UTM will leave a mark…
Look for additional coverage of the culmination of HSP’s Disruptive Industries next week, here on SSD.
Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category
Sneak Peek – Haley Strategic Partners – Disruptive Industries Day Four
Friday, June 15th, 2012Haley Strategic Partners – Disruptive Industries Day Three
Thursday, June 14th, 2012Disruptive Industries is a unique, invitation-only event bringing together industry, military, and law enforcement. It is designed to teach, inspire, build relationships, open communications and create new channels for innovation in the defense sector. Every experience has been devised to accomplish each of these tasks in one way or another, from training classes to meals as well as other organized social events.
We’ve already experienced two days of shooting, physical conditioning, and associated tactical training. Oddly enough, day 3 kicked off much like day 2, with another ass kicking from former Russian Spetznaz operator Saulius “Sonny” Puzikas. Except, this time, he really did kick our asses. During the various demonstrations of Systema hand to hand, pretty much every one of us got a chance to take a blow or two from Sonny. Naturally, we got to knock each other around a little as well. The training was no nonsense and focused on staying out of a grapple and incapacitating your aggressor. All in all, it was fantastic.
Next up were classes on surreptitious entry and restraint escape by Bryan Black of ITS Tactical. After lunch we ran through various room clearing drills. Scenarios focused on PSD work but the lessons could be applied to multiple scenarios.
As I mentioned earlier, D1 is very much about fostering innovation and relationships. One of the best things about Disruptive Industries is the opportunity to network and cross-talk. This includes all participants. Everyone has learned from our esteemed instructors and I’d hazard to guess that they have picked up a few things from us as well. Additionally, Mil and LE have been able to compare notes and share experiences with each other as well as interact with the industry reps. For the industry folks, this experience has been invaluable. In some cases, different companies have been able to discuss collaborations and, in every case, industry has gained knowledge from the interaction with military and LE attendees.
It’s been great working with the military and LE members as well as HSP’s industry partners HSGI, G-Code Holsters, Impact Weapons Components, Arc’teryx LEAF, Outdoor Research, US Palm, B5 Systems, Emissive Energy/Inforce, UTM, Rifle Dynamics, Dark Mountain Research, PNW Ammunition and Kill Cliff as well as media reps from ITS Tactical.
Don’t forget, ITS Tactical is also on hand so make sure you visit their site for additional photos. Look for the simultaneous release of an AAR from both of us soon. Until then, enjoy our serialized look at HSP’s Disruptive Industries.
Haley Strategic Partners – Disruptive Industries Day Two
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
The day started off with an ass kicking for the Mil/LE group from former Russian Spetznaz operator Saulius “Sonny” Puzikas. Actually, he didn’t kick anyone’s ass, he just offered us the opportunity to wear ourselves out with about 45 minutes of Systema-based stretching and calisthenics followed by some serious weapon retention training.
Sonny would demonstrate each technique along with a student partner multiple times, explaining variations and then set the participants upon one another to practice the various means of prevailing in the close quarters fight. Sometimes you retain the weapon and sometimes you let it go and engage the threat through other means. Sonny sent the participants away with a new tool bag of techniques for further practice and application.
After another excellent catered lunch, Rifle Dynamics took over. Jim Fuller and Billy Cho brought a variety of ComBloc weapons including numerous AK variants as well as an RPK and my favorite, the PKM. Both groups took to the range with familiarization fire. Watching HSGI’s Gene Higdon go Rambo with hip fire from the PKM certainly was a sight.
Next, both groups were given a demonstration on vehicle operations in threat environments by Travis Haley and Kane Smith. After a quick class, practical application was offered to those who wanted to practice assuming various positions from behind a vehicle. Throughout the day, there were plenty of opportunities to roll around in the dirt.
The entire group moved back to the hotel conference room for lectures on TCCC and Mass Casualty and Triage. While these sessions were theoretical, feedback was solicited from the audience and a variety of life saving tools were demonstrated including dressings and different tourniquets.
HSP topped the evening off with a working dinner with presentations by several of the vendors who revealed new products, some never seen before.
Costa Ludus and Tactical Distributors Announce Syndicate Partnership
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012Tactical Distributors and Costa Ludus are pleased to announce their Syndicate Partnership. TD is Launching “Costa’s Corner“; a dedicated page highlighting Tactical Gear selected and used by Costa. Tactical Distributors will be the exclusive provider of the Costa Ludus logo embroidered option on your Arc’teryx gear purchased through TD. Please stop by TD’s and Chris Costa’s Facebook page and welcome this great partnership, and be on the lookout for exclusive deals from Tactical Distributors.
Blue Force Gear hires Smith Products Group LLC
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012Blue Force Gear announced today that they have engaged Smith Products Group, LLC to represent their products to government customers. Smith Products Group (SPG) was formed in May 2012 by Mark Smith with the intention of representing only top tier brands to an elite customer base. SPG will augment Blue Force Gear’s Government Products Team to expose BFG’s revolutionary lightweight load carriage system to units and agencies that desperately need to lighten the load placed on their personnel.
Prior to founding Smith Products Group, Smith worked for ADS from 2005 to early 2012 as Federal Agency Sales Manager and later as Army Sales Manager. Smith earned his Bachelors of Arts in Communications from Brigham Young University where he also studied Advertising, Marketing, and Business Management.
“Mark is one of the finest individuals I’ve encountered in this industry and has a proven track record of delivering positive results,” said Blue Force Gear’s CEO Ashley Burnsed. “He shares our passion for bringing lifesaving equipment to the world’s greatest customers.”
“I am thrilled to join a team that combines innovation, great customer service and quality personnel,” said Mark Smith about Blue Force Gear.
Teaming with Smith Products Group is the latest in a series of demand-driven moves by Blue Force Gear to radically expand their brand presence in both government and commercial markets.
Haley Strategic Partners – Disruptive Industries Day One
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012Since I’m one of the most disruptive guys around, the folks at Haley Strategic Partners asked me to attend Disruptive Industries, an invite only experience where members of the tactical industry and representatives from military, government, law enforcement, and contractors get the opportunity to interact through a series of learning and social events. So far, I have only experienced day 1 but it has been great. They divided the 40 of us attending the event evenly into Mil/LE and Industry groups. Over the four days, both groups will experience the same tracks, which remind me of a smorgasbord of training samplers. However, both groups will not experience them at the same time due to range size restrictions. However, this means the instructors can tailor the training to the experience level of the group on the fly, adding or subtracting drills and instruction to keep pace with the participants. For the industry participants, they get to experience a few days of life as an operator. Those on the job get to not only interact with industry, seeing behind the curtain on a few new technologies, but they also get a taste of what HSP has to offer.
Our group started the morning with Ron Avery of the Practical Shooting Academy who provided pistol instruction, applying his knowledge of the “why” we shoot the way we do and made each of us look at our pistol handling skills in a whole new light. Check out his video on pistol handling skills for a very small taste.
After an excellent catered lunch, we finished up pistol instruction and transitioned to carbine manipulation with Travis Haley. If you’re impression of Travis is based solely on the original Magpul Dynamics videos I can tell you that he has grown as an instructor, striving to improve his craft. The instruction and drills were great and challenged all. He is a true student of the gun.
ITS Tactical is also on hand so make sure you visit their site for additional photos. As ITS was paired with the industry group and SSD with the Mil/LE crew, we are both able to offer a slightly different point of view. Look for the simultaneous release of an AAR from both of us soon. Until then, enjoy our serialized look at HSP’s Disruptive Industries.
Blade Show – HTM Announces Partnership with Master Proven
Monday, June 11th, 2012HTM Knives has announced their partnership with Master Proven, which is an independent third-party testing evaluation organization consisting of ex military and sports professionals. HTM knives produces Made in USA knives. Together, they are producing 5 new models of military style knives. Each is designed leveraging the experience of different members of Master Proven. The first model is the MPMOD1, a fixed blade design by the combined talents of retired Army MSG Grady Burrell and knife making legend Darrel Ralph.
The blade is 4″ with an overall length of 8.25″. It features a new, patented retention system so that you won’t drop the blade and a sheath by FirstSpear.
Available 1 December, 2012. Pre-order now through www.darrelralph.com
DuPont Buys Tensylon from BAE and Invests in Nanocomp
Sunday, June 10th, 2012On Friday, BAE announced DuPont’s intent to purchase the Tensylon unit from them for $18 million in cash. Tensylon is a ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene ballistic material used in vehicle armor applications. BAE said it expected the sale to close in the third quarter of 2012.
Additionally, BAE is forming a financial and strategic development relationship with Nanocomp Technologies, Inc by making a minority share investment in the Nano Carbon Tube developer. NCTs have a wide variety of applications but in particular have shown great promise in armor use. Under terms of the deal, DuPont gains exclusive rights to Nanocomp developed technologies for use in armor protection and aerospace structures.
