I’d heard of Ranger Up a while back, but it was only recently that I took a closer look.  What I found is that they KICK ASS.  Click here to see what I mean

Before you look any further, you should know that everyone at Ranger Up is either current or former U.S. military.  They’ve all signed their name to a check with the amount filled in reading “up to and including my life” to protect and serve the United States of America.  That alone is reason enough for me to want to do business with them.

Here’s a little bit of what they have to say about themselves:

What Ranger Up Stands For:

1. AMERICA. Nothing like her anywhere, anytime, in the history of the world.

2. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Coastguardsmen, Firemen, and Police Officers. Basically, the crazy SOBs that put their lives on the line every day for less pay than they deserve so that we Americans can sit in front of our plasma televisions and watch crappy reality TV shows, drive nice cars, eat great food, and generally not have to worry about anything of substance.

3. Veterans. From George Washington to the newest recruit and everyone in between – Thank You.

4. Patriots. We’re talking about the people that believe the Fourth of July is more than just an excuse to set off fireworks, that flying the American Flag all year long is a civic duty, that taking the time to send letters to our troops is an honor, and who realize that America wasn’t forged on the backs of journalists, politicians, or campus rallies, but rather through the suffering and discipline of steely-eyed men who refused to accept defeat.

5. Dogs. Never trust anyone that doesn’t like dogs. They’re loyal. They’d die for you, and all they want in return is some dried food, some petting, and the occasional piece of bacon.

6. Reversing the growing oppression of the proletariat in today’s society. We…uhhh…think this is a good idea.

7. Hot chicks. Honestly, aren’t they the reason we do anything?

Add to all of this the fact that they not only sponsor some awesome MMA fighters, but that they also support Soldiers’ Angels and I like this group even more.  Know what else I like?  Apparel that makes a statement.  And Ranger Up isn’t a company that worries about things like hurting someone’s feelings, apologizing, or being “politically correct” in any way shape or form

The good folks at Ranger Up were kind enough to give me pretty much blanket permission to post anything from their site on my blog.  Sure, I could’ve done it anyway without asking, but I believe in being polite when dealing with people who could not only put me in the hospital with their pinkie fingers, but who I also deeply respect and with whom I whole-heartedly agree   With that permission granted, let’s check out a few of my favorite Ranger Up shirts

Monday through Thursday at work we all have to follow a fairly lax dress code that still restricts me from wearing any type of shirt with writing or imagery on it.  Friday’s another matter, but the problem I’ve had is that management doesn’t really like most of my shirts.  Something about having guns on them and proclaiming my affinity for peace through superior firepower just doesn’t fit in with their idea of what should be worn in the office.  Hey, they sign the checks, so I do what I can with what I’ve got to work with.

Thankfully, Ranger Up has a shirt that I really love and that has already been pre-approved by management as appropriate attire for Fridays in the office.  It’s the Unapologetically American Pledge of Allegiance shirt and I’ll likely have one on order shortly after my next paycheck arrives via direct deposit.  I have a sneaking suspicion that this is yet another shirt that will receive both adulation and derision from different people around town.  That works for me as it’s a great way to figure out who I really want to spend time with

I haven’t specifically asked about the permissibility of most of the rest of Ranger Up’s line of clothing, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this one wouldn’t really be welcomed in the office.  I don’t usually buy many shirts that I can’t wear to work, but I’ll likely make an exception in this case.  9/11 was a horrendous day and I might buy this shirt just to wear on that day.  I can’t think of a better way to put it than what Ranger Up has done.

This shirt would likely pass inspection at work, but I’d likely wear it only on Memorial Day to keep it nice.  There’s just something about the rifle, boots, and helmet displayed as a memorial like this that always causes a bit of a lump in my throat and a bit of moisture around my eyes.  It means that someone else has sacrificed all they ever had and all that they would ever have in the service of their country and that’s something that gets to me in ways I really have trouble putting into words.  I feel like I don’t deserve to have had them do that.  But they do it anyway.  All I can say is that I salute them and thank them from the bottom of my heart and that I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

The description for the Vietnam Wall shirt includes the following explanation:

This idea came from my dad, a Vietnam vet.

I’ll simply paraphrase his words:

Nick, we spent a year or more overseas, dreaming of being home, and whether we were grunts or base guys, we were all in combat. All we wanted much of the time was to be home, and when we got here, we were treated so poorly that it was often safer to hide our service from civilians. We were outcasts, expected by a lot of people in America to want to apologize for serving our country.

Even now, while veterans of all other wars are treated with respect, we’re still treated like the country’s dirty little secret. Our problems – chemical exposure, injuries, and PTSD were all but ignored. Hollywood showcases every Vietnam Vet as some angry, unadjusted, malcontent.

What binds us isn’t what job we had when we were there.

What binds us is that we were there.

I know a few Vietnam vets and were I to wear this shirt it would be to honor them.  They didn’t receive thanks from many in the nation they fought and bled for when the returned from war.  Instead, people insulted and assaulted them much too often.  The tide of public opinion has turned over the years, but their sacrifices remain.  They deserve respect and recognition and this is a very nice way of showing it in my opinion.

Soldiers’ Angels is a non-profit charity which was formed to help both our men and women in uniform as well as their families.  They are a truly great organization and have earned a spot on the sidebar of this blog.  Ranger Up donates a portion of the proceeds from these shirts to Soldiers’ Angels which is pretty awesome if you ask me.  Click here to learn more about Soldiers’ Angels.

If you know me at all, you know my views on firearms and the Second Amendment.  Anyone who has any question about why I’d wear this shirt need only read back on my gun related posts or hang out with me for a while.  Yeah, it’s pretty much one of my most firmly held convictions that the right to keep and bear arms is necessary to the security of a free state and it only follows that I should do what I can to enhance that security through my own actions, right ?  The shirt may not be work friendly, but I think it would be well received at just about any shooting range, gun store, or restaurant in Las Vegas

The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal link in the chain of events that led to the founding of the United States of America and I have to say that Ranger Up hit a home run by combining the imagery of that event with one of Thomas Jefferson’s more well known quotes.  I’m pretty sure this shirt would be work friendly which of course means it’s on the list ahead of some of the others around this site

I think it’s safe to say that the Tree of Liberty shirt would not be work friendly.  Guess what?  I don’t care!  It’s just about perfect for the times we live in and I don’t spend my entire life at work no matter what it seems like lately

It should be noted that I don’t think we’re anywhere near applying this idea here in the U.S.  That said, we seem to have applied it fairly effectively overseas for the past decade or so and it’s just as true now as it was when it was originally written.

The description for the Saint Michael Archangel shirt goes like this:

The Archangel Saint Michael is the protector saint of Warriors, Paratroopers, and Police Officers.

When the idea for this shirt came to us from one of our fans in Law Enforcement, I immediately thought of the Saint Michael pendant I carried with me every day of my military career. My grandmother gave it to me right before I went to Airborne School and I carried it with me until the day I hung up the uniform. Shortly therafter, I asked the rest of the guys on Team Ranger Up if I was alone in doing this, and found out that every single one of us carried Saint Michael with us.

We knew this had to be a shirt and we poured our hearts and souls into this one. Here’s hoping Saint Michael looks over you as well as he did us.

I’d be proud to wear this shirt.  You and I might not have to go into combat, but we could all use Saint Michael’s help these days.

The United States Marine Corps is not an organization to be trifled with.  They’re known for their tenacity, their toughness, and their fierce demeanor in combat.  The quote on this shirt is from Ronald Reagen and the imagery comes straight out of one of the USMC’s most storied battles – the fight against the Japanese for control of the island of Iwo Jima in World War II.  Semper Fi Marines!

There are a few shirts in the Ranger Up catalog that I think are freaking awesome but that I would never wear myself because I haven’t earned the right to do so.  The Oath of Enlistment shirt is one of those.  I would, however, buy one of these to give one of my military friends as a gift

This is another one of the shirts I would never wear, but would be proud to give to someone who’s earned the right to wear it with pride.  While often taken for granted, Freedom truly is not free.  It’s purchased on a daily basis by those who would stand up and say that they will personally not fail to keep the rest of us free.

Remember the Somali pirates who thought it was a good idea to capture the Maersk Alabama and hold her Captain hostage?  They learned a hard lesson with a little help from a few U.S. Navy SEALs.  Is this shirt politically correct?  I guess that depends on where you are, but I can think of some places where the inhabitants would likely look at you like you just farted in an elevator for wearing something like this.  Of course I’d wear it just to see those looks, but then again I’m a bit opinionated and something of a rabble rouser according to friends and relatives

Another shirt that has a description too good to leave off this page is the one above.  The description says:

This shirt goes out to all the folks in Ward 57 at Walter Reed, and to the men and women that have weathered far more than we can imagine and kept driving on. Whether they managed to stay in the service or not, these men and women are our heroes, and we thank them with the full measure of our hearts.

I think that just about says it all.  Those men and women are the ones my heroes look up to and this is a great way to honor them.

No, I’m not about to wear this shirt myself   I just had to include this shirt because a wonderful example of the great gear Ranger Up has designed for the ladies out there   I can think of a few women I know who this would be perfect for…

Folks, I didn’t ask for anything in return for promoting Ranger Up, nor did they offer anything.  I’m doing this because they’re an organization I support for all the reasons I’ve already written in this post.  I’ll be sending some of my hard earned money their way and I hope I can get some other people to do the same.  Click here to head on over to the Ranger Up website, check out their gear, and send ‘em some business, OK ?

To all the great people at Ranger Up I have to say thank you once again for your service to this great nation and for your kind permission to use the photos from your website on my blog as well.  This civilian salutes you and wishes you all the best in life as well as in business