As December comes to a close and the holiday season continues, we want to take some time to recognize individuals who dedicate themselves to protecting their families, communities, and country. We are honored to help cross off some much needed items from each recipient’s holiday wish lists. As well as continuing our mission of providing body armor to those who protect and serve others every day.
Through our Guardian Angel Program, we remain dedicated to protecting those who protect us. We are proud to continue donating FREE HG2 Concealable Level IIIA Multi-Threat Vests to individuals who serve selflessly. These HG2 Panels provide top-tier ballistic protection, designed to protect against common handgun and shotgun rounds, as well as strikes and slashes. These HG2 vests give our recipients the peace of mind they deserve in their critical roles.
As 2025 comes to an end, please join us in congratulating the winners for December and recognizing the important work they do to keep their communities safe. We are proud to support them as we close out the year and look ahead to 2026!
DRAKE TILSON | Emergency Medical Technician
As an EMT in a very rural community, wearing body armor allows me to focus more fully on patient care. Many of the calls we respond to appear routine at first but can quickly become dangerous. In rural areas, law enforcement may be twenty to thirty minutes away, or not dispatched at all. When someone needs immediate medical attention, waiting outside is often not an option. Having concealable body armor under my uniform gives me added confidence when entering unpredictable scenes, especially when substance use or mental health crises are involved and not fully communicated through dispatch.
I am a very active member of my ambulance service and regularly take on long on call shifts, often totaling forty eight hours or more each week. Outside of work, I am a 27 year old husband and father. My wife and I have been married for three years, we have a two year old daughter, and we are about to welcome another child. My goal is simple. I want to serve my community while also making sure I am able to go home to my family at the end of each shift.
Body armor means peace of mind. It means my wife can rest a little easier when my pager goes off in the middle of the night. It means that if something goes wrong, I have a better chance of surviving and continuing to care for my family. Violence against EMS providers is more common than many people realize, yet body armor is still often dismissed as unnecessary. I believe that needs to change. EMS responds to many of the same calls as law enforcement and often to scenes where law enforcement is not present at all. I want to help normalize body armor in EMS by wearing it and showing that it is comfortable, practical, and easy to conceal. Protecting EMS providers should be just as standard as gloves or reflective vests. Safe Life Defense body armor helps move that conversation forward.
JOSHUA RESTER | Active Duty Army and Civilian EMT
Wearing Safe Life Defense body armor would allow me to continue serving my community as both an EMT and a volunteer law enforcement officer while helping ensure I can return home safely to my family. Having reliable protection like body armor would allow me to stay focused on helping others, even in high risk situations.
I have spent over fourteen years serving my country and my community through military service, emergency medical care, and law enforcement. I am currently active in all three roles. While I have looked into Safe Life Defense armor, including the Unity Hybrid Carrier, the cost has made it difficult for me to purchase on my own. Being selected would allow me to serve with equipment I trust, which would mean a great deal to me.
My family is everything to me. I have a large family, including many children and a grandchild, and my biggest priority is making it home safely to them. Serving others has always been a close second. I currently serve as a reserve officer with a smaller department that is unable to provide adequate protective equipment. Many officers rely on older gear that has been passed down over the years and may not perform as intended if it is ever truly needed. Having reliable body armor would provide peace of mind for both me and my family.
Thank you for creating quality armor for professionals who choose to put themselves in harm’s way to help others. I think the Guardian Angel Program is a powerful way to show support for those who serve, and it does not go unnoticed.
STILES TERK | Security Officer
Wearing Safe Life Defense body armor will allow me to do my job with more confidence as I continue working as an armed security officer. Having proper protection will help me stay focused and effective in situations where people need help. Body armor would not just protect me. It would allow me to stay present, respond when needed, and continue helping others while giving me a better chance of making it home safely after each shift so I can be there for my kids.
I do not believe I am more deserving than anyone else who applied. Everyone in this line of work is worthy of protection. I was simply grateful for the opportunity. I work in the security field, but financial challenges have made it difficult for me to afford the equipment needed to move into the role I am working toward. I am a father of two and over the past year I have faced significant personal hardships that forced me to rebuild my life. My main focus is staying stable, keeping my job, maintaining housing, and being there for my children. Having body armor would help keep me and the people around me safer. It is something I would never take for granted.
To me, body armor is about being able to protect others. I wear it to protect myself so I can continue stepping in when someone needs help. I have always been the type of person willing to put myself in harm’s way for others. Having body armor increases the chances that I can do that and still make it home safely to my kids at the end of the day. That peace of mind means everything to me. Thank you for the opportunity and for everything you do to support those who serve.
