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AFSOC to Resume CV-22 Flight Operations

Sunday, March 17th, 2024

Following the March 8, 2024 Naval Air Systems Command flight bulletin returning the V-22 Osprey to operation with safety controls in place, Air Force Special Operations Command is implementing a multi-phased approach to ensure our aircrew, maintainers and aircraft are ready to resume flight operations.

Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC Commander, directed the operational standdown of the CV-22 fleet December 6, 2023 in response to preliminary investigation information indicating a materiel failure following the November 29, 2023 mishap near Yakushima, Japan. This was followed by NAVAIR issuing a flight bulletin grounding the V-22 enterprise.

Phase one of AFSOC’s return to fly plan includes ground and simulator training integrating planned flight controls, safety briefings, a review of maintenance records and refining by-squadron training plans to implement the new safety protocols.

Phase two is a multi-month program for aircrew and maintainers. Aircrew will focus on regaining basic mission currency and proficiency then expansion to full mission currency and proficiency. While maintainers have remained engaged conducting maintenance necessary to sustain the CV-22 during the standdown, they will receive training in line with the maintenance protocols directed by the NAVAIR return to fly bulletin. Each squadron will progress through this phase at different speeds based a variety of factors including maintenance requirements for aircraft, experience level of personnel in the squadron and weather impact to flight schedules.

Phase three will include resumption of full mission profiles, multi-lateral exercises and operational taskings and deployments.

This phased approach affords AFSOC the time required to maximize opportunities to learn as much as possible from the Safety Investigation Board and Accident Investigation Board to mitigate risk to our aircrew, maintainers, and joint partners.

The NAVAIR flight bulletin announcement can be found at: www.navair.navy.mil/news/NAVAIR-returns-V-22-Osprey-flight-status/Fri-03082024-0553.

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, SOF | Comments Off on AFSOC to Resume CV-22 Flight Operations

HOIST and MedCo Announce Partnership to Expand Accessibility of Rehydration Products

Saturday, March 16th, 2024

CINCINNATI, Ohio, (March 13, 2024) – HOIST®, one of the fastest growing hydration beverages in the U.S., is thrilled to announce its partnership with MedCo Sports Medicine (MedCo), the leading supplier of athletic training and sports medicine products. This collaboration will make HOIST IV-level hydration products readily available through MedCo’s extensive catalog at medco-athletics.com, providing athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals with a comprehensive range of HOIST hydration solutions.

“We are beyond excited to see HOIST products available on MedCo’s platform,” said HOIST Director of Business Development Rachel Trotta. “MedCo’s reputation for excellence and commitment to providing top-notch rehabilitation products aligns perfectly with our mission to provide rapid recovery to those who need it the most.

With this partnership, MedCo customers will now have access to HOIST’s innovative line of products, including the popular HOIST powder sticks, liquid pouches, powder pouches and ready-to-drink bottles. This expansive product offering will enhance the options available to those managing physical rehabilitation programs, and solidify HOIST’s position as a high-demand resource in the physical therapy and sports medicine industries.

Many athletic departments have seen positive results from implementing HOIST in their athletes’ routines. HOIST helps to cut down on cramping, gives athletes more energy through carbohydrates and electrolytes and enables athletes to perform at their highest levels.

MedCo is renowned for its commitment to offering the most advanced products and services to help prevent injuries and optimize recovery. This partnership reaffirms HOIST’s position as a go-to brand for hydration needs and allows HOIST to positively impact the lives of even more individuals.

For more information about HOIST or to see the entire HOIST lineup visit www.drinkhoist.com. Keep up with the latest HOIST news on instagram @drinkhoist.

To explore MedCo’s extensive range of athletic training and sports medicine products, visit www.medco-athletics.com.

Posted in Medical, Press Release | Comments Off on HOIST and MedCo Announce Partnership to Expand Accessibility of Rehydration Products

75th Ranger Regiment Medics Prove They’re the ‘Best of the Best’

Saturday, March 16th, 2024

Fort Liberty, N.C. — The 2024 Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark, Jr. U.S. Army Best Medic Competition was held from March 4-8, at Fort Liberty. This year’s winners are Staff Sgt. Patrick Murphy, 75th Ranger Regiment, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Musso, 75th Ranger Regiment, both of Hunter Army Airfield.

The Army Best Medic Competition is a two-Soldier team competition that physically and intellectually challenges the Army’s top medics in a three-day event that includes a realistic simulated operational environment. The competition pushes Soldiers to their limits to test their tactical and technical operational medicine capabilities — the skills required to bring the injured, ill or wounded warfighter home. More than 50 competitors squared off in teams of two for this year’s competition.

“This is about our Soldiers having combat ready care on the battlefield [in order] to be the most lethal force,” said Lt. Gen Mary K. Izaguirre, Surgeon General of the Army and commanding general of Army Medical Command, at the finish of the competition’s mystery event. “[Soldiers] are going to need everything we ask of you.”

The course tests medical skills and physical capabilities. However, the rigor prepares medics for combat deployments or any other demanding assignment the medics needs to do.

The competition is designed to simulate a realistic environment that includes emerging threats and to represent real-world combat conditions.”

“This competition makes me want to train harder,” said Musso. “To bring my [Soldiers] up to the level where we had to be over the last few days.” Musso said the hardest part was pushing himself farther than he had before.

The competition included events such as were foot marches, prolonged field care, weapons qualifications, day and night land navigation, knowledge test, and a mystery event and of a series of tasks the medics might face on the battlefield.

“Really glad to see all the hard work paid off,” said Murphy. “The hardest event for me was the dragging the Skedco for more than two miles.” (Editor’s note: A Skedco is a stretcher system used for transporting patients.)

Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Sprunger said to the competitors at the conclusion of the final event, “We were here to find the best of the best. Congratulations.”

Army medics serve as the first line of care for injured, ill or wounded Soldiers and ensures medical readiness. They must be ready when called upon to deploy, fight and win in combat.

“They put it all out there,” said Sprunger. “They did a great job.”

The Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark, Jr. Army Best Medic Competition is dedicated to the 13th command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Medical Command. Clark was one of the most respected leaders and noncommissioned officers in the history of the command who understood the important role of medics in the Army and the trust Soldiers and leaders of units in combat must have in the Army Medical Department.

The competition is open to all active duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve medical soldiers who have earned the competitive Combat Medical Badge or Expert Field Medical Badge.

Both Musso and Murphy agreed that future medics considering the competition should, “put themselves in really hard situations and force themselves to not quit.”

By Ronald Wolf

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post, Medical, SOF | 1 Comment »

GA-ASI Hosts Joint Industry/Government Open Architecture Conference

Friday, March 15th, 2024

February Conference Focused on Modular Open Systems Approach for UAS

SAN DIEGO – 13 March 2024 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) hosted an Open Architecture Symposium on Feb. 29, 2024, at its headquarters in Poway, California. At the symposium, government and industry speakers highlighted the tools, communities, and partners required to put Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) into practice in the development of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). More than 80 attendees from approximately 30 organizations attended the event, which featured addresses from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Chief Digital & Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), and industry speakers, as well as demonstrations of GA-ASI’s open architecture efforts.

“Open Architecture is key to GA-ASI systems,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue, who spoke at the event. “The Department of Defense’s MOSA efforts are building products that are quicker to integrate and faster to iterate. This enables best-of-breed competition and forms the basis for delivering new capabilities, such as mission autonomy, across our platforms.”

The symposium highlighted a large cross-section of government and industry. GA-ASI appreciated the support and participation of guest speakers from more than a dozen companies. The conversation covered lessons learned from experienced integrators of Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) and Open Mission Systems (OMS) capabilities, highlighted the diversity of products aligned to MOSA technical standards, and spotlighted growing autonomous capabilities built on open foundations. The Symposium highlighted the rich ecosystem, challenges, and opportunities surrounding open architecture initiatives across the Department of Defense.

The new Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) brings MOSA to the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-capable system to ensure incremental enhancements can be made at the speed of emerging threats. Rapid integration of technology enables GE 25M to act as an information quarterback, receiving data from multiple reconnaissance assets, employing launched effects, and extending communications networks. GE 25M flew for the first time in Dec. 2023 and adheres to MOSA principles, leveraging modernized avionics, data links, sensor integration, and a laptop ground control station.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on GA-ASI Hosts Joint Industry/Government Open Architecture Conference

American Rheinmetall Vehicles Conducts Live-Fire Demo and Continues to Deliver Autonomous Ground Vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps for Testing, Training, and Deployment

Friday, March 15th, 2024

American Rheinmetall Vehicles (Sterling Heights, MI) and Rheinmetall Canada have successfully conducted a live-fire capability demonstration for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in Fort Clinton, Ohio to highlight the unique capabilities of the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP autonomous, unmanned ground vehicle (A-UGV) paired with the Fieldranger Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). This armed variant of the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP provides Marines a variety of remote operated capabilities including armed reconnaisance, sentry over watch, fire support, flank security, screening capability, and more. Having completed numerous test and evaluation events with the Mission Master SP, American Rheinmetall Vehicles continues to deliver ground-breaking advancements in A-UGV systems to the USMC. It first made deliveries to the USMC in early 2023, and several follow-on orders for A-UGVs are proceeding in 2024. The platforms have the potential to substantially enhance the way Marines fight.

Mission Master SPs furnished by American Rheinmetall Vehicles were also extensively tested by the USMC during the Talisman Sabre Exercise (TS23) in Queensland, Australia, in summer 2023 and as part of the Apollo Shield exercise at Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California, in fall 2023, both in support of Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) evaluations. The Mission Master SPs’ participation supported MCWL’s one year, crawl-walk-run, bilateral effort to test equipment capabilities and evaluate tactics, techniques, and procedures of Infantry squads equipped with A-UGVs. Tasks the Mission Master SP A-UGVs took on during the exercises included casualty evacuations (CASEVAC), resupply missions, fully autonomous road marches reaching ranges up to 50 kilometers, and operating in Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) environments. Feedback from the Marines and their Commanders drove A-UGV design modifications and solidified the benefits of A-UGVs among Marines.

In December 2023, American Rheinmetall Vehicles received an order to manufacture and deliver six Mission Master SPs which are slated for delivery to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) to support further training and evaluation. Four of the Mission Master SPs will support 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, who will be the first unit to conduct pre-deployment work-ups and deploy with the A-UGVs.

“Bringing the capabilities of the Mission Master SP A-UGV to today‘s Marines gives me great pride in knowing that lives will be saved and Marines will be better prepared for battle,“ said Mike Brooks, Gunner (CW05) USMC Ret., and Director of Business Development for American Rheinmetall Vehicles.

“MCWL’s experimentation with state-of-the-art autonomous systems exemplifies our commitment to harnessing innovative technologies that enhance our tactical capabilities, ensuring our Marines are better equipped, more agile, and always a step ahead on the battlefield,” stated Maj Steven Atkinson, Robotics & Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Branch Head for the Science and Technology Division of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.

Rheinmetall PATH A-kit: A platform-agnostic, next-generation system that brings autonomous mobility to any vehicle

Each of Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP A-UGVs uses the Rheinmetall PATH autonomy kit (A-kit), a navigation system developed by Rheinmetall Canada that enables fully autonomous movement and mission planning for vehicles. It can be rapidly added onto existing legacy vehicles or integrated into the latest next-generation platforms. It is a core element of Rheinmetall’s exceptional Mission Master family of autonomous vehicles and combines advanced sensors, technology leading algorithms, and real-time data analysis to allow vehicle platforms to maneuver autonomously in a wide range of operating environments. Fielded and tested on this family of vehicles, but also a wide array of other platforms, the PATH A-kit is a mature, proven technology that stands out from the competition providing a high degree of autonomous mobility.

American Rheinmetall Vehicles is leveraging the PATH A-kit technology to supply program specific vehicle solutions for the U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck program and XM30 program.
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www.rheinmetall.com/arv

Unmanned and Unmatched.

Posted in International, Press Release, Robotics, USMC | Comments Off on American Rheinmetall Vehicles Conducts Live-Fire Demo and Continues to Deliver Autonomous Ground Vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps for Testing, Training, and Deployment

6.5 Creedmoor Now Available from Black Sheep Ammo

Friday, March 15th, 2024

UNION, Missouri – Black Sheep Ammo, Veteran owned / 100% USA owned ammunition manufacturer is now building 6.5 Creedmoor, 143GR ELD. Built with premium USA components and propellants designed to excel in long range applications. Black Sheep Ammo is dedicated to building clean, reliable, 100% USA ammunition.

blacksheepammo.com/6-5-creedmoor-143-gr-eld-25-rounds

Posted in Ammo, Guest Post | Comments Off on 6.5 Creedmoor Now Available from Black Sheep Ammo

TacJobs – US Army Seeks Curatorial Leader for Army Museum Enterprise’s Historic Materiel Division

Friday, March 15th, 2024

CALLING MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS FOR ARMY MUSEUM ENTERPRISE HIRING OPPORTUNITY

The Army seeks a curatorial leader to manage the Army Museum Enterprise’s (AME) Historic Materiel Division.

This critical staff member will support the AME by managing the Army’s Museum Support Facilities, developing collections management policy, leading collections reform efforts, and overseeing the approximately 580,000 artifacts in the Army Artifact Collection.

The job listing for this position will be open from 13 – 27 March on USAJOBS (link below).

Join the Center of Military History and the Army Museum Enterprise as we continue to make Army History!

Full job listing: www.usajobs.gov/job/781211300

Posted in TacJobs | Comments Off on TacJobs – US Army Seeks Curatorial Leader for Army Museum Enterprise’s Historic Materiel Division

FirstSpear Friday Focus – Hooded Field Shirt

Friday, March 15th, 2024

This week’s Friday Focus, is the Hooded Field Shirt. Designed for the modern warrior, this garment seamlessly blends functionality with comfort, ensuring peak performance in any mission or adventure.

• American Wool
• Oversized hood
• Low profile cuffs with thumb holes
• Made in the USA
• Antimicrobial

Don’t be fooled by its lightweight feel – this ACM Base 150 wool fabric offers unparalleled performance benefits that you won’t find in any ordinary shirt. Its updated makeup of 55% Lenzing, 33% wool and 12% nylon offer the perfect blend of synthetic and wool to offer superior fabric properties with increased durability. The hooded field shirt features a slightly larger hood, low profile cuffs, and thumb holes. Use it as a base layer or wear it all on its own, no matter which way you choose, you’ll be sure to stand out as a true patriot in this American-made garment. Don’t leave home without it.

The integrated hood provides additional protection against the elements, allowing you to adapt to changing weather conditions without compromising on performance. Whether it’s shielding from wind, or harsh sunlight, the hood offers versatility without sacrificing functionality.

Built to withstand the rigors of the field, this shirt exemplifies FirstSpear’s commitment to quality and reliability. From the reinforced stitching to the premium wool, every aspect of its construction is designed to endure the demands of your mission, season after season.

The FirstSpear Hooded Field Shirt is more than just a piece of clothing; it’s a testament to innovation, performance, and resilience. Whether you’re a professional operator, outdoor enthusiast, or weekend warrior, this garment empowers you to face any challenge with confidence.

For more information about the Hooded Field Shirt click here.

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post | 5 Comments »