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Gear History – The Becker Patrol Pack

Monday, October 20th, 2014

In this video, knife designer Ethan Becker describes another piece of kit he came up with, the Backer Patrol Pack.

Back in the day, the Becker Patrol Pack was the pack to have for short duration missions. Designed originally to be compatible with ALICE Slide Fasteners, it features strips of webbing to attach pouches. Additionally, there are six fixed external pouches closed via 1″ SR buckles.

The design also incorporates Coolmax padding in the back and shoulders for comfort in hot weather. You’ve got to remember, folks weren’t wearing armor all of the time. The shoulder straps also feature suede patches to offer purchase when shouldering a weapon. Like the ALICE pack, the top flap incorporates an internal pocket for maps or other items. Finally, the waist belt is removable and can be worn as a stand alone war belt.

Eventually, Eagle Industries would introduce a Large version of the BPP (above) with increased volume up around the Large ALICE as well as a MOLLE variant (below) that replaces the outer, fixed pockets and ALICE webbing with PALS.

Tags: Eagle Industries, Ethan Becker
Posted in History, Packs | 16 Comments »

Remember The Battle of Mogadishu

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the creation of the 75th Ranger Regiment but it’s also the date to remember 1993’s Battle of Mogadishu during which elements of TF Ranger, deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia conducted an operation on that city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia.

Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid a battle ensued that claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the militia. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th.

For those of you unfamiliar, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.

If you want to here more from a man that was there in the thick of it, pick up a copy of Panteao Productions‘ “Battle of the Black Sea” featuring MSG Paul Howe (USA, Ret).

Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.

Posted in History | 27 Comments »

Evolutionary Tactics – Field Manual for the First Earth Battalion

Sunday, September 28th, 2014

I’ve always been fascinated by the work conducted by LTC Jim Channon during his post-Viet Nam service. He spent some time surveying the early 70s Human Potential Movement. His answer to a new way of doing things was the First Earth Battalion Manual.

You can pass it all off as some new-age, hare-brained plan but the guy had vision. Sure, you’ve got the cut through the hippy language, but there are some gems in there.

Here, Jim Channon tells you in his own words about his work.

Tags: First Earth Battalion, Jim Channon
Posted in History | 7 Comments »

Happy 67th Anniversary US Air Force

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Established September 18th, 1947, the United States Air Force is today comprised of more than 680,000 Airmen, made up of active duty, reservists, guardsmen and civilians, who support more than 5,600 aircraft, 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 63 satellites.

Our Air Force is the world’s preeminent air, space and cyberspace force with an ability to rapidly adapt to uncertainty, ensuring future success.

Posted in Air Force, History | 2 Comments »

SOF SIGINTERs Before It Was Cool!

Monday, September 15th, 2014

SEPTEMBER 1966 – THE FIGHTING 403RD ARRIVES IN SOUTH VIETNAM

The 403rd Special Operations Detachment (Abn) was the Army Security Agency’s Direct Support Unit for the 5th Special Forces Group. The unit arrived straight from Special Forces training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, in September 1966 with fifty-one men as part of an effort to restructure the intelligence capabilities of the 5th SFG.

Although subordinate to the 509th Radio Research Group (ASA) in Saigon, the 403rd was headquartered with the 5th Special Forces Group in Nha Trang. At full strength, their personnel were ultimately deployed to some eighty-five remote and dangerous locations in support of 3,500 Special Forces troops across the length and breadth of South Vietnam.

The ASA Green Berets were trained in Morse and voice intercept, serving as highly-trained communications intelligence operators in the field, and also performed their required duties as full-fledged members of Special Forces based on operational needs. They were a rare hybrid, bred by the necessities of a brutal war, and one of ASA’s best-kept secrets.

Those men are the forebears to today’s SOT-As.

Based on Chapter 19, “Unlikely Warriors: The Army Security Agency’s Secret War in Vietnam 1961 to 1973” by Lonnie M. Long and Gary B. Blackburn, iUniverse, 2013

To learn more follow: www.facebook.com/UnlikelyWarriors

Photograph: The 403rd SOD courier run – Plei Ku to Kontum – 1968 (Photo: INSCOM)

Tags: ASA
Posted in History | 12 Comments »

This Day In History – Combat Diver Badge Authorized

Sunday, September 7th, 2014

On September 7th, 2004, the US Army authorized the Combat Diver badge to distinguish graduates of the Combat Diver Course. Prior to this, SOF divers wore the same SCUBA badge as SCUBA qualified Salvage and Construction Divers.

Posted in History, Maritime | 4 Comments »

National Airborne Day

Saturday, August 16th, 2014

August 16th commemorates the first official US military parachute jump in 1940. In 2001, it was officially recognized by proclamation of President George W Bush.

Those early paratroopers were crucial to our victory in WWII. One of our readers shared this video with us. “Project Vigil: D-Day 2014, The saluting boy on Omaha beach”, take a moment to watch it and know that not everyone has forgotten about the contributions and sacrifices of our Greatest Generation.

Thanks Doc Haight for the video!

Posted in History, Parachuting | 5 Comments »

Remember the Men of Extortion 17

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

I can’t believe it’s been three years since I heard the news about the crash of Extortion 17, a US Army CH-47 carrying 38 souls: 17 US Navy SEALs, 5 NSW Fleet Techs, 2 USAF Pararescumen, 1 USAF Combat Controller, 5 US Army National Guard and Army Reserve Aviators, 7 Afghan Commandos, and 1 Afghan interpreter. Also on board was a single NSW Working Dog.

I live in Virginia’s Tidewater which was home port for many of those men. I’m not sure the town will ever really get over the tragedy. There are a lot of families, friends, and teammates who bear the loss every day. Only one day a year everyone else thinks about these men and their sacrifice. I think that’s selfish. I don’t expect you to think of them everyday unless they were yours, but don’t make their passing into something any more special than any other death. This obsession has trivialized their passing as much as it does every other death. Each and every loss has meaning and every loss is mourned. I challenge you to look past this one day a year and this group of men. By all means, remember the Men of Extortion 17 and then recognize the sacrifice of all of our fallen.

Tags: Extortion 17
Posted in History, Memorial, Morale | 11 Comments »