Anthem Journal
Stories about veteran entrepreneurs, giving back, and the adventures that connect us.

R. RIVETER
When Cameron Cruse and Lisa Bradley first began designing and sewing handbags in an attic in 2011, they were motivated by their own personal needs to find a sense of tangible purpose and stability amidst the chaos of their lives.

FLAGS OF VALOR
From combat veteran to woodworker, Brian Steorts honors his country and its warriors with made-in-America products.

WQW: Guiding Veterans to Find New Purpose
Warriors serving in the military have a tangible mission and a purpose with actionable tasks and structure that provides a path toward specific objectives.

COMPETITIVE SHOOTING: A Dedication to Mastery
There are a wide variety of shooting sports, each with its own regulations, type of firearm used, and classification levels. Competitive shooting can be one of the best ways to safely practice and improve firearm handling and skills.

JMSF: Giving Back Through Education
The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund was created in honor of John McHugh, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010 after serving 24 years with the United States Army. after his passing.

MONTANA HUNTING: A Treasure State Tradition
Walk into any bar, lodge, barn, home, or office in Montana, and you're likely to find at least one animal or antler mount on the wall. For most Montana hunters, these are more than trophies or proof of bragging rights.

H&H: Reimagining Trauma Through Outdoor Immersion
Heroes and Horses is an immersive program for veterans based in Montana, created by founder Micah Finke after he returned from the Navy and experienced firsthand the struggles that many veterans face when transitioning back into civilian life.

ALPHA COFFEE
Carl Churchill and his wife, Lori, are the proud owners of Alpha Coffee—but their path to success has been a bumpy one.

THE VALUE OF SELF-RELIANCE
Amber Landry, also known as “Amber Elle,” is a registered nurse turned self-reliance advocate for women and families

WHF: Sourcing Healing for Those who Serve
The public often perceives our nation’s servicemen and women as stoic protectors who do not succumb to stress or pressure—yet they face an unprecedented and impossible amount of stress daily that often eventually affects the mental health of even the strongest of warriors.

MONTANA OUTFITTING: A Life Lived Outdoors
It's easy to take for granted the tremendous outdoor opportunities and exquisite beauty just out the backdoor when you've lived in a place your entire life.

WILLIE'S DISTILLERY
Willie Blazer and his wife, Robin Blazer, are small business owners of Willie’s Distillery in Ennis, Montana. These days, their problem isn’t how much they can sell, it’s making enough for their growing demand.

SPARTAN BLADES
Curtis Iovito grew up hunting, fishing, and camping in Bolingbrook, a farming community in Illinois. “I always wanted to be a Marine, ever since I was a little kid,” he says.

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER FOUNDATION
A forest fire can exceed temperatures of 1,400 degrees and move up to 20 mph. Despite this unfathomable calamity, every summer, brave men and women step up to battle these disasters.

LITTLE BELT CATTLE COMPANY
Greg Putnam spent nine years of active duty as a US Navy SEAL stationed out of Hawaii before making the decision to return to the Rocky Mountains with his family to own and operate a cattle ranch in Montana.

SOUTHERN PINES BREWING CO.
The community of Southern Pines in North Carolina didn’t have a single brewery...that is until Micah Niebauer and his two friends decided to make it their project to open one.

SEARCH AND RESCUE: Getting to Know Your Local SAR Team
Search and Rescue (SAR) teams aim to locate, stabilize, and extract individuals from dangerous situations in the outdoors. The majority of SAR teams consist of unpaid volunteers who dedicate their own time and funds for training and rescue missions.

SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TRUST
Army Special Forces soldiers have been at the forefront of major American conflicts and countless "other" actions since their inception in 1952. Soldiers that enlisted shortly before or after 9-11 are now retiring from the force.

FLY FISHING: Southwest Montana’s Big Fish Story
From reading river patterns to predicting how a trout will react, to choosing the perfect fly that will replicate the way an insect moves across the surface of the water, fly fishing is about controlling all the controllables while simultaneously flowing with the unique rhythm of the river.

ROCK CLIMBING: Navigating Routes to New Perspectives
When we first moved to Bozeman, my husband and I spent an entire summer trying to figure out the climbing “beta” of the area.

RIPCORD GUITARS
Rob Gully grew up in the coastal mountains of northern California. He fell in love with the guitar early in his teenage years but felt the only sure path to getting a good education and living a life of adventure was through the military. After retiring from the Army, it wasn’t until much later that he started his own business, Ripcord Guitars.