It’s less than a month from the 2015 Connecticut SWAT Challenge, August 18-20.
2015 CT Swat Challenge Preview from Anthony Miele on Vimeo.
Archive for July, 2015
2015 CT SWAT Challenge Preview
Monday, July 20th, 2015VSS – Small Unit Leader’s Operational Planning Guide
Monday, July 20th, 2015
This handy pocket guide by Special Forces Veterans Jeff Kirkham and Erik Lawrence includes the most common operations planning and execution templates. Naturally, it features Troop Leading Procedures and various mission orders formats including annexes. There are also Medevac and Call for Fire formats.
shop.vig-sec.com/product/small-unit-leader-op-planning-guide
Army Seeking Soldier Input for Proposed Uniform Changes
Monday, July 20th, 2015Soldiers should begin seeing emails soliciting their input on several proposed uniform changes including female Drill Sergeant headgear and a return of the ‘Ike’ Jacket.
Emails will direct Soldiers to an online survey where they’ll provide feedback on the future of gender-specific headgear for Drill Sergeants. Originally adopted in 1972, the Tan Bush-Style Female Drill Sergeant Hat was transitioned to a Green color in 1983 to better fit in with the Woodland Battle Dress uniform which was beginning to enter service. The Army seeks opinions on whether it should scrap the Female version and adopt the Brown Campaign Hat currently worn by Male Drill Sergeants for use by both. The Campaign Hat is a distinctive design steeped in Army history and it’s not hard to see this change being implemented.
The Army is also considering the development of a gender-neutral Service Cap more commonly referred to as the ‘Bus Driver Cap’. Such a move would take the Female Service Hat out of the inventory. The Male Service Cap features a wide bill, while the Female version has a raised brim on either side. A new common version would resemble the current Male Cap with slight modifications. Concurrently, there is a proposal to make the Service Cap mandatory headgear, rather than the Black beret, with the ASU for senior NCOs and above.
The most popular item on the survey was proposed by Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey after visiting several Posts. Soldiers want to wear Black socks with the new PT uniform. Considering the new uniform’s Black dominant color scheme, this is a no-brainer.
Also suggested by SMA Dailey is something a little more controversial which is an optional wear “Eisenhower jacket” to be added as a more appropriate indoor alternative to the black windbreaker jacket. Although named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the waist length jacket actually entered service in the late-1930s. While it is a great heritage item, it isn’t very flattering for some body types. Of course, there’s a Cardigan Sweater, so why not an Ike Jacket?
Tactical Pro Shop – Blue Lives Matter Patch
Monday, July 20th, 2015
The Blue Lives Matter patch, designed by and available exclusively from Tactical Pro Shop, is made of PVC with a Velcro hook backing. The patch features a design honoring all Law Enforcement Officers. Half of the profit from these patches is being donated to COPS – Concerns of Police Survivors, a highly-rated 501(c) charity.
www.tacticalproshop.com/product_p/em-tps-blm
Violent Little Machine Shop – Not A Survival Patch
Sunday, July 19th, 2015
Violent Little Machine Shop has released the ‘Not A Survival Patch’. Made from leather with hook Velcro backing, it’s a bit thicker than your standard morale patch, but that’s because, counter-intuitive to its name, the patch is stuffed to the gills with survival tools. To get at the goodies within, you simply have to cut it open along the dotted line, which reveals:
You’ve got to visit the page to read the item descriptions which are hilarious. And, if you use anything in the patch, then tell your story to VLMS, send it back to them, and they’ll replace the used components, sew it back up, and charge you only for the replaced items and shipping.
www.violentlittle.com/products/not-a-survival-patch
White House Petition – Allow Military Personnel With CCW Permits To Carry On Military Bases
Sunday, July 19th, 2015In the wake of last week’s tragic shooting of five service members, there’s a petition running on WhiteHouse.gov to allow Active Duty Military Personnel, Military Retirees, and Veterans with CCW permits to carry on Military Bases. The body text of the petition is as follows:
A Petition to allow Active Duty, Retiree and Veterans that are Concealed Weapons Permit holders, to carry concealed weapons on base. Our men and women in uniform, as well as the Civilians that support them, deserve the to have the right to self protection a much as any other U.S. Citizen. Regulations that prevent our active duty personnel, retirees and veterans the right to self defense are not arcane, but also discriminatory by nature. All citizens are afforded equal protection under the law, that includes the right to self protection no matter the location. Our Military deserves to have the same right to self protection as every other citizen of the United States. We demand the regulations be changed immediately, in order to restore that right and to prevent further loss of life.
The petition still needs quite a bit of support to reach its goal before the August 15th cut-off date.
SSD Is Sponsored By The Number “2” And The Letter “A”
Sunday, July 19th, 2015 
“The great body of our citizens shoot less as times goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world… The first step – in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come – is to teach men to shoot!”
-Theodore Roosevelt
