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FirstSpear Friday Focus: E+R Waist Bag

Friday, September 18th, 2026

Fast access to mission-critical items starts with where you carry them. The FirstSpear E+R WAIST BAG is a lightweight, purpose-built waist pack engineered to keep tourniquets, eye protection, and essential gear immediately accessible without adding bulk to the loadout. It mounts directly to an Assaulters Gun Belt via a 2-point QD buckle configuration, or carries independently on its own integral waist belt secured with a low-profile G Hook, accommodating waist sizes up to 44″. Shock cord mounted on the top provides a quick stash point for a TQ, eye pro, or similarly sized items without opening a zipper.

Features:

  • 2-POINT QD BUCKLE — MOUNTS DIRECTLY TO ASSAULTERS GUN BELT
  • SHOCK CORD TOP STASH — QUICK ACCESS FOR TQ AND EYE PRO
  • 4 ZIPPERED POCKETS WITH DRAINAGE
  • INTEGRAL WAIST BELT WITH G HOOK — FITS UP TO 44″

At its core, the E+R WAIST BAG is constructed from lightweight, state-of-the-art materials that keep weight low and features numerous. Four zippered pockets keep gear organized and accessible, while built-in drainage and a removable top flap stiffener add durability and configurability for field use. Currently available in MultiCam, Coyote, and Grey/Rust.

Built for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and prepared professionals who demand reliable equipment, the E+R WAIST BAG delivers fast access to mission-critical gear in a lightweight, dual-carry platform. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and those who train. To request an estimate, visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. For more information, visit First-Spear.com.

Posted in Admin, Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Load Carrying, SERE | No Comments »

Army Conducts Historic Large-Scale SERE Reintegration Exercise

Saturday, April 25th, 2026

FORT RUCKER, Ala. – In a historic first, the U.S. Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school at Fort Rucker partnered with U.S. Army South from March 14-18, 2026 to successfully execute a large-scale reintegration exercise, simulating the mass return of service members from a large-scale combat operation.

The landmark exercise processed nearly 50 students acting as returned prisoners of war (POWs), the largest reintegration since Operation Homecoming in 1973. It was the first event of its kind to include a mass Phase I medical triage and time-sensitive debriefings for all returnees, moving reintegration planning from a theoretical concept to a practical, battle-tested framework.

Maj. Tracy Beegen, US Army SERE School Psychologist and Chief of Human Factors, was named “Hero of the Battlefield” for her pivotal role in the initiative. Beegen initiated the concept with US Army Southern Command and orchestrated the complex, multi-service effort that brought together personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force to build a comprehensive reintegration plan from the ground up.

The intense, real-world simulation pressure-tested the entire reintegration process, successfully identifying critical friction points in handling numerous returning POWs. Key outcomes of the exercise included the development of a triage system to assess personnel for a return to duty and the creation of new tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTPs, for intelligence gathering from group interviews.

The event was truly a joint effort, engaging units from the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the U.S. Army SERE School. The exercise also trained SERE specialists from the Air Force and Navy, alongside SERE psychologists, for the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command Reintegration Team.

As a result of the training, the team is now mission-ready for Phase I and II reintegration in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, as well as for service-level Phase III responsibilities. Furthermore, the Soldiers who were debriefed can now share their valuable experiences with their home units to increase readiness across the force.

Thanks to MAJ Beegen’s initiative and the collaborative efforts of multiple military branches—including the U.S. Army SERE School’s Human Factors and Medical Team—theoretical plans have been replaced by field-tested TTPs. The Department of Army and the broader joint force are now significantly more prepared for the challenges of large-scale combat operations, ensuring a proven, joint process to bring warriors home, reunite them with their families and return them to the fight when able.

By Lisa Foote

Posted in Army, Guest Post, SERE | Comments Off on Army Conducts Historic Large-Scale SERE Reintegration Exercise

Sleeping Indian Wool – Estela Signature Survival Vest

Tuesday, December 30th, 2025

Developed by Sleeping Indian Wool in collaboration with Survival instructor Kevin Estela, this OD colored vest features eight front pockets to provide large carrying capacity for survival equipment as well as a dual zippered rear pouch for flat items like maps, VS-17 Signal Panel, or flat folded survival blanket/tarp.

Features:

  • 2 Front Chest Zipper Pockets
  • 4 Front Button Pockets
  • 2 Front Lower Hand Pockets
  • 2 Inner Chest Zipper Pockets with Padding
  • 2 Rear Back Zippers for Storage
  • Lined with Supplex Wind Proofing
  • American Made Wool
  • Brandless Outer
  • Made in Troy, MT

sleepingindianshop.com/products/estela-signature-survival-vest

Posted in Clothing, SERE | Comments Off on Sleeping Indian Wool – Estela Signature Survival Vest

Milipol 25 – Lubawa SA SERE Kit

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025

I always like to check out various kits such as EOD, First-Aid and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape versions.

Poland’s Lubawa exhibited this SERE kit which packs all of the following items in a belt pouch.

Posted in Milipol, SERE | Comments Off on Milipol 25 – Lubawa SA SERE Kit

“BOOTS” by Rudyard Kipling

Sunday, May 25th, 2025

The poem “BOOTS” by Rudyard Kipling was published in 1903 and imagines the repetitive thoughts of a British Army infantryman marching in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It has been suggested for the first four words of each line to be read slowly, at a rate of two words per second, to match with the cadence, or rhythm of a foot soldier marching. Here, American actor Taylor Holmes does just that in this 1915 recording.

This will bring back memories to many of our readers who have graduated from one of America’s schools of higher learning in the craft of survival.

Posted in SERE | 6 Comments »

Kitanica – T.A.R.P.

Thursday, January 30th, 2025

Making its debut at SHOT Show was the Kitanica T.A.R.P. which is an acronym for Tactical All-Purpose Rescue Platform.

It is OD on one side and International Orange on the other to be used for signaling. Additionally, there are carry loops along the edge so it can be used as a stretcher. It also comes with a storage bag.

More details to come.

-Eric Graves

Editor

Posted in SERE, Shelter, SHOT Show | 1 Comment »

Blast From The Past – “Shoot, A Fella Could Have A Pretty Good Weekend In Vegas With All That Stuff”

Sunday, August 25th, 2024

This never gets old. Is it wrong for me to miss the Cold War?

In my best Slim Pickens voice…

“Survival kit contents check. In them you’ll find:
– One forty-five caliber automatic
– Two boxes of ammunition
– Four days’ concentrated emergency rations
– One drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills
– One miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible
– One hundred dollars in rubles
– One hundred dollars in gold
– Nine packs of chewing gum
– One issue of prophylactics
– Three lipsticks
– Three pair of nylon stockings.

Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.”

-Major TJ “King” Kong

843rd Bomb Wing

Strategic Air Command

Posted in Air Force, Cold War, Media, SERE | 4 Comments »

MATBOCK Monday – New NAVAIR Aviation Vest by MATBOCK

Monday, July 1st, 2024

The MATBOCK Aviation Vest uses a variant of our Ghost Material that is significantly stronger and more durable than traditional fabrics currently used. This variant is FR. This version of the Aviation Kit was specifically designed to meet and exceed all NAVAIR FR standards.

The system weighs 6.5 lbs (2.9kg), compared to a CMU-37/P, which weighs 23.2 lbs (10.5kg), or a CMU-33/A, which weighs 14.4 lbs (6.5kg).

Our vest is well over 1/2 the weight of the current systems and is much more comfortable and user-friendly.

The floatation device will upright an unconscious patient 100% of the time. The pistol holster was designed for left—or right-handed shooters. It also allows the user to adjust the angle of the pistol.

For the lower body, the kit comes with a standalone leg harness system or when integrated with the HAALO belt. Below are both versions.

Here are a few more images showing the front, sides, and back of the MATBOCK Aviation Vest.

Stay tuned for other videos showing the vest, and next time, we will cover other features of the MATBOCK Aviation vest. If you are interested in getting some for your HELO Squadron to test, please reach out to PMA202 or you can reach out to MATBOCK at sales@matbock.com

Posted in Advertiser, Army, Aviation, Guest Post, Maritime, Navy, SERE | 1 Comment »

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