According to an AP report By HEIDI VOGT filed this morning, Afghanistan’s president issued a decree today giving a four-month deadline for private security companies to register and join the Afghan Police Force or disband.

According to the article:

“It does provide an exception for private security firms working inside of compounds used by international groups, including embassies, businesses and non-governmental organizations.

All security outside of these compounds will be provided by Afghan security forces, as will all security for supply convoys for international troops, the decree says.”

This move will result in either the Afghani Police actually becoming an effective force, or more likely, in speeding up the withdrawal timetable of US and NATO forces. There is little chance that commercial businesses who provide security services will allow themselves to effectively be nationalized. This move will also most likely trepidation on the part of those interested in investing in Afghanistan as they concern themselves over security of their investments as well as the threat of further nationalization.

Afghanistan is assuming a serious risk with this move as they have proven unable to secure their own objectives, let alone guard coalition partners. In order to make up the shortfall of over 30,000 security contractors who currently protect convoys and installations, coalition forces will need to substantially increase the number of troops on the ground or develop alternative and more costly logistic strategies. Either alternative will surely cause countries already strapped for cash to question their commitment to Afghanistan’s security.

Ironically, the Karzai regime may become victim to its own decision to take on too much, too soon.

Yes, we know it’s only June, but supply chains and manufacturing schedules mean you need to start preparing for winter now. UK-based Unleashed Tactical Equipment is offering a free Triton Softshell (hooded or mandarin) to a lucky Soldier Systems Daily reader. We covered the Triton earlier this year. It is available in a variety of tactical colors in two variants; a hooded version as well as a mandarin collar version.

Applicants need to submit their name and email address through UTE’s eStore and a winner would be drawn using random.org at the end of the month. The contest closes at Midnight GMT on 1 July, 2010.

Save 33% now with London Bridge Trading Company’s 33% off select MultiCam products. All items in their mini-catalog are on sale now through April 23. (Please note, some products may require up to 4-6 weeks to ship).

London Bridge Trading Company MultiCam Catalog

Call them at 800-229-0207 (mention Soldier Systems to get the discount) or visit www.londonbridgetrading.com for their complete product line.

This is the canteen long issued to British troops and adopted by Bear Grylls for use on his show, “Man vs.Wild”. While I am a big fan of hydration bladders there is certainly something to be said for a canteen and cup combination. For example, you can boil water to purify it or to prepare a warm drink or for cooking purposes.

The Crusader Canteen Cooking System from BCB International consists of a 58 pattern canteen and plastic mug as well as a cooker and metal mug with lid to help water boil faster, which all nestle together to fit into a 90-pattern water pouch. You can cook with clean, smokeless and odorless heat from a gel or block fuel to boil 1 pint of water in eight minutes.

www.BCBin.com

“CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS: The Greyman” I have been getting quite a kick out of Death Valley Magazine, an online blog for the Independent Contractor. Not only is the info good, it is slathered in the ironic, tongue-in-cheek goodness that I know and love. I highly recommend it.

One of my favorite articles is “CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS: The Greyman“. You really need to go read it, particularly those of you that wear the “5.11 Tuxedo”. However, my favorite visual aid from the article is the one I have chosen to share with you. It’s stuff like this that will make the message stick with you.

www.deathvalleymag.com

Natick has issued a Sources Sought Notice for a Large Airborne Assault Pack. Oddly enough, the actual title of the notice is, “Tactical Load Carriage Equipment capable of being used in a combat environment that are additionally suited for Army Airborne Operations that are based in the United States or U.S. Possessions.” What a mouthful, and what the heck does that even mean? How about just shortening the title to, “Large Airborne Assault Pack?” Then you can get into that it will be used for both combat and training operations in the narrative.

Specific requirements include, “internal storage capacity of 2900 cubic inches. The large assault pack will be made of the same unique fabrics, finishings and findings available in the current Modular Lightweight Load Carriage (MOLLE) Large Ruck-Sack. Additionally the large assault pack must have an integrated single point release system and hook-pile-tape lowering line that is either permanently attached, or is part of the overall design of the assault pack, that is capable of meeting the stringent requirements of rotary and fixed wing personnel airborne operations. The large assault pack must have a storage pocket for the hook-pile-tape lowering line, 18 personnel attaching straps and the single point release handle when the large assault pack is not rigged for airborne operations.”

Please note that this is an assault pack. This means no frame required. On another note, I am personally no fan of permanently attaching air items to a pack that a guy has to schlep around all day, particularly a single point release. Additionally, carting your lowering line around only adds insult to injury.

Interested vendors have until 30 December to answer but have to include a jump ready pack in their answer. It is important to note that whether or not you answer the Sources Sought you may still answer a formal Request For Proposals if one issued, but it is important to the Government that you do answer this current request as the information gathered will help shape any further procurement decisions. They need to know what the state of the art consists of.

A similar project was undertaken in late Summer to support a requirement out of the 82d Airborne Division. Several commercial packs were assessed under conditions which included airborne operations overseen by the Airborne Special Operations Test Directorate (ACE Board) and the Advanced Airborne School. I received information during AUSA that a winner had been chosen and when I spoke to that company they were surprised to hear it. Even now, I have seen no formal award nor announcement on the project by the Army so perhaps this new project has supplanted the earlier work.

The ZT-9 brings the highly sought after custom bayonets designed by Strider Knives’ Duane Dwyer within reach of the masses. With a blade 7-1/2″ long and 1/4″ thick combined with a full-tang for an overall length of over 12″, this blade is tough. Manufactured from S30V steel, the ZT-9 also features a Ranger Green textured G-10 handle. The bayonet is designed to fit the M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, most AR15-style weapons, Galil ARM, as well as the Mossberg 590.

The initial 200 production models flew out the door and to meet demand, a further 500 are in production. These will see some slight sheath mods from the first batch. Available soon from www.zerotolerance.com

Science Fiction blog io9 interviewed P.W. Singer, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and author of “Wired for War”. The article is very interesting and puts the cold hand of reality on many commonly held notions about the use of robots for military applications. We recommend you read the interview.

Wired for War

Read the entire interview at io9.

Mike Pannone has done it yet again. In addition to his manuals already published on the M4/M16 Family of Weapons and the HK 416, Special Operations Veteran and author Mike Pannone has released an operator’s handbook for the Glock.

Glock Handbook from Mike Pannone

As always, this pocket reference is an excellent resource for shooter’s at all levels. It includes information on basic operation, maintenance, as well as training. The Glock Handbook is available from Blackheart International.

We have been keeping tabs on the roll out of the Five Ten’s new tactical footwear. As we reported earlier , the FiveTen Desert Enforcer High and Low are exclusive to Grey Group Training. Unfortunately, they have only been available for pre-order until now. We have reports that they shoes will be in stock beginning tomorrow.

They can be ordered at GreyGroup.Biz.

If you want to write for Soldier Systems Daily its pretty simple. Just contact the Editor with your article idea. Seriously, that’s all you have to do. Generally, we want an article that is a couple of paragraphs long and answers the basic who, what, where, when, why, and how. Pictures are also helpful but make sure you have the permission of the owners. We are happy to give you a by-line but since thus far, this is a non-wealth generating pursuit, there will be no payment. One caveat for vendors, we no longer post press releases. We have found the the impact is much greater if someone checks out your product and writes an article on it.

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