We haven’t run one of these classic military movies for some time so I thought this would be a great way to get back into the groove.
Archive for the ‘Media’ Category
SSD Saturday Night Movie, “A Game For Vultures”
Sunday, May 22nd, 2016Ten Years On – “Battle Rattle”
Thursday, May 19th, 2016About 10 years ago I was preparing to retire from the US Air Force and my friend, photographer Hans Halberstadt told me about a book project he was working on.
Hans told me it was going to be called “Battle Rattle” and be all about “the stuff a soldier carries.” I was pretty excited about the concept. Then, he asked me to write the foreword. I accepted the offer and set about writing.
Another friend of mine, Army Veteran Stephen Hilliard, was working as the director of R&D at the time for ATS Tactical. You may recognize his name from his current work with Blue Force Gear. He had written a primer entitled, “Packing For War In Southwest Asia” which has been published on the Lightfighter Internet forum. Hans read it and asked Stephen if he could include it in the book. Neither Stephen or I were paid for our work. Rather, we did it because of our passion for the topic. The publisher was notoriously cheap. In fact, I think Hans paid for my copy of the book.
The book was published later that year as part of the Battle Gear series by Zenith Press. “Battle Rattle” is out of print now but worth finding a copy if you are a conessieur of individual equipment.
Ten years on, I still think that it not only offers a good historical perspective, but that it continues to point to wear we are going.
Tactical Retailer – “Is Bushcraft The New Prepping Trend?”
Sunday, May 15th, 2016Some of you may know that I write a column for the trade publication “Tactical Retailer”. “Is Bushcraft The New Prepping Trend?”, is my latest article.
While SHOT Show 2016 was my busiest ever, I didn”t see any major technology or product announcements. Everyone had new products, but they were incremental improvements. Additionally, everyone I spoke with was upbeat despite the slowdown in the worldwide economy.
Let’s face it, when times get tough, people turn to themselves. That’s how the Prepper movement started. But Prepping has hit its peak and people have begun to realize you can only store so much for future use and even a warehouse full of water and food won’t do you any good if you aren’t with it.
I’d like to discuss a “tactical” trend that’s starting to pick up steam. Regardless of whether you refer to it as fieldcraft, bushcraft or outdoor skills, the techniques that are part of this movement allowed our ancestors to make it day-to-day while they tamed this nation’s frontier. And while it’s seeing a resurgence here in America, bushcraft has been popular in Europe for quite some time with well organized groups and specialty stores.
Along with most of my generation, I learned my skills while growing up. I was a Boy Scout and honed them while camping and hunting. Later, I added to those skills while serving in the military by attending Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training. However, not everyone has had these same opportunities. Today, even those in rural areas do not learn how to survive on their own for 72-hours or more, thanks to our modern standard of living.
Prepping might have been the foot through the door, but as many are beginning to learn, you never know when you’ll find yourself in a situation where you have to fend for yourself.
At SHOT Show 2016, there were more and more products aimed at survival, evasion and escape. Specialized items such as lockpick kits, fire starting kits, first-aid items, water purification and pocket survival kits have become increasingly popular, and there are multiple specialized suppliers who have stood up to meet the demand. My trip in March to the IWA Outdoor Classics in Germany only confirmed this.
Like I said before, these skills and the items to support them are intended to allow their user to survive and thrive in the backcountry. In some cases, the concept is to just get out of a risky area in order to make it to a safe haven, and in others, the idea is long-term survival and to live off the land. Both instances require skills as well as tools.
To read the rest of the article, visit www.tacretailer.com/2016/05/05/is-bushcraft-the-new-prepping-trend/. Industry folks might want to check out the whole publication.
Trailblazers Gear Load Out
Tuesday, May 10th, 2016Nick Koumalatsos was hired to take a team of scientists into Bolivia to uncover the potentially life-changing discoveries for the newest Discover Channel Series “Trailblazers”.
Triple canopy jungle can be one of the most dangerous places on earth.
Almost everything in the jungle tries to protect it self and that means it wants to hurt you. Harsh climates, dangerous terrain, poisonous plants and insects and hostile natives.
Everything from a woobie, to a machete in Nick’s Gear Load Out for Discovery Channel’s Trailblazers can be found here: www.nickkoumalatsos.com/the-guide/2016/5/3/the-trailblazers-load-out
Black Powder \\ Red Earth Season 2 Complete Now Available
Wednesday, May 4th, 2016
Just like the title says, the Amazon Best Seller ‘Black Powder \\ Red Earth’ Season 2 is now available in its complete edition. The Complete edition features over 250 pages of content in one continuous volume.
blackpowderredearth.com/graphic_novels
Congrats To Guy Cramer, CEO Of HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp
Monday, May 2nd, 2016
Wealth and Finance International magazine (with a global audience of 130,000 subscribers) just awarded Guy Cramer of Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. “CEO of the Year in Canada for 2016”!
Harris Publications Ceasing Magazine Production & Closing Their Doors
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
Harris Publications is the largest publisher of magazines in the United States, or should I say was the largest. Earlier today we found out that they are ceasing production of their hard copy magazines, closing their doors, effective tomorrow citing the “rapid ascendence of digital media”.
This is a major blow for those of use who have enjoyed their print coverage of the firearms industry.
However, a newly launched business plans to keep the websites, www.tactical-life.com and www.personaldefenseworld.com running.
Daniel Defense Rifle Featured on Cover of ‘Popular Mechanics’ Special Forces Issue
Tuesday, April 12th, 2016Black Creek, GA – April 12, 2016 – Daniel Defense, engineer and manufacturer of the world’s finest firearms and accessories, is pleased to announce that its MK18 Factory SBR rifle will appear on the cover of the upcoming issue of Popular Mechanics. In the May 2016 “Tough Guys”-themed issue, the magazine highlights “The Future of Special Forces,” and its cover features a model decked out in gear typically used by Special Forces operators, including a conspicuously held DD MK18 rifle.
“This is a major accomplishment for us and our Team,” said Daniel Defense Chief Marketing Officer, Cindy Daniel. “Both in terms of prestige and in exposure of our rifle, and our company, to a whole new audience—one not necessarily part of the tactical or hunting communities.”
Daniel Defense leveraged its extensive media relations to get the MK18 featured on the Popular Mechanics cover in order to reach a “more mainstream” audience. While Daniel Defense rifles and products have been featured in various publications over the years, most of those publications were tactical- and/or hunting/outdoor-themed. Popular Mechanics, part of Hearst Direct Media, promotes itself as “the essential handbook for curious, active people” and operates under the tagline “How Your World Works.” Its circulation is 1.2 million, and the magazine is most popular with men between the ages of 35 and 49.
The DD MK18 rifle features the RIS II Rail System Daniel Defense currently provides to US SOCOM, and a 10.3” Cold Hammer Forged Barrel. It has an MSRP of $1749 and is available directly from Daniel Defense (www.danieldefense.com) or authorized retailers. Along with the DD MK18, several other best-selling tactical products are featured on the PM cover and within the issue, including a SureFire SOCOM Series 5.56mm suppressor, a Tactical Night Vision Company Tactical Application Pressure Switch (TNVC TAPS), and an Insight ATPIAL-C (AN/PEQ-15) Advanced Target Pointer/Illuminator Aiming Laser.
The May 2016 Popular Mechanics issue hits newsstands the week of April 11, 2016. To learn more about the magazine or to read highlighted stories, visit: www.popularmechanics.com.
