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First USAF Members Complete RCAF Sentinel Program

Monday, December 21st, 2020

This article is almost a year old and discusses United States Air Force participation in a Royal Canadian Air Force program to train personnel to serve as links between service members and the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service in order to combat suicide. The RCAF has about 1400 Sentinels out of just 14,500 active service members. That’s quite an investment.

The goal of the Sentinel Program, a growing initiative within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), is to use wingmanship and tactical-level supervisors as mental health advocates. The program is designed to empower junior leaders to be the first line of defence against real and serious threats such as mental stress, work-centred exhaustion, and suicide.

Staff Sergeant Sierra Rathbun, Technical Sergeant Sheryl Ubando and Master Sergeant Jonathan Miller are the first United States Air Force (USAF) members to have completed the Sentinel Course. They were nominated for the training by their leadership to represent the USAF and build relationships, bringing our two countries closer together.

“I am honored to have a chance to serve side-by-side with my Canadian military family,” said Master Sergeant Jonathan D. Miller, a Detachment 2, First Air Force, operations superintendent. “This opportunity is truly unique, one that I will cherish for years to come. This training opportunity is a bridge between the USAF Resiliency Program and the CAF Sentinel Program, and is a huge step toward bi-national integration.”

Offered by the 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, Ontario, chaplains, “The Sentinel course is a valuable asset for strengthening the spiritual resiliency of our forces,” explained Captain Justin Peter, a wing chaplain.

During training, the volunteers were asked to remember how important it is to “just listen”, to ask open-ended questions, and to be an extension of the chapel as “eyes in the lines”.

The Sentinel Program was introduced at 22 Wing in 2018 by Lieutenant (Navy) Timothy Parker, also a 22 Wing chaplain. Currently, the wing boasts 66 trained Sentinels who must undergo a full day of training every year to maintain their readiness.

By Staff Sergeant Patrick Bisigni

Staff Sergeant Patrick Bisigni serves as public affairs representative and unit photographer with Detachment 2, First U.S. Air Force Unit.

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, International, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on First USAF Members Complete RCAF Sentinel Program

Varusteleka – Jämä Blanket

Friday, December 18th, 2020

The Varusteleka Jämä Blanket shirt is back. They are no longer made from surplus Finnish Army wool frieze, but they found some surplus wool.

This bushcraft shirt in offered in charcoal black and forest green. They also modified the hood so this looks a bit less like an evil cultist robe and tweaked the shape of the pocket.

More green ones are on the way, but made from a bit thicker wool. They will also be making brown, grey, and burgundy blanket shirts next year.

www.varusteleka.com/en/product/jama-blanket-shirt

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing, International | 1 Comment »

NFM Supplied Armored Vests to Lithuanian Army

Friday, December 18th, 2020

NFM is pleased to announce that an agreement has been signed with the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania to supply the Armed Forces with armored vests.

“We are delighted that, once again, the Lithuanian government has chosen to partner with NFM to supply their army. We are committed to provide the highest quality in products and services, and are honored by their continued faith in us” said NFM’s CEO, Walter Overland.

nfm.no

Posted in Armor, Contracts, International, Press Release | Comments Off on NFM Supplied Armored Vests to Lithuanian Army

Elbit Systems of America’s Mobile Howitzer Selected by US Army for Shoot-off Evaluation

Friday, December 18th, 2020

FORT WORTH, TEXAS DEC. 17, 2020 – Elbit Systems of America’s Autonomous Truck Mounted Ordnance System (ATMOS) Iron Sabre is a mobile howitzer selected to participate in the United States Army’s 155mm Mobile Howitzer Shoot-Off Evaluation. The event, which will occur during the first quarter of 2021, provides the Army an opportunity to review various solutions from industry and then select a production-ready system that demonstrates increases in range, rate of fire, and mobility over current artillery systems available to Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).

Elbit Systems of America is a market leader in providing artillery solutions and is confident its system will perform well at the shoot-off, being evaluated as “ready now.” ATMOS Iron Sabre is a proven, fielded system from a family of howitzers that have supported international customers for more than 30 years. Compatible with all existing US projectiles and propellant charges, it fulfils the Army’s mobile howitzer needs immediately, delivering on the modernization and capability improvements defined by Army Futures Command Long Range Precision Fires objective.

“US Army Fires needs solutions that can keep up with the SBCT, can shoot faster and farther, and most importantly are low risk and ready now. Elbit Systems of America’s ATMOS Iron Sabre addresses all of these needs,” said Ridge Sower, Vice President of Ground Combat & Precision Targeting at the company. “We are pleased to be selected for this evaluation and stand ready for rapid delivery from our hot production line if selected for production and fielding.”

MORE INFO: ElbitAmerica.com

Posted in Army, Contracts, International, Press Release, weapons | Comments Off on Elbit Systems of America’s Mobile Howitzer Selected by US Army for Shoot-off Evaluation

Four Additional Schiebel Camcopter

Friday, December 18th, 2020

Vienna, 14 December 2020 – Naval Group, on behalf of the French Navy, has accepted for operational use two further CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) with a total of four Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). They will be deployed on the Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carriers (Porte- Hélicoptères Amphibie – PHA) Tonnerre and Mistral.

The acquisition comes after the successful integration of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 on the French Navy Mistral-class vessel Dixmude, which was finalised in 2019. This was the first time in Europe, that a rotary wing UAS had been connected to the combat system of an amphibious helicopter carrier.

The acceptance tests of the two systems took place in the last week of October with representatives of Naval Group and the French Navy in attendance.

Over the next few months the newly acquired CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS will be integrated on the French Navy’s vessels Tonnerre and Mistral, significantly enhancing the helicopter carrier’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

The CAMCOPTER® S-100 VTOL UAS operates day and night and can carry multiple payloads up to a combined weight of 50 kg. Due to its minimal footprint, reliability and airworthiness pedigree, it is ideally suited for maritime operations around the globe.

Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group, said: “After the successful integration on the Dixmude, we are very proud of the confidence the French Navy has in the proven and reliable CAMCOPTER® S-100 and we are looking forward to the integration on the Tonnerre and Mistral and their operational deployment.”

LCDR Serge D., UAS program officer, French Navy: “The S-100 on Mistral-class will be the first operational tactical UAS for the French Navy and this is a major step towards the Mercator plan.”

Porte Hélicoptère Amphibie Maintenance Architect at Naval Group, Philippe V., said: “We participated in the successful factory acceptance test, which was an important milestone for this acquisition, prior to the global integration onboard conducted by Naval Group.”

Posted in Aviation, Contracts, International, ISR, Maritime, Navy, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Four Additional Schiebel Camcopter

Dutch Marine Corps Fields New Pulk Transport Sleds for Arctic

Thursday, December 17th, 2020

This release was provided by the Korps Mariniers or Dutch Marine Corps.

During the upcoming Joint Arctic Training on the Northflank in Norway, the first new Pulks will be deployed at the squadron level. Pulk is the English term for a short low-hanging small sleigh and is pronounced ?? pooluk” The Pulk offers good opportunities for Marines to take their equipment.

Arctic

Marine Corps units take in arctic conditions a lot of equipment such as (extra) clothing, fuel and tents. They need these items to survive at low temperatures. As a result, Marines are now carrying a heavy backpack while moving on skis in snowy areas. An additional disadvantage of a complete package on the man is that the function of the worn clothing is not fully utilized (breathing capacity).

Trials

After various tests, during previous winter training with Pulks, 4 different types have been chosen. The 120 cm General Purpose Machine Gun Pulk is directly suitable as a weapons platform. The 135 cm is the operator Pulk and suitable for every sierra operator, a 150 cm Pulk for every MAG helper and a 170 cm variant for general use of the various troops of a squadron.

Cooperation and guarantee

In collaboration with the Weapons System Management (WSM) section of the Group Commander Operational Units Marines (GC-OEM), the Clothing and Equipment (KL & OUT), and the Assortments Manager, have now been purchased for a squadron Pulks. Next year two more extraditions will follow, so that a fully Marine Combat Group will be equipped with new Pulks from then on.

Posted in Guest Post, International, Mobility, Mountaineering | 7 Comments »

Three NATO Nations and Partners Choose Avon Protection’s FM50 Mask System

Thursday, December 17th, 2020

Avon Protection has received an order to supply two NATO Nations and one Partner, Belgium, Finland and Norway with their market leading CBRN respiratory protection including FM50 mask systems, filters, spares and accessories.

The FM50 provides operational flexibility required by NATO Allies and Partners forces; designed to protect troops in the most demanding of environments. Developed in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense to counter the multiple CBRN threats met in modern war fighting, anti-terrorist and peace-keeping operations, the FM50 is the most operationally proven and widely deployed battlefield respirator in the world.

Commenting, James Wilcox, President, Military at Avon Protection, said:

“This order demonstrates the continued confidence and reliance on Avon Protection to supply product of the highest quality and performance to protect militaries around the world. We look forward to continuing our relationship with these strategically important customers to deliver and support this world leading capability.”

This is the first order for Avon Protection under the NATO Support & Procurement Agency contract worth $33 million. The framework contract enables NATO countries and partners to purchase Avon Protection’s market leading respiratory protection system, based around FM50, full suite of filters, MP-PAPR, (Powered Air Purifying Respirator), ST53 (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) and accessories.

www.avon-protection.com

Posted in CBRNE, Contracts, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Three NATO Nations and Partners Choose Avon Protection’s FM50 Mask System

Royal Canadian Navy Awards Tulmar Safety Systems Contract to Support ‘Hammerhead’ Tactical Life Preserver Units

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Tulmar Safety Systems is pleased to announce the award of contract W8482-218402/A by the Canadian Department of National Defence to support the Tulmar ‘Hammerhead’ Tactical Life Preserver Units (TLPU) in-service with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Tulmar’s ‘Hammerhead’ TLPU is used by the RCN’s Naval Tactical Operations Group (NTOG) whose teams on Canadian warships provide boarding parties for maritime interdiction operations. During these operations, NTOG team members are exposed to significant risk of falling overboard and are able to rely on the proven performance of the Hammerhead TLPU. When failure is not an option, Tulmar answers the call: Engineered for Protection.

www.tulmar.com

Posted in Contracts, International, Maritime | Comments Off on Royal Canadian Navy Awards Tulmar Safety Systems Contract to Support ‘Hammerhead’ Tactical Life Preserver Units