LOS ANGELES - s4story -- Pickleball Army, a veteran-owned pickleball performance hat company based in Tampa, has signed an agreement to support Rally4Vets, the Disabled Veteran Empowerment Network's (DVEN) flagship program, which uses pickleball to reduce isolation among veterans, build lasting connections, and support DVEN's mission to prevent veteran suicide.

The partnership brings together two combat veterans from different generations. Pickleball Army founder and CEO Eric Marrero served in the U.S. Army as a 13F fire support specialist and deployed to Iraq in 2006–2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rally4Vets/DVEN founder and CEO Robert W. Hess, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, served two combat tours in Vietnam.

"When you come home, you lose your unit, and nobody hands you a new one," Hess said. "On a pickleball court you get some of that back. You've got a partner beside you, people counting on you and a reason to show up next week. Your body starts moving again, and whatever your injury, there's a way to play. Eric understands that because he's lived it."

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Marrero discovered pickleball about two years ago and found in it the camaraderie he had valued in the military. That connection led him to start Pickleball Army, which he runs as a family business. His brother Michael, an Army veteran, handles logistics and administration. His sister-in-law Melanie is a retired Army veteran. His wife, Sarah, whose brother currently serves in the Army, is central to the business, and the couple's four daughters help with social media and pop-up events.

"When I found pickleball, I found something I'd been missing since I came home: people who have your back," Marrero said. "That's what Pickleball Army is built on. Rally4Vets is doing the work of getting veterans onto the court together, and we're proud to stand behind them."

Rally4Vets Pickleball is open to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Its motto is "No rank. No record. No experience needed." The program's pilot event, held April 25 at CaliSmash in El Segundo, sold out within five days. The next event is scheduled for December 12, 2026, at the VA facility in Los Angeles.

The timing fits the sport's momentum. Pickleball is widely reported as America's fastest-growing sport, and Florida has become one of its strongest hubs. The small court, light paddle, and slower ball make the game accessible to players of many ages and physical abilities, and its doubles format builds in teamwork. That makes it a natural fit for veterans living with disabilities.

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The public can support the partnership by shopping at pickleballarmy.com. Veterans, service members, and family members can join the Rally4Vets Pickleball email list for first access to upcoming events at rally4vets.org/programs/rally4vetspickleball. Organizations interested in becoming founding sponsors can contact sponsor@rally4vets.com.

About Pickleball Army Pickleball Army is a veteran-owned pickleball performance hat company based in Tampa, Florida. Eric Marrero, a U.S. Army combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, founded it in 2026. The family-run company brings a tactical spirit and high-performance mindset to the sport, building community and giving back to veterans. Pickleball Army is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense. Learn more at pickleballarmy.com.

About Rally4Vets and DVEN: Rally4Vets is the flagship program of the Disabled Veteran Empowerment Network (DVEN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-5053861) based in El Segundo, California. Rally4Vets uses motorsports and pickleball to help disabled veterans reduce isolation, build connections, and find purpose.

Media contacts
Rally4Vets / DVEN: Robert Hess, Founder and CEO, robert.hess@dven.org
Pickleball Army: Eric Marrero, Founder and CEO, (813) 293-9043, pickleballarmy@gmail.com.