Born in an April Fool’s Day prank from yesteryear, the 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt is making its big comeback. Here’s your first look:
Although details are scarce, what we can tell you is $10 from every kilt will be donated to FBINAA and We Salute You Veterans. There will also be a contest/giveaway run through social media.
The TDK will be available April 15th.
Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue Foundation (left), presents the $10,000 Safety Equipment Grant to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey (right) during the formal grant presentation at the department’s 35th District Headquarters on March 21, 2014.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – March 31, 2014 – The Spirit of Blue Foundation announced today that it has awarded a $10,000 Safety Equipment Grant to the Philadelphia Police Department for the purchase of at least 24 ballistic vests. The grant was given in memory of fallen Officer Charles E. Cassidy who was killed in the line of duty while attempting to stop an armed robbery in 2007. The ballistic vests will be purchased in conjunction with the US Department of Justice’s Ballistic Vest Program, which provides federal matching funds for ballistic vest purchases, and will be issued to members of the 35th District where Officer Cassidy served.
“We appreciate this generous gift that is being donated to our department in an effort to keep our members safe. A ballistic vest is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a police officer because it can save his/her life,” stated Commissioner Charles Ramsey of the Philadelphia Police Department. “We want to thank the Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation and the Spirit of Blue Foundation for this grant; and we thank you for honoring the memory of one of our fallen heroes, Officer Charles Cassidy.”
“We expect so much of our police officers. We need them in many ways to hold our society together,” commented Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue Foundation. “But there is an unwritten social contract that we will protect those who protect us. That is what we have to be about. So, it is an extreme honor to award this grant to provide ballistic vests to these fine men and women, so they can hopefully end each shift safely and return home to their families.”
The Safety Equipment Grant was enabled by a generous gift from The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation who partners with organizations that work to support public safety officers, in addition to a number of other community initiatives.
2014 statistics preliminarily released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show that 29 law enforcement officers have already lost their lives this year, an increase of 16% from the same period in the prior year. On average 56 firearms related deaths occur annually. The reality of these statistics, and the increasing number of underfunded law enforcement agencies across the country, fuel the Spirit of Blue safety grant initiative.
A group of 10 military wives are currently in the process of training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro later this year in support of Scotty’s Little Soldiers. The mothers’ goal is to raise enough money for the charity to purchase a holiday home for the families of those who lost their lives while in the service of the British Armed Forces.
You can read about their ongoing efforts and progress at the following link: 10armywives.blogspot.co.uk
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Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a UK-based charity who’s aim is to support the children of men and women killed while serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity provides Christmas and birthday gifts, treats, trips and activities for the families of the fallen as well as enabling them to use the charity holiday lodges.
www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk
The 2014 Operator Challenge is an invitational 5-stage physical and shooting event limited to 100 Operators from the USA and the 117 nations that have been invited to attend USSOCOM’s 2014 International SOF Week. Competitors will compete in events including an obstacle course and steel challenge range, tested through a mixture of shooting barricades, movement with kit, and a simulated wounded Operator. Competitors will utilize carbines, pistols, ammunition, and individual tactical equipment provided by the Operator Challenge Committee. The competitors will be competing for awards and high end prizes.
A parallel ‘SHOOTING WITH SOF’ event will allow select non-DoD and civilian teams to compete for prizes as well as shoot weapon systems utilized by SOF Operators.
The 2014 Operator Challenge is being held on May 18th, 2014, the weekend prior to SOFIC and the USSOCOM Global SOF Conference. The competition is being hosted at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s range complex, a 220 acre shooting facility with state-of-the-art ranges, utilized by local, state, and national law enforcement ranges as well as units from the U.S. Special Operations Command.
The awards ceremony and Operator social will be held on May 20th, 2014 in downtown Tampa. The event will include entertainment, a silent auction, and a raffle prior to the awards ceremony. This event benefits the Global SOF Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation.
For more information, visit: operatorinc.com/events/5/2014-operator-challenge
Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue Foundation (left), presented the New Middletown Police Department with a Philips HeartStart AED. Receiving the grant was Chief Vincent D’Egidio (right) at the City Municipal Building on February 25, 2014.
NEW MIDDLETOWN, OHIO – March 17, 2014 – The Spirit of Blue Foundation announced today that it has awarded a Safety Equipment Grant to New Middletown (OH) Police Department. The grant is for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that will be positioned in a patrol car and available to officers on duty at all times. The grant was made possible by a generous gift from Blue Force Gear and is valued at $1,609.00.
New Middletown is a vibrant suburb of Youngstown, Ohio with a population of 1,600 residents. The police department has 9 officers who serve the Village of New Middletown, 3 of which are over the age of 50.
“The immediate availability of having the AED in the patrol unit is critical in the event an officer suffers a heart attack during training, or a police incident,” stated Chief Vincent D’Egidio of the New Middletown Police Department. “The AED dramatically increases the survival opportunity for the officer in need.”
The Philips HeartStart OnSite AED is a simple to use medical device that provides on-demand audio coached AED and CPR guidance during the resuscitation of a sudden cardiac arrest victim. Paddles for both adults and children/infants were provided with the AED, as it will also be available for medical calls throughout the village.
“We talk about officer safety in terms of being able to go home safely at the end of each shift,” commented Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue. “But, when you have officers who have been working the road for 20-30 years, you need to consider a safe end to their careers as well. If that means ensuring an AED is available, then we are more than happy to provide it.”
2014 statistics preliminarily released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show that so far this year 23 law enforcement officers have already lost their lives, an increase of 28% from the same period in the prior year. On average, 17 officers are lost each year due to on the job illness or health events.
The Spirit of Blue Foundation actively encourages the public at large to honor and appreciate law enforcement officers who serve to protect our communities. By supporting the Spirit of Blue Foundation, the public can make an impact in the lives of law enforcement officers every day. To learn more about the Spirit of Blue, or make a donation, visit www.spiritofblue.com.
Breach-Bang-Clear donated the ‘1 of 20’ knife in a line of custom Coye Ridgebacks to F3 Tactical, for the purpose of a raffle benefiting the Warrior Shoot Event Group. The Ridgeback features a 5/32″ Bohler N690 stainless steel blade with a length of 3.25″. The finish is either plain stonewash or acid wash/tumbled, and the handle material is G10. Each knife comes with a custom Kydex sheath with Tek-Lok. The custom engraving on the blade features the Breach-Bang-Clear crest on one side of the blade, along with a ‘1 of 20’ mark.
The drawing will be held April 02, 2014.
www.f3tac.com/products.php?product=Donation-%252d-WSEG-Raffle-Ticket
Last week, Ryan T. Smith was appointed to the role of Executive Director (half-time) of the Spirit of Blue foundation. His work will include drafting their 3-Year Strategic Plan, managing the Safety Grant Program, heading up promotional planning, and maintaining sponsorship relationships.
The first 300 prepaid orders will receive 10% off purchase price. All boards are made in the USA.
For more info on how to purchase, contact Never Summer Industries via email at promoboards@neversummer.com.
