RÈBÈLs RÄIDÈRs Brand Ambassador Spotlight: 95Howe

INTRODUCTION

@95Howe, thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me. You’ve got a growing audience—so much so that Rebel himself brought you on as a brand ambassador. You’ve clearly got something going on, and we dig it. So, I’ve cooked up some questions I think our gear enjoyers would appreciate. We’re all stoked for Rebels’ Mom to come thru with the M81 Camo Drop, so in the meantime, here’s our first Brand Ambassador Spotlight.

You train in it, you test it, and you give us feedback. What’s your God honest, unbiased opinion of our gear?

I genuinely love 99.9% of the Vakarian plate carrier. I’m a big fan of HRT-style placards, so the only tweak I’d suggest is a bit more front storage on the placard. That said, I get why it’s designed this way—the 3-in-1 system (micro chest rig, recce rig, etc.) is a brilliant, underrated feature. The Vakarian’s compatibility with any placard system makes it versatile, so a bigger placard isn’t even necessary. The Phoenix pack is flawless—perfectly sized, neither too small nor too bulky. I’ve pushed both the Vakarian and Phoenix hard as a civilian, and I have zero complaints about quality or comfort. My old AC1 would wreck me after an hour, but these hold up.

What’s an average “day in the life” look like for you?

My life’s hectic. I’m up at 4:45 AM, picking up my crew, driving 2 hours to work as a concrete foundations foreman for 9 hours, then driving 2 hours home. After that, I spend time with family and squeeze in what I love—like being a brand ambassador and doing interviews like this with folks like Havoc 2-1, a veteran who served overseas.

What’s your favorite aspect of being a brand ambassador with us?

Being part of the GØAT GANG, brother! Seriously, it’s the community and Rebels’ mindset of providing high-quality gear at fair prices for hardworking Americans. Representing a brand that prioritizes people over profit is what I love most.

How did you become interested in preparedness?

I got into the 2A community during the height of COVID, so I’m relatively new compared to my training buddies. A certain someone (shoutout to Lucas, all love) got me into civilian training and preparedness. I used to think civilians training in weapons manipulation or tactics was taboo and that veterans would roast you for it. Now, I train with active duty, retired, and LEOs, soaking up advice from all their backgrounds.

As someone who’s spent a demonstrable amount of time training and becoming tactically proficient, what’s some advice for people just breaking into the space?

Go touch some grass. A fancy firearm is useless without knowing how to use it. My biggest game-changer was a shot timer—it shows if you’re actually improving, or trading accuracy for speed. Taking classes in your region exposes you to like-minded people in your area, which will create bonds and future training buddies you otherwise would not have met. Surround yourself with those knowledgeable people who you can sponge up knowledge from. Those connections are invaluable.  Research instructors and invest in training or ammo instead of another $2,000 rifle  . Focus on using a shot timer to improve speed and accuracy, get down to basics with firearm/shooting fundamentals, and make sure you’re adhering to a good safety protocol.

Could you pick one area of preparedness you think doesn’t get much discussion, and give us a reason why it should be discussed more?

Personal health and fitness is a must. Gear and guns are useless if you’re not physically capable. I think most dudes avoid admitting that their diet or cardio needs work—I’ve been there myself, so I get it. After 13 years in concrete, I’m in decent shape, but I recently changed my diet, and it has made a big difference for me. Health should be a bigger focus beyond guns and gadgets.

There’s a lot of gear manufacturers out there, and it can be overwhelming for people who are new to the party. What do you look for when you’re checking out new equipment?

I ask: “Is this brand battle-proven? Has it held up in real scenarios?” If not, I check if battle-tested folks I trust rely on it. At least one of those must be a “yes” for me to trust the gear with my life or my family’s in a SHTF scenario.

What are some challenges you have had to overcome in this space?

As a perfectionist, my biggest challenge was an ego check. I got humbled fast. You realize there’s no perfection in preparedness, shooting, or tactics—there’s always room to improve, and you need to chase that improvement. I learned to shut up, take constructive criticism, and treat it like a free class. Accept that you’ll never be “done”, and ditch the “I’m better than you” mindset before someone like a soccer coach-looking dude humbles you. Preparedness requires maintaining a mindset of forever being teachable.

Can you speak to the pseudo-divide between those who have and have not served relative to the preparedness genre? How do we overcome it?

The divide feels smaller in 2025 than it was a few years ago. Some veterans still gatekeep, saying civilians should stick to their day jobs or that carrying a rifle only matters if you “served when it counted.” That’s nonsense—the 2nd Amendment protects us all, foreign and domestic. Veterans, active duty, and civilians all have a stake in this. Different fights, same importance. We overcome it by recognizing that carrying a rifle matters stateside, especially now, and respecting everyone’s role in that mission. We should focus more on what we have in common than what sets us apart.

What’s your hot take on the tactical influencer/preparedness industry?

If you follow the right people on YouTube, X, or IG—like GarandThumb, Orion Training Group, Dirty Civilian, GBRS, or Warrior Poet Society—you’re getting free, invaluable knowledge from folks with real credentials. My hot take: soak up the expertise from those with proven backgrounds, regardless of personal feelings about them. Their resume should be the deciding factor.

No one gets there alone, and community is important—especially regarding preparedness. Who are some folks who have helped you along the way? 

My boys Joe, Anthony, Garrett, Sam T, and Chance have had a major impact on me. They lift me up. They’re my best friends and we hit hard together. When I say community is important, I’m speaking from experience and because of these men. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the homies.  

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

There you have it folks, an interview with our very own brand ambassador @95Howe. If you've been paying attention to our social media, RÈBÈL dropped the hot news about our gear restock and presale. NIR resistant at no additional cost, and God's Plaid (M81) is upon us. High five a goat, steal your mom's credit card (please don't), tell your homies, hit a tactical synth-wave rave--IT'S ALMOST TIME. Oh, and please go check out my website at www.nickmiddaugh.com OR https://linktr.ee/nickmiddaugh to see what I've been up to lately. It's mental health, recovery, and stories from my time doing security things and/or uniform things. It's what I do while not busy being a gøät gäng pröpägändist.