Steve Reichert is campaigning to become one of the NRA Board of Directors’ youngest members. This week, ballots are arriving in eligible member’s mailboxes. Eligible members include Lifetime, Benefactor and regular members who have had 5+ years of consecutive membership. For more information, hit www.SteveReichert.com/NRA.
Last Friday I received a phone call from Russ Oliver, the founder and (now former) President of Operator Suppressor Systems. I’ve known Russ for many years and it was great to hear from him. After we exchanged pleasantries, he asked if I would share a letter he had written, with SSD’s readers. I wasn’t sure what it was all about until I received a copy of this shocking news last night. He doesn’t pull any punches in his resignation but I cannot imagine that Russ Oliver came to this decision easily or rashly. It’s a major announcement that I am sure will result in some interesting effects across the suppressor market.
Russ looked at suppressor technology from a totally different direction, carrying this new concept’s fire for many years and making quite a splash at firearms industry events. Rather than the Maxim-style suppressors we are used to, Russ had a design that looked in cross-section like a jet engine turned inside out.
His departure from OSS makes me ponder what this means for the brand. Regardless, I wish Russ Olliver well in his new endeavor and continued success for the men and women of OSS. They sent him off right.
Friends and Patrons of OSS,
I cannot possibly articulate or properly convey the degree of gratitude the OSS team and myself have for the unwavering support we have received over the past few years. The resilience of everyone’s support, from operators, components, federal and local law enforcement, firearms manufacturers, fellow engineers and scientists, and patriotic gun users and enthusiasts nationwide has motivated our team’s relentless dedication in bringing flow through suppression from conception to reality. Together, I believe we have proven there is a new century of signature reduction possibilities that will in time, dominate weapon systems of the future. In that aspect, we have a Mission accomplished!
With this success has also come the apparent realities and evils of some particular corporate business philosophies. It is these philosophies, who unfortunately retain a majority ownership of OSS, which have forced my resignation as President of OSS and terminated my employment. As of February 18, 2016 I could no longer in good conscience be an executive or employee of the new OSS and immediately pursued and am currently pursuing the sale, at discount if necessary, of all of my interests/shares and ownership of OSS.
In complete contrast of multiple inferences falsely portrayed in a letter from the new OSS acting “President” and management posted on “the tactical wire.com” (in which I had no prior knowledge of nor were advised, consulted or quoted in regards too), I DO NOT support the new management direction of OSS in any way, nor do I believe it will be successful in the future to any degree that it would have been with its original team, purpose, concept and trajectory. The “success” spoken of in the new managements posted statement, is the direct result of exceptional personnel and their vision, capabilities, execution and dedication in combination with the financial support of several tremendously supportive and honorable minority owners.
The new OSS was built by and upon, but will not continue to flourish at the ignorant expense of exceptional men. Those men worked for and accomplished the impossible for purposes greater than themselves. The strength required to support the degree of dedication, sacrifice, and adversity that has been overcome in this endeavor can only come from true greater purpose and brotherhood, not personal wealth, greed or ego. The sum of the people who have willed OSS to success, has been and is the true strength and value of the company.
In addition to myself, over a dozen other primary and essential team members feel the same and have and will be leaving the company as soon as they are able. In my opinion, these personnel represent the whole of OSS’s sales (to include military, international, federal agencies, law enforcement and civilian sales), engineering, project management, testing/evaluation, and IT departments. These personnel represent exemplary experts from both military and civilian backgrounds to include, former military service ranks from CW 5 through Sgt. and civilian expertise from PhD of computer science through engineering.
Myself individually and as a group profoundly disagree and are unable to place our names and reputations upon the new managements business practices, treatment of employees, sales policies, product performance compromises, quality practices, priorities and production. In our opinion and interpretation, the “new” OSS Philosophies include among others; the military mentality will no longer be a part of OSS, a 20% return rate and ship now fix later philosophy is acceptable, and the weight of devices is the sole determining factor above ALL else moving forward. These new philosophies are the opposite of who we are as men and what we aspire to be, THE BEST!
Moving forward, my primary responsibility is to those individuals who have stood by me and through their examples made me who I am today, for which I am forever honored and grateful. In the initial interest of promoting these exceptional individuals, I have created a new company, the Organization of Strategic Sciences www.orgstrategicsciences.com and www.facebook.com/Organization-of-Strategic-Sciences-536453453204094.
Within the following days and weeks, resumes of these exceptional gentlemen who have already left or intend to leave OSS, will be posted as they become available. I would give or take a bullet for each of these men without hesitation and ask of any potential employer in and out of the firearms industry who reads this article, please consider them for upcoming or current positions you may have available.
As far as myself, I will also be available in a variety of limited capacities through strategic sciences for the next 362 days. After that time, industry can certainly expect me back with an unrestricted vengeance, wielding the passion, vision and creativity that the original OSS was founded under.
Years ago, some real physicists nicknamed me “the caveman physicist”, I wear that nickname with pride! There is no doubt a million more caveman physicists, like myself, are creating new technologies in their garages right now. I’m sure they will all say as I would, even caveman physicists know there is more than one way to apply physics and science to solve any given problem! Knowledge, perspective and creativity WILL always find a way.
With sincere thanks and appreciation to all who have supported myself and my team,
Russ Oliver
Founder and former President of OSS
Former SEAL and tactical trainer Kyle Defoor keeps his traveling rig simple.
“My traveling setup. Lightweight and easy to pack taking up very little room. HSG Taco mag pouches, AO chest rig, cobra rigger belt, micro grip panel”
PRINCETON, FL – February 18, 2016 – TWN Industries Inc., the leading Water Transfer Printing supplier, releases A-TACS iX (Intermediate Xtreme) Camo hydrographic pattern. This is the first in a new generation of camouflage patterns from Digital Concealment Systems. A-TACS iX is the flagship pattern in a new “X series” line of camouflage patterns from DCS–what will become a complete multi-environmental concealment solution. A-TACS iX utilizes the very latest in printing and camouflage design technology combined with the perfect blend of colors from the already popular A-TACS AU and FG camouflage patterns to create a pattern with vastly improved depth and definition. A-TACS iX Camo also incorporates enhanced edge detail in the transitional areas between light and shadow within the pattern to create the added illusion of depth while maintaining the unique A-TACS Camo “pattern within a pattern” concept. New A-TACS iX Camo is best suited for transitional environments with a blended mix of intermediate greens and desert tans.
Soon, DCS will follow the launch of its new iX pattern with running changes to the already popular AU and FG variants to further integrate them into the “X” series of camouflage patterns. For more information, visit A-TACS Camo online at www.a-tacs.com or, contact Clint Hoover at clint@a-tacs.com.
A-TACS iX water transfer printing film is available exclusively through TWN Industries, Inc. Three meter accessory packs are available immediately. Part number for A-TACS iX is WTP-854. To find a TWN Certified Decorator who can decorate products for you or to purchase film, call 305-258-9622.
Combat Flipflops has released this SITREP on their production and ongoing efforts:
Every Spring, fighters come out of their winter slumber and raise havoc on the oppressed. You responded.
Since the successful Combat Flip Flops mission in the Shark Tank, you’ve put over 40 Afghan girls in school for a year and cleared over 2300 square meters of land mines. The Stoke is real!
We’re backordered on almost all products, so here is the promised by monthly production update:
Afghanistan: All shemaghs and sarongs are in production in our three facilities in Afghanistan. All items are on track for delivery per the timeline listed on the product page and order receipt.
Colombia: Our Brothers and Sisters in the Southern Hemisphere are slaying flip flops at record levels. The Stoke is strong in Colombia and all orders are due in
Laos: We’re landing jewelry later this week and shipping over the weekend. If you don’t receive a shipping update this weekend, your order is due in Mid-march per product description and item receipt.
America: T-shirts are in production. We hit a small delay. They were supposed to ship this week, but will be shipping next week. Claymore bags are in production and due in for delivery per the product description and your receipt.
(Wilsonville, OR)—Gun owners are well known for talking to other gun owners with the discussion topics ranging from the most recent pistol purchase, to ammo availability, and to a favorite concealed-carry handgun. More and more of those conversations now include information and discussion about Crimson Trace laser sights. Friends tell friends about Crimson Trace products—and the benefits of having a laser sight installed on a firearm.
“I had a chance today to show several friends (and even two strangers) at my local gun range how the laser improves one’s aim and accuracy,” wrote Mr. J. Greene from South Carolina. “I know they were impressed.” This is an example of the stream of favorable customer testimonial letters received at Crimson Trace.
There is plenty to write—and talk—about. With more than 200 laser sights, and with more green laser sights than the rest of the laser industry combined, Crimson Trace is clearly the nation’s leading laser sight manufacturer. Additionally, the diverse Crimson Trace products fit on specific revolvers, and on pistols by leading manufacturers such as Kimber, Glock, Smith and Wesson, Ruger and others. Crimson Trace products such as Lasergrips are precision engineered to be perfect replacement grips on a large group of firearms. Installation generally requires the use of a screw driver and does not require special gunsmithing skills.
Another point that Crimson Trace laser sight owners tell other gun owners is about the company’s Free Batteries for Life program—the only owner assistance of this type in the industry. The Wilsonville, Oregon based company recently expanded its FREE batteries program to cover nearly all Crimson Trace product categories, such as Lasergrips, Rail Master, Laserguard, Lightguard and others, except the Defender series and some Bodyguard products. To enter the Crimson Trace Free Batteries For Life program, customers should call the company’s customer care center (800-442-2406), go to www.crimsontrace.com and register online, or complete and mail the registration card included with the product at purchase.
Customer Service is a way of corporate life that Crimson Trace takes great pride in, and letters arrive frequently about the caring and professional service provided by the company’s customer service team. Those dedicated Crimson Trace customers also relay information about events ranging from self-defense uses to training experiences that result in improved accuracy. Crimson Trace customers regularly tell friends about the company—and its many products.
We’ll just call this one Caged Violence.
In the past, we told you about the discontinued Master-at-Arms Badge. On a similar note is the Stalking merit badge which was one of the original 57 merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America in 1911. It replaced the 1910 Stalker “Badge of Merit”. The term “Stalking” should be familiar to SSD readers, a technique that I also referred to as tracking. The badge was temporarily reissued as “Tracking” under the 2010 Historic Merit Badge Program. Unfortunately it, along with the handful of other 2010 badges were only temporary.
These are the Stalking merit badge requirements from 1938 until it was discontinued in 1952.
-Demonstrate by means of a stalking game or otherwise, ability to stalk skillfully in shelter and wind, etc., showing how to proceed noiselessly and “freeze” when occasion demands.
-Know and recognize the tracks of ten different kinds of animals or birds in his vicinity, three of which may be domestic.
-Submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed two different kinds of wild animals or birds on ordinary ground far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds trailed, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed; or submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed six different kinds of wild animal or birds in snow, sand, dust, or mud, far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed.
-Submit satisfactory evidence that he has tracked a human being and deduced from the trail whether it was a man or woman, young or old, the gait or speed, and also give any other information deduced.
-Submit evidence the he has scored at least 30 points from the following groups: [Group (f) and 4 of the 5 groups (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) must be represented in the score of 30 and at least 7 points must be scored from (a), (b), or (c)].
-Make a clear recognizable photograph of:
(a) Live bird away from nest 4 points each
(b) Live woodchuck or smaller wild animal 3 points each
(c) Live wild animal larger than woodchuck 4 points each
(d) Live bird on nest 3 points each
(e) Tracks of live wild animal or bird 2 points each
(f) Make satisfactory plaster cast of wild animal or bird tracks with identification imprint on back of cast 2 points each
