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Congress Shouldn’t Make Rules Regarding Camouflage

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

I’ve been mulling this over all day. I don’t think it’s a good idea for Congress to tell the military services which camouflage they should be using or how they should equip their troops.

First off, they’ve got more important things to worry about. That’s a given.

Second, they have their lane in the road and the military services have theirs. Even retired two-star General turned Congressman William Enyart, (D-IL) doesn’t seem to have the bubble on camouflage. If a guy with that kind of pedigree doesn’t understand the issues at hand, how can we expect someone to who has never served? Representative Enyart has stated that he plans to introduce an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require all services to adopt the same camouflage pattern by 2018 and would ban the services from developing new camouflage patterns for their own use.

While I’m all for the separate branches of the US military adopting the same camouflage patterns for a variety of reasons, doing it because Congress said so is not even on the list. Aside from the operational and logistical advantages of a common uniform, this budget environment alone should be the precursor to a more common sense approach to field uniforms. Dress uniforms Remain a great way for the services to express their individuality. I’m advocating for the military to do the right thing for the right reasons.

As for a moratorium on camouflage development, I strongly disagree with this idea. Based on the poorly written legislation I see coming out of Washington, such a move will assuredly have negative second and third order effects. For example, what about USSOCOM? While it isn’t a service, it has service-like budget authority and regularly has unique requirements. It uses its budgetary and acquisition authority to fulfill those requirements under MFP-11. Would a poorly written law preclude SOCOM from the fulfillment of unique camouflage requirements that are not shared by conventional forces? Based on Congress’s batting average, my guess is “yes.”

Congress needs to put the services in the hot seat for sure and make them explain why they can’t play nice together but telling them how they should equip individual service members oversteps their mandate.

Posted in Camo, Congress | 34 Comments »

US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Update – Meanwhile in Washington

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

You literally cannot make this stuff up. Apparently, Illinois Freshman Congressman Rep. William L. Enyart (Dem), came up with a great idea. He read an article last month in the The Washington Post about the US military’s multitude of camouflage patterns and intends to introduce legislation today that will require all of DoD to share a common camouflage pattern.

Apparently, living in a city where you regularly see military personnel from all services strutting around in their individually branded uniforms like so many third world militaries didn’t attract his attention. It took a newspaper article to garner his attention. Ironically, Rep Enyart retired just last year as a Major General from the Illinois Army National Guard where he served from 1982 – 2012. Prior to that, he served in the US Air Force from 1969 to 1973. Somehow, that didn’t wake him up either.

And it seems, he is oblivious to previous public law regarding camouflage and field uniforms. His proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would require all of the services to adopt a common pattern by 2018 and would forbid any of them from producing a pattern for its own sole use. Horse left the barn on that one I’m afraid.

On one hand, I’m glad to hear about this new found interest Rep Enyart has for camouflage but I’m deeply saddened that, as usual, a Congressmen is going to run blindly uninformed into introducing redundant legislation. Instead, hopefully he’ll do a little research, take a look at what comes out of the Army Camouflage Improvement Effort and perhaps hold DoD’s feet to the fire on previous legislation.

I appreciate where his heart is, but I wish he was better informed, especially as he is a retired GO.

Tags: Rep. William L. Enyart
Posted in Camo, Congress | 44 Comments »

Is the US Army’s Individual Carbine Program Doomed?

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

Earlier today, in a statement by Ms. Lynne M. Halbrooks, Principal Deputy Inspector General, Department of Defense Inspector General before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform entitled, “Opportunities to Reduce Waste and Improve Efficiency at the Department of Defense and Other Federal Agencies,” she made a rather interesting comment about the US Army’s proposed replacement for the M4/M16 family.

In another example, we are auditing the Army’s acquisition of the individual carbine program, which is an acquisition the Department may want to re-evaluate. We expect to report concerns that DoD may not have an established need for this weapon nor developed performance requirements for the $1.8 billion acquisition. Currently, the Army is modifying its existing M4 rifle and, at the same time, seeking to develop a new rifle. However, key performance parameters such as accuracy, reliability, and lethality have not been established. In addition, it is unclear what additional capability this new rifle will have over the modified M4. Further, the Army is seeking to acquire more rifles during a time when their total force structure will be reduced. We expect to issue our draft report within the next two months that will further elaborate on these concerns and provide recommendations for the Department to increase efficiencies.

Considering the Army’s dual path strategy that is alluded to in the statement which concurrently improves the performance of existing M4A1 carbines while simultaneously working to acquire an entirely new weapon, it is no wonder that DoD is reconsidering the replacement half of the equation. Industry analysts have long questioned the notion that a new weapon would offer a dramatic increase in performance without first undertaking a caliber and associated ammunition change. The IC program does not adequately do this. And then there’s Sequestration…

Posted in Congress, Contracts, weapons | 17 Comments »

What’s Congress Doing To Help The Industry?

Friday, March 8th, 2013

Lets face it, the tactical bubble has burst. As the war winds down, things have slowed up quite a bit, but sequestration has put an end to not only training but the purchase of commercial soldier systems commodities.

Tactical Tailor’s Casey Ingels is in Washington this week to meet with members of Congress. One remedy that has been mentioned is to introduce legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to fall under the Berry Amendment. Here’s the problem with that approach. It’s been done. In 2009 the Kissel Amendment (Berry Amendment Extension Act) required DHS to adopt Berry Amendment buying policies which require all textile based commodities to be manufactured in the US from US raw goods. Berry dates back to WWII and was intended to protect both the industrial base as well as the military. Unfortunately, the Kissel Amendment turned out to be a failure. In 2009, DHS decided that it didn’t really apply to them becuase of this statement in the law, “applied in a manner consistent with United States obligations under international agreements.” It gave them an out that they needed in order to continue to purchase foreign goods. Can you imagine anything more ridiculous? Border Patrol agents are issued foreign manufactured uniforms. It’s almost insulting.

Recently, the federal government agreed on new terms for TSA agents that would raise their annual clothing allowance to over $500. Currently, the contract for these uniforms is with fashion house VF. Agents have an account and order their uniform items online through VF’s website. Unfortunately, those uniforms are no made here in the US.

Two immediate things could happen that would breathe some life into the US tactical industry that has made possible the amazing modernization of the US service member’s clothing and individual equipment over the past 10 years.

First, the Army needs to stop messing around and announce their new camouflage pattern. Second, Congress needs enact tough legislation that places not only DHS but the entire federal government under Berry, requiring them to purchase their clothing and individual equipment from US sources. There are enough loopholes that foreign produced specialty items can be procured and if the demand is there, US based manufacturing will be established. Additionally, Congress needs to pressure the Obama administration to issue an executive order requiring DHS to comply with the spirit of the already existing Kissel amendment.

Posted in Congress, Industry | 31 Comments »

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Sunday, January 6th, 2013

Ever since they took Schoolhouse Rock off of Saturday morning cartoons it seems that no one has an even basic understanding of the legislative process or how an idea becomes a law. It’s not an easy thing to pass a law and this short cartoon will give you an idea of the multiple roadblocks to passing a new law. Think of it as activism 101.

Tags: Schoolhouse Rock
Posted in Congress | 13 Comments »

Welcome The New Congress

Thursday, January 3rd, 2013

Be sure to contact your Senators and Representative and introduce yourself. While you’re at it, be sure to let them know how you feel about any upcoming legislation regarding the defense budget and gun rights.

Find your Senators here: http://1.usa.gov/W7hwg9
Find your Representatives here: http://1.usa.gov/Uqqt6r

Posted in 2A, Congress | 4 Comments »

Impact of Sequestration on DoD

Monday, August 27th, 2012

“…sequestration was designed to be an inflexible and mindless policy that was never intended to be implemented.”
– Robert F. Hale, DoD Comptroller
In a letter to Senators John McCain and Carl Levin

Actually, Mr Hale is quoting DepSecDef Ashton B Carter in his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on 1 August, 2012. The Honorable Mr Carter goes into great detail on how impending sequestration will affect modernization. He uses the word ‘devastating’ when describing its effects. He also makes the point that it will also be trying for all departments. No matter which side of the political fence you find yourself on, you have to agree, we are charting new waters here. If Congress doesn’t act, the consequences will be major, for all. Please take the time to read Mr Carter’s testimony. I feel that his summary makes the biggest impact. Congress needs to act, in a balanced way.

DOD Sequester Impact Aug 15 Report

Posted in Congress | 3 Comments »

Proposed High Capacity Magazine Bans and the Military

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

From 1994 until 2004 the American firearms industry suffered under a form of prohibition. The “Assault Weapons Ban” not only covered weapon features but also magazines over 10 rounds. This legislation did nothing to alter crime and, once lifted did not result in any increased gun violence. Overall, it was useless legislation.

These very magazines and weapon features that were banned under the “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994” have been crucial to the US Department of Defense’s and our Allies small modernization as part of operations in Iraq as well as globally against piracy, terror and general mayhem. During the 10-year period of the AWB, US businesses curtailed small arms innovation. The point of a business is to make money. When there is little market for a product (as was the case during the AWB), the business case is not there to service it. This was most definitely the situation with magazines for the M9 Beretta Handgun. Many who served early in the war will remember poorly produced high capacity magazines for that weapon. This is because there was no competition in the marketplace due to a lack of market. Rather, government contractors for that magazine were able to produce products that performed poorly on the battlefield. There was no competition. There was no innovation.

Since the ban was lifted, an entire industry has grown and flourished, producing innovative solutions for both law abiding citizens and our military alike. American troops are the best equipped in the world and other countries look to us for technical innovation in small arms.

On the heels of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, opportunistic members of Congress have attached an amendment to (S.A. 2575) to the “Cybersecurity Act” (S. 3414) that would once again restrict these magazines that are critical to our military.

Contact your Congressional representation (switchboard 202-225-3121) and let them know how you feel about this proposed legislation and the hijacking of the Cybersecurity Act by opportunists. A strong American firearms industry contributes directly to our National Defense.

Posted in Congress, Industry, weapons | 19 Comments »