TYR Tactical

Archive for 2011

Low Profile Medical Kit

Monday, November 14th, 2011

In conjunction with Force 1 Decon, Phokus Research Group has introduced an innovative medical kit that puts your gear where you’ll always have it with you, in your plate carrier.

We’ve mentioned Phokus before. They were founded in 2008 as a means to ethically help entrepreneurial military personnel develop innovative warfighting solutions. For example, they developed the Phokus Aid as well as several other items. The Low Profile Medical Kit is their latest project.

The concept came from a SOF Medic who had experience operating in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He had come across a serious problem with the existing medical kits (blow-out kit) design. Generally, troops carry them in their trouser cargo pocket or day pack. During a fire-fight or IED blast the core of an operator is “protected” by his ballistic vest and/or armored plates. Unfortunately, the life-saving gear necessary to treat an operator’s wounds are potentially exposed to ballistic damage or blast fragmentation and all too often rendered useless.

Comprised of the same materials that make up a standard SOF blow-out kit, the Medic asked, what if they could devise a medical kit that is placed behind an operator’s ballistic plates to protect the contents against blast and frag damage. They took the idea to Force 1 Decon and the result is the Low Profile Medical Kit.

– Compact, vacuum sealed blow-out kit that is the same surface size as the government issued small/ medium Level 3+ ballistic plate. The kit is approximately .5” thick at the thickest point.
– It slides between the ballistic plate and an operator’s body in the ballistic plate pocket of most plate carriers.
– It incorporates an easy grab tear strip to quickly access kit’s medical contents.
– Contents of the kit can be customized by requesting unit/company as needed or they can send FORCE 1 DECON their own medical supplies which will be used to construct the blow-out kit.

The Low Profile Medical Kit is available for order from Force 1 Decon.

To keep up with their latest, visit their website www.phokusresearch.com, or follow them on Facebook.

KitUp! Discusses Stolen Valor

Monday, November 14th, 2011

My friend Brandon Webb at KitUp! discuss the Stolen Valor issue and Retired SEAL and Tidewater local Don Shipley’s efforts to uncover the fakers. Unfortunately, this issue goes even deeper than these extreme cases. Somewhere between the guys who never served a day in their life, yet wears the trappings of a hero and the guy at the VFW who did serve but wants to embellish how many Viet Cong he killed barehanded lies an entirely different breed of predator who uses innuendo to imply that they are something more than the truth. Sure, they served, but they bilk the unknowing using some well placed comments and ingratiate themselves with the real deal in order to establish bonafides by association. Fortunately, the more they play their game, the easier it becomes to unmask them for what they truly are. In this day and age it’s hard to hide a fake for long.

Read about some of the most blatant here – kitup.military.com/2011/11/stolen-valor-exposed

RB1 Combat Pistol Sights – Now Available

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Back in July we mentioned that Redback One was working with 10-8 Performance on new Combat Pistol Sights for the Glock. Well, they’re now available, in limited quantities.

They’re not even up on the site yet so if you’re interested in securing a set, you need to email Jason directly.

Team Wendy EPIC Air Combat Helmet Liner System

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Team Wendy has introduced their new EPIC Combat Helmet Liner System. It incorporates three main pads (front, rear and crown) for impact protection, an assortment of new ergonomically designed comfort pads and patent-pending Air Channeling technology to keep you cooler. EPIC Air is offered in two styles to fit standard cut as well as high cut helmets. It is compatible with all styles of communications headsets and offered in two sizes.

Don’t forget, the Team Wendy ZAP pads remain the only authorized helmet pads for DoD use. Even though the new EPIC Air Combat Helmet Liner System exceeds standards set forth in blunt impact protection requirements of the Advanced Combat Helmet (AR/PD 10-02) it is not authorized for use.

www.teamwendy.com

Finally, An Up Side To The Budget Cuts

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Air Force civilian PT testers are on the way out. Not because the Air Force has restored faith in Blue Suiters. No, it’s because they can’t afford them. As you may recall, the Air Force instituted civilian PT testers in the Summer of 2010 amid low test scores. A new emphasis on “physical fitness” came as PT testing criteria were tightened. Unfortunately, evidence suggested that some testers were less than stringent in their duties and allowed some substandard performers a pass. Naturally, rather than dealing with the problem in a case-by-case basis, the Air Force decided to slap everyone in the face and hire civilian test proctors. Initially, they tested every Airmen but after time wore on, they monitored testing of Airmen counting others repetitions on some installations.

Why civilians? Who knows. It seems that it would have made more sense to have Stan Eval peek their heads in every once in awhile to ensure that the test was being properly administered but a wholesale solution was over the top. If there’s truly an integrity problem in the Air Force, this solution won’t make it go away. What will truly be telling is if standards once again slip now that Airmen will be back in charge.

While the Air Force is being forced to once again rely on NCOs to do what NCOs are paid to do; train and assess their subordinates, the service has yet to get a grip on reality and adapt the PT test itself to reward performance over looks. The waist measurement remains a part of the test and with looming personnel cutbacks, I doubt they will do away with it. It’s too easy to let the old, chubby guys go. Perhaps at some point they’ll get a Chief of Staff who values execution and doesn’t want a service that sports that heroin chic look.

Tac Girls Calendar

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

This year, Tac Girls is not only offering a 13 month calendar packed with models but they’ve also introduced a new safe-for-work calendar, the Exotic Weapons calendar, featuring high quality art, trivia and technical specifications.

Tac Girls is offering several Veterans Day specials through midnight tonight.

To learn more about all of the models on the Tac Girls calendar, visit Tactical Fanboy who is profiling them weekly.

LockMart MONAX

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Lockheed Martin’s MONAX is a secure 4G cellular network. It consists of the MONAX Lynx applique for smartphones that connects them with the MONAX XG Base Station infrastructure. What makes the system even more interesting is that it includes an inherent app store to allow the preview and use of smartphone apps while connected to the network. Additionally, the network infrastructure can exist on land or air platforms and can support hundreds of simultaneous users rather than the 40 associated with standard cellular systems.

The Marine Corps Forces Pacific Experimentation Center has purchased a MONAX system through the Office of Naval Research. They will use it for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission exercises.

www.lockheedmartin.com/products/monax

Coming in December – The 12 Days of Tactical Christmas

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Look for upcoming details on our 12 Days of Tactical Christmas contest and how you can win some of the 90 prizes we will be giving away from the hottest names in industry.

You’ve never seen anything like this!