The Stacy Strong 5k honors Kenton Stacy a Navy EOD tech who was seriously wounded last November in combat operations.
www.eodwarriorfoundation.org/events
Archive for September, 2018
Stacy Strong 5k- Presented by the EOD Warrior Foundation
Wednesday, September 12th, 2018F4 Defense Enhanced Battle Rifle Now Available in 224 Valkyrie
Wednesday, September 12th, 2018
F4 Defense is proud to announce the release of the F4-15 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chambered in 224 Valkyrie. Some very bold statements were made last year concerning the performance of the Valkyrie; a cartridge based on a .30 Rem/6.8 SPC case necked down to accommodate a .224 projectile.
We rarely jump on “new fad” calibers, but we had to test and evaluate whether this cartridge could live up to the hype surrounding it. We can confidently say it’s a damn good cartridge. It’s not quite a .22 Grendel, but the fact that you can buy off the shelf ammunition is critical to those that don’t hand load.
After testing various twist rates and barrel lengths, optimized for the 90gr Sierra Match Kings and now with the long anticipated Hornady 88 Grain ELD Match ammunition; F4 Defense settled on a 20” 1×7 twist because it just plain works. The “need” for a tighter twist is simply not correct and we’ve proven it, it’s not surprising that you see manufacturers now jumping off the tight twist and going with a 7. A tighter twist than necessary lessens barrel life and can also restrict you from using a wide range of projectiles. Our F4 EBR consistently shot sub ½ MOA with pre-production Federal Gold Medal Match so we’re confident that Federal can work out the kinks and produce ammo at the same quality as the earlier lots. We know what it’s capable of and it’s truly impressive!
For more more information:
www.f4defense.com
www.instagram.com/f4defense
www.facebook.com/f4defense
PTX Widget Wednesday – Alligator Clip Cable
Wednesday, September 12th, 2018One of the most salient features of the Global War On Terror has been the proliferation of electronic devices at the individual and small unit level. These developments give our troops unprecedented levels of situational awareness (regardless of the time of day), the ability to communicate over vast distances (in any terrain), and the power to dominate the battlespace in even the most austere environments.
However, it also usually means having to hump a lot of extra batteries. For example, on a long patrol in Afghanistan, an Airborne Infantryman could carry as many as seven different types of batteries for 12 electronic devices – totaling up to 16 pounds in battery weight. That’s more than the weight of a dozen fully loaded 30-round 5.56 mags! (The need to continuously stop and replace batteries also causes disruption to operational capability and impairs mission effectiveness.)
With the SPM-622 troops are able to reduce their battery burden, recharge their batteries in the field, and repurpose those batteries to power other devices (the SPM automatically adjusts, balances, and/or converts power from any source to match a device’s power requirements). Initially, SPM kits included adapter cables for solar panels, solar blankets, vehicle ‘cigarette lighter” plugs, and generator power outlets. Feedback from special operations unit end-users working in a very austere environment led us to develop another rather simple-looking solution – jumper cable type alligator clips.
Their feedback was that it would be very useful to have the ability to scavenge power from the civilian truck, car, and motorcycle batteries prevalent in operational areas. And so the Alligator Clip cable was born. Although it might look kind of “low-tech”, our Alligator Clip cable is smart – the firmware embedded in the cable informs the SPM of the voltage of the battery it’s connected to, it also monitors the battery’s state-of-charge and tells the SPM to stop drawing power from it before it gets too low to start a vehicle.
This particular type of cable proved very useful for at least one team that used a locally-sourced motorcycle battery as a power source, and enabled them to complete a high-value mission despite a shortage of specific batteries.
For more information about PTX power management systems from Protonex, visit www.PTXnomad.com or contact us at Team.Room@Protonex.com
Tactical Products Group Executives Indicted by Department of Justice for Providing Faulty Armor, Swapping Tags
Wednesday, September 12th, 2018Last week, Tactical Products Group, LLC (TPG) CEO Dan Thomas Lounsbury, Jr and Vice President for Sales and Federal Contracting Andres Lopez-Munoz, were in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Virginia due to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and wire fraud. Lounsbury is additionally charged with false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims.
TPG is a Florida-based manufacturer and re-seller of various products to military, law enforcement, and private security clients. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, in 2012, TPG was selected as a sub-contractor on a contract to provide certain goods, including ten sets of hard body armor plates, to the United States government. The government had requested a specific type of plate, and Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz both knew that no substitutions were allowed. Furthermore, Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz both knew that these plates would be used to protect government personnel. The consequence of a failure of body armor is death or serious bodily injury. Nevertheless, Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz worked together to procure cheaper substitute plates, and then to put fraudulent labels on these substitute plates falsely stating that they were the type of plates that the government had required. Some of these cheaper substitute plates were far outside their warranty period, and were not as protective as the false labels claimed.
The supplied plates were provided to Triple Canopy to fulfill a contract. Reportedly, the plates supplied were known to delaminate. Furthermore, four of the 10 plates supplied were six years out of warranty. Amazingly, the value of the contract is said to be just $3,500.
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
TD Stand Your Ground Jean
Wednesday, September 12th, 2018We would like to re-introduce you to The SYG Dark Denim Jean. This is the second generation of this jean and created was with the conceal carry person in mind. They are sporting an updated wash and new jean patch.
Origin Story: TD spent over 6 months trying various designs, fabrics and pocket setups to accommodate the low viz conceal carry customer. The outcome…the Stand Your Ground (SYG) Jean. The platform of this jean was based upon a 13oz super stretch denim fabric that gives the user mobility where other jeans do not.
It features 10 pockets, placed around the jean in key positions for both right and left-handed shooters. All of the pockets are set up for either blades, tools, pistol mags or AR-15 30 round mags. They constructed them in a way that is not apparent to by standers. Like other low viz clothing it is very important to blend in with your surroundings. Simple design elements like 2″-wide belt loops to accommodate most CCW belts or riggers belts. Seam hidden back pockets for AR magazines. Two-ply front hand pocket so you don’t get your ring or watch hung up on your folding knife.
Features:
– Ultra Comfortable, 13oz Stretch Indigo Denim
– 95% Cotton 5% Spandex
– Lightly washed for comfort
– Standard straight leg fit
– 10 Pocket design, 6 front pockets, 4 back pockets- Loop jean patch
– Double needle stitching in tension areas
– Reinforced knife/tool pockets
– Concealed back mag pockets for AR-15 30 round mags
– YKK Zipper Fly
– Custom Shank button
– 2″ Belt Loops
– Multicam Accents
9/11 Remembered – The Toll
Tuesday, September 11th, 2018Reading the timeline each year is a sobering experience, but it doesn’t matter what time of year I look at the images from that day. They haunt me. There were 2996 immediate deaths on September 11th, 2001. There were people who cheered that day, celebrating an attack on America. But it wasn’t just an attack on us. It was an attack on the world, with victims from over 90 countries. And those countries came together in the wake of the attack to bring those behind it to justice.
9/11 isn’t over. Victims and rescuers alike suffer life threatening medical conditions due to the exposure to toxins during the attacks and continue to succumb to these lingering wounds.
And then, there’s the war. It doesn’t end. In the ensuing 17 years we’ve definitely taken the fight to the enemy and even cut their head off a time or two. The names change, but they remain enemies of freedom. We must secure our future.
Even now, the world is faced with the threat of a resurgent Islamic fundamentalism that targets our ideals in both word and deed. We must oppose them in every case, lest our efforts thus far, be in vain.
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 1720
Tuesday, September 11th, 2018Later that day, at 1720 – 7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building, collapses.
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 1028
Tuesday, September 11th, 20181028 – The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
