Issue 21 2014 Jeep Rubicon – Green Barage John Schwartze Join the Conversation We'd Gladly Donate to Any Charity With a Four-Wheeled Mascot Like This Photos by: Q Concepts Raising awareness for a charity is no easy feat, particularly one focused on helping a group that doesn't seek attention and prides itself on being “quiet professionals.” The Green Beret Foundation (GBF) was started in 2009 to give back to those who've served in its ranks and their families, as well as get the public interested in who the U.S. Army Special Forces are and what it takes to become one. When the idea was tabled to build a vehicle that could tour various events and get people excited about the organization's cause, you can bet that it was going to be as resilient, practical, and ballsy as the soldiers it was representing. In other words, trailer queens need not apply. Mark Hanson, owner of Road Armor, had previously worked with Scotty Neil, former director of strategic development for the GBF, on an F-150 operator truck and began discussing something the GBF could use to promote their efforts. Other local Special Forces (SF) soldiers also became involved in providing ideas for a vehicle build that was as operationally accurate as possible by incorporating field-tested gear, as well as features they would have liked. After picking enough brains, the end result truly represented the Green Berets, what they did, and could also be used as a driver, rather than just a showpiece. Yes, this thing has already been out slinging mud in Moab, Utah. A jeep seemed like the platform that would truly epitomize the U.S. Army, so a 2014 JK Rubicon was selected. The body was treated to a heavy helping of Road Armor products, including their bumpers, pillar light mounts, fenders, rocker panels, and rocker guards. Mark worked with Starwood Motors to duplicate the color of the group's distinctive headgear. The Kevlar-based coating is an exact match that came from hours of mixing pigment and holding it up to actual green berets. The center console has also been embroidered with the Green Berets' crest and mantra. An assortment of light bars and rock lights have also been added. The stock motor was ditched in favor of a 6.4 Hemi with a more aggressive cam. A Fox adjustable coilover conversion with a 6-inch lift takes care of the underpinnings. The interior sports Ferrari leather stitched up with green thread and features a Lowrance chart plotter, Cobra CB radio, and even paracord grab handles that soldiers commonly make out in the field. It's all riding on Fuel Wheels and Nitto rubber. And of course there's the firepower. A top panel mount was made for a .50-caliber machine gun or minigun. Mounts were also attached for M4s on the front doorways and for M249 SAWs on the rear doorways. Fast, functional, and f*cking machine guns — what more could you ask for? Since debuting at SEMA 2014, the GBF Jeep has been met with much more fanfare than anyone expected. Even veterans comment on the little touches and ask how the builders accomplished what they did. On a vehicle used for promoting a military charity, we're not sure you could ask for better compliments than that. For providing the Green Berets a chance to have something tangible that pays homage to their service and gets them some much-needed support, it's definitely mission accomplished. Green Beret Foundation They say necessity is the mother of invention. Providing assistance to those who are trained to put others first and not ask for help is indeed a unique challenge that would probably explain the absence of an organization specifically focused on the U.S. Army Special Forces (SF)…until now. The Green Beret Foundation was created to fill the void and provide direct and continuous support to the SF community and their families. “We look at each case individually and develop care and transition plans,” says Jen Paquette, executive director of the GBF. “We call this a family business, it's Green Berets supporting Green Berets.” Paquette knows firsthand the wide gaps that exist in the system after her SF husband was injured by an IED. During that time she, her husband, fellow Green Beret veteran Aaron Anderson, and a founding board of directors worked together to start the foundation. Today it has grown to a multi-million-dollar organization. “There are unique obstacles that need to be navigated. We're always focused on getting them the help they need because we're familiar with the process and work to reduce the ambiguity and delays,” Paquette says. “We took something from nothing, but now it's part of the regiment and they depend on us.” From casualty care to extended care to family care to transition expertise, the GBF is truly a group that's been long overdue, but has gained an incredible amount of traction in a short time. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.greenberetfoundation.org. 2014 Jeep JK Rubicon 6.4L Hemi V-8 Six-speed manual www.greenberetfoundation.org www.roadarmor.com www.starwoodmotors.com 1 Minigun Make: Garwood Industries Model: M134G 7.62mm URL: www.garwoodindustries.com 2 Upper Light Bar Make: Rigid Industries Model: E-Series URL: www.rigidindustries.com 3 Red Lights Make: Rigid Industries Model: D-Series URL: www.rigidindustries.com 4 Hood Make: AEV Model: JK Heat Reduction Hood URL: www.aev-conversions.com 5 Front Bumper Make: Road Armor Model: 509R4B, Front Stubby bumper with Stinger URL: www.roadarmor.com 6 Winch Make: Warn Model: Zeon 10k URL: www.warn.com 7 Wheels Make: Fuel Model: HD7 URL: www.fueloffroad.com 8 Tires Make: Nitto Model: Trail Grappler 37×12.5R20 URL: www.nittotire.com 9 Rear Fenders Make: Road Armor Model: JK200 URL: www.roadarmor.com 10 Front Fenders Make: Road Armor Model: JK100F URL: www.roadarmor.com 11 Body Armor Make: Road Armor Model: JK300 URL: www.roadarmor.com 12 Pillar Light Bar Mount Make: Road Armor Model: JK50D URL: www.roadarmor.com 13 Front Rifle mount Make: GunnerFab Model: C0-JKD URL: www.conditionzeromounts.com 14 Rifle Make: 5 Toes Custom Model: AR-15 .300 Blackout URL: www.5toescustom.com 15 Chart Plotter Make: Lowrance Model: HD7 URL: www.lowrance.com 1 Machineguns Make: FNH Model: M240 & M249 URL: www.fnhusa.com 2 Rear Rifle Mount Make: Road Armor Model: custom made URL: www.roadarmor.com 3 Cage Netting Make: Safari Straps Model: Jeep JK 4DR URL: www.safaristraps.com 4 Rear Bumper Make: Road Armor Model: Rear bumper with Tire Carrier URL: www.roadarmor.com 5 Rear Bumper Lights Make: Rigid Industries Model: SRM URL: www.rigidindustries.com 6 Rock Lights Make: Rigid Industries Model: A-Series Rock Light URL: www.rigidindustries.com (Not visible under vehicle) Explore RECOILweb:Review: The Beretta APX Centurion and CompactReality Based Training - Lessons LearnedOfficial Statement from X-Products CEO James Malarkey in Response to ControversyHandgun Open Carry: Open Carriers Respond NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. 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