While serving in Afghanistan, Marine Major Robert Dyer was among the soldiers who were given six or seven different nutritional supplements with their MREs. But in combat, they didn’t always have time to eat and the supplements were sometimes insufficient for maintaining energy. That’s when he conceived of RuckPack Combat Nutrition, an energy drink comprising essential vitamins and nootropics—compounds such as L-theanine and CoQ10, which are said to improve cognitive function. RuckPack comes in a variety of flavors and includes ingredients such as caffeine from green tea. The company donates at least 5% of all profits to non-profit organizations.

The idea of Blinger, a styling tool for bedazzling your hair with sparkling gems, crystals or pearls, came to Angie Cella in a dream. After spending years and most of her savings trying to develop a prototype, it was her eldest daughter Cambria, now a U.S. Army National Guard Military Police soldier, who encouraged her to forge ahead. The company now sells starter kits for both kids and adults, enabling them to apply gems securely with hair-safe adhesives in a range of colors.

Sarah Apgar, Iraq War veteran and volunteer firefighter, wanted to find a way to honor the legacy of those who serve. So she created the Fitfighter Steelhose, an exercise tool made from durable firehose and filled with recycled steel shot. The Steelhose is a flexible, easy-grip free weight that comes in ten different weights ranging from five to 50 pounds. It also includes brass grommets for attaching to cable machines and supports full body conditioning.

While serving in Afghanistan, combat veterans Emily Miller, Kim Jung and Keith Alaniz wanted to help boost sales for local saffron farmers who often lacked the resources to effectively sell their spices further afield. Rumi Spice’s goal is to provide job opportunities and stable wages for those living in rural Afghanistan, specifically women, and spotlight Afghan culture through the range of spices Rumi sells, including coriander, cumin and blends like harissa and za’atar.