Local Motors, a dynamic Arizona-based company that builds the world’s first open-source automotives is looking to fill several positions including Program Manager, Web Designer, Shop Supervisor and Instructor, Vehicle Dynamics Specialist, Mechatronics Specialist, CAD programmer and Industrial Designer. Military Veterans are especially welcome.
www.localmotors.com/category/careers
The French 27e bataillon de chasseurs alpins (27e BCA) or 27th Mountain Infantry Battalion recently conducted high altitude mountaineering training in Chamonix. This unit has seen extensive action in Afghanistan. Take a few minutes to check out their equipment. The Overwhites are an Arktis design.
The recent Military Mountaineering Work Shop coverage sparked some real debate which I was quite happy to see. One of our readers, David Leaning of Magnetic North Travel put this article together which I hope will both inform and spark further discussion on the top of military skiing.
Military Over The Snow Mobility – Skis by solsys
This video entitled, “A Partnership for Cocreation: Local Motors & The US Army Rapid Equipping Force” gives a quick look at ways that the Army works with industry to identify and field new technologies. Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers and Director of the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF) COL Pete Newell talk about co-creation and the ability to drive innovation “at the pace of conversation” in order to improve soldier productivity, safety and survivability in the theater of operations.
I don’t do this a whole lot but this a cool pic from Military Systems Group who manufacture Gun Mount, Swing Arm, and Weapon Mounting Solutions. And, as a bonus it features some Mayflower kit.
The discussion began with a focus on sleds. Traditionally called Ahkios or Pulkas by the US military, the issue model dates from at least the 50s and is pretty big. Small unit operations call for a smaller model and the USMC is now using a model by Wilderness Engineering. The Marine Corps – Large Transport and Rescue Sled or MC-LTRS weighs about 32 lbs.
Kifaru also offers a sled called the Combat Expedition Sled which is 15 lbs as well as a smaller Combat Armadillo at 12 lbs.
Next, the group discussed skis. Granted, snow shoes are much easier to train troops to use but skis are much more useful for military operations than snow shoes. The increase in mobility is tremendous. And, because the skis will always have climbing skins, they won’t end up being all that fast in the down hill so they are more controllable than you might think. Additionally, little military skiing is downhill but rather as a means to transit from area to another.
Additionally, an interesting point that came out regarding the military’s mindset regarding NATO bindings. Modern commercial boots and bindings are way ahead of low leather boots. In fact, New plastic boots are very flexible. While the military procurement system might not purchase boots that fit every single foot type, there are things that can be done to help with fit including thermo molding of liners. The issue isn’t the boots, once you come to grips with using a single plastic, two-piece boot, but rather the bindings. New bindings like the NTN and Tech bindings are designed specifically for these new boots and are easy to get in and out of. The Dynafit patent for the Tech Binding has sunset so anyone can now make them.
In case you missed our coverage last month of the Air Force selection of the HDT Storm Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicles (SRTV) as the Guardian Angel Air-Deployable Rescue Vehicle (GAARV), we present HDT Global’s press release. The GAARV is an airdroppable, all terrain vehicle designed to transport Guardian Angel Weapon System members which consists of the Combat Rescue Officer (CRO), Pararescue (PJ), and SERE careerfields and their patients/survivors in rescue and recovery scenarios.
Jan. 21, 2013 – HDT Global (HDT), a leading provider of highly-engineered mobile military and emergency response solutions, announced today that the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) has awarded the company’s Expeditionary Systems Group the Guardian Angel Air-Deployable Rescue Vehicle (GAARV) contract to produce the HDT Storm Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicles (SRTV).
The HDT Storm is an ultra-lightweight, air-deployable tactical vehicle that offers Guardian Angel rescue teams the necessary equipment to search for and recover personnel and equipment in austere geographic locations. The unique vehicle platform provides unparalleled speed, payload, range and durability.
“We are thrilled to support the Guardian Angel organization through GAARV. The HDT Storm expands our product offerings consistent with our mission at HDT Global to provide innovative solutions for the U.S. Military and Allied Forces,” said Jason Chamberlain, President and CEO, HDT Global.
“The HDT Storm gives the Guardian Angel Teams the capability to perform their mission, particularly when facing terrain impassable using other vehicles,” added Robin Stefanovich, Business Development for Vehicles and Robotics, HDT Expeditionary Systems Group. “Although extremely lightweight, this vehicle has the necessary power and performance to deliver personnel and equipment to their desired destination, away from an area of high threat to a defendable location.”
Developed through expertise founded in off-road racing and years of real-life customer-centric engineering, the HDT Storm is a fielded solution ready for full-rate production. The Storm SRTV ensures mission range, provides multi-role configurations and can be transported internally by M/HC-139P/N/J, C-130/C-130J, KC-130J and C-17 fixed-wing aircraft, as well as the CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters. To further enhance mission capability, the vehicle can drive on and drive off these aircraft without shoring and can be deployed through low velocity aerial delivery or Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) methods.
For more information about the HDT Storm SRTV and HDT Global, visit www.hdtglobal.com.
CTOMS presents their new GREEN Kit (Assault Lead Climbers Rack) as part of their TRACE Systems colored kits series. This is purpose built mountaineering equipment for military/para-military climbing operations, solving problems that aren’t an issue in sport climbing, like sound and visual signature as well as armor, weapon and radio integration. It is compatible with both traditional and CTOMS’ TRACE rope systems.
It can be worn alone or attached to an armor vest and incorporates PALS compatible climber’s dump pouches with rear mounted compression straps to help manage the load.
This thing is freakin’ amazing! Check out the full specs in this brochure.
CTOMS™ TRACE™ Systems GREEN Kit by CTOMS Inc.
