New from Strike Industries is serialized frame that comes fully assembled with GLOCK 19 Gen 3 compatible internals called the Strike Arms Pistol Compact Frame.
The textured grip angle closely resembles a 1911.
Available exclusively from Primary Arms.
Please note, this is a serialized item and requires transfer through an FFL.
The Slim Tactical Special Operations Vest Carrier offers versatility and mobility. With a large PALS field at the front, the Slim Tactical Vest is compatible with various pouches and accessories. The laser-cut design maximizes the MOLLE field while keeping the vest lightweight. Perfect as a duty carrier or as a backup, this vest will always have your back. The Slim Tactical Vest is available in Ranger Green and Black.
Get yours at rtstactical.com/collections/rts-tactical-vests/products/rts-tactical-slim-tactical-vest
RTS Tactical makes body armor for Law Enforcement Officers and other Security Professionals, RTS Tactical also makes armor solutions for First Responders, Military Personnel, and Civilians.
Visit our website: www.rtstactical.com
Contact our sales team: sales@rtstactical.com
Call us: 786-769-2759
The upcoming MOD Belt ‘Static’ from Arctic Tactical Gear is an ultra stiff, supportive belt featuring a 1.4mm Curv core aling with built-in excess webbing clamp and swappable hardware. The belt is immediately usable out of the box and will be available in S-XL sizes.
It’s compatible with all of their MOD Belt components including the new 1+1 and 2+1 magazine pouches. Two sizes of optional bolt on extensions will enable the user to modify the size for winter layering or can be used behind the buckle to tuck into the opposite side to increase rigidity. The belt is PALS compatible and can be used without any bolts if desired. 1″ Cobra Sport, Pro and G Hooks will be available options but other 1″ hardware will work.
All components are Berry compliant including Squadron laminate, Tegris, Cobra and ITW buckles. However, the belts are assembled in Canada.
Coming soon from www.arctictechnicalgear.com
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Next year, the U.S. Army Mad Scientist Initiative will continue in their efforts to explore the operational environment and collaborate and form partnerships with government and industry organizations and academic universities. This was recently carried out during their in-person, unclassified conference, “Game On! Wargaming and the Operational Environment,” in partnership with the Georgetown University Wargaming Society last month and will be a focus in 2025.
More than 150 wargame experts across the military, academic, commercial and hobbyist communities attended the conference, which endeavored to explore trends in wargaming. Topics included how wargames can address unconventional and neglected aspects of the operational environment, how wargaming can provide experiential learning for professional military education and how technology is enhancing wargaming.
Lee Grubbs, Mad Scientist director, opened the conference by highlighting the benefits of wargaming to maintain a trained and ready force at every echelon.
“[Wargaming] is a method of learning that the Army should consider driving down into all kinds of different learning domains,” he stated. “We decided to hold this conference to start the drumbeat of how we can drive all different types of gaming, at all different types of clearance levels, against all different types of operational conditions across all Army learning domains.”
Ian Sullivan, TRADOC deputy chief of staff for intelligence, followed by emphasizing the significance of learning from various types of wargames and wargaming communities.
“I have been playing wargames since the fourth grade,” he shared. “Playing [wargames] as a kid I think prepared me to do the job that I do today in ways that I couldn’t imagine at the time. It gave me an understanding, even perhaps in a simple way, about some important ideas about warfare.”
One major focus of the conference was to gather a multitude of wargaming communities to share experiences and lessons learned. Connecting different communities that the Army might not normally get to engage with will also be a priority at the various events in 2025.
“We’re bringing together folks who do this for DOD, hobby wargamers and folks who design wargames, both for DOD and hobby wargames,” Sullivan shared. “This led to a great effort to get a crowdsourced look at wargaming.”
Sebastian Bae, senior game designer and research scientist for the Center for Naval Analyses and Adjunct Assistant Advisor with Georgetown University, also shared his thoughts on how the military could work in partnership with commercial and hobbyist gamers and games.
“This conference — this panel — is a reflection of a [wider] trend, in terms of the merger of hobby gaming and professional gaming, as much as the increased frequency in which we intersect, reinforce and support each other,” he described. “I’ve always been a proponent for in-the-box educational games to build an ecosystem of games, because I think that’s how you get the most hands and minds working at the problem.”
The two main conference themes included the evolution and integration of wargaming, and emerging technology enablers. Wargaming literacy helps achieve experiential learning, enabling practitioners to explore new concepts and promote understanding. Along with professional wargaming, hobbyist and commercial wargaming is increasingly addressing joint and interagency operations and is used in PME to build wargaming literacy throughout the force. Additionally, while the operational environment changes, new aspects of the OE must be integrated into wargaming, such as civilian harm mitigation and response, weather, and space and cyber capabilities or operations.
In 2025, the Mad Scientist Team is planning to hold more events just like this one to include a writing contest focused on the idea of great power competition and conflict to crowdsource ideas about how current conflicts are shaping how the Army may need to fight in 2034. Additionally, contributors can assess what role the U.S. can play in countering adversary influence in the global south, and how the U.S. can counter authoritarian collusion in the Arctic and China’s growing presence in the Antarctic.
The insights gleaned from this crowdsourcing event will feed directly into the next unclassified in-person conference in the fall of 2025 where the Mad Scientist team and subject matter experts will further explore topics with a leading research institution.
Check out the Mad Scientist Laboratory website for a complete review of conference highlights, discussions, and a full conference report to be published in early 2025.
Videos of each presentation and panel can be found at the Mad Scientist All Partners Access Network site.
By Raechel Melling, TRADOC G-2
Way back in March we gave you a preview of Helikon-Tex’s Duckhunter camo lineup for 2024. Now that the year is almost over, we thought we ought to show you one of the unique items from that line, the Tracer Anorak.
Manufacturer from a material featuring 50% Polyester, 48% Cotton, 2% Elastane, the Tracer Anorak features eight pockets as well as full pit zips. The Tracer Anorak is offered in several colors and camouflage patterns in sizes XS – XXXL.
www.helikon-tex.com/en_pln/ku-trr-sp-tracer-anorak-jacket
Have t bought a pair yet, but I’m considering it. My experience with Keen footwear has been consistently good over the past 15 years or so.
It’s actually an older design, the A86 updated with newer materials and features. They promise lots of room in the forefoot, a foam mid-sole and high traction rubber outsole. Additionally, they are using a new PFAS-free Durable Water Repellent treatment and Eco Anti-Odor for natural, pesticide-free odor control.
Available in several color combos including the Dark Olive/ Black seen here in sizes 7-15.
Get yours at www.keenfootwear.com/products/mens-ks86-lea-dark-olive-black
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Tyndall Air Force Base is taking a proactive step in increasing its combat readiness by implementing the use of aircrew chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear equipment. Known as aircrew CBRN equipment, this specialized gear is essential in ensuring the protection and readiness of the personnel operating the aircraft against any threats that adversaries may use.
The 325th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight (AFE) has set a personal deadline of February 2025 to have current and new pilots fitted and trained with how to wear their new equipment properly, ensuring pilots are always mission ready.
“We need to be prepared for anything,” said Senior Airman Kaitlin Wells, 325th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman. “That includes having all their equipment sized, fit, inspected, tested and ready so that if something does happen tomorrow, we won’t have limited time to fit up every single pilot to fight a war.”
The aircrew CBRN equipment is specifically designed for the unique requirements of flying in high-performance aircraft. This includes being able to withstand g-force during operations and egress scenarios while also being able to be worn in conjunction with other items, such as the thermal protection layer and cold-water immersion garments. Additionally, this gear integrates respiratory protection directly with the full-body covering, creating a seamless system.
The equipment is so complex that in total, pilots can be expected to add approximately 10-15 lbs. of additional weight while operating with aircrew CBRN equipment.
The fitting and training process is equally as comprehensive. It involves detailed measurements, donning of each piece of equipment and regular fit checks to ensure that pilots can operate properly and safely. Pilots undergo classroom training that covers the basics of the equipment, its purpose and the expectations for the pilots in using and maintaining the gear.
They will also go through practical training, where they will be required to don their gear and process through a chemical line known as Air Crew Contamination Area & Air Crew Contamination Station, which are mock CBRN events that will simulate the process of testing, removing and decontaminating the aircrew CBRN equipment.
The chemical line process must be conducted every three years or whenever a member is newly assigned; however, AFE plans on conducting the process every quarter to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that the pilots maintain knowledge of the workings of their gear.
By providing essential protection, expanding operational reach and enhancing overall readiness, the implementation of aircrew CBRN equipment at Tyndall is a critical step in furthering the base’s combat capabilities and preparing it to face any challenges.
“I think it gets us back to a combat-ready mission, and it makes it to where there are no limitations as to where we can go and where we can take our aircraft to fight the fight, making us a more agile and a more prepared force,” said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Terry, 301st Fighter Squadron flight chief.
Story by Airman 1st Class Asha Wiltshire, 325th Fighter Wing
In February 2025 Osprey Publishing will release Boots on the Ground: Modern Land Warfare from Iraq to Ukraine by Leigh Neville.
Written by a renowned expert in modern conflicts, this fully illustrated book provides an examination of ground warfare over the past 20 years and looks ahead to the future.
Available for pre-order on the Osprey Publishing website.
