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Air Force Service Dress Shortages to Affect BMT Graduates

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —

Due to a shortage of fabric used to manufacture service dress uniforms, Airmen and Guardians graduating from basic military training will temporarily be issued fewer uniform items.

This proactive measure will allow Airmen and Guardians to have, at minimum, one full set of service dress while Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support works with the manufacturer to restore full production.

This fabric shortage will also affect the supply of service dress items across the Department of the Air Force, however BMT recruits have priority.

Men and women are normally issued two short sleeve blue shirts and two long sleeve blue shirts at BMT. Additionally, men are normally issued three pairs of trousers and women two pairs of slacks. Starting in November, some service members will only be issued one each of those items.

To make sure service members eventually receive their full uniform complement, the DAF will provide the affected active duty BMT graduates a cash allowance in their pay check to buy the missing uniform items as available from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service when they arrive at their next duty station or school. Air Reserve Component graduates will be issued missing items after arrival at their home unit, upon availability.

Burlington Industries is the sole U.S. supplier of approved worsted and poly-wool dress fabric used in all military services’ dress uniforms. The continued shortage in the fabric supply as a result of labor challenges and increased material cost is anticipated to have a greater impact on the production and availability of dress uniforms starting in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Clothing, Guest Post | Comments Off on Air Force Service Dress Shortages to Affect BMT Graduates

TacMed Tuesday – The Essentials: The TacMed Solutions Operator IFAK

Tuesday, December 28th, 2021

The TacMed™ Solutions Operator IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) is a compact and streamlined combat trauma kit with an optimized interior layout and full-zip opening for rapid easy access to all its components. The IFAK contents allow for the effective treatment of injuries commonly associated with combat trauma without taking up excess space using multipurpose items like the included OLAES® Modular Bandage features a plastic occlusive sheet in the dressing pocket which can eliminate the need for a stand-alone chest seal.

The TacMed™ Solutions Operator IFAK has gripper elastic on the bottom of the pouch that can provide an extra place to store quick-access equipment such as a tourniquet. The IFAK medical kit includes Velcro on the front provides a place to adhere to an ID patch for easy identification if being aided by a partner.

While the Operator IFAK was designed to improve survivability on the battlefield, many law enforcement agencies also utilize it to keep their officers prepared for any situation.

If you are interested in learning more about the Operator IFAK and its kit components, check it out at: tacmedsolutions.com/products/tacmed-solutions-operator-ifak

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US Army Hosts Mountain Warfare Course in Djibouti

Tuesday, December 28th, 2021

DJIBOUTI — Five U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School instructors with the Vermont Army National Guard travelled to Djibouti to teach a five-day Joint Expeditionary Mountain Warfare Course to service members from France’s 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment (5e RIAOM) at the Arta Range Complex, Dec. 12-16, 2021.

The course consisted of knot tying, rope management, rappelling, fixed rope techniques, hauling systems, ascension techniques, lowering systems, basic mountain casualty evacuation and portable stretcher training. Upon successful completion of the course, the students received the prestigious Ram’s Head device and a certificate of completion during a graduation ceremony.

“Any time we can have information sharing and collaboration, it’s beneficial for us as well as our partner forces,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Dearborn, an instructor at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School. “Even the experienced service members were able to take something away from this course.”

Mountain qualified Soldiers from the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), assisted Vermont’s instructors with the course. The 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) is a unit within the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), the only active mountain brigade in the U.S. Army. The 86th IBCT (Mountain) and the Army Mountain Warfare School are both headquartered Vermont.

“Our task force is honored to host this joint training event and further demonstrate our interoperability and continuous cooperation with the French military,” said Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, Task Force Iron Gray commander. “Because of joint trainings like this, we are all more ready to succeed at our missions and allow future task forces to continue carrying on these partnerships for years to come.”

This is the first time the Army Mountain Warfare School has conducted mountain training for French service members in Djibouti. For years, French forces have routinely invited U.S. service members to participate in the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti. During Task Force Iron Gray’s deployment to the Horn of Africa, 53 Soldiers successfully completed the grueling 12-day course, earning the foreign identification badge.

The Joint Expeditionary Mountain Warfare Course was a way for the U.S. Army to give back by including foreign nation service members from France’s 5e RIAOM, and share specialty skillsets that strengthen the relationships among the international forces working together in the region. Thirty-two French service members from the 5e RIAOM successfully completed the Joint Expeditionary Mountain Warfare Course.

“This is part of a mutual cooperation between the U.S. and the French,” said French Capt. Benoit Malet, Commander, French Desert Commando Course. “The U.S. came here to teach the French their own techniques. We do the same things but different ways, so it is very interesting to us to discover a new view on what we do.”

By SSG Amanda Stock

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International, Mountaineering, Training | Comments Off on US Army Hosts Mountain Warfare Course in Djibouti

M17 Rear Sight Installation – Updated Procedure & Torque Spec

Monday, December 27th, 2021

On 13 December 2021, instructions were made publicly available by TACOM on the PS Magazine website for M17 Rear Sight Installation. This is for maintainers.

END USER SOLDIERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THIS PROCEDURE.

1. Insert the loaded chamber indicator spring and loaded chamber indicator into the slide.

2. Inspect the rear sight screw, NSN 1005-01-665-4524 (PN 13067025), to see if there’s a red Nylok® patch on the first 4 threads of the screw.

Note: Perform steps 3 and 4 for screws with a Nylok® patch.

3. Thoroughly clean the screw and rear sight threads to clear away excess Nylok® or Loctite®.

4. Apply one drop of Loctite 243, NSN 8030-01-620-3313, to the interior threads of the rear sight.

Note: Perform step 5 for one-piece rear sight installation.

5. Install the rear sight plate assembly onto the slide.

Note: Perform step 6 for two-piece rear sight installation.

6. Install the rear sight plate and rear sight onto the slide.

7. Install the screw into the rear sight. Tighten the screw to 21 in-lb.

8. Back the screw out until it is loose but not completely out.

9. Tighten the screw to 34 in-lb.

10. Check the rear sight plate and rear sight to ensure they are not loose. The use of sealing compound, Loctite 243, allows reuse of the rear sight screw. The rear sight screw will no longer be a mandatory replacement part (MRP).

PS Magazine article (no credentials required – open source):

www.psmagazine.army.mil/News/Article/2871712/m17m18-pistol-new-rear-sight-installation-instructions

TACOM Message (credentials required):

tulsa.tacom.army.mil/Maintenance

– SSG Ian Tashima, CA Asst State Marksmanship Coordinator

Posted in Guest Post, MRO, weapons | 1 Comment »

Signature Block Pronouns Now Allowed for Airmen, Guardians

Monday, December 27th, 2021

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —

A recent update to the Department of the Air Force writing guide, The Tongue and Quill, now allows Airmen and Guardians to include pronouns in their signature block.

The Tongue and Quill provides formatting standards and guidelines for a number of official documents, including email, memoranda, letters and papers.

“An inclusive force is a mission-ready force, and I’m thankful to the LGBTQ Initiatives Team for helping us realize this opportunity to be a more inclusive force,” said Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones.

The LGBTQ Initiatives Team, or LIT, a part of the Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, advocated for this change, one of the latest initiatives the DAF undertook to address barriers to service and promote a more inclusive culture.

“The change request was driven by awareness of a restrictive policy that was being used against transgender Airmen and Guardians who were authentically representing themselves,” said Lt. Col. Bree Fram, a LIT Transgender Policy Team co-lead. “It was also important for many individuals often confused as being a different gender in their communications.”

This effort was led by the LIT, with support from the Pacific Islander/Asian American Community Team, and the Women’s Initiatives Team, other teams of the DAFBAWG.
Master Sgt. Jamie Hash, the other LIT Transgender Policy Team co-lead, also explained that the explicit permission to use pronouns, a practice that is now common in the civilian sector, gets the DAF further down the road of explicitly acknowledging the existence and dignity of non-binary military members and civilians. She added that this change eliminates confusion for people with non-Anglo/Western or gender-neutral names.

“The LIT provided an opportunity to streamline the process for this change,” Hash said, explaining that this change was a request she started from her installation’s Diversity and Inclusion committee. “It is an example of how the DAFBAWG teams are addressing barriers, collaborating, and executing solutions in ways that have not been seen before to help Airmen and Guardians thrive.”

Official signature blocks should include name, rank, service affiliation, duty title, organization name, phone numbers and social media contact information. Pronouns such as he/him, she/her, or they/them are now authorized but not required. An example is:

ANGEL ALONSO, Capt, USAF (he/him/his)
Occupational Therapy Element Leader
48th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
RAF Lakenheath, UK
DSN: 555-1212

Pronouns can be placed immediately after the name in parentheses or on separate lines within the signature block.

“A foundational competency of the DAF is to foster inclusion,” Fram said. “The use of correct pronouns is an easy way to show care and respect for Airmen and Guardians as individuals, and can help the DAF retain highly qualified individuals. Allowing pronouns in an individual’s signature block is a quick and simple way to eliminate confusion and promote a more inclusive culture.

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | 36 Comments »

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Battle of the Bulge Small Truce

Sunday, December 26th, 2021

On December 24th, 1944, The Battle of the Bulge had started 8 days before with a massive push by the Germans to split the Allies in half and stop the use of the Belgium port of Antwerp. Many soldiers on both sides had become lost from their units and were looking for a place to stay. Three American Soldiers were lost around the area where the shack was. They saw the light from the small hunting cabin and the smoke from the chimney. They saw their chance to warm up. They knocked on the door and asked if they could come in. The German lady had a small chicken cooking for themselves but invited the Americans in to warm up and for the Christmas meal.

One of the American Soldiers was wounded, and the lady tried to make him comfortable. There was a language barrier for a time till one of the soldiers found out the lady could speak French as well as German. So, everything was going well, and the Americans were feeling right at home.

Then suddenly there was a knock at the door. The American’s went for their guns. The lady went to the door and answered it. There were four German soldiers who were also lost from their unit, and they asked the lady for shelter. The lady answered them with this, “Yes, you can come in for Christmas dinner, but I have other guests.” One German soldier remarked, “Americana.” She said, “yes, and that this was Christmas, and there would be no killing on this night.” She also told the Germans that they would have to lay down their weapons while they came in. She instructed the Americans to do the same.

There they were all in the room together, soldiers who a little while ago were bent on killing each other. Now, they were in a small room together with no weapons. Everyone could feel the tension in the air. It was very quiet for about ten minutes. Then one American soldier offered the Germans a cigarette. They obliged. One of the Germans who had medical training asked about the wounded American. He then began to help the wounded American and made him as comfortable as he could be.

By the time the meal was ready, the atmosphere was more relaxed. Two of the Germans were only sixteen, their corporal was 23. As Elisabeth said grace, Fritz noticed tears in the soldiers’ eyes, both German and American.

The truce lasted through the night and into the morning. Looking at the Americans’ map, the corporal told them the best way to get back to their lines and provided them with a compass. They asked if they should instead go to Monschau, the corporal shook his head and said it was now in German hands. Elisabeth returned all their weapons, and the enemies shook hands and left in opposite directions. Soon they were all out of sight, and the truce was over.

thechaplainkit.com/2017/12/24/truce-in-the-forest-the-story-of-a-world-war-ii-truce-between-german-american-soldiers-during-the-battle-of-the-bulge

If you are in the Christmas spirit and want to watch a movie about the Battle of the Bugle, I would recommend Battleground. It was written by someone who was in the Battle of the Bugle. It is an all-time classic.

Sorry, I couldn’t find the whole movie. This is the preview.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, History | 1 Comment »

Kit Badger – How To Make Reactive Targets

Saturday, December 25th, 2021

Ivan made a video on how to make your own reactive targets.

Posted in DIY, Guest Post, Tachacker, Training | 1 Comment »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Merry Christmas

Friday, December 24th, 2021

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the FirstSpear team. We’re proud to bring you 100% American made products and to continue to support those at the tip of the spear.

Free domestic shipping on orders over $99; check out our non-standard, non-stocking page for discounted items.

For more information about FirstSpear, check out First-spear.com.

Check out our latest technology on first-spear.tech.

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