Longtime reader Jorge, from tirotactico.net asked us to give a shout out to the Spanish Marine Corps, the oldest Marine Corps in the world!
Happy Birthday!
486th Birthday of the Spanish Marine Corps
February 27th, 2023SMA Plans To Reward Soldiers Who Meet Rising Standards
February 27th, 2023
ARLINGTON, Va. — By raising the standards of its physical assessment tests and Basic Leader Course, the service will continually challenge its Soldiers resulting in more successful missions, the Army’s top enlisted leader said.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston, speaking during an Association of the U.S. Army meeting Feb. 14, praised Soldiers for their ongoing efforts on one such mission, supporting the conflict in Ukraine.
To allow Army leaders to focus on the larger battle picture, Grinston said Soldiers at the squad level must be proficient in battle drills, land navigation and basic first aid.
“If you don’t know how to stop a Soldier from bleeding, it doesn’t matter if you’re in large-scale combat or counterinsurgency, you don’t know how to do your tasks,” Grinston said. “At the battalion and below, you need to be an absolute expert in your job. Every Soldier in your organization needs to know their job so well that we shouldn’t have to worry about that. [Then] we can worry about the deep fight and long-range hypersonics.”
The Expert Infantryman Badge, which distinguishes Soldiers who demonstrate excellence or proficiency in infantry skills, and the Expert Soldier Badge and the Expert Field Medic Badge form the EIB3.
To qualify for the EIB, Soldiers must complete a new physical assessment test.
During the qualification, Soldiers must don operational camouflage pattern uniforms and helmets, run for one mile, perform pushups and sprints, and push through a sandbag course. Then Soldiers must complete a high crawl, perform a series of exercises with a partner, run a designated distance while carrying weights and finally, Soldiers will finish another one-mile run.
Grinston said the service plans to reward Soldiers who maintain a high level of physical fitness. Soldiers who score 540 or higher on the Army Combat Fitness Test will be exempt from the body composition measurements with a directive expected to be published in March, Grinston said. Soldiers can score a maximum of 600 on the exam.
Additionally, Grinston announced last year that the service will bring land navigation qualification back to the Basic Leader Course.
“What we need to do is continuously challenge our NCOs,” Grinston said. “So that’s one of our biggest changes; make our first NCO course rigorous and bring back a little rigor and field time and the tactics.”
Grinston lauded the efforts of Soldiers who deployed in support of the war in Ukraine, crediting Army units’ swift response times and ability to carry out logistics support to the Ukrainian military.
Within seven days of the Feb. 24 Russian invasion of the Eastern European country, the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division deployed to Grafenwoehr, Germany, where they test fired tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Grinston said. The brigade deployed on short notice after completing a tour in South Korea.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, your Army knew exactly what we needed to do,” Grinston said. “You should be proud of what we’ve done.”
The 82nd Airborne Division completed its fourth no-notice deployment to Europe to aid the Ukrainian military. Last month the Defense Department announced that it would send 90 Stryker armored combat vehicles to assist the Ukrainian military.
In January Grinston visited Soldiers at Grafenwoehr to watch Army units conducting air defense training with Bradleys. Members of the National Guard have trained and mentored Ukrainian Soldiers.
“The Ukrainians have a huge will to fight,” Grinston said. “Whether it’s air defense, Bradleys or medical [training], they were really motivated so they could get back into the fight. I’m extremely proud of the Ukrainians and what they’re doing. But I’m also extremely proud of our Soldiers at getting rallied around that mission and doing anything asked of them.”
By Joe Lacdan, Army News Service
Airborne Operation Experimenting with an Exposed Weapon Padding Kit
February 26th, 2023Jumping the MC 6 parachute out of a CH 47 helicopter and experimenting with a padding kit for the M-4 carbine. It allows quick access to the weapon upon landing, but protects the optics and muzzle (The weapon is not lowered). The combat equipment consists of the A-TAP fighting load carrier, and the MOLLE 4000 Rucksack.
– R Geardesign
It’s Still Fort Bragg To Me
February 26th, 2023
Sure, the Army announced that Fort Bragg will now be called Fort Liberty, but it will always be Bragg to me.
You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up
February 26th, 2023
Jon O P Tactical from the top rope with his Tiger Camo lid.
HENSOLDT to Strengthen CAE Aviation Surveillance Fleet with High-Performance Radar
February 25th, 2023
Taufkirchen/Germany, 22 February 2023 – Sensor solutions specialist HENSOLDT will supply another multi-mission surveillance radar PrecISR™ to one of the biggest airborne surveillance providers, CAE Aviation, Luxembourg. CAE Aviation, which operates a large fleet of surveillance aircraft, has decided to renew its trust in HENSOLDT by awarding them with a contract to deliver another PrecISR™1000. This is the second order, after HENSOLDT having delivered the first PrecISR™ in 2021.
PrecISR™ radars are currently operated by experienced ISR operators from CAE Aviation in challenging areas of operations for various types of missions and for very demanding end-users.
PrecISR™ offers impressive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) / Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) capabilities, enabling its operators to detect and track, in real time, a very large diversity of small moving targets of interest (troops, convoys, suspicious vehicles, etc..). PrecISR™ technology ensures a reliable and accurate surveillance of static and moving threats, despite adverse weather conditions which might obstruct the EO/IR sensor results.
“We feel really proud that CAE Aviation keeps investing in new ISR capabilities by maintaining its trust in our plug-and-play high performance radar”, said Pierre Marquis, Sales Director Airborne ISR Radars at HENSOLDT.
“The versatility of the Hensoldt PrecISR™ 1000 radar allows us to meet the needs of our most demanding customers, regardless of the mission profiles we perform “, said David Attali, CEO at CAE Aviation.
PrecISR™ is the right solution for an operational and battle proven multi-mission radar system. Because of its compact design, the airborne platform integration of PrecISR™ is simplified significantly compared to other radars.
The superior performance of PrecISR™ enables airborne operators to accomplish large area surveillance in one flight pass and get top-notched results in real time up to 370km range. Even in the most difficult environmental conditions and sea states, PrecISR™ operators will take advantage of an unrivalled level of situational awareness with significant flight cost savings.
Holsters and Mag Pouches to Fit FN 509® Pistol Bundles
February 25th, 2023SWANSBORO, N.C. – February 27, 2023 – High Speed Gear®, Comp-Tac® and BlackPoint Tactical™ have created a variety of magazine pouches and holsters to support FN’s 509® tactical, 509 compact, 509 MRD and their 10, 12, 15, 17 and 24 size magazines.
Below are some the newest High Speed Gear family of products that support the FN 509 bundles.
CT3 Level III Duty Holster – Designed for users to achieve a master grip before drawing the weapon. Combined with the autolocking ejection port lock and the intuitive self-activated hood system, makes this one of the fastest level III holsters on the market today.
Polymer TACO V2 – Magazine Pouch line offering patented TACO adaptability and adjustable retention. Compatible with various magazine sizes.
International Holster – Sleek and conservative holster option offering fast draw speeds and OWB concealability.
QD Holster – Holster option offering an inside-the-waistband clip and outside-the-waist band paddle to configure to either carry style the user may choose.
Leather Wing™ Holster – Provides the reliability and functionality of Kydex holsters and the comfort and concealment of traditional leather holsters all in one.
DCH Holster – available to fit the FN509 along with TLR-7A
193rd Special Operations Wing Welcomes New Aircraft, Mission
February 25th, 2023MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The 193rd Special Operations Wing became the first Air National Guard unit to receive an MC-130J Commando II aircraft Feb. 2 as part of its mission conversion to a flagship mission of Air Force Special Operations Command.
“This is a monumental day for the 193rd, ANG, and AFSOC. The Commando II mission will ensure the 193rd SOW remains not only relevant but also at the forefront of the battlespace for years to come,” said Col. Edward Fink, 193rd SOW commander.
Led by the efforts of Lt. Col. Benton Jackson, unit conversion officer, the wing has been preparing for its mission conversion since 2021. Jackson believes the hard work of 193rd SOW Airmen and the support of the community led to the completion of this first step.
“Seeing the Commando II on our flight line is a tangible symbol of the progress we’ve made as a wing in bringing this versatile mission to central Pennsylvania,” Jackson said. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of this team, and I have the utmost confidence we have the right culture and people to continue with a successful mission conversion.”
For decades, the wing operated the EC-130J Commando Solo as part of the only airborne Military Information Support Operations broadcasting platform in the U.S. military. Col. Jaime Ramirez, 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Group commander, sees the move to the Commando II as a major shift in the unit, AFSOC and ANG.
“The Commando II is the special operations workhorse in that it performs many different types of missions and performs them well,” Ramirez said. “There is no doubt in my mind the aircraft that landed here today will be integral in any future conflict.”
Ramirez said the wing maintained the full operating capabilities of the outgoing aircraft while simultaneously preparing for the arriving mission.
“We were ready to maintain the Commando II well before it arrived, all while never losing a step in maintaining and launching EC-130s,” Ramirez said. “That only happens if you have the best people. I’d put our maintainers up against anyone.”
While the 193rd SOMXG is prepared to maintain the aircraft, the 193rd Special Operations Group is postured to fly them immediately. Col. Gordon Frankenfield, 193rd SOG commander, said his Airmen are very familiar with the aircraft and mission set.
“We’ve executed similar mission sets for years, which likely contributed to AFSOC trusting us with this critically valuable aircraft,” Frankenfield said. “Our goal from Day One has been to operate the Commando II with the same potency as an active duty unit, and our aircrews are trained and ready to make that a reality.”
Frankenfield sees the Commando II’s arrival in Pennsylvania as an important strategic move domestically and abroad.
“The 193rd now offers something the U.S. military didn’t have before,” Frankenfield said. Special Operations Forces based in the Northeast now have a crucial air asset in their backyard to build their combat readiness. Combatant commanders have a much more robust and versatile capability to project air power in different geographic regions.”
The aircraft’s arrival at night was perhaps appropriate given the nature of its mission. The Commando II flies clandestine – or low visibility – single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or air land and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.
“The Commando II is the embodiment of Agile Combat Employment and will present complex dilemmas to our adversaries. It’s a shadow in the dark and sends a clear message that the U.S. military owns the night,” Fink said. “The 193rd is ready today to add to the impressive lineage of the Commando II.”
By MSgt Alexander Farver, 193rd Special Operations Wing
