This is you last chance to win. Post a response or like for a chance to win a BCM GUNFIGHTERâ„¢ MOD4 Charging Handle, a pair of HSGI Taco pouches in Multicam, a Surefire EWP pen, a Surefire 6PX LED Flashlight, a Vltor A5 stock and a Mil-Spec monkey ballcap with Haley Strategic morale patches!!!
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For any of you that missed the saga that is the Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) you can find a great synopsis here. Since downselecting the KDH design in SPD 7, the Army has procured an initial amount in UCP, purchased the Technical Data Package (TDP) from KDH, changed the colorway to OCP, and developed a cummerbund.
Now, Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) is seeking additional OEF Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Soldier Plate Carrier Systems (SPCS). In addition to 17,000 complete carriers, the Army is also seeking up to 42,000 OCP kits in order to modify existing SPCS and up to 32,000 cummerbunds with soft armor package. Additionally, 57 First Article Test vests will be be required within 30 days of contract award. The procurement is set aside from Small Business and offerors have until 8 August, 2011 to respond.
The Warrior Protection and Readiness Association, which will continue to be known as the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition, held the inaugural meeting of its newly appointed Board of Directors early this morning. The Directors enthusiastically agreed to pursue further expansion of the WPRC as a not-for-profit organization.
During the meeting, the WPRC Board of Directors elected Luke Hiller, CEO of ADS, Inc. as its Chairman; Brent Finemore, Vice President of Government Sales at Pelican Products as its Treasurer; and David Bohannon, President of London Bridge Trading Company as its Secretary. The officers are joined on the Board of Directors by Matthew LeBretton, Esq., Director of Public Affairs at New Balance Athletic Shoe Company and Brent Finemore, Vice President of Government Sales for Pelican Products. The WPRC also designated David L. Costello as the WPRC’s first Executive Director. Costello and his team at ADS Ventures in Boston will work at the direction of the Board to develop public policy and outreach strategies that advance the WPRC’s mission on behalf of industry and the warfighter.
In little more than one year, the WPRC has grown from a concept to a leading advocate for the tactical clothing and equipment industry. The WPRC membership speaks with a single and increasingly strong voice on issues that impact domestic manufacturing and the safety of American military personnel in harm’s way. The current WPRC membership includes: ADS, Inc., Bates Footwear, Benchmade Knife Company, Bluewater Defense, Brookwood Companies Inc., Darn Tough Vermont, DuPont, Duro Textiles, Eye Safety Systems, Honeywell, Insight Technology, International Textile Group, Leading Technology Composites Inc., London Bridge Trading Company, Milliken & Company, New Balance Athletic Shoe Company, Otis Technology Inc., Outdoor Research, Pelican, Polartec, Smith Optics, Surefire, LLC, Tactical Holdings, TenCate, Wilcox Industries, Wiley X, W. L. Gore and WT Tactical.
For more information on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition please visit www.warriorprotection.net.
I was at a meeting yesterday when my friend, Pascal from TR Equipement reminded me that today is La Fête Nationale in France. So, Happy National Day from Soldier Systems Daily.
In the early hours this morning, like a predawn raid, FirstSpear launched their website. Make sure you check out their new line of products.
Why FirstSpear? We’ve been waiting for months here at SSD to be able to finally tell you.
The Primus Pilus, or First Spear, was the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion.
“Centurions were the guardians of Rome. At the height of the Roman Republic there were over five thousand qualified Roman Centurions in the Legions. To be a Centurion required that, in a mostly illiterate society, one be able to read and write clearly, to be able to convey and create orders, to be capable of not only performing every skill of a Roman soldier but to teach every skill of a Roman soldier. Becoming a Centurion required intense physical ability, courage beyond the norm, years of sacrifice and a total devotion to the philosophy which was Rome.
When Rome fell to barbarian invaders, there were fewer than five hundred qualified Centurions. Not because Rome had fewer people but because it had fewer people willing to make sacrifices.
And the last Centurions left their shields in the heather and took a barbarian bride…..â€
A few days ago a report released by two public health groups showed that 16 states had a marked increase in adult obesity over the past year. US Surgeon General Dr David Satcher stated this epidemic is a serious problem for the future health of our nation. Why is this happening? Why are Americans becoming more and more overweight and with that more sickly, as the rates of diabetes and heath disease are also on the rise? This remains the case, despite diet and exercise advice being more readily available than ever before. In my opinion, the reason for this “growing” problem is a combination of poor eating habits, less over all physical activity, and common everyday items like computers, and cable TV making our life more sedentary. Simply put, people just do less and eat more. In my book, “Corps Strength” I outline an effective proven method to obtain not only a high level of physical fitness, but a practical way to help you from becoming another overweight statistic. Common sense, effort, and long term planning are the keys to managing your body weight, and you don’t have to exercise 24/7 or starve yourself. No fads, weird diets or before and after picture nonsense, just results. The United States of America has always been a nation of tough, healthy, hearty people. They had to be, not only to win our wars, but to persevere in the peacetime efforts of building and expanding our country. No nation in history has ever prospered when its people were sick and unhealthy. Despite all the advantages of a high tech society, the strength of our nation will always be rooted in the physical vitality of our people and that begins and ends with each individual taking charge of his/her own health. It’s not that hard, just lean into it and you’ll get there. I guarantee it.
Good Luck
MGunz
Here are a few pics from Blue Force Gear’s new Helium Whisper technology.
The advantages are numerous. The process offers lower weight and increased abrasion resistance. Additionally, as it is laser cut from a single piece, there are fewer assembly errors and any markings are etched directly onto the material. Additionally, any product information including part number, title and manufacturer can also be applied prior to assembly. Finally, manufacturing costs are lower due to the reduced number of processes required for assembly. However, it is important to note that the entire pouch is not made from the material, but rather, certain areas are targeted based on individual designs.
Here you can see a comparison between BFG’s standard 10-Speed pouch construction and the new Helium Whisper.
Helium Whisper technology accounts for a 25% weight reduction over BFG’s pouches. For more conventional designs the savings could be as much as 40 – 50%.
With an update to their website, Arc’teryx LEAF launches their Fall 2011 line which includes the H150 Rigger’s Belt and Wraith, both unveiled at SHOT Show.
