Products like the Peace Bangle help fund
de-mining efforts in Cambodia and Laos. The
brand employs workers in drug-torn regions of
Columbia. And textile jobs put girls through
school in Afghanistan. combatflipflops.com

CONTINUING
H COMMITMENT
KEVIN ROSENBERG'S GEAR TO GO OUTFITTERS IS JUST ONE
OUTDOOR-RELATED BUSINESS GIVING VETERANS A
BOOST POST-SERVICE. THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND VETS
ARE BUSY GETTING OUTSIDE AS A MEANS OF BUILDING ON
AND RECOVERING FROM THE DEMANDS OF SERVICE.
THIS IS CERTAIN: VETS ARE SOME OF YOUR BEST CUSTOMERS.
By

AUSTIN PARKER

VETERAN EXPEDITIONS
Founded in 2010, Vet Ex provides transitioning
veterans and active duty soldiers an opportunity to experience the outdoors. However, it's
not just fun and games. Vet Ex's Colorado-based
team believes in a three-pronged approach-
"Mind, Body, and Giving Back Purpose"-to
help combat veterans build valuable skills in
the outdoors and job environments. Rather
than simply taking veterans on fun trips, Vet Ex
works with individuals to build skills like climbing and skiing, and then give back by working
to raise funds and lead trips for the next group
of vets in their programs. vetexpeditions.com
SIERRA CLUB MILITARY OUTDOORS
The Sierra Club is often cited as one of the most
influential conservations groups in the country. Recognizing that our nation's veterans
are a fount of both leadership and passion for

42 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ Winter 2017

RICK MEADE,
PRESIDENT NIKWAX NORTH AMERICA
Rick Meade spent a few years in college working
entry-level outdoor jobs in warehouse and ski
shops. After Naval Officer Candidacy School in
1988, he moved on to bigger things, flying F-14
Tomcat Interceptors. From duty aboard aircraft
carrier fighter squadrons, organizing NATO
air support campaigns in Bosnia, and serving
with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Meade honed his
leadership and critical decision-making skills
over a 20-year career. Following retirement
from active duty, Meade transitioned into an
eCommerce role with REI and currently leads
Nikwax's North American division. Most importantly, he takes an active role in OIA's veterans' military network. nikwax-usa.com

WARRIORS AND QUIET WATERS
FOUNDATION
In 2007, retired Marine Colonel Eric Hastings
brought a small cadre of traumatically injured
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to Bozeman,
America's wild places, the Military Outdoors
program began to help service members engage
Montana, for a fly-fishing trip. Decades before,
as leaders in the outdoor community. Military
Hastings had sought solace at the end of a fly
Outings range from backcountry
line while he dealt with his own deski education weekends to family
mons from tours as a combat piHEALING WATERS
Casting into Montana's
rafting trips. Every trip has one
lot in Vietnam. Long before Post
trout streams can ease
Traumatic Stress was diagnosed
driving commonality though: the
the burden of combat
vets
back
home
principle of outdoors education.
in America, Hastings discovered
Veterans attending the Sierra
the healing value of gentle rivers,
Club's programs have the opportunity to learn
fly tying, and rhythmic casting as a form of medtrip planning, first aid, and other skills, with
itation. Today, WQW brings wounded service
the promise that they volunteer and give back
members to Bozeman as a break from hospital
to their local communities. sierraclub.com/
appointments, psychologists, surgeons, and reoutings/military
hab routines. Its philosophy that often the most
intangible benefits are the most meaningful has
MATTHEW GRIFFIN, FOUNDER AND CEO,
driven healing efforts for dozens for trips and
groups since that first outing. Most recently,
COMBAT FLIP FLOPS
After graduating from West Point, Matthew
WQW bought property to house its programs at
"Griff " Griffin spent four deployments to Iraq
the base in the mountains outside of Bozeman.
warriorsandquietwaters.org O.R.
and Afghanistan with 2nd Ranger Battalion.
photograph by Linda Kelly / Courtesy Warriors And Quiet Waters

http://www.combatflipflops.com http://www.nikwax-usa.com http://www.sierraclub.com/outings/military http://www.vetexpeditions.com http://www.sierraclub.com/outings/military http://www.warriorsandquietwaters.org

Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2017

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