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Archive for 2018

Top Guns: Army Green Berets take first place in international Special Operations sniper competition

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — There are shooting and marksmanship competitions around the world, and then there is the annual United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition.

A 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) sniper team earned overall first place honors in the ninth annual event after besting more than 40 special operations forces teams from around the U.S. military’s most elite units and international special forces teams.

One half of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Beret sniper team, Sgt. 1st Class Cuong, uses communication and teamwork with his teammate Master Sgt. David at the United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 18-22. The team earned overall first place honors in the ninth annual event after besting more than 40 special operations force teams from around the U.S. Military’s most elite units and international special forces teams. Editor’s note: Due to the mission of Special Forces Soldiers, full names of members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) are not releasable. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Braman )

According to United States Army Special Operations Command, the International Sniper Competition consisted of 22 events over five days and four nights of physically and mentally challenging precision fires. Sniper teams converged on Fort Bragg, N.C., March 18-22, to compete in a challenging and combat oriented competition.

A Green Beret from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) sniper team, Sgt. 1st Class Cuong fires his rifle in an event at the ninth annual United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 18-22. The 1st SFG (A) sniper team outperformed special operations teams from the Naval Special Warfare Command, Marine Corps Scout Sniper School, U.S. Army Sniper School, 75th Ranger Regiment, and international special operations teams from Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Italy, and Singapore. Editor’s note: Due to the mission of Special Forces Soldiers, full names of members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) are not releasable. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Braman)

“We started off poorly on the first day due to some sleep deprivation,” said Master Sgt. David, a Green Beret with the 1st SFG (A) and member of the winning sniper team. “We really started clicking and things began to fall into place after we regrouped and got some rest between events.”

Master Sgt. David competed with his teammate Sgt. 1st Class Cuong, also a Green Beret with the 1st SFG (A).

A Green Beret from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) sniper team, prepares to fire his rifle at the ninth annual United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 18-22. The International Sniper Competition consisted of 22 events over five days and four nights of physically and mentally challenging precision fire. Editor’s note: Due to the mission of Special Forces Soldiers, full names of members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) are not releasable. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Braman )

The event is distinguished by the high level of world-class teams competing. The United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) hosted the competition.

“It is the level of competitors, the cadre, and the competition that make this event so unique,” David said. “At this level, all of these guys are the best of the best.”

One half of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Beret sniper team, Master Sgt. David uses binoculars to scan targets during an event at the ninth annual United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 18-22. Master Sgt. David and his teammate Sgt. 1st Class Cuong placed first in a field of more than 40 teams from Special Operations Forces around the world. Editor’s note: Due to the mission of Special Forces Soldiers, full names of members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) are not releasable. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Braman )

The 1st SFG (A) sniper team outperformed special operations teams from the Naval Special Warfare Command, Marine Corps Scout Sniper School, U.S. Army Sniper School, 75th Ranger Regiment, and international SOF teams from Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Italy, and Singapore.

Master Sgt. David and Sgt. 1st Class Cuong are humbled to have come out atop the competition.

“These guys were so good we knew whoever was going win was going to need to have a little bit of luck on their side,” said David.

“We are proud of Dave and Cuong,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Labrec the 1st SFG (A) senior enlisted leader. “Their experience and professionalism will serve 1st Group for years to come as they pass on that knowledge to the Green Berets coming up behind them.”

Editor’s note: Due to the mission of Special Forces Soldiers, full names of members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) are not releasable.

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Harper

Posted in Guest Post, SOF | 8 Comments »

V Seven Weapon Systems – Helios Compensator

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

For immediate release – Glendale, OR – V Seven Weapon Systems continues to add titanium components to their AR15 product line. The latest is the Helios.

The Helios is an ATF approved linear compensator. The device is constructed from 100% corrosion resistant Grade 5 Titanium. It’s 1.25″ diameter tucks nicely into most rails and the overall length of 2.75″ adds approximately 2.2″ in length to the weapon.

Weighing in at 2.8 ounces, the Helios offers big performance from a lightweight package. Available in a raw Titanium (MSRP $127) or DLC black finish (MSRP $129). Sizes include 1/2×28 for 5.56, 1/2×36 for 9mm, 5/8×24 for all calibers up to .338″, and 5/8×32 for 458SOCOM.

Visit our website, vsevenweapons.com, or give us a call at 541-832-2179.

Tags: V Seven Weapon Systems
Posted in Press Release, weapons | 1 Comment »

Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

Posted in Morale | 7 Comments »

PLATAGATO

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

Platypus Outdoors decided with the popularity of the Afagato in restaurants globally combining coffee, ice cream and Bailey’s liquor; it was time to bring the small creature comforts to soldiers in the field.

Discovering the niche market, Platypus Outdoors saw the need to bring a packable, tactical Platagato Combat ration kit,

Allowing soldiers to enjoy a smooth, restaurant style Platogato with limited edition Platatac espresso mug, shot cup and ice cream bowl. Tactically designed with no reflective surface and made from noise reduction material. The coffee, freeze dry ice cream and liquor recipe has also been enhanced to reduce fragrance while keeping the same great taste, so soldiers can enjoy their Platogato without giving away their position.

Coming Soon..

Tags: Platatac
Posted in Field Gourmet | 5 Comments »

US Marine Corps to Assess Boots at Parris Island

Saturday, March 31st, 2018

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —

In an effort to continually improve the clothing and equipment Marines are issued, Marine Corps Systems Command will conduct an assessment to see if lighter boots can improve recruit performance. Plans are to compare two lighter boots to the Marine Corps Combat Boot during a recruit training cycle at Parris Island.

One boot, the Danner Reckoning Hot Weather Boot was authorized for optional wear by Marine Corps Systems Command in 2017.

“The feedback we’ve received from Marines on the Reckoning boots, is positive,” said Todd Towles, project officer for the Clothing and Equipment Team at Marine Corps Systems Command. “The boots are lightweight, durable, and there’s virtually no break-in period.”

Now, program officials plan to compare the Reckoning and another relative newcomer—the Rocky Tropical boot. The Rocky Tropical performed well in jungle environments during a 2017 user evaluation with 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines in Hawaii.

U.S. Marine Corps recruits of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, march during a six-mile conditioning hike on Parris Island, South Carolina. In an effort to continually improve the clothing and equipment Marines are issued, Marine Corps Systems Command will conduct an assessment to see if lighter boots can improve recruit performance. Plans are to compare two lighter boots to the Marine Corps Combat Boot during a recruit training cycle at Parris Island. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Jacob)

The program office will issue 700 Reckoning boots and 700 Rocky Tropical boots to male and female recruits. Half of the Danner and half of the Rocky will go to a male company and remaining boots will be issued to a female company.

The purpose of the assessment is to do a comparison between the Rocky and Reckoning and the Marine Corps Combat Boot to see if there is a decrease in lower extremity injuries.

The MCCB has been in the Corps’ inventory since 2001 and is a seabag issue item.

The three-month assessment is planned to take place this summer, Towles said.

By Kaitlin Kelly, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | Marine Corps Systems Command

SSD Note:

This is the Danner Reckoning.

This is the Rocky Jungle Boot.

Posted in Boots, Guest Post, MARCORSYSCOM | 17 Comments »

Innovation Showdown awards top prizes to Bounce Imaging, Veterans MFG and DetectaChem

Saturday, March 31st, 2018

COLLEGE STATION – Three companies won the top prizes in the “Under Fire Response Innovation Showdown,” an event which drew 20 innovative public safety technologies to College Station and Disaster City®. The winners were Bounce Imaging, Veterans MFG and DetectaChem. They were among the nine companies who made it to the final round in the two-day competition, and demonstrated their technologies for first responders at Disaster City.

The Product Development Center at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) hosted the event, which invited 20 companies from 11 states and Switzerland to pitch their products before a panel of judges on March 8-9 and compete for cash prizes.

First place winner was Bounce Imaging of Buffalo, NY, which has developed a softball-sized, 360-degree camera that first responders could toss into a hostage situation or other hostile event to give them an inside view of the incident.

Veterans MFG of Katy, TX, has developed lightweight body armor and bullet-resistant products for first responders.

DetectaChem of Stafford, TX, has a product that detects trace amounts of a drug using a swab kit and a smartphone application, allowing responders to analyze a drug sample in the field.

In addition to the top prizes, three companies were awarded in-kind services by Esri, Paragon Innovations and Ricochet Manufacturing. The companies who won those awards are RSQ Systems, HAAS Alert and Veterans MFG.

Many company spokespersons said they were excited about the opportunity to showcase their product’s capabilities in front of potential users of the technology.

“It was an open forum for a wide variety of technologies,” said Caleb Holt, Manager of the Product Development Center. “The event focused on technologies that are targeted to provide first responders with a way to complete their tasks faster, more efficiently and/or safer for both the responders and citizens.”

He said the goals of the event were to expose first responders to emerging technologies that they could use in the real world to make their jobs easier and safer, to show companies the resources and facilities available at TEEX’s Disaster City, and to build the Product Development Center’s network of partners throughout the industry and first responder communities.

The next Under Fire event is being planned for March 2019.

About the TEEX Product Development Center

The Product Development Center, a center within the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, helps manufacturers, product developers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses move products from an idea or concept to the global marketplace. The Center serves as a gateway to the engineering expertise, experienced market analysts, laboratories, and real-world facilities of The Texas A&M University System in order to ensure a product or technology stays on the path to commercialization. Using the proven process of THINK | BUILD | SELL, the PDC helps companies develop methodologies, recruit subject-matter experts, assess partnerships, and test and evaluate their products. The Center also offers TEEX TESTED™, a third-party, unbiased testing and validation that a technology performs reliably in real-world conditions. teexpdc.com

Posted in Disruptive Tech, Press Release | Comments Off on Innovation Showdown awards top prizes to Bounce Imaging, Veterans MFG and DetectaChem

ADS Ft Bragg Warfighter Expo – Safariland Liberator HP

Saturday, March 31st, 2018

Safariland showed me their new Liberator HP which offers human speech isolation and Near Field Communications (NFC) wireless firmware updatable signal processors. What means to you is protection from impulse/gunfire noise and high decibel constant background audio, while advanced sound localization provides maximum situational awareness and sound detection.

Based on their Liberator IV and V headsets, the Liberator HP utilizes the same Glass polymer injection- molded Earcups and electronic hearing protection. In fact, it can be converted to either a single or dual comms headset. Better yet, it runs for up to 400 hours on either a single AAA or single CR123A battery.

Offered in Black or Coyote with over-the-headband.

www.safariland.com

Tags: Safariland
Posted in Comms | 1 Comment »

ADS Ft Bragg Warfighter Expo – Step In Visor by Ops-Core

Friday, March 30th, 2018

Ops-Core has refined their Step-In Visor which is designed to work specifically with the geometry of the FAST line of helmets. The visor works like goggles, but without an edge seal, providing eye protection. It also sits very close to the eyes so they can be used with night vision systems.