Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

MATBOCK & Astron Aerospace Announce Partnership for Multi-Fuel Engines

July 22nd, 2022

MATBOCK, LLC of Virginia Beach, VA and Astron Aerospace of Wichita, KS are pleased to announce an exclusive partnership for the Astron Omega One family of engines to US Government customers. Astron has developed a paradigm shifting, multi-fuel engine technology with unparalleled power to weight ratio, increased fuel economy, and low maintenance requirements. At only 38 lbs, the Astron Omega one is expected to produce 160hp and 170 ft-lbs of torque. In an era of rising fuel costs and push towards electric or zero emissions vehicles, the Astron Omega One family of engines stand ready to meet the needs of many DoD requirements.

MATBOCK has already incorporated this technology into various government projects and expects future development efforts associated with this technology to be available for customers by Q2 2023. “The Astron Aerospace engine technology allows MATBOCK to continue to push capabilities of warfighter past any current systems and redefine power production and management,” said MATBOCK President Zach Steinbock. “We are excited to present the defense community with these projects in the near future and discuss future plans regarding this technology.”

Posted in Advertiser, Industry, Power, Press Release | 1 Comment »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Exigent Circumstance Pack – ECP

July 22nd, 2022

A True Assault Pack For Your Next “No Knock, No Warning” Entry Mission

The ECP is the operators go-to assault pack. This pack can be shoulder carried as a backpack, single strap bag or quickly attached to multiple platforms to suit your mission set.

The removable exterior flap is secured with shock cord and provides an ideal space to hold your helmet and other equipment securely and readily available. This exterior flap also provides multiple storage options for kit and accessories.

The ECP is offered in multiple colors and accepts a multitude of accessories for platform attachment and mission needs.

Check out the Exigent Circumstance Pack to find out more.

Visit FirstSpear to find all the gear and apparel for America’s Warfighter.

Posted in Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Packs | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus: Exigent Circumstance Pack – ECP

SERE Specialists Thrive in Harshest Conditions: Teaching Next Generation of Officers to Do the Same

July 22nd, 2022

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – RANDOLPH, Texas —

Organizing safe, effective survival and evasion training for nearly 1,000 people isn’t easy – especially in an austere and unforgiving environment that’s hours from the nearest signs of civilization. But Capt. Jason Walker and Master Sgt. Brian Youngberg’s team of 33 Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialists are doing just that this summer as they train hundreds of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets during three 21-day courses on critical survival and evasion skills at the Air Force Academy and Pinon Canyon Military Site near Trinidad, Colorado.

The Air Force Academy Combat Survival Training program enables cadets to practice and learn the skills required to survive as an isolated personnel in a combat environment. This training also provides leadership opportunities for upper-class Cadets and shortens the training timeline for new lieutenants in certain AFSCs.

“SERE provides the tools necessary to survive in multiple situations and to return with honor,” said Walker. “This program is designed to not only introduce cadets to these survival skills, but also offer them a leadership opportunity.”

On a normal day these specialists instruct at the 336th Training Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where they’re responsible not only for teaching SERE to more than 6,000 Airmen annually but also training candidates in the SERE technical training pipeline.

“Helping people has always driven me,” Youngberg said. “SERE as a career field is predominantly helping people, whether to learn the skills that will help them return with honor or to do their jobs.”

While teaching SERE isn’t new to the specialists, the scale of the program is. A small-group try-out was conducted in 2021 with just over 130 cadets completing the program. This year’s iteration, consisting of three 300-plus blocks of students, represents a nearly 800% increase in student training.

One unique aspect to the program is that cadet cadre act as primary instructors, having completed a hands-on training course with SERE Specialists, who help guide student learning and ensure course objectives are met. This provides cadet cadre with opportunities to grow their leadership and develop in a controlled training environment.

Nearly 1,200 cadets are anticipated to complete the program by the end of the summer.

“Any time you’re dealing with 1,200 people, there are a whole bunch of gears that have to fit together the right way,” Walker said. Weather, environmental factors, instructional timelines, safety and more all have to be factored in and adjustments made to ensure students receive proper training.

The team of SERE Specialists are eagerly tackling the challenge of adapting their training to the cadets.

“Uncertainty is where SERE specialists thrive,” Walker said. “The team out here has one officer, a senior NCO, a couple NCOs, and then the rest are all Airmen. These Airmen are problem-solving nonstop to get the mission accomplished. It’s awesome to watch them.”

The team of SERE specialists also appreciate the chance to mentor the future officers.

“For a lot of the cadets, this is their first exposure to active duty non-commissioned officers,” Youngberg said. “So they’re able to talk with our SERE Specialists for perspective on what it’s like being active duty and understand the importance of the officer and NCO relationship.”

Walker agrees. “Mentoring is my favorite part,” he said. “It’s great when you see the light switch flip on, because it means you were able to connect and get information across in a way that people understand. And then also seeing students do things they didn’t think they could do or hadn’t done before.”

To become a SERE Specialist, Airmen must be both physically capable and mentally prepared for extreme conditions, requiring more than a year of intense, and grueling training. Candidates are initially assessed through a 19-day screening course at Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, where they are evaluated on their physical fitness, aptitude, dedication, and leadership potential. After passing those tests, candidates undergo the rigorous SERE Specialist training that prepares them to survive in any environment, including deserts, mountains, arctic conditions and on the open water. Following graduation, SERE Specialists undergo more dive, parachute and emergency medical technician training, ensuring they have the right skills to operate in any situation. Only 40% of candidates that begin the pipeline end up earning the coveted pewter-green SERE beret.

The Combat Survival Training program at the Air Force Academy concludes July 29, and is expected to continue to impact future leaders for years to come.

Story by Capt Lauren Woods, Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

Photos by Trevor Cokley

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SERE, Training | Comments Off on SERE Specialists Thrive in Harshest Conditions: Teaching Next Generation of Officers to Do the Same

U.S., Netherlands Sign Future Rotorcraft Concept Analysis Arrangement

July 21st, 2022

GILZE-RIJEN AIRFORCE BASE, Netherlands – Senior leaders from the United States Army and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence signed a Future Rotorcraft Concept Analysis Project Arrangement today, pledging to work together to ensure interoperability between the two nations’ future rotorcraft aviation forces.

Under the arrangement signed by Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, and Maj. Gen. André Steur, National Capability Director for the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, the two nations will share information about their future rotorcraft requirements and programs. Through this joint analysis, the U.S. and Netherlands will be able to assess the benefits, risks and overall feasibility of rotorcraft cooperation between the two allies. This arrangement is in addition to already existing partnerships the Netherlands has with the U.S. Army to collaborate on the detection and decontamination efforts of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives and Weapons Systems Effectiveness and Operation Research.

Objectives of this project arrangement include:

• Identifying opportunities to reduce future rotorcraft program cost, schedule and performance risk.

• Enabling and improving rotorcraft interoperability and integration between the armed forces.

• Assessing the feasibility of and identifying and assessing risks associated with pursuing future cooperation in the research, development, test and evaluation, production, sustainment, and follow-on development of future rotorcraft.

• Providing the two nations with information to use in their respective national decision-making processes.

• Promoting future rotorcraft cooperative research, development, testing and evaluation.

• Developing plans for cooperation in future phases of the U.S. Department of Defense Future Vertical Lift program.

“I’m glad to be signing this important arrangement with our steadfast Dutch NATO allies. This arrangement further strengthens our defense relationship, specifically when it comes to the future of our air capabilities,” Bush said. “Technological cooperation through arrangements like this improves our ability to collectively modernize and increase interoperability ensuring we can train and fight alongside our allies and partners more effectively and efficiently.”

The U.S. and Netherlands have a long history of partnership and cooperation, and the FRCA project arrangement is an important step in expanding that relationship into the next generation of vertical lift capability and employment in future coalition operations.

“The signing of this project arrangement is yet another example of the enduring partnership between our countries,” Steur said. “Finding interoperability in a networked coalition, plus exploring and analyzing new concepts for the employment of coalition air power, is key for the future fight. By working together on this program, we ensure a solid and common base for further development of our future rotorcraft capabilities.”

The U.S. Army is modernizing Army Aviation with transformational speed, range and lethality to achieve decision dominance for the Joint Force in Multi-Domain Operations. The two nations will assess collaboration opportunities on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, the U.S. Army’s aviation modernization priorities, as well as Future Unmanned Aerial Systems, Air Launched Effects, and Modular Open Systems Architecture, among other DoD programs.

The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation is responsible for negotiating international armaments cooperation arrangements like this one. Leveraging foreign technologies, capabilities and investment supports U.S. Army readiness, modernization and interoperability goals.

Posted in Army, Aviation, Press Release | Comments Off on U.S., Netherlands Sign Future Rotorcraft Concept Analysis Arrangement

Brownells BRN-180S Uppers in 7.62X39 In Stock and Shipping

July 21st, 2022

GRINNELL, Iowa (July 21, 2022) – The newest version of the popular Brownells BRN-180 upper – chambered in the 7.62X39 intermediate cartridge – is in stock and shipping now.

The new upper offers the same adjustable piston gas system and folding-stock compatibility as previous BRN-180 uppers but combines them with the globally available 7.62×39 cartridge made famous by various Kalashnikov designs.

Like all other BRN-180 uppers, the 7.62X39 uppers fit onto most standard AR-15 lowers as well as specially designed BRN-180 lowers available at Brownells.

The 7.62X39 uppers work with AR-15 style magazines in 7.62X39, but will not work with Kalashnikov pattern magazines.

Models of the BRN-180 7.62X39 uppers include:

• 078-000-724 BRN-180s Gen 2, 10.5” 7.62X39 $969 retail

• 078-000-723 BRN-180 Gen 2, 16” 7.62X39 $969 retail

The 10.5” 7.62X39 upper is in stock and shipping now. The 16” 7.62X9 is scheduled to be in stock soon.

For more information about the BRN-180 uppers, lowers, stocks, parts, and accessories, visit www.Brownells.com.

Posted in Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on Brownells BRN-180S Uppers in 7.62X39 In Stock and Shipping

TacJobs – FN America Seeks Final Ops Shipping Tech

July 21st, 2022

FN America is seeking a full-time Final Ops Shipping Tech I in the material control section of their factory in Columbia, SC.

Description

FN America, LLC is a U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of FN-branded products, training and support services that enhance user performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit us at or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Position Summary

The Final Ops Shipping Tech I load and unloads shipments to and from FN, assuring product is appropriately weighed, marked and labeled, and secured. The Final Ops Shipping Tech I must also properly record shipments to ensure compliance requirements.

Job Duties

• Loads and unloads shipments and conducts the before, during and after operations checks of assigned vehicle(s).

• Ensures appropriate accurate shipping documents are provided per specific shipment utilizing pertinent work instructions and government regulations, i.e. weapons and international shipments.

• Uses the calibrated Tabletop and Floor Scale to accurately record Gross weight on the Bill of Lading (BOL) and Packing List.

• Coordinates security services as required for all applicable shipments.

• Ensures proper marking and labeling of shipment containers, product, etc., per established standards and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

• Ships product utilizing the most cost-effective manner possible. Consolidates shipments when possible.

• Prepares Government Bills of Lading and Commercial Bills of Lading to ship product.

• Manages physical and administrative shipping functions as assigned. Maintains all applicable shipping records.

• Acts as custodian of weapons storage bunkers/portable storage units (CONEX) and maintains order and accountability of that area.

• Closes and seals weapon crates daily.

• Operates stretch wrap machine to wrap/secure items on a pallet.

• Maintains daily, accurate tracking and shipment records for all Out the Door Shipments.

• Participates in departmental on-the-job training/cross training.

• Other duties as assigned by management*

Educational Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) is required.

Experience Requirements

One year of related experience and/or training experience and/or training is required. Two years of related experience will be accepted for candidates with an Associate degree.

Skills and Competencies

All FN America employees are expected to demonstrate accountability, collaboration, communication, customer focus, and innovation. Additional requirements of this position include:

• Ability to read and communicate simple to semi-complex instructions. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively communicate with others at all levels of the organization;

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of money, weight measurement, volume and distance.

• Clear and persuasive speech. Listens and gets clarification; participates in meetings. Writes clearly and informatively; able to read and interpret written information. Follows policies and procedures; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Meets productivity standards. Observes safety and security procedures. Adapts to changes in the work environment.

Tools

Experience in handling various forklifts/pallet jacks and the ability to maneuver in tight areas.

Banding tensioner / cutter

Pneumatic Nail gun

Licenses/Certifications

Forklift certification required.

Working Conditions

This position is performed in a manufacturing plant environment with possible exposure toxic or caustic chemicals, wet or humid conditions, and work in high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Must be able to frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds unassisted and up to 70 pounds with assistance.

All FN America employees have a responsibility to participate in the development of a safe and healthy workplace and to comply with instructions given for their own safety and health and that of others.

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status

FN America, LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email HR@FNAmerica.com or call: 803-736-0522. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Apply here

For a full listing of open positions with FN America, click here.

Posted in TacJobs | Comments Off on TacJobs – FN America Seeks Final Ops Shipping Tech

The Agilite Laptop Carrier (LTC)

July 21st, 2022

Agilite just launched the new Laptop Carrier (LTC), a laptop bag for industry professionals with an added important feature.

Watch the video to learn more.

agilitegear.com/products/laptop-carrier

Posted in Grey Man, International, Load Carrying | 1 Comment »

See OTTO’s Lynq PRO in Action

July 21st, 2022

Lynq PRO™ from OTTO Communications is a rapidly deployable peer-to-peer network that brings enhanced situational awareness, navigation, and communications to the edge.

Lynq PRO™ provides hardware redundancy as a single-hardware unit doing the work of what has traditionally been three or more devices: radio, GPS, ATAK EUD. Lynq PRO™ augments these capabilities by extending an ATAK network to individuals that don’t necessarily need a radio or EUD, but can benefit the fighting force with location tracking, navigation, and messaging.

Lynq PRO™ Deployment Kits are available now from OTTO Communications. Contact OTTO today for more information or a demonstration at www.otto-comm.com or 847-428-7171.

Posted in Comms, Press Release | Comments Off on See OTTO’s Lynq PRO in Action