March 2025 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for March, 2025

Freedom Outdoors Brings Industry-Leading Experience to Richmond with New Shooting Range

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

Richmond, VA – March 10, 2025 – Freedom Outdoors is proud to announce the expansion of its industry-leading brand with the opening of a new shooting range and retail facility in Richmond, Virginia. This location, formerly Colonial Shooting Academy, is undergoing enhancements to align with Freedom’s high standards of service, safety, and community engagement, offering an elevated experience for shooters of all levels.

“This expansion represents more than just growth—it’s about bringing the Freedom experience to Richmond,” said Skyler Thomas, President of Freedom Outdoors. “This facility has long been recognized for its size and potential, and we’re excited to build upon that foundation by introducing a fresh approach centered on service, excellence, innovation, and the core values that define Freedom.”

With a focus on hospitality, education, and customer-first service, Freedom Outdoors is investing in improvements to the facility, including upgraded training programs, an expanded retail selection, and a membership structure designed to provide meaningful benefits to guests. Every aspect of the range will reflect Freedom Outdoors’ guiding principles—offering a welcoming, professional environment where enthusiasts and responsible firearm owners feel valued and supported.

“Our team believes that a great shooting experience is about more than just a facility—it’s about the people, the service, and the culture that surrounds it,” added Thomas. “We look forward to fostering that environment here in Richmond, ensuring that every guest receives the level of care and expertise they deserve.”

The Richmond location joins Freedom Outdoors’ growing network of ranges and storefronts, furthering the company’s commitment to providing best-in-class experiences for firearm owners, professionals, and newcomers alike.

www.freedomoutdoors.us

Posted in Industry, Press Release, Shooting Sports | Comments Off on Freedom Outdoors Brings Industry-Leading Experience to Richmond with New Shooting Range

EOTECH Opens Engineering Tech Center in Orofino, ID

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

Plymouth, MI (March 2025) – EOTECH, the leader in electro-optics technology, has experienced exceptional growth over the last decade. In recent years, EOTECH diversified into magnified scopes, micro red dots, night-vision and thermal systems, and on-gun laser devices. Additionally, in 2022, EOTECH added a manufacturing center that develops cutting edge digital sensor systems.

To support these programs and future growth, EOTECH is proud to announce the opening of their new Tech Center located in Orofino,Idaho. This state-of-the-artworkspace will provide research and development, engineering design and sustainment, testing, and prototype capabilities for all EOTECH product categories.

“We are thrilled to open our new Tech Center in Orofino, an area that will be the conduit between our headquarters in Michigan and our sensor factory in California,” said Aaron Hampton, President of Product Development for EOTECH. “This facility provides us with the talent and opportunity to plant the growth initiatives for the company’s next phase of our development. We strive to inspire new technology-driven solutions, and this investment will accelerate innovation and the development of new solutions for our core and emerging markets.”?

Officially opened February 26, 2025, this 4,200 square-foot facility includes a sophisticated optics lab outfitted with cleanroom flow hoods, optical breadboard, collimators, high purity nitrogen, and various tools to assemble, test, and rework weapon sights and camera systems. The mechanical lab includes small scale machining, an inspection area with granite table plus a physical and optical metrology system.

For more information, please visit www.eotechinc.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Industry, Press Release | 3 Comments »

Snakestaff Systems ETQ Gen 2

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

The new Gen 2 ETQ™ is the result of feedback from US Military, US Special Forces, Civilian EMS, Law Enforcement, and prepared citizens. The Gen 1 was the smallest windlass tourniquet on the market and is a proven product that has saved dozens of lives – but any good product can be improved upon. The Gen 2 is a significant upgrade, keeps the form factor but includes three new patent-pending features.

It is much easier to use, more robust, and has a wider window of reliability.

Available now at snakestaffsystems.com.

Gen 2 Features:

Power Curve™ *Patent Pending:

The slot where the band is pulled through is curved, unlike other tourniquets. This shape spreads the load placed on the band when tight, focusing the tension in the center. With straight slots, the band is actually tighter on the edge than it is in the center, increasing chance of tissue damage after a prolonged use case. The Power Curve helps prevent this.

New Tri-Grip Windlass™ *Patent Pending:

The three flat surfaces per-side give your fingers more surface area and geometrical advantage while twisting the windlass over a traditional cylinder shape. Round windlasses are inherently slippery, and there will be a lot of blood when you go to apply a tourniquet. Although grippy, in our testing we found that some windlasses can actually be over-textured and can result in the tearing of nitrile gloves, exposing you to the patient’s blood. The windlass is made out of a high strength polymer composite that will not break on you, unlike that of Chinese knock off tourniquets.

Power Ring™ *Patent Pending:

The new steel ring under the windlass makes it one of the easiest tourniquets to turn in the industry.

Typically, the first two turns of the windlass on tourniquets are the hardest. We aimed to improve that. The ring creates vertical space to clear the carabiner and provides a mechanical advantage for the initial twists of the windlass.

Improved tourniquet body:

The longer body and improved routing keeps the tourniquet in a straighter configuration even if the user doesn’t fully tighten the strap first as instructed. The only negative reviews we’ve seen on the Gen 1 were due to user error when they didn’t first fully tighten the band, or didn’t reset the TQ after repeated usage.

You MUST tighten the band of any tourniquet first before twisting the windlass, but many of these changes result in a wider window of reliability.

Carabiner lock enlarged:

Although the gate is the same size, the crucial space inside of the carabiner lock is enlarged significantly to make it easier to lock the windlass.

Reinforced band material:

The Gen 2 band is now backed with a nylon material that gives more rigidity and prevents it from folding in half and sticking to itself during the application process. It also aids the user in lassoing the TQ around a limb as well as threading the needle.

New Blue Trainer TQs:

After many requests for trainer tourniquets, we are now offering blue trainers in both 1” and 1.5” widths.

The intention behind this is to provide users with a designated trainer to practice applications without having to use carry/duty tourniquets.

Instructions:

The printed instructions and QR code serve as a last resort for a bystander for example that wishes to intervene and assist with application but doesn’t necessarily have the technical knowledge on how to do so.

Why we got rid of the chemlight:

We found the chemlight was often breaking and activating in the mail, or depending on how it was carried, in people’s pockets. While we loved the chem light and believed that it offered real value in certain situations, if they crack prematurely, then it is a waste. The elimination of the chemlight has allowed us from a production standpoint to use more robust materials and to be able to provide Gen 2 at the same pricepoint as Gen 1.

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Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center’s 3D Printing Revolutionizes Military Readiness, Uniting the Best and Brightest in the Industry

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.—The U.S. Army’s Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center is embracing additive manufacturing to revolutionize machine repair, lower costs and enhance military readiness, showcasing the ingenuity and dedication found within the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army and its organic industrial base.

“The process of creating these temporary parts first requires reverse engineering the original part,” Edward Flinn, the director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence at RIA-JMTC said. “We then printed the part, and fortunately minimal machining was required, so we were able to get the equipment operational soon after the prints were complete.”

The AM CoE, staffed by some of the brightest minds in the field, is creating temporary replacement parts for critical manufacturing equipment, significantly reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of aging machinery.

“In this factory, we have machines from the early 1950s that performed tasks that some newer technology just can’t do in the specifications and the tolerances that we require,” RIA-JMTC Logistics Director John Shappell explained. “The machines today are not as simple to adjust electronically, and the older machines are manually adjusted by a tradesman.”

This initiative builds on the success of the Battle-Damaged Repair and Fabrication program developed with Tank-automotive and Armaments Command. It allows rapid on-demand 3D printing of temporary repair parts for Army units in the field, directly contributing to the readiness and operational capability throughout formations.

“We make a lot of things that are hard to come by,” explains Robert Branch, AM CoE engineer. “By the time a part gets to the AM CoE, everyone has been given an opportunity to provide this part to the government. We’re sort of a last resort because traditional manufacturing methods are more appropriate for large-scale production. When you need a small quantity quickly, that’s when additive manufacturing comes into play.”

The adoption of additive manufacturing offers significant cost savings for the Army by reducing reliance on expensive traditional manufacturing methods, especially for small production runs. RIA-JMTC is at the forefront of this innovation, demonstrating the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize military manufacturing and readiness. While 3D printed parts can sometimes be more expensive, the speed and flexibility they offer prove invaluable.

“Customers understand that readiness solutions might come with a premium, and some are willing to invest in that assurance,” Randl Besse, AM CoE project manager said. “We can provide those parts in days compared to weeks, demonstrating the value of that investment in times of urgent need.”

This commitment to innovation within the defense industrial base ensures that facilities like RIA-JMTC are capable of not only sustaining fielded systems but also maintaining pace with Army modernization efforts. The AM CoE’s work is a testament to the talent present throughout the total workforce, ensuring the RIA-JMTC facility remains postured to surge in support of large-scale combat operations.

“I’m not a real big fan of recreating failure modes just because that’s the way it was,” Branch said. “If someone’s coming to the AM CoE and saying, ‘hey, we need these parts,’ I’m going to ask them why do you need these parts? Is it because they break in a certain area, or they wear out? Do they have one failure mode over another? Because I’m already there adjusting the part. So, let’s see how it interfaces with the other parts around it and if we can make it better.”

One example highlighting the factory replacement part program’s effectiveness is the replacement of a water pump for a critical plating system. With traditional procurement, the lead time for this pump was four to six weeks. The AM CoE was able to print, machine and test a replacement part in less than a week.

“As customers, we’re competing with the rest of the private industry to get this pump that we need to continue producing parts that build on military readiness,” Shappell said. “This replacement part program drastically improves operational availability and readiness.”

Beyond simply replicating existing parts, the AM CoE team actively analyzes and improves designs. For example, a redesigned burner cone, previously a two-piece component prone to failure, was 3D printed as a single, more robust piece, eliminating the previous failure points.

“There are many aspects where we’re getting material performance on printed items that are very close to forged or cast materials,” Branch explains. “When you factor in the safety margins of the original designs, the difference between the materials is often negligible.”

As the technology continues to evolve, additive manufacturing will likely have an even greater impact on Army operations and the wider military manufacturing industry. By embracing this emerging technology, RIA-JMTC is enhancing readiness and operational capabilities, ensuring Army formations are prepared for large-scale combat operations in contested environments.

By Kendall Swank

Posted in Additive Manufacturing, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center’s 3D Printing Revolutionizes Military Readiness, Uniting the Best and Brightest in the Industry

Platatac Individual Marker Panel

Monday, March 10th, 2025

The Platatac Individual Marker Panel now available in MultiCam Tropic and Ranger Green, alongside MultiCam. With new colours, Pink and Yellow, in addition to Orange.

At 30cm x 30cm, our Individual Marker Panel is a lightweight high visibility item, that is perfect to carry in your kit for individual recognition when marrying up or RV’ing with friendly forces, or signalling vehicles and aircraft.

The shock cord & toggle loops at the corners allow for easy attachment to various items or use ITW Grimlocks to link multiple panels together to create a bigger visual footprint for specific signalling needs.

The marker panel is the perfect accessory to stash in our range of Pouches or even in our notebook covers.

platatac.com/platatac-individual-marker-panel

Posted in Advertiser, Comms, Guest Post, International | Comments Off on Platatac Individual Marker Panel

XTech Tactical Expands Grip Extensions to Taurus GX4 & 11rd Springfield Hellcat

Monday, March 10th, 2025

Tempe, AZ

XTech® Tactical has expanded its line of grip extensions tosupport the Taurus GX4 and the Springfield Hellcat pistols. All XTech Tactical’s grip extensions are made in Arizona of high impact polymer and offer full hand support. Every extension also comes with a Lifetime Warranty. Individual specs are below:

Grip Extension for GX4

-Fits both 10 round and 11 round factory magazines

-Texture to match pistol frame

-SKU: XT3055201

-MSRP: $14.95

www.xtechtactical.com/product/xtech-grip-extension-for-taurus-gx4-9mm-10rd-11rd

Grip Extension for Hellcat 11rd

-Fits 11 round factory magazine

-Texture to match pistol frame

-SKU: XT3045021

-MSRP: $14.95

www.xtechtactical.com/product/xtech-grip-extension-hellcat-9mm-11rd

Grip Extension for Hellcat 10rd (previously released):

-Fits 10 round factory magazine

-Texture to match pistol frame

-SKU: XT3045001

-MSRP: $14.95

www.xtechtactical.com/product/grip-extension-hellcat-9mm-10rd

Each extension is also available as a combo with the factory magazine.

Posted in Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on XTech Tactical Expands Grip Extensions to Taurus GX4 & 11rd Springfield Hellcat

HOP Munitions Welcomes Hans Kline as Vice President of Business Development

Monday, March 10th, 2025

HOP Munitions is making moves. As the company continues to grow and carve out its place in the firearms industry, it’s bringing in a heavy hitter to lead the charge in sales and expansion. HOP Munitions is proud to announce the hiring of Hans Kline as the new Vice President of Business Development.

With over a decade of experience in the firearms and ammunition industry, Kline has built a reputation for driving sales, forging key industry partnerships, and successfully navigating the ever-changing market landscape. His track record includes working with top-tier distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers—securing high-volume deals and opening new sales channels that have delivered real, measurable growth. Now, he’s bringing that expertise to HOP Munitions, and he’s got big plans.

“HOP Munitions is an exciting brand with incredible potential,” said Kline. “I see a company that’s poised to shake things up in the ammo industry, and I’m here to make sure we do exactly that. My focus is on expanding our market presence, strengthening relationships with dealers and distributors, and creating a brand identity that stands out in an increasingly competitive space.”

One of Kline’s first major initiatives? An aggressive Stocking Dealer Program designed to give retailers a reason to stock HOP Munitions as a go-to brand. While some in the industry are pulling back due to market trends, HOP Munitions is doubling down.

“Breaking into the retail space at a time like this might seem like a challenge, but we’re not here to sit on the sidelines,” Kline added. “We’re hopping in and taking over.”

HOP Munitions is already known for delivering high-quality, American-made ammunition that shooters trust. With Kline at the helm of business development, the company is set to scale its dealer network, increase its footprint in the industry, and establish itself as a major player in the ammunition market.

hopmunitions.com

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TacJobs – National Account Manager – Military/Law Enforcement – Salomon, North America

Monday, March 10th, 2025

Company Description

Amer Sports is a sporting goods company with internationally recognized brands including Salomon, Arc’teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic and Wilson.

“The Mountain Sport Company”, Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Salomon’s commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in bindings, boots, skis and apparel for both Alpine and Nordic skiing and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for snowboarding, adventure racing, mountaineering, hiking, trail running, and many other sports.

Through performance driven design, Salomon delivers innovation and progression to mountain sports; converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility. Salomon’s heritage, culture, and commitment are tied together by one simple concept: the world’s leading mountain people creating the world’s leading mountain products. Salomon is responsibly committed towards the outdoor through its sustainable program. Diversity is one of Salomon’s five values, therefore we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.

Salomon is headquartered in Annecy, France, with a U.S. headquarters in Ogden, UT.

Job Description

The National Account Manager for Military and Law Enforcement is pivotal in driving sales and building strategic partnerships within the Military, Law Enforcement, and government sectors. You will be responsible for achieving sales targets, identifying growth opportunities, and managing relationships with key stakeholders, while ensuring customer satisfaction through tailored service and seamless contract management. This position demands expertise in government procurement, a deep understanding of the Military/Law Enforcement market, and a passion for delivering solutions that meet the unique needs of each client.

WHAT MAKES THIS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK & PLAY:

A generous PTO policy, plus 15 paid annual holidays and 3 floating holidays

Half-day Fridays for 6 months of the year

An exceptional employee discount on all our products and sister brands (Arc’teryx, Armada, Atomic, Wilson)

Healthy Lifestyle Benefit – designed to empower individuals to prioritize their physical & mental wellness

Opportunities to engage in the community and with industry partners

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily:

Sales and Distribution

Achieve the seasonal sales and distribution targets in the defined territory.

Meet the seasonal key product category objectives in sales and distribution.

Develop a local plan to follow brand guidelines, strategies and priorities.

Identify territory sales, distribution and promotion opportunities.

Build short-term and long-term detailed plans for growth, distribution, and category growth opportunities within assigned region.

Maintains detailed territory and account plans and uses it to prioritize activities and investments.

Maintain an understanding of the customer‘s current and changing equipment requirements and contracting regulations.

Attend national, regional end user and dealer trade events.

Partnership Development

Responsible for briefing Salomon products and capabilities to key Department of Defense and Federal government agencies Law Enforcement units with the end goal of generating solicitations.

Act as primary point of contact for assigned direct to government distributors.

Conduct joint sales calls with resellers to enable their ability to advocate for Salomon products independently.

Promote the Salomon products to direct to government distributors and support their efforts in generating solicitations and contract awards.

Manages the sales process from qualification through closure, to include the coordination of bids through resellers.

Brief Sales Manager and Territory Managers regarding ongoing and future government contract opportunities.

Develop and maintain close cooperation with other Amer Sports Territory Managers and Sales Agents.

Develop and maintain great working relationships with key personnel at each distributor and with staff at key commands.

Service and Sell-through

Report on base and distributor activity and results.

Enter customer orders as needed.

Maintain CRM tools for global visibility on activity government opportunities.

Provide needed tools and assets to GSA contract holders on an annual basis.

Prepare customized plans and presentations for each customer.

Coordinate opportunities with Sales Manager and Production to ensure fulfilment and customer satisfaction.

Manage a discretionary budget to facilitate test and evaluation requests.

Customize sales strategy by branch, agency and distributor.

Visit and contact important customers frequently to increase probability of inquiries become solicitations.

Identify grass-roots opportunities to support.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in business or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience

At least 5 years of experience in Military Law Enforcement Sales (Apparel, Footwear, Gear)

In depth knowledge of Department of Defense, USSOCOM and DHS structure and federal law enforcement agencies

Comprehensive understanding of the military/government procurement process

Strong relationships with Prime Vendor network and direct to government distributors

Expert at establishing rapport and building credibility, in part by demonstrating an appreciation for solutions to the retailer‘s business needs

Epitomizes a passion for the Military/Law Enforcement market; knowledge or practical experience with uniform requirements and government purchasing vehicles.

Required Competencies:

Planning & Organization

Building Strategic Work Relationships

Sales Ability

Formal Presentation Skills

Building Customer Loyalty

Travel Approximately 60% domestic travel

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to travel, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand and walk. The employee must occasionally kneel, stoop, crouch, twist and lift to 30 pounds, with or without accommodations.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can involve exposure to varying noise levels, ranging from moderate to loud, as well as flashes of light.

Permanent Contract, Full Time

Job is remote based

Apply here.

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