I keep hearing that no one can source made in USA caps. Meet Hardweather. Their caps aren’t just made in the USA, they are made in The Black Hills of South Dakota?.
Their two styles are the Camper and 5 Panel caps. Granted, they aren’t cheap, but that’s because they are made from great materials in small batches.
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CHAPMAN TRAINING ANNEX, Texas—The Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron, SWHPS, recently marked its second anniversary.
The SWHPS is the first squadron of its kind in the Department of Defense, and its sole purpose is to provide Special Warfare Airmen and cadre embedded/holistic Human Performance, HP support.
“We reached our two-year milestone as a squadron and I cannot tell you how immensely proud I am of the team,” said Lt. Col. Shawnee A. Williams, SWHPS, commander. “With all of the hard work done to stand up the SWHPS, I am excited to see this capability propel forward every day!”
The SWHPS mission statement is to optimize the performance, durability, and sustainability of the Special Warfare human weapon system by taking an interdisciplinary approach toward the advancement of science and technology throughout the SW operator’s lifespan.
The organizational structure is made up of five geographically separated units, GSU, across the United States coast-to-coast. Within this construct are nine human performance flights supporting 80 Special Warfare cadre, 500 support staff, and 1,100 Special Warfare students annually.
“Our team sets the foundation for building physically superior, mentally sharper, and spiritually stronger warriors who will go into harm’s way to tackle our nation’s most dangerous and difficult tasks,” said Col. George Buse, Special Warfare Human Performance Support Group, commander. “To this end, SWHPS focuses on being brilliant at instilling HP principles in SW Airmen. We also leverage technological advances, research capabilities, and a holistic approach for the sake of further integrating and professionalizing the SW training enterprise,” said Buse.
Some key accomplishments of the SWHPS include standing up the first SW Human Performance purpose-built facility and hence named the Airman 1st Class Baker Combat Conditioning Center at the Panama City Dive School, Panama City, Florida. This facility occupies 13K square feet, $1.3 million in performance equipment, and serves a joint population of cadre and students with over 700K annual course hours.
At GSU location Yuma, Arizona, the first-ever embedded physical therapist for Army and Air Force personnel position has been established to increase access to care for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and injury prevention services for trainees and support staff members at Military Free Fall Courses.
Educationally, SWHPS has established a location at the U.S. Air Force Academy and took on their USAF Physical Therapy Fellowship Program for the Air Force Medical Service, and propelled it forward (was not under the old Battle Field Airmen Model). The Fellowship program has since graduated eight fellows with three more due to graduate in 2021 and has secured national accreditation.
Additionally, SWHPS has established a human performance footprint, across the training pipeline that employs integrated wearable technology, along with HP technician support. This footprint enables SWHPS to track parasympathetic/sympathetic system output, sleep, musculoskeletal health, velocity-based training, and water-based event metrics to include heart rate and physiological data points.
“Another first of its kind is the HP portfolio integration with the Learning Management System/database. The integration will soon provide continuity between training and operational units,” Williams said. “This allows for a human performance portfolio to travel with each member throughout their Special Warfare career.”
The Squadron’s Nutrition SMEs created the first stand-alone performance dining facility and now oversee all menus in support of the Special Warfare Preparatory Program. “It provides a much-needed ‘learning lab for trainees when they first enter Special Warfare,” said Maj. Miriam Seville, the lead dietitian for the Special Warfare Training Wing. “The trainees get to practice the sports nutrition principles that they learn in class and experiment with a wide variety of healthful foods and beverages that fuel and sustain optimal performance.
“This dining facility introduces trainees to what fueling the Human Weapon System can and should look like, and enables them to build habits here that will support them throughout their training and into operational status,” she said.
In November of 2020, the SWHPS graduated the first Air Force Institute of Technology Performance Nutrition Fellow, who now brings world-class nutrition capability, guidance, and knowledge to Special Warfare programming.
Williams added a final thought on the accomplishments of the program, “Over the past two years, SWHPS has set the foundation for an integrated approach to building and maintaining a human weapon system. We have taken a purposeful and tailored approach to embedded HP and coupled it with real-time physiological feedback to the trainees and are also expanding care to the cadre,” she said.
“The future of this organization will be to shape not only Air Force, but DOD policy to enable a lifecycle platform for the SW operator. The SW Airmen will not just experience high-level/holistic HP support in the training pipeline, but rather, they will see it woven into their career field education and training plans, and expanded services offered in their operational units,” she said. “This then lends itself to the creation or standup of a human weapon system program office just like we have for our hardware.
“We are truly on the cusp of a cohesive training environment where physiological, cognitive, and resiliency elements are assessed weekly, if not daily, to propel the individual to their highest potential versus a binary reactive environment,” Williams concluded.
Members of the Special Warfare Training Wing provide initial training for all U.S. Air Force Special Warfare training AFSCs, to include, Combat Controllers, Pararescue, Special Reconnaissance, and Tactical Air Control Party Airmen.
To learn more about SR Airmen or other U.S. Air Force Special Warfare career opportunities, go to: www.airforce.com/careers/in-demand-careers/special-warfare.
By Andrew C. Patterson, Special Warfare Training Wing/ Public Affairs
Adept Armor, a new ballistic protection design and development company focused on the commercial market, tags Laura Burgess Marketing to help create brand awareness.
Carrollton, Texas (July 2021) – A new armor system engineering firm, Adept Armor, has signed Laura Burgess Marketing (LBM) to represent their public relations and media efforts.
Adept Armor is a company focused on providing civilians, private security, and rescue with state-of-the-art ballistic armor protection. Using leading-edge alloys, metals, and polymers to design and produce body armor, helmets, and other protective gear, Adept Armor’s products offer superior ballistic protection in innovative materials and designs to meet modern needs.
“It is always exciting to get a ringside seat on a new company and product launch,” Laura Burgess, president of Laura Burgess Marketing, said. “Adept Armor is truly a new paradigm in body armor companies, with a focus on the civilian market and really innovative products that are founded on Adept Armor’s highly technical and experienced team’s designs.”
LBM will work with Adept Armor to launch company news, new products, and social media platforms.
Adept Armor recently launched website introduces the public to their first line of body armor featuring a multi-curved titanium alloy plate that is bonded to a high-performance polyethylene backer, creating a body armor plate that has the strength and multi-hit capability traditional in steel body armor with the lighter weight and performance abilities of ceramic-composite body armor.
Interested in armor materials, systems, test methods and current threats? Check out Adept Armor’s incredible knowledgebase of information and glossary. Learn more about Adept Armor on their new website or follow them on Facebook.
Rampart has opened registration for their 2021 Range Day & Expo to be held 28 September at the Stittsville Range in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
I have gone for the past several years (it wasn’t held last year due to COVID) and if you’re in Canada, it is absolutely worth attending. Every year it gets bigger, and better.
• Connect with the largest gathering of tactical suppliers in Canada
• Get hands-on experience with the latest firearms, tactical equipment, and technology
• Over 65 vendors in attendance
• Active firing ranges to learn about and experience products yourself
• Talk with brand and product experts about specific requirements
• Meet with other industry personnel to discuss and share solutions and challenges
• Lunch and light refreshments will be provided
Of note: Guest access to the event is limited to active Military, Law Enforcement, and Corrections Personnel.
Register here.
This is a pre-production prototype of Emissary Development’s upcoming Paddle Shifter will make it easier to manipulate your pistol weapon light.
They are planning versions for the PL350, Streamlight TLR1, TLR7A and of course the Surefire X300 and all will be Holster Compatible.
TangoDown® Inc. is excited to announce the arrival of our newest vertical grip: the TD® M-LOK® Compatible Stubby Vertical Grip (BGV-ML1). Our patented mounting interface will easily attach to slotted rail systems and only requires one set screw for quick installation. The BGV-ML1 is made of the same durable material as our other vertical grips and will allow for many years of use.
Features:
– Only one set screw for installation
– Stainless steel fasteners with pre-applied Vibra-Tite™ thread locker
– Aircraft grade aluminum mount with Type III hard coat anodized finish
– Compact shape
– Compatible with slotted rail systems meeting M-LOK® TDP
To learn more about the BGV-ML1, visit: TangoDown M-LOK® Stubby Vertical Grip – BGV-ML1 – TangoDown
Color Availability: Black and Flat Dark Earth
MSRP: $41.95
Customer Questions: sales@tangodown.com
Join us on Instagram
*M-LOK is a registered trademark of Magpul® Industries Corp.
Over the past decade the Israeli Special Forces (SF) and Barrett Firearms have developed a special relationship leading to early adoption of Barrett models as well as the introduction of unique variants.
Barrett weapons first entered service in Israel in the early 1990’s when the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) SF procured few M82A1 samples for remote EOD work. Few years later in the mid-1990’s the weapon was mass issued to both regular and special units as an anti-material weapon. A decade later in 2008, the IDF adopted the H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 0.338LM as its first standard large caliber sniping platform, and most M82A1 was taken out of service.
IDF sniping platforms on display. Left – a Barrett M82A1, right – an H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 HTR (photo: IDF).
In the early 2010’s, YAMAM, Israel’s Tier 1 domestic counter terrorism and hostage rescue unit, was seeking a standard multi-caliber platform to replace a wide variety of sniping rifles used at the time, including PGM 7.62mm and 0.338LM rifles. With European manufactures’ continuous reluctance to provide small arms and subsequent parts support to Israel due to political reasons, the preference was to procure a U.S. made weapon. Eventually, in 2013 YAMAM selected the MRAD, making YAMAM one of the first units in the world to adopt it, alongside the Norwegian Special Forces, and years before its adoption by the U.S. military as the MK22.
YAMAM sniper armed with a Barrett MRAD during training (photo: IDF)
Few years later, the IDF SF were looking to replace both the H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 0.338LM, which was found to be less than ideal for hard military usage as well as the aging M24, which entered service in 1996 as the IDF standard issue 7.62mm sniper platform and was worn out after 20 years of intense service. Informed by the YAMAM successful experience MRAD, the IDF selected it, with the first rifles entering service in 2017.
IDF SF sniper armed with a Barrett MRAD during training (photo: IDF)
At the same time, the IDF SF had a unique need for a new integrally suppressed sniping platform. The platforms used at the time such as the PGM, were aging and lacking in parts support due to their European origin. The IDF SF approached Barrett with the problem, and within a short period of time Barrett provided a unique integrally suppressed variant.
IDF integrally suppressed Barrett MRAD on display (photo: Israeli MOD).
Finally, in recent years the IDF SF were looking to replace the KAC SR25 that entered service in the early 2000’s as a short-medium sniping / DMR type rifle, and were worn out after 20 years of intense service. Again Barrett proved to be a responsive partner and fast tracked its yet to be released REC10 7.62mm platform for trials. The IDF indeed ending up selecting the REC10 with the first SF units being issued the platform in 2020.
IDF Counter Terror School Instructor armed with a Barrett REC10 during training (photo: IDF).
With the adoption of the MRAD and the REC10, which are currently gradually replacing the H-S Precision Pro Series 2000, the M24 and the SR25 in service with the IDF SF, Barrett-made rifles are well positioned be the primary sniping platforms used by the IDF SF for years to come. It is still to be seen if either platform will be adopted and issued to regular IDF units, but as common with many militaries, weapons and gear initially used exclusively by SF units are sometimes cascaded to regular units few years later.
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Daniel is the editor of www.isayeret.com, a website dedicated to the Israeli Special Forces community, including units, weapons and gear.
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM PEO SOF Warrior (PEO-SW), will host a series of Assessment Events (AE) to identify solutions for:
1) Lightweight Machine Gun Medium (LMG-M)
2) Medium Range Gas Gun – Assault (MRGG-A)
3) Medium Range Gas Gun – Sniper (MRGG-S)
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by USSOCOM PEO-SW Subject Matter Experts. As such, the AE is considered competitive in the same manner as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit.
It will consist of four phases:
Phase 1 – 09 July 2021 to 02 August 2021 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE)
Phase 2 – 03 August 2021 to 10 August 2021 Downselect
Phase 3 – 31 August 2021 to 02 September 2021 Assessment Event (AE)
Phase 4 – Path Forward
Only Phase 4 is a live fire event. Up until that point, only technical merits will be evaluated so have your paperwork together. The performance spec for each weapon is coated at the links above.
SOCOM is kicking all of these AEs off simultaneously so they’ll have their hands full. If you plan to submit weapons to more than one category, or multiple candidates for any of the weapons sought by SOCOM, you must submit separate packages for each one. Additionally, you must submit by 2 August.
Quite frankly, the 338 NM Lightweight Machine Gun Medium is the greatest improvement in US small arms capability in over half a century. Not only is SOF interested, but so is the Marine Corps. Although the Army is currently concentrating on next generation squad weapons, this capability for the Platoon is just a few years out. This is the opportunity to get your solution evaluated.
For more information, visit events.sofwerx.org/sofweapons
