According to our friends at the German language blog, “Strategie & Technik” the Seebataillon der Deutschen Marine has awarded the Boarding Specialist (Bordeinsatzsoldat) Qualification Badge for the first time since its creation in 2015. It is meant to designate fully qualified boarding team leaders.
Read the full details here.
Petzl’s Vertex line of climbing helmets is available in Grey and Black. The Vertex Best has no venting, while the Vertex Vent, like its name, has vents. Both features a six-point textile suspension and CenterFit adjustment system to keep the helmet centered on the head. Additionally, the Vertex helmets will accept the Petzl ULTRA VARIO headlamp in front and back slots.
The Vertex Best is certified CE*, ANSI Z89.1-2009 type I classe E, while the Vertex Vent is certified CE EN 12492 *, ANSI Z89.1-2009 type I classe C, EAC.
petzl.com/US/en/Tactical/Helmets
Chafing is normally not a common issue when it comes to diving but throw in a long boat ride or running around on the beach after you have swam to shore and have to do a recon and you have not or don’t plan to change out of your wetsuits. Add in some sand from swimming thru the surf and this is when chafing can occur. Generally, you will not notice it until you are a couple hours in. Chafing causes an uncomfortable, sensitive patch of skin or a rash in areas where sand has gotten into your wetsuit or where seams/ edges are in continuous contact with the skin. 
To help prevent this you should try and get thru the surf as fast as posable. I know that is easier said than done, but the longer you are in the surf the better change you have of sand getting where you don’t want it. A dive skin or rash guard will help but it is not the end all answer you can do all this and still get chaffing. I have heard of people wearing pantyhose (you can also use them on your gun to help keep sand out) for this. Make sure your wetsuit, has good seams on the inside of the suit and the edges of the neck, arms, and legs. Many wetsuit manufacturers employ methods such as taping or blind-stitching that prevent the rough edges from coming into contact with your skin. I know most anyone that has had to run after being wet and sandy know how to stop chaffing. You can also use some of the anti-chaffing stuff that is out there for runners and surfers. Both can used together to help fight this.
It is important to take off your wetsuit as soon as possible after you get out of the water. Also don not pee in your suit. Be sure to always rinse your wetsuit in freshwater right after the dive as this will help get the salt out of it and the help avoid bacteria buildup that can lead to skin irritations down the road. If you are diving or swimming in water that is really bad (like say a cove in the Hampton roads area) you will want to soak your wetsuit in a betadine solution to help kill whatever might grow in there.
If you are already suffering from chafing there are a number of topical solutions that can help reduce the discomfort, like anti-Monkey butt( for the long zodiac rides), Butt-paste, and body glide to name a few. Be careful not to leave some of the paste on it you have to go back thru the surf as it will just help sand stick to it or even products designed for infant diaper rash.
Presented by SSD Sponsor SCUBAPRO.
Stevensville, MD (March 20, 2019) – Federal Resources, a leading government solutions provider, announced today that they have expanded their training portfolio with the creation of a new initiative specifically designed to address the growing drug crisis in the United States. The Federal Resources CounterDrug Training Team leverages Federal Resources’ arsenal of the latest, innovative equipment and training solutions to support federal, state and local law enforcement efforts against the war on illegal drugs.
Established in 2019, the CounterDrug training program’s mission is to educate law enforcement teams about the evolving threat climate by utilizing a multi-layered approach; instructors will demonstrate the most innovative technologies, best practice policies and procedures to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to respond effectively to a drug related incident, then test new skills in hands-on, actual agent detection skill stations. Federal Resources has combined the best in-class instructors, with our manufacturer partners fielding the most modern equipment available, to deliver a scientifically validated curriculum that is reinforced with realistic hands-on training.
“We want our students to be not only competent, but also confident. Federal Resources’ focus is on expanding our support of federal, state, and local teams through this new training program. Topics covered in this course enable the personnel on the front lines and in government agencies to not only receive critical information regarding the use, spread, and effects of drugs, but also give them a hands-on experience so that they’ll be fully prepared for whatever drug related call comes in next. This course gives officers a huge boost of confidence in their equipment and procedures; they learn to safely field test these substances in the classroom and then take what they’ve learned to safely mitigate hazardous situations and save lives” said Gary Sharp, Director of Training at Federal Resources.
Federal Resources Training division offers 10 other courses, each with a unique focus and objective, that are relevant to the most pressing concerns that responders face today. With courses that extend from radiological response training to HazMat/WMD exposure and synthetic opioids, each course teaches students how to respond to a number of threat scenarios safely and efficiently.
For more information on Federal Resources Training course offerings, please visit us at www.federalresources.com/training-expertise.
The EXOTAC ripSPOOL is a lightweight field repair kit that can also be used for multiple survival and bushcraft tasks, such as first aid, fire starting, fishing and navigation.
It incorporates 60ft of 30lb Test Braided Line, 50in of Heavy Duty Repair Tape, #16 Sail Needle and is Attached via 550 Firecord Lanyard.
LAAD 2019, Rio, Brazil, April 2-5, Hall 4, Stand P.60
March 28, 2019. Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), an SK Group member and a leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for law enforcement agencies, governments, and armies around the world – will showcase, at LAAD 2019, its full portfolio of advanced, well known and successfully deployed world-wide weapons. In focus will be the leading NEGEV NG7- 7.62mm caliber Light Machine Gun (LMG) with semi-automatic mode and the advanced TAVOR-X95 bullpup rifle.
“Both the military and law-enforcement markets in Brazil are important to IWI. We are looking at soon introducing both these markets with our latest, most advanced developments, specifically suited to the Brazilian forces’ needs”, says Mr. Ronen Hamudot, SK Group and IWI’s V.P. Marketing and Sales. “IWI provides military and police forces (Policia Militar) worldwide with a wide selection of weaponry solutions for various challenges and missions-range of the modern battlefield.)”, he says. “The Latin American market is one in focus for us. We are looking forward to reinforcing IWI’s ties with this market and expand our activities in the region providing it with new and improved products”.
The NEGEV NG7 is deployed in dozens of countries around the world including Israel, and has been combat-proven in a number of battle arenas. It is based on the NEGEV 5.56mm LMG and designed to meet the modern battlefields requirements. The NEGEV NG7 includes a semi-automatic firing mode that enables accurate fire in combat situations, including ambush and Close Quarter Battle (CQB), when shooting via telescope and is the only 7.62 LMG caliber with single bullet firing capability. In automatic mode, its rate of fire is over 700 rounds per minute. Exceptionally lightweight (weighing less than 8 kg), it can be fired from a variety of mounts, including special mounts on helicopters, land vehicles, and naval vessels. Features include a gas regulator for additional power in harsh conditions such as mud and dirt, tritium night sights, Picatinny rails for optical and other devices, and four safety mechanisms to minimize unwanted fire. The NEGEV NG7 – which delivers remarkable MTBF and a long service life – is drum or belt-chain fed, fires from an open bolt position, and is easily dismantled for maintenance in the field.
The TAVOR-X95 rifle is an innovative firearm that was created and developed in close collaboration with elite units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). As the standard IDF assault rifle it is exceptionally reliable in even the harshest weather conditions, and complies with the most stringent NATO standards for small arms. The TAVOR-X95 is offered in three calibers – 5.56mm, 300 BLK and 9mm – with an option for a 9mm conversion kit. The TAVOR-X95 platform incorporates a tri-rail forearm covered by three removable vented rail covers. The TAVOR-style grip is modular and can be easily converted to a pistol grip as well. The charging handle has also been relocated closer to the shooter’s center mass and the ambidextrous magazine release, which enables a firing hand magazine release.
Available in Black, FDE, and OD Green, the TAVOR-X95 features a lightweight trigger pull, weighing around 3 kilos. The rifle can be purchased with compatible sights from Meprolight – either the MEPRO M21 Day/Night Self-Illuminated Reflex Sight or the MEPRO RDS or RDS PRO Electronic Weapon Red Dot Sight.
The Marine Corps is enhancing an existing forensics exploitation capability used to differentiate between friend or foe on the battlefield.
The Corps is updating the Expeditionary Forensics Exploitation Capability, or EFEC, with newer IT technology. The EFEC is a portable forensic laboratory used by Law Enforcement Battalions to recognize, collect, analyze, preserve and store data.
The EFEC was fielded in 2013. Since then, the Identity Operations Team at Marine Corps Systems Command has decided to update the some of the system’s IT equipment.
“We’re making the IT equipment more adaptable for today,” said Sarah Swift, Identity Operations Team Lead. “We’re moving at the speed of relevance.”
Maj. David Bain, EFEC project officer, believes employing more up-to-date equipment can benefit Marines on the battlefield.
“We want to improve the lethality of Marines in the battlespace by collecting and sharing data faster than we were previously able to,” said Bain.
The EFEC is organic to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and capable of exploiting forensic material to support forensically enabled intelligence. This includes device and digital media analysis, latent and patent print, DNA, and the collection and identification of other elements that can be forensically tied to activities.
The Identity Operations Team is working to integrate the EFEC with other intelligence systems to give Marines the ability to gain insight and information of immediate tactical value on the battlefield.
“EFEC complements and integrates with the other Identity Operations capabilities, such as Identity Dominance System-Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Intelligence Agency Identity Intelligence Analytical Cell, or MCIA I2AC,” said Swift.
The MCIA I2AC reviews the IDS-MC and EFEC user’s submissions and other collected data to provide direct support to the submitting Marines. The I2AC rapidly produces analysis reports and related products for persons of interest and shares this information, with the collected data, throughout the Defense Forensics and Biometrics Enterprise.
MCSC is assessing science and technology agile acquisition efforts now to develop and field the next increment of EFEC capabilities by fiscal year 2021.
“Marines want more expeditionary, rugged and lightweight equipment with fewer pieces, and we are making that happen with the EFEC,” said Bain.
The Importance of EFEC
EFEC is a portable, expeditionary forensic exploitation laboratory that includes four collection kits. These kits provide squad-level tactical forensic collection capability for proper collection and preservation of evidence.
“The EFEC currently includes a chem kit, lab kit, media kit and site kit,” said Bain. “Together, the kits enable Marine operators to gather important forensic information on site to determine if a person of interest is a suspect or an ally.”
The chem kit allows operators to detect and identify hazardous and forensically relevant chemicals. The lab kit helps Marines process digital evidence, and the mobile kit helps to analyze and recover information from mobile devices.
Lastly, the site kit enables the operator to gather key forensic information, such as taking fingerprints and preserving liquids, at any location of interest.
MAGTF expeditionary forensics is one of three pillars within the USMC Identity Operations Strategy 2020 Implementation Plan. To fulfill the Marine Corps Operating Concept, MCSC continues to seek and provide Marines relevant, innovative and rapid solutions to enhance warfighting capabilities, Swift said.
“It’s important that MCSC continues to advance with technology and we stay agile with our incremental acquisition approach to evolve current capabilities,” said Swift.
Story courtesy of MARCORSYSCOM. Matt Gonzales contributed to this story. Photos by Pfc. Kindo Go.
