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Body Armor with Batteries (I love it when someone outside this industry thinks they discovered something new to write about.)
It’s no secret that physical fitness is an important aspect of being a member of the Untied States Armed forces, especially for our front line troops. The ability of our people to perform well physically in tough adverse combat conditions is a large part of mission success. Many hours of training and personal time is devoted to obtaining and maintaining this high level of fitness. However one important area is often overlooked; that being hand-strength. Not just actual gripping power, but in your ability to hold fast. Think of all the important tasks that rely on a strong grip. Carrying heavy gear, fast roping, climbing over obstacles and pulling wounded comrades to safety are just a few examples. Plus there may come a time when your ability to just hold on could save your life. Shit happens when your working off the ground. The bottom line is you need to train to improve your gripping strength and endurance like any other part of your body. In my book Corps Strength I outline several ways to condition your grip with weights. However I think one of the best and easiest ways to keep your hand strength at a high level is by using a portable gripper. There are many types; spring types, bags filled with rice, rubber balls, etc. I have tried all of these at one time or the other. They all work but I think that the “doughnut shaped†grippers made by ProGrip Trainer are the best out there. Portable, simple and durable they can be used to develop not just your overall grip but you can work individual fingers. You can also work your reverse grip by sticking them in the hole and pushing outward. These grippers are lightweight and easy to carry. As they are rubber you can carry them with you on planes with no problem. They come in different strengths and don’t cost squat. I still have the one I carried with me in Iraq. I highly recommend them, Try it.
PJ Rourke
MGySgt
USMC (Ret)
TigerSwan has completed phase one of the TigerSwan Training Collaboration Center and it is now open and operational. All further classes in NC will be held at the TS-TCC facility.
TS-TCC currently has available:
– Two 100m x 50m multi-purpose ranges equipped with steel targets and wooden barricades
– Two thirty-five student classrooms with ceiling mounted projectors, dry erase boards and desks
– Armored Storage Magazine that complies with Department of Defense security requirements for weapons and ammunition storage (DoD 5100.76-M) allowing units and students to safely store weapons and ammunition
Starting this week (15 December), they will also have available two 700 square foot live-fire shoot houses with catwalks for instructors.
Finally, Grey Group will also host many of their North Carolina classes at this outstanding facility.
ADS has begun to offer LTC‘s new SAPI training plates. While you may be unfamiliar with Leading Technology Composites, they are one of the industry leaders in ballistic plates. Unlike other training plates these have no ballistic value but rather are intended to be used solely for situations that do not require protection but where the bulk and weight of plates adds value such as combatives and vehicular crew drills. Ballistic plates can be damaged in training and it is difficult to ascertain if they retain their protective properties without expensive imaging systems. Additionally, some organizations to not have ample supplies of actual ESAPI plates to support both training as well as operations. That’s why training plates are so critical. Training can be accomplished by everyone at no risk to damaging ballistic plates. Naturally, these training plates are Blue and clearly marked for training use. Available in Small – XLarge, side plates and additional sizes are available by special order as well. Unit orders can be supported by ADSinc.com/LTC.
Tags: ADS Inc, LTC
Posted in Armor, Training | Comments Off on LTC Mock SAPI Training Plate
The “Death Race” we recently wrote about is presented by Spartan Race who holds several events every year. In fact, their next event is tomorrow, December 12th in Malibu, California. The new Spartan Sprint events serve as a form of a bracket system to qualify for bigger, and more important races culminating in the Death Race at the end of the racing season. Each of the Spartan Sprint 3 mile (5k) race courses are strewn with imposing walls, muddy gullies, spear throws, barbed wire crawls, flaring brush fires, and grimacing gladiators bearing mercifully padded dueling sticks. These will qualify racers for the seven mid-level Super Spartan events which will be more rugged, muddier, obstacle packed and five miles (8k) longer than the Sprints.
One thing we are really jazzed about is that Spartan Race supports Homes for our Troops. Since 2004 Homes for Troops has built 100 custom homes for severely injured veterans. We aren’t talking Mcmansions here but rather the types of modifications needed to allow a home to accommodate a wounded vet. A very worthy cause indeed.
For full details on race locations and times, go to www.spartanrace.com.
“The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet” by Robb Wolf describes a method called Paleolithic dieting, which involves eating foods that closely mimic what our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed. In layman’s terms, this means no grains, dairy, or legumes of any kind but rather eating seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seafoods, and land animals, preferably organic and grass fed. Unlike many books on dieting, the technique is easily accessible and includes well-researched information on the benefits of paleo dieting, testimonials, a simple to follow 30 day meal and exercise plan, and even a bit of humor spread throughout.
I bring this to your attention because of the not so recent news about military personnel struggling with their weight and turning to methods such as liposuction and crash dieting to achieve their goals. I’m not claiming this as a definitive method for weight loss and long-term health, but like anything else it’s worth a shot. So pick up the book and follow it’s contents for a while. You might end up liking paleo dieting, or at least the results it brings.
-Tactical FanBoy
In issue two of Retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Paul Roarke’s series on functional fitness he discusses methods to train for weight bearing.
After almost ten years of combat operations in Afghanistan, Marines and Soldiers know the importance of being in top physical condition. Not just running or lifting weights but in their ability to bear weight. Meaning their ability to operate while wearing heavy combat gear. Today’s front line military is outfitted with the very best weapons, protective gear and communications equipment. However while much of this stuff is made of the newest high tech materials, in the end when you pile it all on the back of a young hard charger, its still pretty heavy. Just the basic four components of a “fighting loadâ€; weapon(s), ammo, protection and water will run at least around 25lbs. Add to that any combination of comm gear, crew served weapons, night vision, extra ammo, etc. etc. now your load can easily reach 50lbs or more. We have all seen pictures of our people humping huge loads up the rugged mountains in Afghanistan (in the cold). To do this for hours on end and still have the ability to fight requires training and real world conditioning, not football or MMA skills. I know from my own hard learned experience that the only way to condition yourself to “hump†a heavy pack is to do it. However while training back in the rear that may not always be practical. A good training alternative and what I recommend in my book “Corps Strength†is the next best thing to your actual gear; a weighted vest. I use and recommend the vests made by VMax. They come in all different weights, colors and are comfortable and durable. I have beat the hell out of mine for the last couple years it is still gtg. It is held securely to your body by velcro straps so it doesn’t shift around, allowing you to do many different exercise movements, I keep my 50lber it in the back of truck and use it for all types of training. Everything from kettle-bells to straight hiking. I think it’s the best way to get yourself conditioned to carry weight. It also is a great piece of gear for firefighters and law enforcement people to train with. Try it, it works.
Semper Fi
Presented by Larry Vickers and Daniel Defense, here is a preview of the new Vickers Tactical Carbine I & II.
