Veteran Spotlight

Memorial Day, 2023

As a symbol of remembrance this Memorial Day, Mission First Outfitters is honored to salute the sacrifice and life of SSG Michael R. Hullender.

On April 28, 2007 in Iskandariyah, Iraq an IED detonated near SGT Hullender’s unit while on a combat patrol. Michael ran ahead to help prepare a wounded soldier for their medical transport when a secondary explosion occurred that took his life.

During his military service, SSG Michael R. Hullender served with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA, and with the 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Michael was born on December 20, 1977 in DeKalb County, GA. During high school he played as an offensive linebacker for the football team and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol before he graduated in 1996 and started classes at West Georgia College.

In 1998, Michael decided to leave school and join the Army as a medic, where he believed he would make the most impact. He was assigned to a Ranger unit and quickly became one of the best Medics in the Army. On October 19th, 2001 he parachuted in to Afghanistan with the 3rd Ranger Battalion following the September 11th attack, as one of the first ground troops in the war zone.

Following his initial deployments, Michael spent time training the elite Ranger medics before eventually getting assigned to Fort Richardson in Alaska in May of 2005 where he met and fell in love with his fiancé, Kyle Harper. Soon after, in October 2006, he was deployed again; four months in to his deployment he stepped on an IED that was buried too deep to do more than rattle Michael. During his leave to Alaska in 2007 he asked Kyle to marry him.

At the time of his death Doc Hullender was assigned to and deployed with the 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Nicknamed, “Doc” Hullender, Michael is remembered as an incredible medic who was dedicated to his brothers-in-arms and to his family; He believed in his service to his country, and took every moment to show his family the love he felt for them.

SSG Michael Hullender was 29 years old from Little Falls, New Jersey.

He was awarded a Bronze Star and also earned numerous medals and recognitions including the National Defense Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

He is survived by his: father, Ren and Tammy Hullender, Winder, GA; mother, Cindy Wilkins Malmo, Little Falls, NJ; sisters, Lisa and David Filkins, Jasper, GA; Amy and Chuck Ford, Grayson, GA; grandparents, Ralph and Gerry Hullender, Buford, GA; step-brothers, Steven Peele, Winder, GA; Jason Peele, Winder, GA; step-sister, Chelsea Peele, Winder, GA; aunt, Ann and Tim McNeil, Buford, GA; uncle, Chuck Wilkins, New Jersey; fiancee, Miss Kyle Harper, Elliott, ME. Staff Sgt.

March 17, 2023

Mission First Outfitters is honored to salute Sergeant Major (Retired) Charles S. Salinero and his lifetime of service to the United States of America.

SGM (ret) Charles S. Salinero was born March 11, 1969 in the Bronx, New York to Victor Dominguez Salinero and Camille Marissan. He graduated early in 1987 from Columbus High School and entered military service on April 02, 1987 in the United States Marine Corps serving until May 4, 1995 attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Following his departure from the USMC, Charlie served in the United States Army until his retirement on October 31, 2010. His Army career began with an assignment to 519th Military Intelligence, Long Range Surveillance (LRS) Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served until May 1, 1998. Charlie was honored to be able to spend the majority of his Army career serving in the Special Operations Community assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Savannah, Georgia. His wide breadth of leadership billets in the Ranger Regiment included Rifle Squad leader, Company First Sergeant, and Battalion Intelligence Sergeant. His active duty service and Special Operations career culminated with his assignment to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in 2008, where he served as the Deputy J3 SGM until his retirement. After retirement, Charlie continued his service to the nation by entering the civilian service at JSOC as Chief Instructor for the Education Program. Following ten years of civilian service, he retired in July 2020.

SGM (ret) Salinero had extensive combat experience and served eleven (11) tours of duty and forty-seven (47) months in the following Campaigns: Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Desert Storm (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq). His personal awards and decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge with second award, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal with third award, Meritorious Service Medal with second award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Southwest Asia Service medal with fourth award, Navy Commendation Medal with second award, Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award, and the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 23 years, Sandra Carol Salinero (Pollock); his incredibly loving son, Joshua Roy Salinero; his sister, Annette Matheney (Salinero); his mother, Camille Salinero (Marissan); and numerous nieces and nephews across the Pollock and Matheney families.

In partnership with the Three Rangers Foundation, and the Young County Warrior Ranch, Mission First Outfitters is proud to provide mentorship and host Sergeant Major Salinero’s son, Joshua Salinero at the 2023 Young County Warrior Ranch annual Gunsmoke Helo Hog Hunt benefiting Veterans and Gold Star family members.

Mission First Outfitters represents the values of our American Servicemembers and Heroes:Trust, Integrity, Selfless Service, Courage and America First.

Joshua Salinero (SGM Salinero's son) at the 2023 Young County Warrior Ranch Gunsmoke.