April 2023 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for April, 2023

USSF Completes Service Dress Uniform Fit Tests

Monday, April 24th, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Space Force completed its final service dress uniform fit test March 27-31 at the Pentagon. The initial fit test was conducted February 13-17 at Peterson Space Force Base.

Fit tests are an essential process in developing the prototype’s sizing and fit. One hundred Guardians worldwide were selected as fit test participants, an important milestone in delivering a first-rate uniform.

“From the word ‘go’ we have been committed to keeping Guardian feedback at the forefront of developing the service dress,” said Col. James Jenkins, director of the Office of Change Management Team. “We know Guardians are excited for a uniform they can call their own and we are accelerating as quickly as possible to deliver a product they can wear with pride.”

The Space Force unveiled its initial service dress uniform prototype in September 2021, quickly followed by a uniform roadshow garnering Guardian feedback.

“We used Guardian focus groups and roadshows to narrow service dress design options,” said Wade Yamada, U.S. Space Force Director of Staff deputy. “We listened intently to Guardian design and fit requests. In many ways, Guardians helped select our current service dress design.”

The next step in developing the service dress uniform is the wear test to assess the durability, functionality and comfort of the prototype. The wear test will begin in summer 2023.

During the wear test, Guardians will wear the uniform three times a week and provide detailed feedback assessing the prototypes.

“We are excited by Guardians’ input into their future uniform,” said Catherine Lovelady, Office of Change Management Team uniform lead. “We are passionate about ensuring our members continue to have a voice in shaping a unique Space Force uniform.”

Guardian feedback will continually be at the forefront of uniform development as the service works toward delivering to the force in late 2025.

Story by SAF/PA Staff Writer, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Photos by Andy Morataya

Posted in Clothing, Guest Post, Profession of Arms, Space | 7 Comments »

Team Gold Tip Takes Top Spots at ASA Fort Benning Pro/AM

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

Gold Tip’s Randy Morocco Wins Second ASA Tour Event in a Row

MADISON, Miss. – April 17, 2023 – Gold Tip®, an industry leader in carbon arrows and bolts, congratulates team archers for another string of impressive finishes at the 2023 ASA Fort Benning Pro/AM, which took place in Fort Benning, Georgia. Gold Tip archers were successful in claiming first place wins in both the Senior Pro Known and Men’s Unknown Pro classes plus multiple other podium finishes.

The second stop on the ASA 3-D National Tour, Fort Benning is also the biggest venue in 3-D archery with more than 1,700 shooters registered from across the U.S. and world. A relative newcomer to Team Gold Tip, Randy Morocco sealed his second victory on the ASA circuit, again winning first place in the new Senior Pro Known class after claiming the same title at the ASA Foley competition. Throughout the match, Morocco shot Gold Tip Triple X Pros. Teammate and staff manager Tim Gillingham came in third in the same event.

“Randy has been shooting great and it’s good to have him on Team Gold Tip,” Gillingham said. “I tried hard to beat him this weekend, but he wasn’t giving up any of the lead he had gained.”

New to the pro podium was Gold Tip staffer Hunter Hogan, who had an outstanding second-place performance in the Men’s Unknown Pro class. Meanwhile, in the Men’s Known Pro, where some of the best shooters in the sport compete, Gold Tip/Bee Stinger™ pros Lane Brandt and Alex Taylor took second and third respectively after an incredibly tight shoot-off.

In the Women’s Pro class, staffer Lindsay Christensen claimed third place, while in the Senior Pro Unknown class, Joe Pitt also took home third place.

To learn more about Gold Tip and Bee Stinger, check out goldtip.com and beestinger.com.

Posted in Press Release, Shooting Sports | Comments Off on Team Gold Tip Takes Top Spots at ASA Fort Benning Pro/AM

SPARTANAT Presents: “On Tour: FROG.PRO workshop visit”

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

SPARTANAT’s ON TOUR: FROG.PRO workshop visit was organized finally posted to their site at www.spartanat.com/2023/02/on-tour-werkstattbesuch-frog-pro in their native German language. This is a translation of that article. They’ve been gracious enough to share it with our readers.

ON TOUR: FROG.PRO workshop visit

We, too, have undertaken an Italian journey. No, not like Goethe, who traveled south of the Alpine ridge from 1786 to 1788. We were only there for two days and only got as far as Parma. And there not because of the famous culinary – although we can’t complain there – but because of the good gear. FROG.PRO, the Armani among Italian gear manufacturers, is at home there, we were with them in the workshop.

How Gear is created? Gear is created from material. Also at FROG.PRO, ten minutes from downtown Parma and yet outside the city, the raw material is important and the stocked warehouse is the basis that gear can be produced in different materials and colors.

But the sum of the parts is then more than the parts for themselves. FROG.PRO relied on laser cutting early on, and that shows in the workshop equipment. When you see the parts, you know where you stand.

This is what a panel looks like on the computer that controls the laser cutter. Here, the viewer can already recognize FROG.PRO’s characteristic design language: MOLLE with point openings.

And this is what it looks like when the suction stops working and the lid of the large laser computer opens. You can never have enough MOLLE …

The Italians produce on a daily basis. And in addition to the laser cut parts, all the other ingredients are added. They all add up to a whole: this will be Orthos Med Pouches.

Other color fancy? No, this is still not fashion, but MOLLE for IFAK bags for rescue forces, which are in hi-vis eye-catching colors.

Only who must come and everything exactly and exkat assemble. At the industrial machines sit seamstresses who build from the individual parts, the gear that you all know. Here again is a civilian IFAK in the works.

Work that requires a lot of patience and accuracy, because equipment consists of many parts and is constructed step by step. Until the FROG.PRO product is ready.

Also still there: classic MOLLE straps that provide mounting options on equipment.

And not to forget: lots of plastic parts with special functions.

These are some jobs that FROG.PRO has created. All Gear is produced locally by local workers.

At the end comes the shipping. What is ready is packed. Before that, the quality control department takes a close look at everything and makes sure that everything is as good as you expect from FROG.PRO.

At the same time, the Italian equipment manufacturer has a wide range that wants to get to the man: here is the very special Sniper CORE Chest Rig. It has been designed with special forces, we will soon present it to you separately.

Other items are more mundane, belts for example. Below the inner belt, above the equipment belt and above the padding that can be velcroed into the belt, which prevents the War Belt from slipping when worn over the jacket.

And, of course, plenty of different pouches for all the purposes you need to use.

“The Italian has a deeper feeling for the high dignity of art than other nations,” Goethe wrote in his famous Italian travelogue. Sounds pompous today, but it has a kernel of truth that can be found not only in the many fashion companies in the area and Milan and Parma. Fabio Casa, the founder and the soul of FROG.PRO, brings functionality and style together and both together result in his designs best equipment from Italy: FROG.PRO just.

FROG.PRO im Internet

SPARTANAT: www.spartanat.com

Posted in Guest Post, Industry, International | Comments Off on SPARTANAT Presents: “On Tour: FROG.PRO workshop visit”

Registration Opens Nationally for the 5th Annual Stem to Stone Races

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

Virtual and in-person options allow participants to join in from anywhere while helping sponsor veterans’ wreaths for the participating location of their choosing!

COLUMBIA FALLS, ME — April 18, 2022 — Today, Wreaths Across America (WAA) proudly announces that registration is open for its annual Stem to Stone Races. Both in-person and virtual options are available to participants. For each race registration a veteran’s wreath is sponsored and will honor a hero on National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Registrations are open for both the virtual race as well as the annual live Stem to Stone Races scheduled on Saturday, July 29, 2023. The virtual and in-person options allow participants to join in from anywhere while helping sponsor veterans’ wreaths for the participating location of their choosing. The live, in-person event will take place in Columbia Falls, Maine, on the tip lands where balsam is grown and harvested each year to make the veterans’ wreaths that are then placed on the headstones of our nation’s heroes.

Race options for early registration (prices will increase July 1 through race day):

• 1 Mile Kids Fun Run (In-person only) – $17.00

• 5K In-person – $45.00

• 5K Virtual – $45.00

• 10K In-person – $50.00

• 10K Virtual – $50.00

Click here to register or learn more about this event.

Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/563857188924219

“This our fifth year holding these races, and to date we’ve been really happy with the turnout, not only in Maine but across the country,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, WAA. “The Stem to Stone Race is a great way to stay active, be healthy, get involved in the community and do something meaningful for people who have done so much for us. We encourage everyone to get involved either virtually or in-person, and help share the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach.”

Every race registration sponsors a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. You can personalize your efforts by designating a local Sponsorship Group or Participating Location you would like your sponsored wreath allocated to during the registration process. Just have the location or group ID available during checkout.

These races serve to help further community awareness and understanding of WAA’s yearlong mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those that served, and Teach the next generation about the value of freedom.

To learn more go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/19520/News/944

If you would like to register go to runsignup.com/Race/ME/ColumbiaFalls/StemtoStoneRace.

Posted in Charity, Fundraising | Comments Off on Registration Opens Nationally for the 5th Annual Stem to Stone Races

AFSOC Hosts Semi-Annual SAF/FM Executive Session

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Carlos Rodgers, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller, recently met with senior leaders here to discuss the strategic issues and priorities impacting the financial management career field.

The meeting was hosted by Air Force Special Operations Command at the Joint Operations Planning Center for members of the Executive Session.

“The AFSOC team provided exceptional planning support and created an environment that drove the success of this session,” said Rodgers.

During the three-day executive session, FM leaders engaged in detailed discussions on the future design of financial management functions. The participants covered topics such as resource management optimization, budgeting in the garrison and deployed environments, and enhancing customer service.

“We need to achieve these goals while balancing audit requirements, automating processes, improving data analytics capabilities, and maintaining a highly trained, diverse, and inclusive workforce.” said Rodgers.

Events like these can help improve the future of the Air Force by ensuring commanders have the resources they need to properly handle the mission in today’s shifting operational and constrained financial environment.

Additionally, timely and accurate delivery of financial services allows Airmen and Guardians to focus on the mission instead of the cost of how to accomplish the mission.

Furthermore, these types of events can also improve business systems and processes that will lead to accurate financial statements, thereby driving increased confidence with Congress and the American taxpayer.

“The overarching intent of the session is to improve the delivery of financial management services and decision support across the DAF,” said Rodgers. “With a focus on driving progress toward the vision set out in the DAF FM Strategic Plan, the attendees reviewed the progress, re-vectored as necessary, and established a clear way ahead for each line of effort.”

Insights gained from this executive session are integrated into AFSOC and the Air Force’s overall strategy and operations.

Jeff Decocker, AFSOC director of Financial Management and Comptroller, pointed out that AFSOC stands at a strategic inflection point.

He also stated that the challenges that AFSOC face include great power competition, tightening fiscal constraints, and the accelerating pace of technological change. This ensures that AFSOC will overcome those obstacles, it starts with Airmen because they form the core of Air Force competitive advantage.

AFSOC efforts are focused on providing forces ready to generate advantage in competition, enable the joint force in conflict, and respond to crises while remaining engaged in countering violent extremist organizations.

“The Department of the Air Force must invest in operational capabilities that protect our ability to deter conflict and project power against pacing challenges,” said Rodgers. “Financial management is at the core of our ability to accelerate these investments.”

Innovation is an integral part of the Air Commando culture and that extends to the Comptroller community.

Hurlburt Field is leading an initiative to improve financial customer service across the Air Force. The 1st Special Operations Comptroller Squadron created an appointment-based system enabling a virtual face-to-face meeting between the customer and the member using Microsoft Teams. This innovative approach gives time back to the customer enhancing mission accomplishment.

AFSOC FM is also partnering with our U.S. Army and United States Special Operations Command counterparts to implement financial approaches to impose cost, reduce purchasing power, and decrease our adversaries’ operational efficiency. Understanding how our adversaries move, store, and use resources can be a powerful deterrent for our commanders to apply down range.

Many innovations are being brought to fruition by Airmen, Guardians, and senior leaders throughout the Air and Space Force.

“The DAF FM Executive Session is a critical element in maintaining the momentum toward building the future FM organizations and capabilities needed by the Department of the Air Force,” said Rodgers. “This executive session was an essential step in improving financial management across the Air and Space Force.”

By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alysa Knott

1st Special Operations Wing

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | Comments Off on AFSOC Hosts Semi-Annual SAF/FM Executive Session

SOFWERX Announces Science and Technology Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 23.2 and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 23.B Pre-Release

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

The USSOCOM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs will soon be accepting submissions for the technology areas of interest below.

Special Area of Interest

PHASE I:
SOCOM23B-001: AI/ML Aided Aviation Sensors for Cognitive and Decision Optimization (STTR)
SOCOM232-002: Hokkien Low Density Language System (SBIR)
SOCOM232-003: Higher Density Handheld Radio Batteries (SBIR)

DIRECT TO PHASE II:
SOCOM232-D004: Digital Augmentation for Analog Systems (SBIR)

On 26 April and 04 May, SOFWERX will host virtual Q&A sessions for the areas of interest.

Submissions Open 17 May 2023

For more information, visit events.sofwerx.org/sbir23-2_sttr23-b

Posted in Research, SOF | Comments Off on SOFWERX Announces Science and Technology Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 23.2 and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 23.B Pre-Release

Casca – The Eternal Mercenary

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

We first mentioned the Casca series in 2013 and we like to bring the Casca books up every once in awhile because they were such a big part of growing up in the early 80s. Plus, every time we bring it up, a few new readers discover the series for themselves. The bug has even bitten me a second time. I recently began experiencing the series a second time through Audible.

Titular character of the Casca series of books was was the legendary Roman Legionary Casca Rufio Longinus who drove the lance into the side of Christ to relieve his suffering while he was crucified on the cross on Golgotha. His action resulted in Jesus transforming him into an immortal mercenary who must fight from conflict to conflict, until the second coming. The first novel featured some exciting stuff, and as a kid, I couldn’t put it down. It’s amazing to believe that the series ultimately spawned 56 volumes.

Did you devour this book like I did? If so, did you know that the Casca images by artist Darrel Millsap on the cover of every title were based on this photo of author Barry Sadler?

And, did you know that same Special Forces Veteran Barry Sadler also wrote and performed the song “The Ballad of the Green Berets” which hit Number 1 on the charts in the Spring of 1966? If you’ve ever served at Ft Bragg, you’ve heard that diddy a time or two.

Although Sadler passed away in 1989 of complications following a gun shot wound, the Casca-series of books carried on and still boasts a website dedicated to the series.

We recently git ahold of some additional photos of Sadler, wearing his signature M43 field cap and posing beside his vintage Schwimwagen.

If you enjoy retro topics like this, be sure to follow us on Instagram.

Posted in Morale | 6 Comments »

445th AW Participates in Total-Force Trauma Care Training?

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

CINCINNATI (AFNS) —

Airmen with the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron integrated with the Center for the Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills program to conduct trauma and critical care training at the Cincinnati Municipal Airport April 6.

The five-person AES team helped train critical care air transport teams who are part of the C-STARS program at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center while also maintaining aeromedical evacuation proficiency.

“Today was about getting CCATT crews to experience flying on the plane and what it’s like to be up in the air with patients,” said Capt. Brianne Koessel, 445th AES flight nurse. “It’s a lot different taking care of patients on the ground versus up in the air where it’s definitely a lot tighter quarters and limited supplies, and you definitely have to manage your resources very effectively for you to be successful in taking care of these patients.”

CCATT Airmen transported six mannequin patients from the UC medical center and provided care for them while working through several situations.

“There are different scenarios that will happen during phases of flight,” said Capt. Josh Boswell, C-STARS CCATT instructor. “There are different stressors that come along with patient care that happens on takeoff, once you get to altitude, on landing. There are different things that will be thrown at them for them to mitigate and respond to in flight, depending on what’s going on with their patient and the injury pattern that this patient has come with.

“They’ll have to be able to work through those problems and figure out what to do to safely keep that patient going through a flight,” Boswell said, who is also a critical care and emergency nurse. “Then we will land. We’ll load them back up into the bus. We’ll transition back here [UC Medical Center], and then they will hand off to a trauma bay as a simulated role for the facility.”

The Airmen exercised trauma care aboard an Air National Guard C-130J Hercules from the 123rd Airlift Wing out of Louisville, Kentucky, while also experiencing a combat takeoff and landing.

“It’s a lot different being in a simulator versus being on the ground,” Koessel said. “We did those tactical maneuvers, so we definitely felt things a little bit differently. Even if you’re in a fuselage where you have it all set up, you feel the stresses of flight because you get dehydrated a lot faster. You feel that vibration. It can tire you out.”

The training wasn’t only beneficial for medical Airmen but for the C-130 Guard crew as well.

“It keeps us up to speed in case we have to do this real world,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Geary, 165th Operations Support Squadron aircraft loadmaster.

Speaking about his unit, Geary explained, “We were doing an exercise in Guam recently, and we actually had somebody injured and had to do an evacuation of this injured person. Training like this does get us prepared for stuff in real world.”

This was the first time the 445th Airlift Wing trained alongside the C-STARS program with the hopes of more in the future.

“It’s really cool to have that partnership established,” Koessel explained.

A partnership that extends past a Reserve aeromedical evacuation unit.

“We had active duty. We had Guard. We had Reserve,” Koessel continued. “It was really a total force kind of thing today. It was really neat”

The C-STARS program is a 14-day course at UC that trains between 12 to 15 Air Force medical professionals each course with 14 classes held annually.

Story by Amanda Dick, 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Photos by MSgt Patrick O’Reilly

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Medical | Comments Off on 445th AW Participates in Total-Force Trauma Care Training?