As one of only three Army ROTC cadets studying in the bucolic setting of Middlebury College, co-founder of Sword & Plough Emily Núñez sometimes found it difficult to relate her military commitment to her fellow classmates; many of whom had never even met someone that served in the military. Born into a West Point military family and having grown up watching their dad lead early morning battalion runs, Emily and her sister Betsy wanted to create something that would emotionally and physically touch civilians in their everyday lives and remind them, in a beautiful way, of the challenges our country and servicemen face. Since most people use a bag of some form throughout their day, Emily and Betsy had the idea to recycle and repurpose military gear with a fashionable touch into new bags. They work with veterans to create a variety of sturdy and sophisticated bags and other products, whose sale empowers veteran employment, reduces waste, and strengthens civil-military understanding.