Blue Force Gear® will display at the DSEi Show on September 10 – 13 in ExCeL, London. Blue Force Gear will be in booth S4-280. Military and Law Enforcement end users who would like to increase performance by switching to the lightest tactical nylon equipment, please email international@blueforcegear.com to make an appointment or come by to meet the Blue Force Gear team and discuss your needs.
See you there!
I have known Patrick Ma for over 10 years. I have always admired his creativity and his passion for offering new and innovative products. I was surprised to hear of his leaving Triple Aught Design, the company he founded in 1997. Although it was not a secret, it wasn’t well known that Patrick had sold a great deal of equity in his company to two partners a few years ago. I wish him well, no matter where life takes him.
As of May 1, 2013, Patrick York Ma has separated from Triple Aught Design, LLC. This separation is the result of unresolved disputes with the two remaining managers of Triple Aught Design LLC, Brett Eisenberg and David Cahill. Messrs. Eisenberg and Cahill along with Patrick originally formed the entity known as Triple Aught Design LLC in August of 2010. Patrick founded Triple Aught Design in February 1997 and TAD Gear, Inc. in 2002. He served as the principal of Triple Aught Design from 1997 until 2002 and the CEO and Chief Designer of TAD Gear, Inc. from 2002 to 2010.
A statement from Patrick Ma.
From the company’s humble beginnings, my time with Triple Aught Design LLC/TAD Gear, Inc. was an exceptional and tremendous journey with the many friends and amazing customers who shared my passion, commitment and vision of this brand and lifestyle. I wish to convey my most sincere gratitude to all of the awesome folks who followed me and the brand over the years, and made possible, this great journey we were on together. I will be spending the next few months focusing my priorities on spending time with my family and enjoying the arrival of my new son Wolfe Alexander, who was born in early June. There will be many new adventures that lay before me as a father, artist, designer, and simply as a man in the world. Many of us will cross paths again, and we will share in these new journeys together with the truest spirit of camaraderie, conscience, honor, integrity, adventure and exploration.
We have one life in this world, so do good, have the strength to fight for what is right, live and laugh with those who you love and cherish, follow your heart and intuition, and have the courage to blaze the new trails that you are proud to call your own.
Audaces Fortuna Iuvat
Patrick York Ma
The owners of athletic clothing brand LuLulemon Chip and Shannon Wilson have combined $8 million of their own wealth with a $4 grant from LuLulemon to establish a New School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond, British Columbia. According to a press release on the Arc’teryx website, “The provincial government is matching the $12-million total donation, with Kwantlen putting up the remainder of what is estimated to be $36 million in total going toward the design school.”
Interestingly, many of the staff at Vancouver-based outdoor clothing manufacturer Arc’teryx are graduates from Kwantlen. So obviously, as a company they are very excited by this development. Both school and business will benefit from their close proximity as students interact with industry on internships.
If you’ve been stationed at or trained near Fort Bragg, you’ve probably heard of Trigger Time. Established in 1991 by Thomas J Bullins, Trigger Time is a range facility located near Carthage, NC. Although spartan, it is well maintained and has been continually improved over the years. In addition to an in house cadre of instructors, Trigger Time is often host to other guest instructors.
Recently, longtime SSD friend and graphic artist Travis Getz redesigned the Trigger Time logo. I asked Travis about how he looks at these design projects and he related this:
My philosophy with small business web design is to use tools that are super-simple and allow the business owner (or their admin person in this case) to maintain the site themselves (they can edit their own content, I just do the initial design), cutting out the hassle of dealing with an external web design firm.
I like this approach and it sounds like an interesting option for other small business owners.
Strike Industries has officially been recognized as a GSA contractor for Federal, State, and Local agencies. Their CAGE Code, DUNS Number, Federal Tax I.D. and other information are available upon request. If you’re a procurement officer that requires a quote for large quantity orders, you can send an RFQ via email to sales2@strikeindustries.com or call 1-714-557-9831.
Further details can be found here: strikeindustries.com/shop/index.php/gsa
This came in last night. I hear great things about Frank Proctor. It’s great to see him collaborate with the folks at Alias.
Alias Training & Security Services is proud to announce we are now partnered with Frank Proctor of Way of the Gun (WOTG). It goes without saying we are very pleased to be working with Frank. He has earned a great reputation as a world-class… instructor and no doubt he will fit in perfectly with the Alias Training team.
Please look out for Frank’s classes to be moving over to the Alias Training website within the next few days.
See Frank’s Training Class Schedule here.
Frank Proctor has served over 18 years in the military, the last 11 of those in US Army Special Forces. During his multiple combat tours in Afghanistan & Iraq he had the privilege to serve with and learn from many seasoned veteran Special Forces Operators so their combined years of knowledge and experience has helped him to become a better operator & instructor. While serving as an instructor at the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course he was drawn to competitive shooting. He has since earned the USPSA Grand Master ranking in the Limited Division and Master ranking in the IDPA Stock Service Pistol division. He learned a great deal from shooting in competition and this has helped him to become to become a better tactical shooter. Frank is one of the few individuals able to bring the experiences of U.S. Army Special Forces, Competitive Shooting, and veteran Instructor to every class.
All this experience combines to make Frank Proctor a well-rounded shooter and instructor capable of helping you to achieve your goal of becoming a better shooter.
We received a rather interesting press release this morning.
Israeli-American Defense firm Agilite Systems has completed their acquisition of the business operations and assets of Shiltex, Israel’s national manufacturer of mil-spec webbing, paracord and other narrow and technical textiles, in the first change of ownership in fifty years.
Agilite Systems, who also own Agilite Tactical Gear, manufacturers and suppliers of tactical and rescue equipment to the US and other militaries worldwide, said they are excited about the purchase.
“We are proud to absorb a company with such a long-standing and prestigious history supplying the Israeli and other Defense Departments. Shiltex’s level of quality has always been unsurpassed and the Israeli Military has gone into battle with Shiltex products and components since before the 6 day war.” Said Dr Jerry Orlin, President of Agilite Systems. “We are pleased to be able to add more defense solutions, capabilities and technologies to our arsenal.“
Shiltex was formerly a powerhouse with a worldwide reputation for quality and a very wide range of capabilities. Not only did it produce mil-spec textiles that have been marched into battle on IDF soldiers’ backs for five decades but was also a major manufacturer of narrow textiles for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret, among others.
Shiltex has also produced high-quality textile components for implantable medical devices, robots and military radios.
The combination of Shiltex’s capabilities and experience and Agilite’s energy and 2013 approach all under one roof at a brand new expanded location in the South of Israel is expected to make Agilite the Israeli defense firm to watch in 2014. While the company remains tight-lipped about intentions regarding Shiltex, Agilite has already announced the planned launch of Agilite Outdoor, a new civilian diversification of Agilite’s existing brand.
There is already a very obvious shift in direction favoring braided products with climbing and tactical rope lines planned for full release in Q1 of 2014 and Agilite paracord which is available from this week. Shiltex are known to have developed ropes specifically for Israel’s top Police SWAT Counter Terror Force “The Yamam” which have never before been made available to the general public.
Shiltex, now Agilite are also the manufacturing technology behind the hard-wearing braided drinking tubes on Israeli firm Source Hydration’s drinking packs. The tubes in extensive use with the Military are incredibly popular and are seen by many to be one of Source’s major selling points over their primary rival, Camelbak.
