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Columbia Falls gun manufacturer PROOF Research Friday welcomed retired Army Staff Sgt. Philip Saladin for a tour of the factory facility, a chance to design his own gun and an afternoon at the company’s shooting range. The rifle Saladin received was purchased by Hope for the Warriors.

Saladin survived an bomb attack while serving in Iraq.

The experience was put together through A Warriors Wish, which is a branch of Hope for The Warriors. Hope is a national non-profit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family, and hope for veterans, service members and military families. A Warrior’s Wish is it’s first established program.

Saladin came across the program after someone else told him about it and doing some online research.

“A lot of programs you see now focus on physically disabled veterans,” Saladin said. “Groups like this understand, and you’re with fellow veterans who know what you’re going through.”

Saladin enlisted in 2006 at the age of 24.

“It was a few years after 9/11, and my older brother was enlisted. There was always something in me,” he said on Friday.

Saladin’s first duty station took the New Jersey native to Germany. His first deployment to Iraq, in 2008, was 13 months.

A second tour in 2010 saw him in Iraq for nine months. The infantryman served as a team leader and then as a squad leader.

As a team leader, he was responsible for four guys, he said. As a squad leader, he was responsible for two team leaders and their teams, bringing the number of men under his command to 10.

“One of the best things was the people,” he said. “You build a bond. It’s camaraderie, when you’re doing everything together, and you’re in danger, you’re friends for life.”

About three months into his second tour, Saladin’s vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device during a security patrol. The IED hit resulted in injuries.

“The vehicle was blown up. We were completely immobilized,” he recalled. “It’s spacey. I remember a couple seconds before.” Saladin was injured in the explosion, but was able to finish the tour.

“It took me out of the fight for two weeks. But after a few weeks it was back to normal,” he said.

He medically retired in 2014.

Since retiring, Saladin has taken up hunting and target shooting as a way to relieve tension.

“I always had a thing for it, but prior to joining the Army I had never held a rifle. I got a feel for it then,” he said.

Now, he goes out with his brother-in-law.

“It’s almost like therapy. Hunting is fun. I like it,” he said.

Saladin’s Warrior’s Wish included a behind-the- scenes tour of PROOF, private sharpshooting lessons with two fellow veterans- both retired Marine Corps snipers and instructors- and the opportunity to design his own gun.

“The tour was amazing. It was like being a kid in a candy store. I wanted to touch everything. Everything I learned today was new. It really makes you appreciate it,” Saladin said at PROOF’s private shooting range before his lesson started.

One of his instructors was Ken Sutherby, Director of Outdoor Adventures for HFTW. Sutherby was a sniper with the Marine Corps Special Ops Command and served for 26 years, retiring in 2014. He and friend and fellow sniper Dave Williams served together in the ‘90s.

As fellow disabled Veterans, “we’re identifying the same issues, and then we’re getting guys back into what they used to do, or what they always wanted to do,” Sutherby said of his work with Hope for the Warriors.

“It’s about interaction with other vets, being around these guys and getting back out doing things they used to enjoy. And when it happens to fall into this- I’ll take any excuse to come precision shoot,” Sutherby said.

“They didn’t have to twist my arm,” he joked.

“You don’t see many people willing to go all out. They’re both here for the weekend doing what I wanted to do,” Saladin said. “People do appreciate what you do. Stuff like this makes you realize people care,” he added.

Saladin is currently working on a degree in automotive tech in Texas, which he will finish in May. He hopes to pursue his bachelor’s in engineering. After that, he might just land permanently in Montana.

“I love it. I told my wife I want to retire up here. The scenery is amazing... This is definitely somewhere I want to come back to,” he said.