Massif was exhibiting their Locator Cold Weather Flight Glove.
Not only is the glove made from Massif Battleshield X laminate fabric, but it also incorporates conductive goatskin leather, making it compatible with handheld devices. The Battleshield X is a stretchable fabric which offers FR, water and wind resistance as well as a fleece lining for comfort.
www.massif.com/shop/accessories/locator-cold-weather-flight-glove
Here’s a sneak peek of High Speed Gear’s upcoming Laser Slotted Belt, featuring laser cut PALS slots along each articulated section of padded belt. It accepts an inner belt which can be woven over, or under, the articulated sections.
The rear section is slightly higher than the rest of the belt to support the lower back.
We’re at the 2017 Marine South Expo and we’re going to share some cool stuff with you.
(USAF photo by Capt Jessica Tait)
Despite a couple of delays, the US Air Force is closing in on standing up a Military Free Fall Parachutist qualification course for its Battlefield Airmen. Like the US Navy’s course, it will be run by contractors, and the curriculum will be certified by USSOCOM and USASOC as well as AETC. Unlike the USN course, students will not earn their Static Line parachutist qualification, but will already be graduates of the Ft Benning course upon attendence of the AF MFF course. Students will meet all of the standards of the Army MFF course, but it will be conducted at a contractor facility, utilizing contract aircraft.
MFF training is an initial skills course that provides academic, ground, vertical wind tunnel/simulation, and military freefall training to first time jumpers that meets United States Special Operations Command/United States Army Special Operations Command (USSOCOM/USASOC) curriculum requirements.
Sister service parachute training has been stood up due to limited availability of course quotas for the Army MFF course. The Navy has been using a contractor run course for over a decade and added S/L training to their parachutist course because the Ft Benning curriculum lasts three weeks. While NSW primarily conducts MFF parachute ops, they certify their students in S/L procedures within the first few days of their training course.
Final contractor proposals are due on 2 May, 2017. Hopefully, we’ll see a pilot course before the end of the fiscal year.
Defense experts from around the globe gathered at Marine Corps Systems Command April 5-7, to share information and work toward common solutions for complex issues across allied forces.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems convened at MCSC’s Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Representatives from 20 countries and three continents discussed standardization of common capabilities and issues for coalition Marines and soldiers worldwide. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. NAAG’s mission is to support nations in achieving the objectives of NATO land force armaments cooperation. It promotes interoperability of alliance and partner armed forces by means of information exchange, materiel standardization and cooperative activities.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, speaks with leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems during the group’s biannual meeting aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on April 5. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. NAAG’s mission is to support nations in achieving the objectives of NATO land force armaments cooperation. It promotes interoperability of alliance and partner armed forces by means of information exchange, materiel standardization and cooperative activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Emily Greene)
Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, commander of MCSC, kicked off the three-day session with a warm welcome to attendees and provided a glimpse into the priorities of the Marine Corps.
“Our Marine Corps Operating Concept sets forth our commandant’s four directives,” said Shrader. “The future of the Corps is focused on being more capable, more networked, more resilient and more lethal. Those are the things I think about on a daily basis.”
Shrader placed emphasis on the mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad; which is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat. He said the question lies in how to continue accomplishing that mission as technology constantly develops, often adding to the load of the Marine even as it provides increased capability.
“Technology is a tremendous force multiplier, but it can also be a detractor,” Shrader said. “Additional technologies and capabilities often add weight and size to the load our Marines carry. What you are doing here this week is essential to the future success of our forces.”
Shrader was joined by Timothy Goddette, deputy program executive officer at the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier.
“This group is all about the soldier, the sailor, the Marine. And not just the soldier, but the dismounted soldier,” said Goddette. “The time you spend here this week, and throughout the year is all about lightening the load, making the soldier more lethal, and providing better protection. It’s like the old carpenter’s motto, ‘Measure twice, cut once.’”
Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems examine a prototype for exoskeleton technology April 5, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. During the three-day session, representatives from 20 countries and three continents discussed standardization of common capabilities and issues for coalition Marines and soldiers worldwide. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Emily Greene)
Goddette said the group’s work served two important purposes: increasing the effectiveness of coalition forces and reducing defense costs.
“Every dollar we waste on something that doesn’t work is a dollar we could have spent on a soldier or Marine,” Goddette said. “We have to get it right the first time.”
LCG DSS members were also given opportunities to view new technologies that hold potential for future force enhancement and forums in which to share lessons learned and best practices.
“The LCG DSS meetings provide an important opportunity for us to come together as partner nations and share our hard-earned knowledge so that we all can benefit from it,” said Mark Richter, LCG DSS chairman and MCSC Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad director. “I think we can all agree that our aim is to create systems that will work together in a coalition environment. These meetings are a key factor in facilitating that cross-collaboration.”
Story from www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil
Findings confirm custom earplugs are significantly better at preventing hearing loss for military
Carbondale, PA, April 12, 2017. Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel announced today findings from an independent study conducted by Virginia Tech Auditory Systems Laboratory regarding its Aegisound CTE30X custom earplugs. The study, funded by the Office of Naval Research, found the custom earplugs significantly outperformed the foam earplugs used in the testing.
Researchers at Virginia Tech examined the performance of commonly used roll-down foam earplugs and Aegisound custom-molded earplugs without training, with training, and 21 days after training. The custom plugs outperformed the foam plugs under all test conditions, and were preferred by the test subjects for ease of use, quickness of fit, and relative confidence in hearing protection offered. One of the most notable outcomes of the study was that the attenuation performance of the custom plugs did not degrade after training, 21 days later, whereas the foam earplugs did. This data point illustrates that foam plugs can be difficult to use reliably, whereas custom plugs offer consistent performance over time.
“Our Aegisound products provide precise intelligible communications and long-term hearing health for military personnel on flight decks and flight lines where some of the loudest occupational noise environments exist,” said L.P. Frieder, president, Gentex Corporation. “This recent study by Virginia Tech validates these and other benefits of choosing custom molded earplugs over foam.”
For Aegisound custom fit hearing protection products, custom ear canal molds are digitally manufactured to exacting standards, which allow the earplug to precisely fit the ear canal to achieve optimal comfort and superior hearing protection in extreme noise (105 to 150 dB(A)), such as those found in military and industrial environments.
John G. Casali, Ph.D., CPE, and Kichol Lee, Ph.D. of Virginia Tech presented findings from their study at the National Hearing Conservation Association’s annual conference on February 24, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. View the full presentation at this link.
POOLER, Ga., March 13, 2017 – Blue Force Gear®, the designer and manufacturer of the world’s finest weapon slings and tactical equipment, will showcase the Micro Trauma Kit NOW!™ (Micro TKN) at this year’s Marine South Expo. U.S. Marines will be able to demo the product first-hand at booth 121 at the Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based show from April 12 to April 13.
Designed to hold essential lifesaving medical supplies, like a decompression needle and combat gauze, the Micro TKN attaches directly to your belt and is the smallest version of the Trauma Kit NOW! collection. The Micro TKN is available in several variations and can be purchased with or without medical supplies.
Two main components make up the Micro TKN – the outer MOLLE or belt mounted pouch utilizing Ten-Speed® technology and a removable insert that keeps the medical supplies organized. The MOLLE is horizontally mounted on the belt to not obstruct torso movement. The front outer pouch features a laser-cut cross with several signal indicators – black, red, or highly reflective glow-in-the-dark insert.
Blue Force Gear designed and developed the Micro TKN with help from an 18 Delta Special Forces Medic.
“The Micro Trauma Kit NOW! is the perfect tool for Marines to carry downrange because deployment of the first aid supplies can be done with one hand or even a single finger,” said Ashley Burnsed, CEO of Blue Force Gear. “The kit provides all the essentials needed to save a Marine’s life in one pouch.”
Marine South Expo attendees can find Blue Force Gear’s new products and current lineup in booth 121. James Byer, Blue Force Gear’s Government Business Development Manager and retired Infantry Marine, will be in attendance at the show.
