Memorial Day is a moment in which we celebrate the lives of all the soldiers who are no longer with us. While paying our proper respect to those we have lost, we at Snkrs Day also want to pay homage to the soldiers that are still serving. These men and women come from many backgrounds, various lineage, and have a multitude of hobbies when out of uniform. The sneaker family within the Armed Forces community is vast and wide-reaching with troops serving in all military branches all across the globe. Today, we spotlight 10 sneakerheads in the military and give you an in-depth look at their collection, how it started, and the effect military life has on sneaker collecting from their perspective. Check out their stories. Snkrs Day supports our troops!<\/p>\n
Name:<\/strong> SSGT D’Mario Revere Snkrs Day: Which shoes are most popular in your hometown?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped or hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> SGT Mark “Catch” Fullwood <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Approximately, how many shoes do you own?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> (T)SGT Alex Tiggs Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes??<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection<\/strong>? Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you regret not picking up?<\/strong> Nice Kick: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> SSGT Keila Miniel Snkrs Day: Are there shoes more\/less prevalent out there in South Korea than here in the United States?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Approximately, how many shoes do you own?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Which shoes are most popular in your hometown?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Approximately, how many shoes do you own?<\/strong> Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Is there a shoe you buy each time it?s released?<\/strong> <\/strong>Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you regret not picking up?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Is there a shoe you buy each time it?s released?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong>Snkrs Day: Do you notice a difference in the shoe culture at the different places you are stationed?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> SSGT Antonio Chatman Snkrs Day: Are there shoes more\/less prevalent out there in South Korea than here in the United States?<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong> Snkrs Day: Approximately, how many shoes do you own?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> SGT David Miller Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe is your holy grail?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you consider the most prized of your collection?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> <\/p>\n Name:<\/strong> SrA Elvis Shaw Snkrs Day: How has being in the military helped\/hurt your shoe collecting?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: Which shoe do you regret not picking up?<\/strong> Nice Kick: Which shoes are the most popular in your hometown?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: What made you start collecting shoes?<\/strong> Snkrs Day: What is your favorite sneaker spot?<\/strong> Salute!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4653,"featured_media":216084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Atlanta, GA
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base – Prince George’s County, MD<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: Dudes back in Atlanta are big Jordanheads, and there is a huge skateboard following now so a lot of people rock the SBs too.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: The shoe culture itself constantly intrigues me. The people and the history behind a lot of the kicks is very cool. It?s always great meeting new and old sneakerheads and swapping knowledge and advice. It’s a great networking society of people who like looking out for each other.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: I would say the Air Jordan 6\/11 DMP Pack, all the OG Xs, the Jordan XVII and the “Carmine” VIs. I had a chance to get the DMP 6\/11 when they first dropped, but I passed for a new video game system. Boy, was that stupid.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: Yes. Here in the DMV area, Foams and ACG’s are heavy. Even dudes in their 30s rock Foams here.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: Honestly, it would be my ?Chicago? Xs. It was the first shoe I ever bought with my own money when I was younger, so when it retroed I was hyped – sentimental value.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Revere: It has helped a lot. I meet a lot of connects and other sneakerheads that put on the uniform as well. I have learned so much from my fellow brothers and sisters in uniform about the shoe culture. Military people tend to stick together when it comes to looking out for others on the battlefield or the local Foot Locker.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Army
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Yonkers, NY
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Fort Gordon, GA<\/p>\n
\nSGT Fullwood: In Korea, the sneaker scene is ridiculous, and it’s pure over there. In Germany,? Jordans aren’t popular. I went to a German shoe store in 2010 and grabbed the Air Jordan 9\/14 CDP for approximately $126.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Fullwood: About 100 pairs.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Fullwood: My holy grail is the Maroon VIs. It’s the best colorway to never retro.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Fullwood: Galaxy Foams. I went to a raffle and my two friends got them, but I didn’t. When I got home, another one of my friends told me to come get some shoes, and behold it was the Galaxy Foams. His response was, ‘You owe me lunch.’<\/p>\n
\nSGT Fullwood: Being in the military is the only reason I have all of my kicks.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Birmingham, AL
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Lackland Air Force Base – San Antonio, TX<\/p>\n
\n(T)SGT Tiggs: I fell in love with kicks back in 1985, the same year my mother bought me my first pair of Jordans. It was the “Sky Jordan” Air Jordan I. It was a wrap after that. I always wanted to have the freshest pair of kicks. People couldn’t understand it then, but they really see my passion about it now.<\/p>\n
\n(T)Sgt. Tiggs: It would have to be the 1990 David Robinson 180 Pump, the same joints Woody Harrelson rocked in White Men Can’t Jump<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\n(T)SGT Tiggs: Korea was definitely on it. Japan was like the mecca of kicks when I was out there. They have the craziest sneaker culture. You can find a lot of rare gems there. It’s easy to find some of the older retro Jordans there. When I was stationed in San Angelo, TX, it was much harder to find what you wanted. You either had to travel or overpay online.<\/p>\n
\n(T)SGT Tiggs: It would have to be my OG 1994 “Steel” Xs and my “South Beach” LeBron 8 because my wife knew how much I wanted that shoe. She surprised me with them on Valentine?s Day.<\/p>\n
\n(T)Sgt Tiggs: It’s been a dual-edged sword. It’s been a combo of both. It?s helped (Korea\/Japan) and hurt (Goodfellow\/deployment).<\/p>\n
\nName:<\/strong> SGT D’Artagnan Roach
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Army
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Dover, DE
\n Currently Stationed:<\/strong> Fort Drum, NY<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: Right now, I’d have to say it?s my Bred Jordan ls and my “Fire Red” 4s.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: Not being able to afford them when I was younger is the main reason. The next reason is I’m actually a basketball player. I grew up playing, and I play today! The last and most influential reason is one man: Michael Jordan.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: Definitely! For instance, when I was stationed in Hawaii, it was straight flip flops and Jordans; maybe some Vans with no socks. In Germany, it was mostly trainers, Nike running shoes, adidas, and a lot of PUMAs.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: I have a few: the DMP Pack, the “Royal” Jordan 1s, the “Banned” 1s, the “Toro Bravo” 5s, the “Lighting\/Thunder” 4s, the AJKOs and the Black “Laser” Jordan 4s.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: Right now, it’s the Kobe VII “Cheetah.” Those are pretty dope!<\/p>\n
\nSGT Roach: The only one that really hurt was the DMP Jordan 6\/11 pack that came out back in 2006. I was unable to cop due to being in A.I.T.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Panama City, Panama
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Osan Air Base – South Korea<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: In other countries, people seem to go for what they like instead of what is popular. We can find the majority of the shoes that are in the States overseas as well.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: Sneakerheads overseas seem to stick together and look out for each other. We become a family with a passion for shoes.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: I think it’s between my “Bin 23” 7s and my “Bin 23” 5s.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: It all started as something to keep me busy while stationed in Japan, but it has now become a passion.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: I own between 160-200 pair of shoes.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: In my country, we are really not into kicks. I would say Converse is the most popular.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Miniel: The military has definitely helped my collecting. It gives me stability to plan in advance.<\/p>\n
\nName:<\/strong> SrA Scott Johnson
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Indianapolis, Indiana
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Lackland Air Force Base – San Antonio, TX<\/p>\n
\nSrA Johnson: I own approximately 75 pairs of shoes in good condition, with 90% of those being Jordans.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Johnson: My holy grails would have to be the OG “Bred” Jordan XI and the OG Jordan “Bordeaux” VIIs. Those are, by far, my two favorite shoes of all time.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Johnson: I seem to always buy the Jordan 7s when they release. I really like the design of that shoe.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Johnson: I regret not getting the Jordan “Doernbecher” 4s.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Johnson: Being in the military has done nothing but help my shoe collecting. It has given me the finances to pay for them and allowed me to connect with a ton of sneakerheads.<\/p>\n
\nName:<\/strong> SSGT Jeremy Mashall
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Pensecola, FL
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Ramstein Air Base – Ramstein, Germany<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Marshall: Any Jordan 11 or 13; those are too clean!<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Marshall: That is tough. I have like five that are prized, but I will go with OG Jordan XIIIs.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Marshall: Yes, I do. I was stationed in Colorado first and shoes weren’t as big there unless you went up to Denver. Then, I moved to Korea and saw everybody rocking kicks. Here in Germany, you see a few people, but you have to go to some of bigger cities, like Berlin or Munich, to see any type of real sneaker culture.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Marshall: Being in the military has helped because I have made connections all across the globe. The military is a very small community, so you will always know someone, somewhere. It has hurt because I don’t have the chance to stay in one place and take advantage of what that place has to offer.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Atlanta, GA
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Osan Air Base -? South Korea<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Chatman: It?s harder to get shoes here because they come out earlier than in the States, but they don?t have scheduled release dates like the States.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nSSGT Chatman: Over 300.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Chatman: It would have to be my 2004 “Bred” 13s. That was the first pair of shoes I camped out for, and I was able to buy them with my own money.<\/p>\n
\nSSGT Chatman: It helps because I?m able to get exclusive kicks depending on my location. For example, I was able to get the Quai 54 Jordan Vs when I was stationed in Germany for retail, and now they are selling some places for $400-500.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Army
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> New Brunswick, NJ & Mechlenburg, VA
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Fort Hood, TX<\/p>\n
\nSGT Miller: I?ve always had a thing for having nice stuff. I would always ask my mom to buy me shoes, and she?d always say no. So I had to take care of the ones I had. When I started making money, I kept them in good condition and they just started adding up.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Miller: I love Jordan Vs, so I am on a mission to get every V ever released. So, I?d have to say the Burgundy V, Quai 54 V?s, Laney Vs, Bin Vs and of course the Grape Vs.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Miller: It?s either my Bred 11?s because it?s one of the first pair of Jordans I bought myself, or my ?Metallic? Jordan Vs because I love them so much and wear them all the time.<\/p>\n
\nSGT Miller: It has helped by putting money in my pocket and introducing me to a lot of people who share the same passion and can help out. It has hurt because of the constant going to the field for weeks or deploying because I can?t cop shoes then.<\/p>\n
\nBranch:<\/strong> United States Air Force
\nOriginally From:<\/strong> Byhalia, MS
\nCurrent Station:<\/strong> Moody Air Force Base – Valdosta, GA<\/p>\n
\nSrA: It has helped in many ways. It has allowed me to make friends all over the world. I have shoes coming in from places like Vegas, Portland, Korea, Germany and many different places, weekly.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Shaw: I regret not being able to get my hands on a pair of the KD IV ?Weatherman.? The KD IV is my breakthrough shoe of the year.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Shaw: In my hometown, it would be all-white Air Force 1s. We have a Nike employee store in Memphis, and they sell out of them monthly.<\/p>\n
\nSrA Shaw: My dad is why I collect shoes. As a kid going through middle school, my dad was the biggest Penny Hardaway fan. He laced me in every Penny sneaker released. That’s why my ultimate goal is to own one pair of every Penny sneaker by the time I’m done.<\/p>\n
\nSrA: Hands down, my favorite is Snkrs Day. Each day I get to work, I sit at my desk and it is the first site I pull up. Thanks for showing the troops of the Armed Forces love. Salute!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"