TYR Tactical

KATUSA: 76 Years of “We Go Together”

August 20th, 2026

August 15 is recognized as the birthday of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army Soldier program, or KATUSA. The program was created only weeks after the Korean War ignited, and to this day KATUSAs continue to serve side-by-side with Eighth Army Soldiers providing priceless support and friendship.

The Korean War began June 25, 1950. Roughly three weeks later the KATUSA program was initiated July 15 by an informal agreement between the Honorable Syngman Rhee, president of the Republic of Korea, and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, commander in chief, United Nations Command.

During the first two months of the war, the Republic of Korea Army had been destroyed as a fighting force and the U.S. Army was significantly understrength and had been “compressed” into the Pusan perimeter by North Korean forces, as described in an official Army report. Replacements and fighting men were in desperate need.

The concept of the KATUSA program was to augment the U.S. forces. In the beginning most KATUSAs were recruited directly off the streets of Pusan, now spelled Busan. After a basic training period, KATUSA Soldiers were sent to combat units serving as infantrymen. The first KATUSAs reached U.S. Army units by mid-August 1950.

They were issued U.S. supplies, but were paid by and remained administered under the Republic of Korea Army. Throughout the Korean War, up to a maximum of 23,000 KATUSAs served at any one time, according to the Army.

After the 1953 armistice, KATUSA Soldiers remained with U.S. Army units to receive training not readily available in the ROKA and to enhance U.S. Army in Korea’s mission capability.

Since 1950, the KATUSA Soldier Program has been ongoing with only periodic strength adjustments dictated by requirements. Originally, KATUSA Soldiers were returned to the ROKA after serving with the U.S. Army. Since 1968, however, KATUSA Soldiers remain with Eighth Army until their service commitments are completed. The ROKA Support Group was established May 11, 1965 at the request of the Eighth Army commander to administer the KATUSA Soldier program.

Today, young South Korean men planning to conduct their mandatory military service obligation can apply to become a KATUSA if they have a command of the English language and if positions are available.

Eighth Army has stated the KATUSA program increases the ROK-U.S. combined defense capability on the Korean peninsula. The program is also significant not only because of the military manpower and monetary savings that it provides to the U.S. Army, but also because it puts a face on the ROK-U.S. alliance and the combined commitment to deter war.

The KATUSA program is the very essence of one of Eighth Army’s favorite phrases, “katchi kapshida,” — “we go together.”

Information for this article provided by Eighth Army and these sources:

“Integration of ROK Soldiers into US Army Units (KATUSA)” (U.S. Army)

“The KATUSA Experiment” by David Curtis Skaggs (excerpt)

By Kenji Thuloweit

Independent C3PAO Assessment Provides Real-World Validation of Avatara’s Platform-Based Approach to CMMC Level 2

August 19th, 2026

ST. LOUIS and CHESAPEAKE, Va., Aug. 17, 2026 — Avatara, a provider of compliant IT systems-as-a-service, and AVMAC LLC (AVMAC), an aviation and maritime technical services company supporting the U.S. Department of War (DoW), today announced that AVMAC has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 using Avatara Platform for Government, receiving a maximum score of 110 with no Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms).

“AVMAC is proud to achieve this important milestone,” said Bert Ortiz, Founder, President and CEO of AVMAC. “Avatara Platform for Government supports all 110 CMMC Level 2 controls, while allowing us to inherit approximately 80% of the 320 underlying assessment objectives on Day 1. Achieving this critical milestone validates our hard work and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) within the defense supply chain.”

AVMAC’s independent CMMC Level 2 assessment was conducted by a leading C3PAO assessment team, validating the company’s implementation of the security requirements necessary to protect CUI. Avatara Platform for Government served as the secure IT foundation for AVMAC’s environment.

“AVMAC’s achievement is a powerful real-world validation of the model we’ve built at Avatara,” said Rob McCormick, founder and CEO of Avatara. “We built Avatara Platform for Government so defense contractors can operate within a secure, compliant foundation and inherit a significant portion of the technical responsibility rather than assembling a compliant environment themselves. AVMAC’s success demonstrates what this model can achieve when paired with a committed, prepared and collaborative customer.”

For AVMAC, achieving CMMC Level 2 represents more than meeting a cybersecurity requirement. It gives customers, prime contractors and government contracting organizations independent verification that AVMAC has implemented the required safeguards for handling CUI.

“Independent verification creates another level of trust,” Ortiz said. “When the Department paused the transition to Phase 2 for a 60-day review, we decided to keep moving forward because these cybersecurity responsibilities aren’t going away. Other companies may be waiting to see what happens next, but we’ve already crossed the line. For us, that is a significant competitive advantage.”

From Compliance Readiness to Independent Validation

AVMAC began preparing for CMMC well before formal assessment requirements reached the company. As the longtime defense contractor grew, it needed to move beyond a decentralizedapproach to IT while keeping pace with evolving cybersecurity requirements that would increasingly determine eligibility for DoW business. For Ortiz, a 31-year U.S. Navy veteran, that meant finding a model that did not require AVMAC to build and manage complex compliant infrastructure or expand a dedicated internal IT organization.

AVMAC selected Avatara Platform for Government to consolidate its IT environment into a centralized, secure, compliant foundation for its CMMC journey. Built for organizations operating in highly regulated industries, the platform replaces fragmented tools, vendors and legacy infrastructure with one secure, all-inclusive environment designed to address cost, complexity and compliance.

“CMMC becomes significantly more manageable when security and compliance are engineered into the IT environment from the beginning,” said Brandon DiMemmo, Vice President of Product at Avatara. “Avatara Platform for Government provides customers with a centralized, standardized environment where infrastructure, security controls and operational processes are designed to work together as a system. That platform model enables customers like AVMAC to inherit much of the technical implementation required for CMMC rather than having to assemble and manage those capabilities piece by piece.”

Throughout the process, Avatara played a central role in helping AVMAC align the platform’s inherited safeguards with the company’s remaining responsibilities, updating documentation, clarifying scope and preparing for the C3PAO assessment.

Avatara Platform for Government achieved FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency in April 2026, establishing the platform foundation for organizations handling sensitive defense data. Avatara subsequently launched its Mission Ready Offering (MRO), combining compliant infrastructure, operational support, documentation acceleration and C3PAO assessment coordination to help defense contractors move toward assessment readiness faster and with greater predictability.

Mehler Protection Brings New Maritime Protection Solutions to SMM 2026

August 19th, 2026

KÖNIGSLUTTER, GERMANY (18 August 2026)

From 1–4 September 2026, Mehler Protection will exhibit at SMM in Hamburg, presenting its latest platform protection solutions developed for the maritime sector.

Visitors can find Mehler Protection | Platform Armour in Hall B5, Booth 335, where the company will showcase a range of ballistic protection solutions for naval platforms, alongside a new development addressing emerging threats in the maritime environment.

A key focus of the exhibit will be M-RACC KE, Mehler Protection’s modular add-on armour solution designed to increase the ballistic protection of existing structures and platforms.

Its modular concept allows the protection level to be adapted to different threat scenarios and platform requirements, providing a flexible approach to upgrading protection without redesigning the complete structure.

At SMM 2026, visitors will be able to compare M-RACC KE configurations across STANAG Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4, demonstrating how the system can be scaled according to the required level of ballistic protection.

The exhibit will also feature a ship wall equipped with ballistic protection, providing a practical demonstration of how Mehler Protection’s armour solutions can be integrated into naval structures.

Alongside its passive armour solutions, Mehler Protection will provide a first look at a new active protection development for the maritime domain.

The solution has been developed in response to the rapidly changing threat environment faced by naval platforms, particularly at close and very close ranges. It expands Mehler Protection’s approach to maritime survivability beyond passive ballistic protection and will be officially unveiled during SMM 2026.

Further details about the new system will be announced separately at the start of the exhibition.

As the world’s leading maritime industry event, SMM brings together the international maritime sector in Hamburg to present new technologies, exchange expertise and address the challenges shaping the future of the industry.

Learn more about Mehler Protection: mehler-protection.com

Why Bodi.Me’s Continuous R&D Is Critical to Your Business

August 19th, 2026

Recent blog post as seen on Bodi.Me

Continuous innovation is the heart and engine of Bodi.Me.

Fashion fit technology cannot stand still because bodies, garments, workforce demographics, regulations and business systems are constantly evolving. Continuous research and development keeps sizing technology relevant, accurate, scalable and commercially valuable.

When a business partners with Bodi.Me, it does not simply adopt Size-Me as a sizing solution. It gains a long-term technology and operational partner—and access to a specialist digital team with deep knowledge of body data, garment construction, fit, size demand and apparel supply chains.

More than a sizing solution

Successful innovation is not about adding technology for its own sake. It is about identifying the right technical solution for a real operational problem.

Bodi.Me listens closely to its customers’ challenges, including:

Excess stock in some sizes and shortages in others

High volumes of size-related returns and exchanges

Expensive emergency uniform re-orders

Limited visibility of future size demand

Complex international uniform programmes

Technology that is difficult to integrate or use

?We translate these challenges into cost-effective technical tools that can be implemented within existing e-commerce, ordering and uniform-management workflows.

Our Size-Me fashion fit technology works with only a few simple, non-intrusive wearer inputs. It does not require photographs or body scans during standard use.

Behind that simple experience lies more than a decade of extensive research. Bodi.Me continuously analyses, validates and enriches its proprietary body-data resources, with a growing knowledge base now representing nearly one million body profiles.

These expanding datasets are used to continually retrain, test and refine our machine-learning models. In parallel, we constantly improve and personalise the wearer journey while advancing our proprietary algorithms to address the specific fit requirements of different garments—including particularly complex, gender-neutral or non-standard garment collections.

The objective is clear: make advanced technology simple for the wearer, easy for the customer to implement and capable of generating measurable value through better production planning, stock allocation and size distribution.

Read the full installment here.

Introducing Apex Optics: Precision Rifle Optics for Duty and Field Use

August 19th, 2026

In military, law enforcement, and professional shooting environments, equipment is judged by performance under pressure, not by specification sheets or marketing claims. An optic either tracks correctly, holds zero, and remains usable under stress, or it doesn’t.

Apex Optics was developed with that standard in mind. The focus is straightforward: build precision rifle optics intended for duty use, where reliability, innovation, repeatable mechanical function, and usable optical performance are critical requirements.

All Apex optics are manufactured and assembled in Japan using Premium ED Japanese glass. The optical system is designed to provide clear resolution, usable contrast in variable lighting, and consistent performance across the full field of view. Internally, stainless steel components are used in the mechanical system to support long-term durability and repeatable tracking under sustained use. Each optic is assembled under controlled manufacturing and inspection processes to maintain consistency across production.

The design approach prioritizes function over feature density. Controls are intended to be predictable and repeatable, with an emphasis on mechanical integrity and ease of use under operational conditions.

Apex Optics is proud to share three of our products built around these principles.

Apex Edge 1-10×24 LPVO

The Edge 1-10×24 is Apex Optics’ Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) designed for carbine use where both close-quarters speed and mid-range precision are required from a single optic.

The 1x setting is built for rapid, both-eyes-open engagement with minimal distortion and a consistent sight picture. At higher magnification, the optic provides usable detail for positive identification and precision shot placement at distance, without sacrificing clarity across the zoom range.

The optical system uses our Premium Japanese ED glasswith fully multi-coated lenses to maintain consistent light transmission and contrast through changing conditions. Internally, stainless steel components are used in the adjustment system to support repeatable tracking and long-term mechanical stability under recoil, sustained useand extreme temperature ranges.

The first focal plane HCR™ (Hybird Combat) Reticle remains usable across the entire magnification range, supporting both rapid engagement and holdover-based shooting without changing sighting systems or methods.

The Edge 1-10×24 is intended as a single optic solution for users who need to cover a wide engagement envelope with one platform.

Apex Vapor™ 1-4×22 Variable Zoom Prism Sight

The Vapor™ 1-4×22 Prism is a compact optic intended for carbine platforms where size, speed, and simplicity are prioritised, but magnification is still required beyond a fixed red dot.

Unlike traditional LPVO systems, the prism design provides a fixed optical path with a true 1x setting for close-range work and 4x magnification for mid-range identification and precision. The Vapors reticle remains visible at all times, allowing the optic to be used without illumination if required.

The FIRE™ reticle is etched directly into the optical system and remains constant across all conditions. Illumination is available for enhanced visibility, but the reticle itself does not rely on electronics to remain usable.

The compact prism housing reduces overall system length compared to most variable optics, making it suited for setups where rail space and handling characteristics are constrained.

The Vapor™ 1-4×22 is intended for users who want a lightweight, always-available sighting system that bridges the gap between red dot speed and low-magnification target identification.

Apex Ion™ 1×25 Enclosed Red Dot Sight

The ION™ 1×25 is a closed-emitter red dot sight designed for duty, carry, and professional use where durability, speed, and reliability are essential.

Built around a true 1x optical system with a wide 25mm objective window, the ION™ 1×25 delivers a clear, unobstructed sight picture for rapid target acquisition and confident engagement. Its design supports both-eyes-open shooting, allowing users to maintain situational awareness while achieving a fast, intuitive aiming reference.

Rather than a single-dot configuration, the ION™ 1×25 features the MRX™ multi-dot reticle system, giving users adaptable aiming options for a variety of shooting scenarios. Paired with multiple brightness settings, the system is engineered to maintain reticle visibility across changing lighting conditions, from low-light environments to bright daylight and high-glare conditions.

The closed-emitter design helps protect the optical system from debris, moisture, and impact during field use, supporting consistent performance in demanding environments. Japanese ED glass and multi-coated lenses help maintain clarity, contrast, and visual precision, while the rugged mechanical design is built to hold zero through extended operational use. The Ion™ 1×25 is intended for users who require a straightforward, enclosed red dot system for duty, training, and field environments. It will be available later this summer.

Apex Optics is focused on producing optics intended for duty, competition, and field use where mechanical consistency and optical performance are the primary requirements.

Additional product information, specifications, and availability details are available on our website, www.apexoptics.co

The Edge™ 1-10×24 and Vapor™ 1-4×22 are available now, and the Ion™ 1×25 will be available later this summer.

Accuracy X, Inc Unveils Multi-Sight MAX System

August 19th, 2026

Patented mount delivers ultra-low direct-mount depth with swap-anytime sight versatility.

Hardy, Va. (August 2026) – Accuracy X, Inc (AXI), the makers of the world’s proven most accurate pistols, has introduced the Multi-Sight™ MAX System, a patented optic-mounting platform that pairs the ultra-low profile of a direct mount with the durability and configurability the company has built its reputation on. The new system expands, rather than replaces, the original Multi-Sight System, which remains in production and fully supported.

Direct-mounting a red dot has traditionally forced shooters to trade away long-term reliability and versatility. The Multi-Sight MAX ends that compromise. At the core of the system is the company’s patented Index-Recoil Lug, engineered to absorb the shear forces that break fasteners, destroy optics, and shift zero. The result is absolute zero retention across repeated plate changes.

The system’s patent-pending Direct Depth Mounting System routes mounting screws directly into the slide instead of through a threaded plate, allowing Accuracy X to machine deeper pockets and seat optics lower than conventional direct mounts. The resulting height-over-bore is the lowest achievable on a pistol slide.

Configurability comes from the SLOT Sight™ System paired with a new Rapid Change Interface, which lets shooters swap front and rear sight blades, from suppressor height to compact co-witness, without removing the red dot. A front-mounted co-witness option addresses snag concerns raised by some law enforcement agencies, and an integrated, ambidextrous slide racker rounds out a competition-ready feature set.

The Multi-Sight MAX supports the three most popular optic footprints, the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Aimpoint ACRO, and Trijicon RMR, which together account for about 95 percent of red-dot sights in use. Additional modules and accessories are planned.

“For years, shooters have had to choose between the ultra-low profile of a direct mount and the reliability and versatility of a robust system,” said Steve Huff, president of Accuracy X. “We refused to accept that compromise. The Multi-Sight MAX gets the dot as low as it can go and lets you tune your entire setup without ever touching your red dot. When excellent isn’t good enough, this is what comes next.”’

Watch an in-depth technical breakdown of the Multi-Sight MAX system and discover how this low-profile, modular sight mounting platform revolutionizes versatility for handguns in the recent video “The Ultimate Optic Solution: Deep Dive Into the Multi-Sight MAX System.” The video discusses machining tolerances, optic compatibility, co-witness options, and why this system is changing the game for competitive and tactical shooters alike.

It is available now for licensed partners. Full specifications will be available at www.accuracyx.com.

Black Diamond – Men’s Technician Pro Mid Approach Shoes

August 19th, 2026

Black Diamond has introduced a heavier, over the ankle approach boot to their footwear lineup.

The goal was to combine the fit and comfort of a running shoe with stability and edging performance of an approach shoe.

Features:

  • Built with BD.dry™– BD’s engineered waterproof/breathable/windproof solution
  • Refined toe box for edging precision and performance
  • Super foam max cushion midsole with forefoot plate maximizes comfort
  • Vibram® Megagrip outsole, dual density hybrid midsole, and an engineered TPU plate
  • Nubuck leather upper and BD.dry ™ waterproof/breathable liner

BD calls this color “Olive.” Offered in sizes 7-13.

blackdiamondequipment.com/products/mens-technician-pro-mid-approach-shoes

ManTech Marks 70 Years of Creating Innovative Military Solutions

August 19th, 2026

This year marks a 70-year milestone for the War Department’s Manufacturing Technology enterprise, which has been solving challenges beyond industry partners’ investment capacity and risk tolerance for decades and has spawned separate service and agency specific programs. 

The ManTech program was established in 1956 to solve manufacturing problems that were too costly for industry partners to take on, said Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for research and engineering, during a commemorative event at the Pentagon yesterday. 

He added that investments in the enterprise have been the unseen force behind precision-guided munitions, stealth aircraft, combat vehicles, advanced microelectronics and other advances. 

For instance, the Navy ManTech program is using robots to increase submarine construction, and the Army ManTech program is using the investment capital to build ballistic helmets for troops. Also, the Defense Logistics Agency ManTech program has restored domestic production capability for legacy defense microelectronics, thereby extending the life of critical weapon systems.

As military systems become more complex, investments have evolved to tackle broader challenges in the defense industrial base, with a focus on workforce, public-private partnerships and collaboration, Michael said. 

“We’re moving fast to bring on new entrants, lowering the barriers for entry, so that agile startups, nontraditional defense contractors and commercial innovators can rapidly plug into our ecosystem,” he said. 

The department has been increasing the number of industry competitors, Michael pointed out.  

“And it’s working,” he said. “There’s been more defense tech investment dollars in new entrants than ever before.”  

The department is working on ways to help them succeed, so that it has a more robust, competitive ecosystem. 

“We have processes. We have procedures. We have things that are not designed for small companies, for new entrants, for new innovators to succeed as easily as the big guys,” Michael said, adding that it’s incumbent upon the department to give those small companies and new innovators a helping hand to ensure they have a shot at working for the Pentagon.  

One of the ManTech enterprise’s primary vehicles to build at speed and scale is the Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which has more than 2,200 member organizations that have trained over 700,000 workers and students. 

The department’s ManTech program showcased cost-effective, innovative technologies during events at the Pentagon yesterday and today. Technologies included additive manufacturing, robotics, advanced materials for munitions, combat vehicle modernization, microelectronics and artificial intelligence.  

The enterprise doesn’t develop weapon systems — it develops the manufacturing capabilities needed to build them, through collaboration across the military services, War Department agencies, industry, academia and public-private partnerships.  

Many of today’s advanced defense systems, including stealth aircraft, submarines, advanced munitions, combat vehicles and radar systems benefited from ManTech enterprise manufacturing investments. A few of their other many advances include: 

  • The Air Force ManTech program lowered production costs for active electronically scanned array radar used aboard ships, aircraft and on the ground. 
  • The Army ManTech program introduced advanced armor materials and robotic welding to improve production speed, quality and worker safety. They also helped modernize cannon tube production, reducing production time by about 50%.   
  • The Navy ManTech program developed a ceramic coating that extends the service life of submarine seawater valves to match the operational life of the sub, saving more than $100 million in life-cycle costs.

By David Vergun, Pentagon News