In an interesting move, Germany’s ruling Social Democrat party is proposing legislation to outlaw all games in which players shoot each other with pellets according to a 7 May report in the UK Telegraph.
This comes on the heels of a shooting in Winnendon in which a 17 year old used a handgun owned by his father to kill 15 people. The SPD feels such games trivialize violence and risk lowering the threshold for committing violent acts. Proposed legislation would incur fines of up to 5,000 euros.
Now in its ninth year, the Soldier Technology conference and exhibition is the biggest soldier modernization event in Europe. The conference continues to expand each year and alternates annually between and American and European venues. This year promises briefings on a full host of NATO programs as well as, Finnish Warrior 2020, African Warrior and the Singapore Armed Forces program. The entire program runs from 30 June – 3 July and will take place at the Olympia Conference Center in London.
If any Soldier Systems Daily readers will be in attendance we would love to talk to you about providing some coverage.
For more information visit their website.
In February PEO-Soldier officials down selected four companies from a field of sixteen to provide candidates for a releasable plate carrier demonstration. At the time Army officials made it clear that there was no formal program to procure Releasable Plate Carriers. However, over the last two months, it looks like things have changed.
From the four companies (Eagle Industries, KDH Defense Systems Inc, MSA Paraclete, and Tactical Assault Gear), the Army is currently evaluating five carriers at Yuma Proving Ground. Eagle has two carriers under evaluation; the Scalable Plate Carrier, currently issued to select USMC units as well as a variant issued to USSOCOM.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade will wear each of the company’s plate carrier designs while road marching, running through obstacle courses and shooting on live-fire ranges. Army test and evaluation personnel will compare the candidates’ performance against the IOTV without neck and groin protection.
Earlier this month the Army approved a plan to conduct a combat evaluation in Afghanistan of a kit of candidate lightweight combat equipment developed by the Asymmetric Warfare Group in conjunction with industry utilizing a combination of Commercial and Government Off The Shelf products. The approval came weeks after the demonstration was put on hold over questions surrounding safety releases for the Eagle Releasable Carrier and associated armor systems currently used by USSOCOM. Reports indicate that the matter received SECDEF attention. This may explain why Army PM Soldier Survivability is now characterizing the current “Soldier Protection Demonstration” as a more formal procurement activity.
Last Summer, the Marine Corps fielded limited numbers of a Scalable Plate Carrier manufactured by Eagle Industries. Currently, they are testing an “Improved Scalable Plate Carrier”. Based on lessons learned from the initial fielding, the Marine Corps is working to improve the range of motion and mobility in the shoulder area, donning and doffing, and enhanced integration with the cummerbund and side plates.
Magpul Dynamics has introduced a new ‘One size fits all’ adjustable cap that integrates new concepts we have never seen before. It is very well thought out and has four velcro panels to accommodate patches: a large 2.75 x 5″ patch up front, a small 1 x 1.5″ on top, a 1.5 x 5″ on the rear, and a smaller .75 x 2.25″ on the adjustment strap.
The velcro patches breathe and the interior is smooth and free of anything that might irritate the scalp, particularly while wearing ear pro.
The cap is currently available in Flat Dark Earth and Black but the FDE is lighter than that found on most weapons accessories.
There is a Magpul Dynamics logo embroidered tone on tone on the right rear of the cap.
Rumor has it that this isn’t the last specialized product to be introduced by Magpul. This limited run is available now from MAGPUL.
This is the amazing true story of 3 U S Government Contractor’s experiences, and ultimately their survival as hostages of the FARC – Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes & Keith Stansell share this rare in depth look at what it was like to be held captive’s of the FARC. (FARC is Recognized as a Columbian Terrorist organization, and a long standing Marxist Rebel Group, the FARC are known to have more than 200 hostages held throughout the jungles of Columbia).
Their journey began when the surveillance aircraft they were flying in crash landed in the mountains of Columbia. Surviving an airplane crash would be considered by most to be an extraordinary feat. However what happened immediately after this crash, followed by their 5 years in captivity, would take years before the details would be revealed.
This book provides those details in depth. From the murder of two other personnel who survived the initial crash, the thousands of miles they would march from camp to camp, surviving military attacks, to meeting dozens of other FARC hostages and prisoners, as well as meeting FARC loyalists. They would see first hand the aftermath of changes in FARC leadership, FARC suicides, and how they survived day to day. Thru lack of food, the bugs and infections they combated, their extremely sparse living conditions, ragged clothing, the bonds they developed amongst each other, their shared experiences are a wealth of knowledge of for us all. Most importantly how they worked everyday to not only stay alive, but outwit the FARC every chance they could. Finally, the most daring and successful rescue attempt ever performed by a military organization, and ultimately their Freedom. 1,967 days in captivity.
If you work in the Intelligence field, are either an active military member or a DOD/Govt. contractor or someone who could find themselves in a SERE/SAR situation; this is one book you need to read!
A William Morrow Book, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publisher
ISBN 978-0-06-1769-52-8
Available from Amazon.
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division has released a pre-solicitation notice to enter into a Firm Fixed-Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Daniel Defense for the acquisition of a Monolithic MIL-STD-1913 Rail Interface System on behalf of the Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) program for a five (5) year ordering period for the sustainment of a RIS for the SOPMOD program. The contract minimum quantities are 50 ea. with an estimated maximum amount of 27,000 ea. over a five year period. This action will also include a line item for repairs.
Daniel Defense is the sole source provider of the RIS II (NSN 1005−01-547−2624) to USSOCOM. It’s considered a commercial item and has been fielded to Special Operations Forces since May 2006. The Daniel Defense Rail Interface System is a monolithic MIL-STD-1913 rail interface system. The RIS II allows the barrel of the M4A1 Carbine to free-float as well as supporting an M203. The RIS II is precision CNC machined from Aircraft Grade Aluminum then Mil-Spec Type II Hard Coat Anodized in SOCOM approved Flat Dark Earth. Made in the USA.
See the entire solicitation at www.fbo.gov. For more information on the RIS II visit Daniel Defense.
We told you that EOTAC has a couple of tricks up their sleeve. One of them is a new colorway. Last fall we dropped the news that EOTAC was working on French Lizard pattern. Initially, they developed the material to give their Field Jacket, based on the French Algerian combat suit, a proper tribute by reproducing the camo pattern made famous by the French Foreign Legion. However, as you will see soon, it will also be applied to other newly developed products.
For more information on the EOTAC Operator Grade Field Jacket visit them on the web at www.eotac.com.
Propper has just released a Light Tactical Pant made from fade resistant 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop fabric with a DuPont® Teflon coating to repel liquids and stains. The Light Tactical Pant comes with a free black nylon duty belt, a secure wallet pocket-in-a-pocket and a double coin/utility pocket. All for $34.99 MSRP.
The new trousers feature an Action Stretch Waistband and heavy-duty reinforced seat and knee areas as well as internal knee pad openings and extra large belt loops. A total of 11 pockets provide plenty of secure space and the front pockets are reinforced to prevent fraying with constant use. The pants are secured with a sturdy snap closure with a French Fly and the design is topped off with a D-Ring on the front belt loop to secure keys or tools.
Available in Men’s sizes in Black, Olive, LAPD Navy, Khaki, Coyote and Grey from www.propper.com.
