THE UNIFORM COMES OFF.

THE MISSION CONTINUES.

As told by GySgt Joseph "Gunz" Simmons, USMC (Ret.) — Founder & CEO, OOH-RAH Seasoning®

THE FIRST UNIFORM

For 21 years, I had the honor of serving in the United States Marine Corps. During that time, I earned the title of Marine, became a Drill Instructor, rose to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, and ultimately retired from an institution that helped shape the man I am today.

The Marine Corps taught me more than how to wear a uniform or lead Marines. It taught me discipline, accountability, perseverance, and the responsibility that comes with earning the trust of others.

I earned the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. I earned the campaign cover. But the greatest privilege wasn't what I wore or the rank I achieved. It was the opportunity to lead, mentor, and serve alongside some of the finest men and women I've ever known.

And given the opportunity, I'd do it all over again.

Every service member eventually faces a transition. Whether after four years or twenty-one, there comes a day when we hang up the uniform and begin another chapter.

The uniform comes off. The lessons stay with us.

A NEW UNIFORM. A NEW MISSION.

In August 2025, Chief and I launched OOH-RAH Seasoning® with a simple goal: build something of our own that reflected the standards we had lived by throughout our military careers.

Chief brought her experience as a retired Navy Chief. I brought mine as a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant. Different branches, different journeys, but a shared understanding of commitment, hard work, and taking pride in what we do.

We started with recipes, an idea, and the determination to turn that idea into something real.

There were no shortcuts. No established customer base. No guarantees.

We earned our first customer, then our next. We spent countless hours developing blends, preparing orders, attending markets, and introducing people to our products one conversation at a time.

Before long, those seasonings began finding their way into kitchens, backyard grills, smokers, and family gatherings across the country.

What began as our mission became something bigger because people believed in what we were building.

And to everyone who has purchased a bottle, shared a post, recommended us to a friend, or stopped by our booth just to say hello: you helped build this company, too.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE BULLDOG

From the beginning, the bulldog has been more than a logo to me.

He represents strength, determination, loyalty, and a willingness to stand firm when the road gets difficult.

Our first bulldog reflected the military traditions that influenced our company's beginnings. His appearance was unmistakably rooted in my Marine Corps experience.

But as OOH-RAH Seasoning® grew, I realized our bulldog needed to grow with us.

Look at his progression.

From those early designs to the powerful figure representing us today, you can see the transformation. His shoulders are broader. His stance is stronger. His expression carries the same determination, but his identity is now unmistakably our own.

The campaign cover has come off, just as mine did when I retired.

What remains is the strength beneath it.

That's what this evolution means to me. We're not erasing our beginnings or forgetting the experiences that shaped us. We're building upon them.

Our bulldog now represents the company we've worked to establish, the challenges we've overcome, and the determination to keep growing.

He doesn't need a uniform to represent strength, discipline, and pride. Neither do I.

THE MISSION CONTINUES

Chief and I spent much of our adult lives serving our country. Today, we have the privilege of building something together that carries those same principles into a different kind of mission.

We're not commanding Marines or leading Sailors anymore. We're developing products, serving customers, supporting our communities, and working to earn our place in the food and seasoning industry.

And we're doing it our way.

The company will continue to evolve. Our blends will improve, our product line will expand, and our bulldog will stand as the face of a business that refuses to settle for anything less than its best.

But through every change, our commitment remains the same: deliver great flavor, treat people right, support those who serve, and bring families and friends together around good food.

I may have retired from the Marine Corps, but I never retired from the values it instilled in me.

The uniform may come off, but the values never leave us.

Different chapter. Same determination. Stronger than ever.

DISCIPLINE • PRIDE • FLAVOR™

Semper Fidelis,

Joseph "Gunz" Simmons
Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Ret.)
Founder & CEO, OOH-RAH Seasoning®