Veterans Guns & Cigars opens 2026 season in Tampa

By AI, Created 10:10 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Veterans Guns & Cigars will launch its 2026 series at SOF Week in Tampa on May 17, bringing veterans, SOF operators, law enforcement, and defense executives together for shooting competitions and networking. The Meritorious Foundation says the event series is expanding nationwide, with new programs and additional stops planned into 2027.

Why it matters: - The Veterans Guns & Cigars series is built to turn a shooting event into a networking platform for veterans, defense professionals, and business owners. - The Meritorious Foundation says the model is designed to create direct business opportunities, partnerships, and professional relationships. - Active-duty service members attend free, and more than 400 veterans have already been sponsored at no cost. - The broader foundation also aims to support military spouses, mentorship, and veteran career growth.

What happened: - Veterans Guns & Cigars will open its 2026 season at SOF Week in Tampa on Sunday, May 17, 2026. - The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Pinellas Outdoor Shooting Range, 3700 126th Ave N, Clearwater, Florida. - The event series is hosted by the Meritorious Foundation. - The Tampa event is presented by Rise Real Estate. - The event page is available here.

The details: - The event brings together military veterans, SOF operators, law enforcement, defense and GovCon executives, business owners, and civilians. - Participants compete in individual and team shooting events while being introduced to new connections throughout the day. - Industry partners supporting the mission include FN, Colt, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Davidson’s, Aimpoint, Mantis, Vortex, Magpul, and others. - VetClaims.AI is the National Presenting Sponsor for the 2026 series. - VetClaims.AI says it has employed more than 200 veterans and supported over 22,000 veterans nationwide. - Active-duty service members are admitted free of charge. - The 2026 series is also set to expand to Wyoming, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas, and additional locations. - Further expansion is planned for 2027.

Between the lines: - The Meritorious Foundation is positioning the event series as both a community-building platform and a business-development channel. - The combination of live-fire competition and structured introductions is meant to create faster trust than a standard conference setting. - The new programs suggest the organization is broadening beyond one event format into a wider veteran-and-family ecosystem. - The emphasis on smaller, intimate settings signals a focus on mentorship and access over scale alone.

What’s next: - The Meritorious Foundation will launch Ready, Aim, Empower this summer, a military spouse training program supported by the NRA Foundation. - The foundation will also launch Veterans, Fishing & Cigars, a mentorship-focused fishing charter program. - Both programs are intended to provide smaller environments for camaraderie, connection, and access to resources. - Additional Veterans Guns & Cigars events are planned across several states in 2026, with more growth expected in 2027.