Unfortunately, this is real.
Archive for September, 2016
Tattoo Fail
Saturday, September 17th, 2016Shots Fired
Friday, September 16th, 2016
Creator and fellow USAF retiree Gary Stevens assures us this is a real product. Coming soon.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldier To Receive Body Armor That Saved His Life
Friday, September 16th, 2016FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (Sept. 15, 2016) – A Soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, survived not one but two potentially lethal bullets fired by Afghan insurgents five years ago because of the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert plate in his body armor.
Program Executive Office Soldier officials will reunite Army Sgt. Daniel Malm, 110th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Battalion, with the life-serving plate in a ceremony Sept. 19, 2016, at JBLM. Army Lt. Col. Kathy Brown, Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE), will return the ESAPI plate.
PM SPE is the Army organization responsible for developing and fielding protective equipment, including body armor and helmets, to Soldiers. This Fort Belvoir-based organization is part of PEO Soldier’s Project Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment.
After the plate saved Sergeant Malm’s life, it came back to PEO Soldier for scientific analysis. Technicians analyze combat-damaged personal protective equipment to determine how the gear performed under actual combat conditions and learn how to make protective equipment even better.
Time and Location:
·1:30 p.m. (Pacific), Sept. 19, 2016.
·110 CBRN Headquarters, Building 11984, D and 8th Streets, JBLM
Recipient:
Army Sgt. Daniel Malm – served with the 4-25th Field Artillery, 10th Mountain Division, on Sept. 14, 2011, when his ESAPI plate stopped insurgents’ bullets. The first impact knocked him to his knees. He rose to his feet and immediately took another round that knocked him flat on his back and broke several ribs. He stayed down while his fellow Soldiers killed the insurgents. He is a veteran of three deployments.
Presenters:
Army Lt. Col. Kathy Brown – responsible for development of helmets, body armor, ballistic eyewear, bomb disposal suits, and other protective equipment Soldiers wear. Her organization is currently developing a new generation of lighter weight body armor that Soldiers can modify to suit the threats and mission requirements.
Army Master Sgt. Corey Ingram – PM SPIE Senior Enlisted Adviser.
PDW Teams Up with RESCO Instruments for Dive Watch Collaboration
Friday, September 16th, 2016
In collaboration with Coronado, CA based RESCO Instruments; Prometheus Design Werx will be releasing their exclusive edition of the RESCO UDT Dive Watch model under their Special Projects Division marque. PDW’s Special Projects Division is tasked with handling special product collaborations, limited editions to experimental projects. The SPD Edition RESCO UDT is a pure, purpose driven design, and a precision instrument for today’s modern adventurers and explorers who may find themselves in any environment whether under the Sea, in the Air, or on Land. The heart of this dive watch is the tried and true Swiss ETA 2824 self-winding mechanical movement, housed in a 316L stainless steel billet case, a domed sapphire crystal with an inner AR anti-reflection coating, and depth rated to 30 ATM / 300 M.
The SPD Edition RESCO UDT Dive Watch comes packaged in an Underwater Kinetics case, a NATO-style nylon strap, test certs, and individually serial numbered. Unique to this edition is the PDW Underwater Exploration Team (UET) Kraken with Trident logo on the dial and exclusive orange sweep.
The Design and R&D Team at PDW states:
“There is something that feels true and unique about a timepiece whose heart is a self-winding mechanical movement. It speaks to a long tradition of precision and manufacturing by a purely mechanical means. This watch does not rely on, nor will it ever need batteries to function, just your force of action day in and day out. ”
RESCO Instruments describes their watch:
“Made for the currents of the littoral zone, the RESCO UDT diver is comfortable in any setting. The UDT is made for action. With the addition of baton style “stick” markers and a solid bezel index design, the RESCO UDT offers up a classic look to your next demolition dive or cocktail party.”
The SPD Edition RESCO UDT Dive Watch will retail for $2195.00 and a limited qty will be available for purchase on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 @ 3:00pm PST via their website, prometheusdesignwerx.com. Additional pieces will be built and completed in about 10-15 business days after the first initial release.
Direct Action upgrades website with ‘back-in-stock’ notification sign-up
Friday, September 16th, 2016
Lawrence Holsworth, Director of US Marketing for Direct Action, published a brief update regarding Direct Action’s website now featuring a ‘back-in-stock’ notification sign-up, which can be read in its entirety below:
At Direct Action, we care as much about providing great customer service as we do about developing and delivering the most advanced tactical gear possible. We know that some of you have found it frustrating to go online to order one of our products, only to discover the size or color you need is temporarily out-of-stock.
So to help improve our customer service, we’ve introduced a back-in-stock notification option that lets you sign up to be automatically alerted when a product has been re-stocked.
The functionality is simple : If the product you want is out of stock, just add your e-mail address in the text box and click the ‘subscribe’ button. When the product is back in stock you will automatically receive an e-mail with a link so you can click through to place your order.
This feature is now in place on both of our online stores at www.directactiongear.com.
Gentex Awarded Contract for JSAM-JSF Production
Friday, September 16th, 2016Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel was awarded a production contract by the U.S. Army for the Joint Service Aircrew Mask for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSAM-JSF) Program. During the 10-year period of performance, Gentex will produce JSAM-JSF systems for F-35 aircrew and provide spares, training, and support and sustainment services in the fielding of the systems.
The JSAM-JSF is a lightweight, chemical/biological (CB) protective respirator system that integrates with the JSF airframe (F-35) life support system, and pilot flight equipment (PFE) to provide combined CB, hypoxia, and anti-gravity protection to pilots during flight. The JSAM-JSF integrates with all F-35 aircraft variants.
“Gentex is grateful for the leadership the JSAM-JSF Product Office provided during the development phase of the program, and is delighted to have been chosen to continue our involvement with production of the JSAM-JSF,” said Robert McCay, vice president aircrew systems, Gentex Corporation. “We’re confident that the advanced technology in the JSAM-JSF will deliver the capability and protection aircrew have come to expect from our products and excited to offer tailored solutions using this technology for other helmet systems and airframes to our customers worldwide.”
Gentex’s contribution to the JSF Program now includes the helmet system platform and respiratory protection system for JSF aircrew, and the protective hearing and communications devices for JSF ground crew. Gentex’s participation in the JSF Program continues their more than 45 year partnership with the U.S. government, helping them bring the most advanced solutions to U.S. and allied forces.
Gentex Corporation is the leading supplier of high-performance flight equipment for military, law enforcement, and rescue aircrew worldwide. Their comprehensive line of durable and innovative aircrew helmet systems for fixed wing, rotary wing, and cross-platform applications allow for the easy integration of advanced capability upgrades without sacrificing protection. Gentex also offers a full line of hearing protection and communication solutions for aircraft maintainers that provides superior hearing protection and precise, intelligible communications in the most extreme noise environments. Servicing, fitting, and operations/maintenance training is available for all products. A global network of distributors, with expanding services in the U.K., help support the company’s customers.
Please Support The Abel Loredos Medical Fund
Friday, September 16th, 2016It’s not often that I make a personal appeal but a tragedy befell the family of one of my friends last weekend and they need our help.
Abel is the victim of a senseless hit-and-run road rage attack which resulted in the amputation of his foot. Fortunately, the attacker is in custody. While we all can take solace in the great work of the Washington State Patrol and Tacoma Police Department for getting this creep off the street, it isn’t going to heal Abel or take care of his bills. Those, are up to him and us.
I have known Abel for many years. He is a Marine Corps Veteran and a former employee of Tactical Tailor. He currently works at Anytime Fitness in Tacoma, WA. If none of that makes a connection, he is also the son of GW Ayers, Vice President of Grey Ghost and GW is one of the most straight up, honest guys in this industry who raised Abel from a tyke to be the man he is today. I look at GW as a brother from another mother. We both served on the IGB (that’s Inter-German Border for those of you who didn’t have the honor of serving in the Cold War) and I am constantly amazed at GW’s demeanor. He still conducts himself like a Platoon Sergeant; praise when it’s warranted and a kick in the ass, when it’s not. Fortunately, Abel is a chip off the old block. He’s going to lick this and that’s why we need to help him out.
One of Abel’s co-workers has created a GoFundMe Page and we encourage everyone to help out if you can. Our family contributed and we hope you will too.
Thanks,
Eric Graves
FirstSpear Friday Focus – Patrol Radio Pouch
Friday, September 16th, 2016This week’s focus is a pretty straight forward design. The Patrol Radio Pouch was designed around the MT and XTS family of Motorola radios, but will accommodate most public safety styled radios, with or without shoulder mic attachment. It’s offered with 6/9 or 6/12 attachment systems in Ranger Green, MultiCam, Coyote and Black.
FS would also like to kick off an End of Summer promo. Spend $100 or more on first-spear.com and get a free FS skull t-shirt.
