Rally Point Apparel

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Gun control

Politicians and left wing liberals seem to get in an uproar over gun control laws. I totally agree that there does need to be certain restrictions set in place to regulate gun sales. Case in point I was at a local gun store several months ago I saw a guy in the store with a sales associate looking at an AR-15. As I got closer to the two men the customer had his pants pulled half way down his butt. He was asking the salesman, “Now how do you load this thing again?”

 The gun store associate was seriously considering selling this guy that AR-15 was he? This is where stiff gun control laws should come into play. There is no way in the world I would’ve sold that joker an AR-15. So, yes I agree there does need to be gun control laws to help curb gun related crimes. The truth of the matter is though that guns don’t kill people! People kill people. They might choose to use a gun to commit a crime, but the point I am trying to make is that a gun within itself is not a bad thing.

 It is the person behind the gun that makes a difference. In a perfect little world politicians think gun control will help stop gun violence. I totally disagree with that. I believe that all the gun control regulations in the world aren’t going to prevent certain people from purchasing guns legally. If somebody wants to get a gun they will find a way to get a gun. Whether that be by purchasing a gun legally or illegally. I really wonder out of all of the gun related crimes committed in this country each year…how many of those crimes committed were with guns that were purchased legally or illegally. Probably no way to know the answer to that.

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Veteran Owned Business

Rally Point Apparel is a Veteran Owned Business. At Rally Point Apparel we sell custom designed military shirts. My name is Chad Childers and I am a veteran and the proud owner here at Rally Point Apparel. Rally Point Apparel supports today’s military and the veterans of times past. We are a veteran owned business that seeks to raise awareness to the issues that combat veterans face through our innovative designed military shirts.

Rally Point Apparel military shirts come with a built in sense of pride. When you wear a Rally Point Apparel military shirts you show your support, as a proud American, for the men and women in the military and for veterans as well. Rally Point Apparel is a veteran owned business that donates a portion of every sale to help homeless veterans, military families in need, and combat veterans suffering with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Raising awareness about homeless veterans is an issue that is very personal for me. Four years ago I ended up being a homeless veteran myself sleeping on the streets of Jacksonville, FL. I started designing military shirts as a therapeutic outlet for PTSD. I took that graphics design experience and started Rally Point Apparel. We are a veteran owned business that has now become an industry leader in selling custom designed military shirts.

Rally Point Apparel is way more than just a cool Veteran Owned business selling military shirts. We all love America and we take pride in helping our fellow veterans.

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Veteran Suicide

Veterans Suicide

It is estimated that twenty-two veteran a day commit suicide. That means that 154 veterans a week commit suicide, 660 veterans a month commit suicide, and a staggering 7,920 veterans a year commit suicide. That is a lot of veterans taking their own lives. This is an alarming number.

What is the cause of all of these veterans committing suicide? Many veterans are exposed to multiple combat deployments while enlisted in the military. These deployments are many times under harsh conditions and under heavy duress. Soldiers see things and do things in war that stick with them mentally for the rest of their lives. I am a two time combat veteran myself and I have struggled with PTSD.  

A veteran is very prideful and it’s sometimes really hard to ask for help with PTSD. I self-medicated for years with alcohol to cope with the effects of my PTSD. There are also many other veterans that try and handle PTSD by drugs and alcohol. This pattern of behavior always worsens PTSD.

I came to a point several times where I had contemplated suicide. I joined a peer support group and started talking about my PTSD. This helped me out tremendously. I felt comfortable for once in my life and was able to open up to other veterans that had been where I had been. I encourage every veteran suffering from PTSD to seek help. Let’s raise awareness and help stop veterans suicide.

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Homeless Veterans

    I am very passionate about helping homeless veterans, because I used to be a homeless veteran myself. I was homeless and sleeping on the streets of Jacksonville, FL. I suffer from severe PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. I struggled for a long time trying to handle my alcoholism. I moved into a homeless veterans’ shelter and was in and out of there on three different occasions before I got my life headed in the right direction. To understand what happened to me and how I became a homeless veteran I will start from the beginning.

I joined the Army in the summer of 2001 and was deployed with the 2nd Ranger Battalion to Afghanistan in 2002 and then to Iraq in 2003 with the 82nd Airborne Division. I saw heavy combat during my two tours. I was injured and was medically discharged in 2004 with a metal plate and six screws in my right leg. Looking back on the years following my discharge from the Army they seem like a big blur. These were years filled with heavy drinking. This was the only way I felt like I could cope with my PTSD.

    I would get my life straightened out for a while and then I would screw things up all over again. Why was it I couldn’t seem to get my life on the right track? Why was I now a homeless veteran? PTSD is a scary beast if you don’t seek help for it. When I finally came to my senses and seek help. I was able to break the vicious cycle of being an alcoholic and homeless veteran.

The two words HOMELESS VETERAN should never be uttered in the same sentence in America. The fact that they are says to me that we have a big problem in this country that needs to be addressed. We have a duty as Americans to fight for the men and women of the military that fought for our freedoms. We need to ban together and help in any way we can and make sure there are no more homeless veterans.  

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Military Shirts

I grew up loving all things military. Both of my grandfather's were WW2 veterans in the Army. It was a right of passage for me to join the Army as well. I've always enjoyed art, mostly drawing and graphics designs.

As therapy for my PTSD I started designing military shirts. I sold a couple here and there and decided that I could possibly earn a living selling custom designed military shirts.

I didn't realize how difficult it is to break into the industry. Grunt Style is an industry leader in selling military shirts. Their brand is well established and goes hand in hand with military shirts. Grunt Style is an awesome company and I have nothing but great things to say about them!

But the question I asked myself is how do I, as a start-up business owner break into the military shirt industry? I am not going to lie. It has been real tough. Not to toot my own horn, but my military shirts are top notch.

It takes more than an awesome designed military shirt to be successful. It takes a lot if hard work. I am constantly blogging, blitzing social media, and promoting my military shirt business locally when I get a chance.

I think that all successful military shirt businesses like us here at Rally Point Apparel have all had some set backs. There have been several slow months when I might only sell a handful of military shirts. It's the when I question to pursue this business.

I am an ex Army Ranger and I love designing military shirts. I have found the key to success is to not give up. To be successful in the military shirt industry you have differentiate your brand some how/some way from the dozens of other like businesses out there.

The way to separate yourself in this industry is to have some top notch customer service. Get those orders out on time. Engage your customers. Be willing to adapt to change. And don't give up.

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Rally Point Apparel: Military Shirts

Rally Point Apparel is a Veteran Owned Business. At Rally Point Apparel we sell custom designed military shirts. My name is Chad Childers and I am a veteran and the proud owner here at Rally Point Apparel. Rally Point Apparel is a proud supporter of today’s military and the veterans of times past. We seek to raise awareness to the issues that combat veterans face through our innovative designed military shirts.

  Rally Point Apparel military shirts come with a built in sense of pride. When you wear one of our military shirts you show your support, as a proud American, for the men and women in the military and for veterans as well. Rally Point Apparel is a veteran owned business that donates a portion of every sale to help homeless veterans, military families in need, and combat veterans suffering with PTSD.

  Helping homeless veterans is an issue that is personal for me. Four years ago I ended up being a homeless veteran myself sleeping on the streets of Jacksonville, FL. I started designing military shirts as a therapeutic outlet for PTSD. I took that graphics design experience and started Rally Point Apparel. We have now become an industry leader in custom designed military shirts.

  Rally Point Apparel is way more than just a cool military shirt company. We are all veterans. We love America and we care about our fellow veterans.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Process

The Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims process is a long as and nerve racking ordeal. Many veterans have disabilities and injuries they received while in the military. Many of these same veterans struggle to recieve medical care from the VA. 

I was an Army Ranger and now am a veteran experiencing these same issues with The Department of Veterans Affairs. I currently have a VA Appeal that is close to three years and no resolution.  I have a metal plate and six screws in my right leg from being hurt in the Army and this has caused other orthopedic issues.

My VA Appeal has bounced between the VA regional office and the Board of Veterans Appeals so many times it's easy to lose track of what the status is. Most veterans could handle a denial of their VA claim if the denial was legit.

My disabilities are well documented in my medical records. There is a track record of treatment for these conditions. All of this evidence is not even considered by The Department of Veterans Affairs. Does the VA even review the information right in front of them?

I almost feel like the VA flips a coin in deciding who's VA disability claim is approved and who's VA claim is denied. I still hold onto the hope that the VA will approve my claim someday. The Department of Veterans Affairs wants us veterans to give up all hope of receiving an approval on our disability claims. Don't give up. Stay the course. Don't give up and keep fighting the VA for what you deserve. 

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Rally Point Apparel Military Shirts

Are you looking for an awesome military shirt which conveys your dedication and commitment to the military? Military shirts are popular not only for service members but also for civilians, offering a bold way of allowing everyone to know what you stand for. At Rally Point Apparel, you will find a complete selection of military shirts available in various designs and styles to select from.

At Rally Point Apparel we provide a wide selection of sizes as well as graphic styles to suit your needs and preference. Shop at Rally Point Apparel for all of your military shirt needs . We are known for using some of the best and superior materials as well as fabric enhancement in order to create durable and long lasting military shirts which will last for many uses.

If you consider who may want to wear a military shirt from Rally Point Apparel you may be enticed to think of people which are in a number of ways attached to the military. One good example of this will be a Veteran which has previously served our country in the military and now wears one of our military shirts with honor and pride. Another person who will wear a Rally Point Apparel military shirt is the military wife or members of the family showing support for their loved ones.

A number of people just like the cutting edge designs of these Rally Point Apparel military shirts. Others just want something comfortable and tactically awesome to wear. No matter what the reason people have for wearing military shirts the fact is that they are turning out to be more and more popular with lots of diverse kinds of people from all walks of life that are wearing these t-shirts. Rally Point Apparel military shirts are not just limited for men, as a matter of fact there are diverse and fashionable designs on hand for ladies as well. This ranges from styles intended for men with unique designs and logo, all the way through stylish shirts which are simply perfect if you want to wear something a bit different.

Our military shirts aren’t just a remarkable way to show your passion for the military, but they also make a remarkable gift idea for service members and for your friends as well. At Rally Point Apparel, you will find a good selection of military shirts for men and women alike. Those of you who wish to create a statement; look no further, order your Rally Point Apparel military shirt now for assured style anywhere you go.     

Rally Point Apparel military shirts are indeed very popular today. You must include one of our military shirts in your wardrobe. This will not just show your support to the brave men and women of our military but also help you stand out from the rest.

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Guns don't kill people. People kill people.

You have probably heard the old saying, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” Does a gun load bullets into a clip or magazine by itself? No, a person does that. A gun doesn’t take site and aim at a person by itself does it? No, a person picks up a gun and points it at another person. A trigger on the gun doesn’t squeeze itself. A person pulls the trigger. We live in a time when politicians preach strict laws on gun control. At Rally Point Apparel we support American’s second amendment right to bear arms.

It’s very unfortunate that you can’t turn on the news anymore without hearing a tragic story about a mass shooting. How do we stop this gun violence? Do we impose harsh restrictions on gun control? Do we make it hard for criminals and mentally unstable people to purchase guns legally? I wish there was a statistic for the number guns purchased legally that were used in the omission of a crime. If there was such a statistic I think it would reveal that most guns used in the omission of crimes were purchase illegally.

Does that mean that tougher laws on gun control are going to stop gun related crimes from happening? Heck no! If a person wants to go somewhere and get a gun to commit a crime they are going to go get a gun. More than likely going to purchase this gun illegally. All of the gun control laws in the world aren’t going to be able to prevent that. So what do we do as a country? How do we stop all of this gun related crimes from happening?

The best defense against evil men are good men that are skilled at violence. Rally Point Apparel takes a common sense approach to gun control. Strict gun control laws are going to make it more difficult for the good people to purchase guns to protect themselves.

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What the 4th of July means to this veteran

I remember as a kid how much I loved the 4th of July. It was a time my family all got together and had a big barbecue. Us kids would run around play ball all afternoon. When it for dark we would shoot off fireworks.

When I joined the Army the 4th of July took on a whole new meaning for me. As a veteran I proudly served in combat with 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 82nd Airborne Division. I was deployed to Afghanistan and to Iraq.

I experienced first hand what other countries go through that don't have the freedom we have here in America. We are very fortunate as Americans to live in a free country. I am more than honored to say that I served in the military and played a part on defending America.

All active duty military and veterans can hold their heads high in knowing that they have served the miltary with honor. They defend our freedom every day. God bless the USA!

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Getting Care at the VA

I have conflicting opinions on  the level of care, as veteran, I have received from the department of veterans affairs. I am currently at 60% service connected disability from the VA. This means I have no co-pays for any medical expenses including perceptions.

No co-pays and free health care is a blessing. In my opinion the government should provide health care to all veterans. While receiving this health care is nice the department of veterans affairs definitely has left some room for improvements.

I will give you an example. Two years ago I tore my rotator cuff lifting weights. By the time I got  done jumping through the department of veterans affairs hoops three months had past by. The doctor at the VA told me that my shoulder muscle was totally separated from the bone.

The department of veterans affairs had let me sit around with a completely torn muscle for three months! It really worries me to think about what other veterans may be going through. What about the older veterans that have serious health issues?

I know the VA has made some moves in the right direction. They are trying to improve their process. Well, they need to try harder.

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Pro-gun Collection

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VA Claims Process Sucks

VA claims and appeals can be an anxiety filled experience. Not to mention VA claims/appeals can take upwards of several years before a veteran receives a decision. I get the fact, somewhat, that the Department of Veterans Affairs has millions of veterans applying for disability compensation yearly. So I do understand that a VA claim should take a while to be completed.

I have a VA claim now turned into a VA appeal that is currently at the Board of Veterans Appeals for a second time. My original VA appeal was remanded. It has been almost three years I have been waiting for a favorable answer. This three years of waiting for the VA to make a decision is also with a congressional inquiry attached to it. So the Department of Veterans Affairs does take their time in processing these outstanding claims and appeals.

I would be cool with the wait that comes along with a VA claim, if the Department of Veterans Affairs did a thorough job in reviewing my claim. When I got the first statement of the case in reference to my VA claim I was disappointed and shocked. It was almost like the VA didn’t even look over their own medical records where they had been treating me for the issues that my claim was for. As I read through the statement of the case I realized that the decision review officer (DRO) reviewing my claim probably just flipped a coin to decide if I received service connected disability from the VA.

I actually probably would’ve been better off if the DRO had just flipped a coin. There are many veterans out there going through the same difficulty as I am with the VA claims process. There are also many veterans out there that are having an even more difficult time than me. Some of these veterans are under serious economic hardship. A prompt a fair decision from the VA would make all of the difference in the world to them.

So how do we fix this broken system we call The Department of Veterans Affairs? What can be done to improve the long wait times for VA claims and VA appeals to be completed?

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Thank our Vietnam Vets

I am a former Army Ranger. I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and then to Iraq in 2003. So I have no first-hand knowledge of the Vietnam War. My education came from reading books, watching documentaries, and other media sources. I have had the pleasure of getting to speak with many Vietnam veterans myself, because I am a member of several veteran organizations. Also, my uncle was a Vietnam veteran.

I have the utmost respect for all Vietnam vets regardless of their branch of service or their MOS. From the stories I’ve heard from Vietnam veterans, Vietnam was a very harsh environment. I know it was hot when I was in the Middle East, but to be in the jungles of Vietnam the humidity had to be horrible. I am from a different era of combat warriors than that of Vietnam Vets. When I was in the Army we had state of the art weaponry and technology on our side.

I can’t say thank you enough to all Vietnam veterans. Thanks, for what you did for your country. And thank you for paving the way for the veterans of today. I receive a lot of the benefits I have through the VA because Vietnam veterans fought for the benefits they deserved. 

In Vietnam there was no state of the art anything. Most of the fighting done in Vietnam was grunt work with a man and his gun. These battles were fought over very treacherous terrain as well as fought in very harsh conditions. It rained a lot in Vietnam. How miserable that must have been to constantly have to fight all wet in the rain like Vietnam Veterans had to do.

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VA Claims Process is Jacked Up!

I know I am not alone making this statement. The Department of Veterans Affairs gives me anxiety. I am an Army veteran and have been going back in forth with the VA for years now. Like so many other veterans I have been bounced around in the purgatory of the VA disability Claims and Appeals processes.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to make improvements on these issue, but they still have a long way to go. A person enters the military with a promise, made by the government, that if you serve your country we will take care of you when you get out of the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs is failing in living up to these promises made to veterans. I have experienced first-hand the extensive wait times to receive medical treatment from the VA. I laid around for almost three months with a completely torn rotator cuff muscle before the VA got me in to see an orthopedic doctor.

This way of treating veterans with lack of prompt medical treatment has spilled over into the VA Claims and Appeals process. I have doubts that the Decision Review Officer (DRO) reviewing my VA disability claim actually does a comprehensive job. For example I filed a claim for chronic sinusitis. The VA has been treating me for that condition since I have been out of the Army in 2004. I am a member of the Burn Pit Registry and the Gulf War Registry. This states that I was exposed to hazardous burning material while on my deployments.

The Department of Veterans Affairs denied my disability claim for chronic sinusitis. Did they even look at my medical records? The answer more than likely is no the VA didn’t review my records properly. Had they done so they would have arrived at a more favorable claim decision? I am not asking for a lot. I am only asking the VA to do what is right and fair.

I am definitely not the only veteran out there with a story to tell. I have plenty of more stories I could share with you about the Department of Veterans Affairs. I really feel bad for the older crowd of veterans. These veterans need more medical attention and are not receiving it in a timely manner. They are made to jump through the bureaucratic hoops the VA has just to get medical treatment. The VA drags out there disability and appeal process for sometimes years. I have an appeal with the Board of Veterans Appeals that has been in the claims/appeals process for almost three years now.

Like I said the VA has put procedures in place to streamline the claims and appeals processes. They are trying, but they really need to step up their game. There are veterans out there that are homeless because the VA is jerking them around with their disability claim. There are veterans out there not receiving medical treatment. There are veterans out there that are dying because the Department of Veterans Affairs can’t do their job.

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Operation New Uniform

When I first got out of the military I really didn't know what to do with myself. I was in the Army as an airborne ranger and the skill set I had learned while in the military really wasn't applicable in the real world.

With my training as an Army Ranger I could be a cop and that was about it. So what was I going to do with my life? This is a question many veterans face when transitioning out of the military and into civilian life.

I had graduated college 4 years prior, but with all the deployments and training it was like I had never been. I was starting over from square one. I bounced around from job to job. I really didn't know how to interact with anyone in the professional world after leaving the military.

I came across a non-profit organization named Operation New Uniform. This program assists miltary service men and women transition from military life and into the professional world. This program was very squared away and was top notch.

Operation New Uniform taught me how to apply the leadership and training I had received in the military into a business environment. I realized that my military background wasn't a hindrance in me getting a business related job but it was a strength.

When I graduated Operation New Uniform's program I was equiped with all the tools I needed. They helped me polish my resume. I practiced interview skills. I learned how to network and marked myself. More importantly than anything I gained the self confidence I needed to succeed. 

I owe the Operation New Uniform staff a debt of gratitude for helping me achieve my goals.

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Rally Point Apparel Mission

My name is Chad Childers and I am the owner here at Rally Point Apparel. I am an Army Veteran. I was in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 82nd Airborne Division. I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003.

I was injured and medically discharged from the Army in 2004. I started designing military themed t-shirts as therapy for my PTSD. I sold a few and thought that I could do this full-time. So fast forward and here we are with Rally Point Apparel.

I wanted Rally Point Apparel to be more than just a cool military themed t-shirt company. I wanted Rally Point Apparel to have a mission. A mission to help active duty military and veterans by raising awareness for the issues that we face on a daily basis.

Rally Point Apparel donates a lot of time and resources to support our homeless veterans.  No veterans should be suffering and homeless. The United States of America should take care of homeless veterans first. Before they give money to illegal aliens and refugees. This is a issues near and dear to my heart because for almost 2 years I was a homeless veteran.

Rally Point Apparel also supports veterans suffering from mental health issues such as PTSD, depression,  anxiety, and TBI. We donate money to the mental health program at the Five Star Veterans Center in Jacksonville, FL. This is a homeless shelter for veterans.

Rally Point Apparel is very passionate about our mission. When you purchase a Rally Point Apparel shirt you are showing your support for the men and women of today's military and the veterans of yesterday.