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Archive for the ‘Training’ Category

M16/M4 Handbook

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

M16/M4 Handbook–an Operational Guide to the Standard U.S. Military Assault Rifle

Mike Pannone’s excellent handbook, “M16/M4 Handbook–an Operational Guide to the Standard U.S. Military Assault Rifle” has been on the market for several months now but we don’t feel it has been given all of the exposure it deserves. In our opinion, it should be issued to every member of the military the day they arrive at Basic Training, regardless of branch of service. In fact, to echo one reviewer’s comments, issue of the handbook shouldn’t be limited to military members but to law enforcement as well as anyone who employs the M16 or M4. It is filled with the pertinent facts required to properly operate and maintain the M16 family of weapons. Notice it is a handbook. It’s compact size means that you can keep it handy when training.

Mike Pannone began his service in the Marines serving in Recon. Later he transferred to the Army and served in it’s Special Operations Forces. He has also served as a defense contractor and currently serves as an instructor. To put it lightly, Mike Pannone knows his way around a carbine.

At $19.95 look at it as an investment. The handbook is available from Blackheart International.

PCU Alternate Source of Supply ADS

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

ADSBeyond Tactical

ADS and Beyond Tactical are proud to announce that they are beginning to offer the complete Protective Combat Uniform in the issue Ranger Green as well as Coyote. Available as an entire kit or as individual components, this is an excellent opportunity for units requiring PCU out of the procurement cycle as well as for units or individuals that wish to upgrade their current environmental clothing system. In addition to standard sizes, customers will be able to take advantage of Beyond’s custom sizing program. Originally conceived in the fall of 2001 by PM-SSS in order to satisfy an urgent need for operational clothing to combat the environment of Afghanistan, PCU is a clothing system consisting of seven levels used in concert with one another based on activity and environment.

Visual PCU Guide

ADS has gone one step further by developing an excellent DVD which provides an overview of PCU components and their use as well as some excellent background on the system’s design philosophy by the “Godfather” of PCU; Mark Twight. In concert with Kwikpoint, makers of the waterproof basic language guides currently in use in theater, ADS is offering a pocket users guide describing PCU components, environmental conditions and a wheel to help the user correlate components with conditions. This has been needed for a long time and is a must for even current users of multi-component environmental clothing systems.

Visual Users Guide - PCU

The user guide is available from Kwikpoint.

Look for a future article with more details on PCU.

Contact ADS or Beyond Tactical for more information.

User guide graphics property of Kwikpoint.

Becoming Batman

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero

Batman is the ultimate Badass. A science hero, Batman is the product of dumb luck and a very strong will. He has tapped the very pinnacle of human potential and has access to Gucciest of kit. He is so popular because of all super heroes, he is the most plausible. Its easy to consider yourself in his situation. A new book entitled, “Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero” from The Johns Hopkins University Press by E. Paul Zehr is poised to be released in October. Zehr is an associate professor of kinesiology and neuroscience at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and long time practitioner of Chito-Ryu karate-do. In his book Zehr examines what it would take to become the “Bat”.

Scientific American has a great interview with Zehr on the subject.

Available from The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Solkoa – SERE Products and Training

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Solkoa Logo

Solkoa is well known in very tight circles for their specialized survival training. In conjunction with an expansion that provides both training and full E&E kits to a wider customer base, Solkoa has began to offer some of the individual pieces of their line. Solkoa specializes in working with the user to develop a dedicated kit or they can provide a variety of containers, survival aids, and general guidance so that the individual can develop their own solution. I hope to see a full article on the container in the near future, but sufficed to say that they are works of art; truly. Specialized symbols can be machined directly into the container.

I recently tried the fastfire fire starter. Like so many of their other products, each package is discreetly wrapped in a resealable black bag that does not scream military. Each package of two pieces of tinder is designed to start up to 16 fires and the tinder burns both smokeless and odorless.
Solkoa Fastfire

Further information on their line of survival and evasion aids and training can be obtained by those with appropriate credentials.

For more information contact Solkoa

For information specifically on the fastfire product visit fastfire.