Most veterans leave service carrying experiences that don’t fit neatly onto a civilian resume. You’re told to adapt, to “find your place,” to quietly convert your skills for an office or factory. But sometimes the best move is to build something no one else can, something born directly from your own needs, frustrations, and community.
That’s exactly the story behind At The Ready, a company that grew from a moment of panic, an engineering obsession, and a community of veterans who wanted something better. I met up with Sean Baptiste at the Great American Outdoor Show, bringing to light a product and a purpose that make carrying responsibly about more than just gear.
The Emergency That Sparked an Innovation
The journey started at 4 am: Sean Baptiste’s business partner, an Air Force veteran, pulled into a bank parking lot, ready to make a deposit. A flicker in the mirror. An alert posture. He reaches for his 1911 in the center console…and it’s not where he expects. It’s shifted, wedged under a magazine, out of reach in a moment when speed and reliability matter most.
That reality check sent him online for a “universal mount.” It seemed to promise a fix, but every bump sent his handgun crashing to the floor. As Sean Baptiste explained, “not all universal mounts are made for all handguns.” One size doesn’t fit all; a 1911 has a curved slide, the Beretta’s barrel is all its own. It wasn’t safe. It wasn’t reliable. And it sure wasn’t engineered for peace of mind.
Most people walk away frustrated. Veterans, especially those who’ve spent decades in the service, tend to fix what’s broken. His partner, an engineer and remote-control helicopter flyer, started 3D printing custom parts when he crashed his helicopters, a small hobby that became a lifeline. Now, he set out to build a weapon-specific mount, tailored to the exact millimeter of each pistol’s slide.
From Personal Prototype to Veteran Community
At first, it was just for himself. But when a hunting buddy saw the prototype, he wanted one for his Sig 320. The word spread. “Every single one of those guys wanted a mount for their weapon,” Sean Baptiste recalled. That’s how At The Ready began, solving a problem for those closest to you, then realizing hundreds of others suffer the same frustration.
Today, At The Ready offers 340 weapon-specific custom mounts. Each is measured precisely, fitting like a glove. Every detail counts, so much so that the Beretta 92 took 2.5 years to get right.
The Mission Behind the Mount
For Sean Baptiste, a retired Army veteran recovering from a vehicle-borne IED in 2009, it wasn’t just a business, it was survival. After 13 back surgeries and years of depression, he turned to knife making to cope with PTSD, finding both healing and community at gun and knife shows, surrounded by fellow veterans and civilians who understood the struggle.
The At The Ready mount is more than hardware, it’s designed with four core principles, each rooted in safety, reliability, and real-world experience:
- Safe Transport Without a Chambered Round. No need to carry with a round in the chamber. The mount design allows for rapid chambering when needed, reducing risk during transport.
- Weapon Orientation: You always know exactly which way your gun is facing. No more scrambling for a grip or wondering if you’re grabbing the barrel.
- Instant Defensive Posture: In a threat scenario, you can chamber a round and draw your weapon in less than a second, keeping your eyes on the situation—not the console.
- Jam-Free Engineering: Unlike “universal” mounts that can block the injection port and cause jams, At The Ready’s mounts keep the port exposed, so your weapon is always ready—as it should be.
Designed for Real Life—And Real Vehicles
Mounting your gun shouldn’t mean screwing holes in your brand new truck. At The Ready offers both self-tapping screws and 3M industrial tape, with a special primer for hot climates. Mount it in your nightstand or dash, above or beside your leg, with precision and peace of mind. Even the left-handed among us get a lifetime warranty (with an important phone lesson!) if they break the mount when getting out.
What Makes This Veteran-Owned Business Different?
It’s not just the tech, it’s the heart. Veterans serving veterans. Designed, built, and shipped out of Wylie, Texas, northeast of Dallas. Every mount is backed by a lifetime warranty, so even if you break yours years down the line, the community’s still got you covered. And every mount is stamped with the website, so support is always within reach.
Here’s what stands out: at gun shows, at knife shows, Sean Baptiste found his tribe, a place where sharing lessons and struggles turned engineering fixes into a safety solution for all.
What This Means for Gun Owners, Veterans, and Anyone Who Wants More
If you carry in your vehicle, you know how quickly panic can set in when things don’t go as planned. At The Ready’s mounts aren’t just about convenience, they’re about reliability under stress, safety for everyone around you, and a story born from genuine need.
But it’s more than a product, it’s a movement. It’s about showing fellow veterans that the best way to build something meaningful is to solve your own pain points. It’s about finding purpose, direction, and community, and turning that into a business that lets you give back.
Ready to Join the Movement?
If you’re a gun owner, a veteran, or just someone who wants a safer, smarter way to carry, At The Ready offers both a solution and a story worth supporting. Visit www.at-the-ready.us for details and connect directly with the team.
Everything you need to mount, protect, and carry is there. The engineering is bulletproof, the warranty is for life, and the community is built to welcome anyone serious about responsible carry.
Watch the full interview on the Heroes Media Group YouTube for the hands-on demo, the story of recovery, and a blueprint for turning adversity into innovation. Your next step, whether as a veteran, entrepreneur, or everyday carrier, can start with solving your own problems and inviting others in to do the same.
Let’s build something safer. Let’s support those who served. Let’s make sure the next time you need your weapon, it’s exactly where you expect.
Your mission matters. Your community matters. Your next chapter starts now.
