Everything goes better with bacon, especially KCRF.
Thanks Thumpy Covey!
Archive for October, 2013
You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up
Sunday, October 27th, 2013Rest In Peace – Senior Chief James “Patches” Watson
Sunday, October 27th, 2013From Kyle Defoor. I’d heard that Senior Chief Watson had suffered a heart attack late last week (thanks JL for the updates) but I was off the net yesterday and sorry to hear that he had passed away. Rest In Peace.
Senior Chief James “Patches” Watson passed away early this morning. Patches was a Plank Owner of the SEAL Teams and paved the way for the SEAL Teams of today. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.
Jim “Patches” Watson is the Curator Emeritus of the UDT-SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce, FL
An original plank owner of SEAL Team TWO, Jim served three tours in Vietnam as platoon chief earning sixteen combat decorations, four of which are Bronze Stars all with Combat “V”. Many people know him as “Patches”, the point man in Dick Marcinko’s popular Rogue Warrior books.
Patches came to my boot camp graduation when he worked at the museum just to see if any guys were heading to BUD/S. There was me and one other. He had us up to the museum and showed us all around and drank beers with a couple of 18 year old wet behind the ears meats. He later moved to just outside where our sniper school is and held parties at his place when I went through the course. Total crusher. Hell of a Frogman. Beers to you tonight Senior Chief. You lived well.
Respect,
KD
Cold Steel Pocket Shark Marker
Sunday, October 27th, 2013
Although Cold Steel is largely known for their blades, they’re capable of branching out their product line, as seen with the Pocket Shark Marker. The Pocket Shark Marker is a heavy-duty fine-tip felt marker. Although it’s lacking a strike edge or metal body like a tactical pen would have, the Shark does have a hard impact-resistant plastic body, four times thicker than regular markers; it can be run over with a car and still write. The cap is screw-on, which makes it much easier to retain the cap when stored, and helps to prevent any unintentional mark or leak. The marker also features a clip for storing in a pocket.
www.coldsteel.com/Product/91SPB/POCKET_SHARK.aspx
Fobus Holsters Announce The New CH Rapid Release Systems Holster
Sunday, October 27th, 2013BENSALEM, PA (October 2013) – Fobus Holster proudly presents their newest lightweight polymer holster; the CH Rapid Release System Holster, now available for many popular GLOCK (GLCH) and H&K (HKCH) handguns.
The CH holster provides Level 2 Retention while allowing virtually unhampered presentation of the pistol. This is accomplished by incorporating a releasing paddle that is activated by the index finger of the user without need to alter the draw stroke.
Simply slide the index finger upward across the paddle while executing your natural draw and the retention mechanism within the trigger guard is instantly released. Additionally, the releasing paddle has been located on the holster so that continuation of the draw naturally positions the index finger alongside the slide/frame, well above the trigger.
As with any new equipment, practicing to attain the proficiency that is possible with the CH holster is a reality that cannot be overlooked. This is especially critical if this, or any product, is to be employed in a tactical or self-defense situation.
CH series holsters for the S&W M&P (SWCH), Springfield XD (XDCH), Berretta PX4 Storm (BRCH), and Taurus PT 24/7 G1 (TACH) will be released in 2014.
www.fobusholster.com/
Corps Strength – Hard Time
Saturday, October 26th, 2013The Naval Air Station in Pensacola is one the best-maintained military bases in the world. What most people here don’t know is that the majority of the beautiful grounds and historic buildings are kept up by federal prisoners from the minimum security penitentiary up the road (These guys are all non-violent offenders and are closely supervised by civilian guards while working). Putting prison reform and other judgement’s aside for a minute, there is one thing you notice immediately about this group of men; it’s how fit and healthy they look? We recently had a group doing some maintenance work on our Leadership Reaction Course, and I had to be there to supervise some of the work. I found them easy going, respectful and hard working. More than anything else they seemed very grateful to be away from the prison (even to work in the heat, for 75 cents a day, yes that not a type O. 75 cents a day).
During the course of the work, I asked them about their living conditions, their workout routines, what they ate. They live on an old military base in converted barracks and ate in old chow halls (three meals a day of “boring chow”) Like most federal prisons nowadays they have no access to weights, but they do have a large exercise area that has some basketball courts, a running track and a place where they can do calisthenics. Lights out at 2200, 0530 wakeup. (sounds a lot like boot camp).
This group was in their 30’s to early 60’s, and you’d be very hard pressed to find a group of men in that age group (civilian, military or otherwise), that are in as good physical condition, especially the older guys. We have a pull-up bar there and during a break we had a pull-up contest. One guy in his late 40’s (who looked like an NFL tight end) did 27 perfect pull-ups. The majority did between 15-20, the least was 10 and a guy that was 62 did 14. These guys were in work clothes, wearing heavy work boots, not PT gear. (My sorry ass took 3rd with 23) As you might guess if you took any average group of 40-60 year olds in the U.S. you would not get this type of fitness, and most would be overweight. None of this group were even close to being fat, and I might add they were a mix of white, black, and hispanics from all different parts of the U.S.
So what is the point? Get yourself throw in federal prison to get in shape? Not hardly. The point is the real example this group provides. These guys have been forced by their own past misadventures to live a simple (healthy) lifestyle. It’s a proof source of what I talk about in my book Corps Strength; That getting and staying in great physical condition is not that complicated. People make it much harder than it has to be. These guys don’t follow “scientific” workouts, no weights, no PX90, Cross Fit, Paleo Diet, or supplements. A diet of everyday foods, a simple routine of calisthenics, no drugs (you hope) or alcohol, plenty of sleep and days consisting of light physical work (over the long term) yields some pretty impressive results. It was especially obvious when you see these guys standing next to the guys guarding them? Big difference. Like I always tell people, Keep it simple. It works. Be safe and stay out of trouble.
Semper Fi
MGunz
Gunfighter Moment – Pat McNamara 
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
The king daddy of all marksmanship fundamentals is Trigger Control. I do not consider this debatable. Partially due to the fact that I cannot see my front sight anymore. It’s there and visible on target but all a blur. I’m still quite capable of knocking the X ring out at 25 though.
My teaching of trigger control differs from many other of my fellow credible instructors who I respect.
When I transitioned from 1911 to Glock 19 (For administrative reasons) about a decade ago, I would push my group to my non-firing side. Frustrated, I called a friend at the AMU and asked his advice. He told me that he puts so much finger on the trigger that when complete with his trigger squeeze, he can drop his magazine with his trigger finger. This became my magic elixir. Since sinking my finger, I’ve straightened out my group. I teach this as well with some push back mind you.
In my opinion, splitting the distal phalange, or finger tip, is an anachronism. When using this method, the trigger finger is essentially a fulcrum where sinking the finger becomes a vice. The vice pulls evenly while the fulcrum speeds up at the end of the squeeze. I’m not suggesting that I am right and that this is law. I will add though, that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.
He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting).
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Alias Training & Security Services. Each week Alias brings us a different Trainer and in turn they offer some words of wisdom.
BE Meyers “Drive Fast. Shoot First” Morale Patch Available Now From Weapon Outfitters
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
The BE Meyers “Drive Fast. Shoot First” Morale Patch was created to support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, with 100% of profits being donated to the cause. For every 100 patches that are purchased, they will post an image of the donation check on their Facebook and Tumblr pages, so be sure to check it out!
America’s Army Comic At AUSA
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
The Army Game Project, the team behind the US Army sponsored video game, America’s Army, had a booth at AUSA. They were giving away the latest issue of the America’s Army comic book, which we honestly had no idea even existed.
