Ivan from Kit Badger goes over the ups and down of working for a private security contractor.
Read all about it at kitbadger.com/pros-and-cons-of-security-contracting.
Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category
Kit Badger – Pros and Cons of Security Contracting
Friday, March 22nd, 2019FirstSpear Friday Focus – Noveske Discreet Rifle Bag
Friday, March 22nd, 2019
This Friday we are taking a look at a popular low vis rifle bag from FirstSpear originally designed at the request of Noveske Rifleworks.
Utilizing varied colors and more commercial material applciations this backpack offers a very soft look with the design and strength to support and quickly deploy a short barreled rifle or sub gun.
Features an exterior beaver tail style pocket with adjustable straps to secure another bag or loose clothing. The bag also features a hidden pocket as well attachment points on the inside of the bag to secure pockets as well as the included accessories to secure the rifle inside the bag.
Dimensions: 28¼” x 13 ¼” x 5″
Made in the USA with USA Materials
www.first-spear.com/noveske-discreet-backpack
SureFire Field Notes Ep 41 – Going in Alone with Bill Blowers
Thursday, March 21st, 2019SureFire Field Notes is a multi-segment informational video series with tips and techniques from subject matter experts of all backgrounds. In this episode, Bill Blowers of Tap-Rack Tactical discusses the circumstances that would require you to clear a structure as an individual, and how he would accomplish that if required to do so.
Bill was a police officer in Washington State for over 25 years, retiring in February 2018 as a Sergeant. He also served in the United States Army from 1986 to 1992. He was assigned to SWAT in 1995 and absent a single year, stayed on SWAT for the remainder of his career. He served as a ballistic shield carrier, breacher, entry team member, team training coordinator and ended as a team leader. As a team leader, Bill has successfully planned or participated in approximately 1500 pre-planned and in progress SWAT callouts. He has over 5000 training hours and has personally trained SWAT officers in different locations around the USA.
www.tap-rack.com
www.surefire.com
Brigantes Presents – High Angled Solutions – Helix Tactical Training
Wednesday, March 20th, 2019Helix understand that first class equipment is only one part of the equation and that without a trained operator or user it is unlikely to be utilised to its full potential.
This year, Helix Training are delivering a number of RoSPA approved, open three-day PPE courses. These courses are designed to qualify an individual as a PPE inspector with an understanding of the following:
• Health and safety regulations related to the choice, purchase and use of PPE and work equipment.
• Responsibilities for the inspection of PPE prior to, during and after use including management systems.
• Practical skills providing the user with the ability to identify damage and defects, and the procedures to retire damaged or obsolete items.
• How the above relate to government and military organisations and activities both within the UK and overseas whether conducting training, operations or adventure training.
The course is assessed with both a written and practical exam on the final day. On successful completion of the course, the qualification is valid for three years.
They have scheduled a number of non-residential open courses for 2019, which are delivered from our office in Llanberis. Helix are able to deliver closed courses internationally.
For more information contact international@brigantes.com
For UK customers: warrior@brigantes.com
US Army Small Arms Championship Winners Announced
Tuesday, March 19th, 2019FORT BENNING, Ga. – The 2019 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships, which is hosted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, concluded it’s seven-day competition at Fort Benning, Georgia on March 16 with an awards ceremony.
The annual competition, which is commonly called the All Army, is the Army’s premier marksmanship competition that tests Soldiers ability on both their primary and secondary weapons through 11 different course of fire. This year, more than 260 Soldiers from across the United States and all four components of the Army (active duty, National Guard, Reserve and ROTC) came seeking the top titles as they battled it out in both tactical and civilian-style rifle and pistol matches, as well as a multigun match.
This year’s winners are:
• The 2019 All Army Champion: U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner with the Army Reserve Careers Division. (Suffolk, VA native)
• The 2019 All Army Champion Team: The U.S. Army Reserve team from Army Reserve Careers Division. Team members are: Sgt. Joseph Hall, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner, Staff Sgt. Rafael Fuentes, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Parker, and coach: Sgt. Maj. James Mauer.
• The 2019 All Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley Trophy awardee: Texas A&M Cadet Brannon Sickels. This marksmanship excellence award is presented to the top cadet having the highest combined score from all rifle and pistol excellence in competition matches. During the All Army Championships, Sickels earned his Distinguished Pistol Shot Marksmanship Badge.
• The 2019 All Army Col. Ralph Puckett Awardee: Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Jaymes Sendo. This for excellence in marksmanship award is presented to the combined top novice shooter from all the rifle and pistol Excellence in Competition matches.
• The 2019 All Army Multigun Champion: U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner with the Army Reserve Careers Division.
• The 2019 All Army Pistol Champion: U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Christopher Liming.
• The 2019 All Army Rifle Champion: National Guard Maj. Samuel Freeman with the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center.
• The 2019 All Army Open Division Champion: North Dakota Air National Guard Senior Airman Gavin Rook.
• The 2019 All Army Top Cadet: Texas A&M Cadet Brannon Sickels.
• The 2019 All Army Novice Division Champion: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Virgin with 1st Corps.
• The 2019 All Army High Drill Sergeant: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Varela from the 198th Infantry Training Brigade.
• The 2019 All Army Pistol Champion Team: Texas Army National Guard. Team members: Staff Sgt. Justus Densmore, Sgt. Tyler Greene, Capt. Robert Lee, Sgt. Jaymes Sendo, and coach: Staff Sgt. Michael Richey.
• The 2019 All Army Rifle Champion Team: California Army National Guard. Team members are Master Sgt. Philip Brock, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Garcia, Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray, and Sgt. Obed Gutierrez.
• The 2019 All Army Multigun Champion Team: U.S Army 1st Corps Team. Team members are: Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Virgin, Sgt. Ashton Foster, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Wirts, Staff Sgt. Logan Frost, and coach: Staff Sgt. Jeffery Lewis.
Story by MAJ Michelle Lunato, US Army Marksmanship Unit
Max Talk Monday: Squad Hasty Attack: Texas Class 2019
Monday, March 18th, 2019This is the fourteenth installment of ‘Max Talk Monday’ which shares select episodes from a series of instructional videos. Max Velocity Tactical (MVT) has established a reputation on the leading edge of tactical live fire and force on force training. MVT is dedicated to developing and training tactical excellence at the individual and team level.
Max Talk: The Squad Hasty Attack is video footage of the hasty attack drill at the Texas Class 2019. This was a squad level (2 x fire team) live fire training exercise against a simulated isolated enemy position. The point fire team comes under effective enemy fire and simulates fighting off the ‘X’ (in this case forward). The point team then becomes support by fire as the other team moves right flanking to assault. This drill formed part of the ‘Attack Day’ which included hasty attack and raid simulated live fire scenarios.
Max is a tactical trainer and author, a lifelong professional soldier with extensive military experience. He served with British Special Operations Forces, both enlisted and as a commissioned officer; a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Max served on numerous operational deployments, and also served as a recruit instructor. Max spent five years serving as a paramilitary contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan; the latter two years working for the British Government in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Website: Max Velocity Tactical
YouTube: Max Velocity Tactical
SCUBAPRO SUNDAY – Mask Care Pre and Post Dive
Sunday, March 17th, 2019I wanted to have link to the Movie, The Fighting Sullivan’s in honor of ST Patrick’s day and I couldn’t find it. So, then I looked for The Fighting 69th, again can’t find that one also. The Fighting Sullivan’s is my favorite movies of all times. If you ever want to teach someone about brotherhood and loyalty. That is the movies to watch. Well and The Boonedock Saints.
“Everyone is Irish on St Paddies Day”
Happy St Patrick’s day.
Dive masks are one of the most basic, and most important pieces of equipment you have for your dive. If your mask falls it makes for a very long and painful dive. To ensure your mask stays in good condition, you must take care of it like the important piece of equipment it is. If you can’t see beneath the surface, what’s the point?
Just as you would always care for your regulator, so should you always remember your mask. This maintenance needs to be a regular routine for your dive trips. Follow the tips below to keep an easy system flowing for your scuba mask care regime.
Pre-Dive
When a SCUBA mask is made it leaves a lot of film and residue on it. If not cleaned off properly you will never get your mask to stop fogging. You can search the Internet for lots of different ways to clean your mask. I am going to walk thru one of the easiest and safest way to do it. With some of the other way, if not done right you can break your mask glass or damage your frame.
Check your mask for any damage that’s occurred. Look for small cracks in the rubber of the strap or on the skirt. Test the elasticity of the strap, replacing as needed, don’t wait until you are on the dive boat to try test this. Make sure you check the clips as well.
Inspect the skirt on your mask for wear and tears. Also look at the frame of the mask where the glass is seated for imperfections.
Post-Dive
Always rinse your mask with freshwater. Let it dry properly out of direct sunlight. You can clean it with toothpaste or a mask cleaner. Let your mask dry out completely to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Storage and Proactive Care
Mask care includes smart storage. Keep it in a hard-covered case for the best protection from moisture, dust, and impact. If it came with a hard case, make sure you store the mask in that. Plastic parts can stay oddly shaped if crushed or folded down when incorrectly stored for long periods of time. Also make sure it has good airflow to make sure it doesn’t get moldy.
Basic gear maintenance will allow you to keep your gear for a long time and also help it not fail you when it is needed most.
US, Philippine Armies Exchange Best Techniques for Training Working Dogs
Sunday, March 17th, 2019CAMP AQUINO, Philippines — The U.S Army and Soldiers from the Philippine Army’s K9 Battalion trained together on March 6, 2019 during exercise Salaknib to learn each other’s military working dog training techniques. Training together like this allows U.S. forces and host countries to build lasting partnerships and prepare to work together on real missions.
“The Subject Matter Experts allow us to exchange ideas and some best practices as to how the programs are managed,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ivan Alvira, the plans section Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge with the 8th Military Police Brigade. “We can compare notes on how they manage their programs and how we manage ours and then take back those suggestions and maybe make adjustments in the way that we do things.”
Each team has been open to new ideas and training tools in learning ways to make their programs better. Even with language barriers and time constraints, everyone involved has benefited by working together.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Holmes, the plans NCO with the 520th Military Working Dog Detachment explained how good it has been working with the Philippine military. “I have absorbed their information as well and I’m going to be able to take that back to my counterparts back in the states.”
The Philippine army enjoyed working alongside the U.S. Army and was happy with the lessons they received.
“We are lucky to have Sgt. 1st Class Alvira and Staff Sgt. Holmes conducting lectures pertaining to canine operations,” said Philippine Army Maj. Christopher C. Manimtim with the K9 Battalion. “And also to share some of the best practices not only for the U.S. army but for the Philippine soldiers.”
Sharing ideas and training tools does not just benefit the canine programs, but also the military as a whole. It creates a familiarity with another’s branch of service which helps in times of need. Working together to share tips on how to better military programs, helps everyone by creating and strengthening bonds.
“Anytime that you’re interacting with a partner, your building on readiness; you’re building on interoperability,” Alvira added. “It’s allowing us to build trust and confidence in the abilities of both nations. So anytime that you can interact with another nation in an exercise such as Salakinib or Balikatan, it allows us to get better as a joint force.”
Both sides become strengthened as a team in many ways. Everyone has shared a lot of new concepts and methods; and hope to expand their training and work together for many years.
By SPC Elizabeth Johnson
