It’s not that Ops-Core doesn’t have their hands full with lots of work manufacturing helmets and protective accessories for our troops and allies. This shutdown is about politics and zoning.
See the video report here.
Hang in there guys!
Hat tip to www.thegearlocker.net.
War Sport Industries has introduced their new Cable & Accessory Management System for the Ops-Core FAST Helmet or other helmets with ventilation holes. As you can see it is a bungee system that will hall manage cables as thick as .65″. Granted, it is a very specialized item, but it is an innovative idea. I expect we will see some further development from War Sport.
Coming March 30th from warsport-us.net.
Ops-Core FAST Helmets are showing up all over the place, but up until now there haven’t been any covers for them. Time was, guys didn’t think they needed a cover and were more than satisfied with just painting them. Now, they’ve come to the realization that covers aid with camouflage (particularly when wet) as well as noise discipline. Additionally, as FAST helmets can be had in a variety of finishes, a helmet cover is a low cost way to modify the helmet’s camouflage without destroying the finish or purchasing an additional helmet.
FirstSpear currently offers two styles of helmet covers for the Ops-Core family of FAST Helmets. In both cases, the design is the same and it’s more a matter of material choices.
The Helmet Cover was introduced at SHOT Show and already units are ordering them. It’s made from four-way stretch material to conform to the helmet’s lines.
FirstSpear has also just introduced the Helmet Cover – Hybrid. This cover utilizes a combination of mesh and four-way stretch material. This gives a different look and is more accommodating for those who want to add garnish or local vegetation to enhance camouflage.
FirstSpear covers are manufactured from Mil-Spec materials in Black, Ranger Green, Coyote, MultiCam and White. They incorporate color matched Velcro strips across the crown and around the rear of the helmet to attach strobes, ID and other IFF systems. Additionally, the covers are cut high enough to accommodate the Accessory Rail Connector and also feature cutout for NVG mounts. The covers are easy to attach and work in a similar manner to the ACH cover via dual-sided Velcro strips that are trapped in between the helmet and pads.
FirstSpear offers these covers to accommodate both FAST Ballistic and Maritime cut helmets. Covers for other helmets can be custom created. Contact FirstSpear for details.
Many troops have had issues with the fit of the Advanced Combat Helmet. The idea is to go up a size when in doubt rather than use a smaller helmet which will fit closer to the head and place the wearer in danger of blunt force trauma and associated Traumatic Brain Injury. When Soldiers wear larger helmets it can feel “loose” when using issue 3/4 inch pads. To help combat this issue, the Army has introduced one inch thick pads.
PEO Soldier recently noted in an announcement regarding the new pads that there are a couple of ways to tell if your helmet isn’t fitting properly. Consider, if your helmet rocks back and forth and is not stable, if the helmet is too low on brow or if the helmet is not compatible with eyewear. These are all good indicators.
They suggest substituting pairs of one inch oblong/oval pads or individual trapezoidal front and/or rear pads or to even try another helmet to alleviate discomfort. If you decide to move to the new pads, PEO Soldier is very specific about how you must proceed.
“It is important to note the oblong/oval pads must be replaced in pairs to maintain stability, and the trapezoidal front and/or rear pad may be replaced individually. Safety considerations require the crown pad to be available in one size only, the three-quarter-inch size, to ensure the helmet does not ride too high the head.”
These changes are currently being incorporated in TM 10-8470-204-10 Technical Manual Operator’s Manual for Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH).
Pads are ordered in pairs and PEO Soldier provided these NSNs for your use. Pads should also be available through your CIF.
NSN, Item & Size
8470-01-547-2802, Pad Oblong/Oval, 8
8470-01-547-2795, Pad Trapezoidal, 8
*Pad sizes are in eighths of an inch. The 8 equals one inch.
We gave you a tease of the Spartan during the 2012 SHOT Show and it’s easy to tell where it got its name by just looking at it. The Spartan design is actually a couple of years old and offers Maxillofacial Ballistic Protection without any modification to an issue Advanced Combat Helmet. Crye brought it back to the forefront as a possible solution for a US Army requirement for a “commercially available product that can provide ballistic, blast and blunt impact protection in the maxillofacial region to increase soldier survivability.”
What really sets this product apart from others is that it is somewhat flexible and can be easily mounted and dismounted from the helmet. As you can see in the video it integrates with the NVG mount and can be pulled up out of the way when needed. Additionally, it won’t give you that claustrophobic feeling and you can still shoulder a weapon with it in place.
Available soon from www.CryePrecision.com.
With helmets and their accessories costing more and more it’s no surprise that someone would come with a purpose built bag. FirstSpear’s Helmet Hut accommodates a helmet in a padded compartment and also has zippered storage for goggles, mounts, lights, NVGs and other gear.
Check it out in booth #27411.
Designed as part of a TSWG program, the Law Enforcement Tactical Helmet integrates a pull down Mil Spec visor. While it offers no frag rating it does stop 9mm and .44 mag at less than one inch back face deformation!
