If you find yourself in Brussels, Belguim between 13 and 15 October, 2010 then you might consider attending the “Camouflage Takes Centre Stage” symposium sponsored by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History (RMM).
For more info visit the symposium’s website.
We don’t often comment on political goings on here at SSD but the recent disclosures by GEN McChrystal to “Rolling Stone” magazine demand comment. Many have questioned why a man who has risen so far would do something so dumb. All we can come up with is hubris, either that or the Peter Principle is real. Those of you unfamiliar with the Peter Principle should know that it postulates that one rises to the level of one’s incompetence. Meaning, you do such a great job that you get promoted to a position that you are incapable of performing. Sounds pretty apropos in this case.
Perhaps hubris did play a role in McChrystal’s undoing. After all, he didn’t have someone following him as he rode into Kabul reminding him that he is but human. Additionally, while he did serve several regular Army assignments his extended assignment to the super secretive JSOC may have twisted his view a little. Their idea of dealing with the press is to NOT deal with the press in any form. Consequently, he may have just not been used to reserving comments in front of the fourth estate.
President Obama should not have accepted GEN McChrystal’s resignation. Instead, he should have flat out fired him. There is too much honor in resigning and the actions that led him there are far from honorable. Hopefully, there will be a reexamination of his roll in the cover up of Pat Tillman’s death in Afghanistan and perhaps he will be held to the same standard that he enforced when Commanding General of JSOC where he ordered the investigations of several retired command members who wrote books and articles related to their service. After all, it only seems fair.
Was he right? Probably on many levels, but saying it to your closest confidants is one thing and those confidants probably shouldn’t be guys who work for you. Saying it to a reporter is entirely another and having the guys that you confided in talk to the reporter as well is also pretty dumb.
His replacement is also an interesting choice and concerns me as it shows just how shallow our bench is. GEN Patreus is a fine commander as his record has shown, but isn’t there someone else the President can call upon to get the job done?
10% of each subscription to “Maxim” magazine goes to the Wounded Warrior Project. When you get a two year subscription, that makes it 75 cents an issue!
While the addition of a red dot sight to a race gun has been in vogue for quite some time, the concept is beginning to catch on with carry guns. One Source Tactical recently began to offer a custom Glock slide package that is designed to accept the Trijicon Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) Sight. In this case they use the LED model in either 4 or 8 MOA.
Options are the name of the game with this slide. Not only do you have the option to send in your own slide for modification, you can purchase a new slide already milled to accept the RMR Sight. Additionally, you can choose a no iron sight option, or use suppressor sights or ghost ring versions. And finally, you can choose Unfinished, Black (flat or semi-gloss), Tan, or OD.
Additionally, they offer a new Lone Wolf barrel as an option in standard or threaded length as well as a Lone Wolf Recoil Spring.
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 unhooded) 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 manadarin 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.
ARMATAC Industries Inc. has just released this video of their SAW-MAG 150 round drum intended for the Marine Corps’ M27 IAR.
They’ve been around for awhile, but they had a major unveiling at this year’s SHOT Show. Licensed by the Rogue Warrior himself, Commander Richard “Dick” Marcinko, these watches have several technologies integrated into their design. Manufactured with Swiss works, the line also features d30 for shock dampening. d30 has been selected for use as elbow pads by SOCOM for the Protective Combat Uniform. Additionally, the watches are filled with krypton gas to prevent condensation from forming inside the watch. Each of the watch styles is available with a metal, rubber, or leather band. In addition to these timepieces, they are also prepared to release a line of knives and at SHOT they showed a few select examples of low profile bags and belts.
Lots of units are beginning to the M50/53 Joint Services Protective Mask. Canadian firm CON-SPACE has developed a new and alternative communication system for the M50 as well as the AVON C50. This new electret mic and quick disconnect have been developed to be used with virtually any handheld two-way portable radio and CON-SPACE Radio Gear. The E-Mic plugs into the masks built-in pass through connector and mates with their A5 connector on the exterior of the mask. Once connected to the mask, the CON-SPACE quick disconnect interfaces to three CON-SPACE Radio Gear products:
1. SRVA Voice Amplification Radio Accessory PTT – Allows user to amplify voice and the ability to communicate through a portable radio
2. CSVA Voice Amplifier – Allows user to amplify voice only
3. SR65M Radio Accessory PTT – Allows user to communicate via portable radio
All three devices can be easily interchanged when used with the E-Mic system which can also be connected to any MSA Sordin Supreme Mil and Supreme Pro Active Noise/Noise Canceling Headsets as well as Peltor ComTac products.
There are currently two mounted voice projection units available and the E-Mic and CON-SPACE Radio Gear combination gives the user yet another alternative choice.
Please contact Matt Fiddes, Sales Manager at mfiddes@con-space.com.
