They Might Want To Have That Removed
September 16th, 2020Quantico Tactical Announces a $950,000,000 Award for Air Force Special Warfare
September 15th, 2020
Aberdeen, North Carolina – September 2, 2020 – Quantico Tactical is pleased to announce the award of up to $950,000,000 as part of the United States Air Force Special Warfare – Multiple Award Contract, SW-MAC, for the Special Warfare Acquisition Group and Refresh (SWAGR) program. The contract was approved by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to provide a convenient contract vehicle for Air Force Special Warfare.
“We have an extensive history of supporting the U.S. Air Force with our rapid and simplified procurement processes,” said Sam Lerman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “This contract award demonstrates our unwavering customer commitment and support for the varying mission requirements within Air Force Special Warfare.”
“This contract award is a result of the reputation Quantico Tactical has developed throughout the U.S. Military and federal agencies for providing on-time worldwide delivery of high-quality products from leading manufacturers. We value our relationships with customers, suppliers, and contracting professionals,” said David Hensley, Founder and CEO.
The contract is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award to provide equipment, training, and product support to approximately 3,500 Air Force Special Warfare operators, as well as authorized users in support of Special Warfare mission requirements. The contract’s overall objective is to rapidly procure supplies, provide supply chain management, product training, and support, and integrate into larger systems in support of mission requirements.
This contract provides support in the following areas:
Assault Zones (AZ): Capabilities supporting tactical zones of action, including drop zones and fixed-wing and rotary-wing landing zones supporting the forward projection of a force by air. AZ capabilities to be equipped under this contract include survey equipment for data collection and analysis, assessment of runway surface distress, and airfield geometrics to include obstacles and approach paths. Also required is airfield control equipment, including airfield markings/lighting, signaling devices, airspace de-confliction tools, and navigational aids.
Fires: Equipping operators for close air support, surface-based and air-to-surface fires, communications architecture, weapons data, digital fire support, and target designation and marking. For the contract’s purposes, this may include support to ACC-assigned Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)s.
Weather: Equipping operators to collect, analyze, tailor, and report critical meteorological and oceanographic information. Additional capabilities include environment analysis and forecasting, vertical atmospheric data collection, processing externally produced weather data, portable environmental observation, and unattended ground-based weather collection.
Personnel Recovery (PR): Equipping Pararescue Jumpers to prepare, recover, and reintegrate isolated personnel. PR capabilities include, but are not limited to, PR information management, locating survivors, rescue and recovery tools, analyzing environmental conditions, mass casualty management, recovery support, and reintegration. For the contract’s purposes, this includes the Guardian Angle Mission.
Enabling Capabilities: Common across all mission sets and career fields; include mission management, friendly force detection, geo-locating and range finding, visual augmentation, communications, unmanned capabilities, infiltration/exfiltration, and enhanced training.
Farm to Feet Finds Success Supporting the US Military
September 15th, 2020Mt. Airy, North Carolina (September 15, 2020)— Farm to Feet, makers of 100% American socks, announced today that it has been awarded a significant order from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for its US merino wool Kodiak and Fayetteville styles. This order is in support of the U.S. Army’s need for technically advanced socks for the warfighter.
“We design, develop, and manufacture the very best socks using only U.S. sourced materials,” said Kelly Nester, Farm to Feet CEO. “Those who serve in the armed services require socks that support their mission without fail. As a result, servicemembers are some of the most discerning critics, as they require socks that can stand up to the rigors of deployment. Receiving this contract further solidifies our belief in our products and Farm to Feet is honored to support our soldiers’ need for American-made socks.”
Named after the home of the Naval Special Warfare Cold Weather Detachment Kodiak, the Kodiak is a heavy weight sock knit with the traditional sock construction that produces classic heather textures with nylon plaiting and stretch yarns in the outer layers and U.S. merino wool body yarns on the inside. The nylon reinforcing yarns knit into the stretch shell increase durability, while the wool fibers that sit closer to the skin provide maximum comfort and insulation.
The Fayetteville is adapted from Farm to Feet’s most technically advanced hiking sock, the Damascus. Made with ultra-soft 19.5 micron U.S. merino wool on an advanced 200 needle knitting machine, the Fayetteville provides the comfort of a thicker sock in a lightweight package. The Fayetteville also feature micro-channel circumferential ventilation, targeted hexagonal reinforcement, and an improved comfort compression with LYCRA® fiber for reduced fatigue and added comfort.
To assist with the development of its military business, Farm to Feet recently engaged Rising Tide Associates, a boutique public affairs firm specializing in government affairs based in Marblehead, MA.
“At a time when there is an increasing focus on the need to support manufacturing in the United States, Rising Tide Associates is delighted to work with Farm to Feet on their strategic effort to grow business with the federal government,” said David Costello, Principal of Rising Tide Associates. “Farm to Feet offers a compelling proposition for the armed services – every pair of socks manufactured by Farm to Feet is Berry Compliant, using a completely domestic supply chain to ensure that from the sheep in the field to the sock on the foot, all materials and manufacturing are 100% domestic – offering a array of top performing socks that meets the needs of any military application.”
To learn more about Farm to Feet and its 100% American and Berry Compliant socks visit www.farmtofeet.com.
Cordura Truelock Fabrics from HLC Industries
September 15th, 2020Introducing the latest video of INVISTA™ CORDURA® TRUELOCK™ Fabrics within HLC Industries Inc., In-Stock Program of Solution Dyed colors: Coyote 498 – Black – Ranger Green – Wolf Gray – Tan 499, in 500D and 1000D, well stocked and ready to ship at the moment’s notice.
Contact: peter@hlcindustries.com for samples and marketing materials.
Qore Performance Partnership with European Distributors
September 15th, 2020STERLING, VA – Qore Performance has partnered with European distributors, Brownells Deutschland and Terräng MP-Sec, to facilitate access to their thermoregulation technologies for customers throughout Europe. Brownells has a network of retail and mail order locations across Europe, making order fulfillment and shipping costs far more efficient for Qore Performance customers on the far side of the Atlantic. Along with their close relationship with French Special Operations and Law Enforcement organizations, MP-Sec distributes to customers in France, Belgium, Italy, and North Africa.
Louis Tidey, Director of Commercial Sales for MP-Sec said, “We are very excited to represent Qore Performance products in France and to introduce these great products to the French MIL/LEO forces. We believe it’s the next stage for soldier hydration management.”
Qore Performance Director of Sales and Business Development, Doug Burr added, “Qore Performance is proud to facilitate access of our products to our friends and allies in Europe. We look forward to building our relationship with these two great companies. Brownells Deutschland and MP-Sec were both specifically chosen as our distributors due to their established records of excellence in supplying and serving customers across Europe.”
Both MP-Sec and Brownells Deutschland will carry many elements of the Qore Performance IceAge Ecosystem, including IcePlate Curve and IcePlate Sleeve Combo, as well as IceVents Aero and IceVents Classic padding solutions. The IceAge Ecosystem is focused on thermoregulation to enhance human performance in any environment through lightweight, durable, multi-use products that provide multiple modes of heating, cooling, and hydration. The IceAge Ecosystem is compatible with almost every tactical load carriage system on the market today.
Platatac x Minerva Technical UK Helsby Smock
September 15th, 2020
Platatac is proud to launch the new Helsby Smock, an exclusive collaboration with Minerva Technical UK and named in honour of Operation Helsby in Malaya in 1951.
This lightweight technical pullover style smock has been designed by frontline operators for the harshest environments to be mission ready and get you home.
Made from Multicam Agility fabric with 300D Cordura reinforced elbows, it features dual directional side zippers, two Velcro closure bicep pockets, two forearm pockets and a front zippered kangaroo pouch.
Offered in MultiCam in sizes Small-XXLarge.
Available while it lasts.
www.platatac.com/catalogue/new-products/platatac-helsby-smock
US Air Force To Recruit Future Space Force Professionals
September 15th, 2020
SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas —
Air Force recruiters nationwide will launch future enlisted space professionals to Basic Military Training to fill Fiscal 2021 job opportunities.
The Department of Defense’s newest military branch is relying on Air Force Recruiting Service to find America’s best and brightest to fill more than 300 enlisted positions next fiscal year. Competition for the limited number of opportunities is said to be tough.
During a virtual AFRS training session Sept. 10, 2020, with recruiters nationwide, U.S. Space Force career field managers from Peterson AFB, Colorado, explained the caliber of applicant they are looking for to join them in their fight to assure access to space for America.
“We’ve gotten away from a checklist driven mindset to where we are lean and agile and our young Airman have to think on-the-fly sometimes to outmaneuver some of the adversaries,” said Senior Master Sgt. Randy Magdaleno, U.S. Space Force manager of Special Programs Division. “As an example, we have young Airman sitting in the 2nd Operations Squadron flying the GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and what a lot of people don’t know is our Air Force and, now our U.S. Space Force, do the satellite command and control and operate our GPS systems out there for the world.”
This is the reason why career field managers say they need top-notch space professionals to stay ahead of adversaries and secure access to and through space for America in a hostile space environment.
Airmen who were selected to transfer to U.S. Space Force have joined the new service. In October, highly-qualified applicants without prior military experience will begin to make their way to BMT after being processed by an Air Force recruiter. That is their first step to service in the space mission.
They will apply at an Air Force office but will specify which branch of service they would like to be considered for. It is possible they can choose both. The same screening for eligibility to serve will apply. Space specialties will continue to require the same Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery scores and security clearances which are higher than most Air Force career fields.
“Most of our jobs focus on orbital warfare, space electronic warfare, or space battle management,” said Senior MSgt. Daniel Hill, U.S. Space Force manager for the 1C6 Space Systems Operators Air Force Specialty Code. “We fly satellites, keeping them in position or repositioning them if a threat is detected. We use radar to detect missile launches and track space debris to protect our assets in space.”
Descriptions for space specialties can be found on www.spaceforce.mil by clicking on the Careers tab. Job locations are expected to be where a majority of these space professionals are currently located which include installations in California, Colorado and Florida but they can be found in smaller units worldwide.
In February 2021, the U.S. Space Force expects to fill other career opportunities that are key to the military space mission such as cyber security and intelligence. Airmen currently holding those positions for the Air Force were given the opportunity in May 2020 to volunteer to transfer into the U.S. Space Force. Those selected to transfer will begin the nearly two-year process in February..
All space systems operator positions are scheduled to align in U.S. Space Force ranks and will no longer be called Airmen, but rather a yet to be determined nomenclature within the next two years.
Due to the unique capabilities space professionals perform for the nation, recruiters were encouraged by AFRS trainers to set up mentorship-like opportunities between applicants and active duty personnel or tour nearby space units where available when social distance and COVID health restrictions allow for such an opportunity.
“We are excited to partner with the U.S. Space Force as it endeavors to build a diverse and inclusive corps of Space Professionals,” said Lt. Col. Michael Graff who leads U.S. Space Force recruiting efforts from his office at AFRS headquarters in San Antonio. “Air Force recruiters are rapidly stepping up to attract and find the agile, innovative, and bold young women and men who will defend a boundless domain and shape space power for decades to come.”
By Chrissy Cuttita, Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
HSI Awarded $1 million DND IDEaS Contract to Develop the Citadel Respirator Prototype
September 14th, 2020Guelph, Ontario, Canada, September 2020 – HumanSystems® Incorporated has been awarded $1,000,000 through the Department of National Defence’s (DND) Innovation For Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program to continue its development of the CitadelTM (Pat. Pending) respirator designed to better protect soldiers in hazardous chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) environments.
This project follows a previous IDEaS contract to HumanSystems® Incorporated in 2019 to develop a proof of concept design. Working with the DND’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the goal of this twelve-month project is to further develop the CitadelTM respirator design to the point where it can be tested in realistic operational environments.
“Recent changes to Canadian Armed Forces policies allow for short beards and longer hairstyles. This funding will bring the novel CitadelTM respirator concept closer to commercialization and to providing a more protective CBRN Respirator/Mask for individuals with various face/head shapes, hairstyles, and/or facial hair,” says Harry Angel, the HSI® CitadelTM project technical lead.
The proof of concept CitadelTM respirator was designed to mitigate any leakage of contaminants into the respirator mask caused by various face shapes and/or beards or facial stubble. In preliminary user testing, individuals with beards or facial stubble could not achieve an acceptable fit factor with the standard protective mask, meaning that they were susceptible to contaminants entering the mask. The CitadelTM respirator design was able to achieve an acceptable fit factor well above the minimum acceptable standard. These promising results showed that people with beards and facial stubble would be significantly less vulnerable to contaminants entering the respirator mask.
The HSI® technical team, Harry Angel and Jordan Bray-Miners, bring over 30 years of experience in human factors for personal protective equipment, biomechanics and instrumentation design.
“The HSI® team is proud to work with DRDC and to advance the HSI® CitadelTM respirator concept to better protect people in the armed forces and wherever such protection might be needed,” says Jordan Bray-Miners, Senior Consultant at HSI .
For more than 35 years, with clients in Canada, the U.S. and other countries, HSI® has been a leader in human factors and human system integration support. We work in sectors including defence, emergency responders, health care, occupational safety and utilities. Individually and for teams, HSI® helps integrate people, performance and technology so systems work effectively, efficiently and safely. HSI® services include research, design, validation and training management. We focus on user fit between the abilities of the people and the technologies that together make up any system. In this way, HSI® supports product and system developers as well as procurement decision makers to reduce risks, lower life cycle costs and benefit return on investment.
IDEaS supports the development of solutions from their conceptual stage, through prototype testing and capability development. The program includes several elements that promote collaboration between innovators, provides developmental resources and provides opportunities to interact with DND’s science and military members. Through which all innovators are on an even playing field to solve specific defence and security challenges. For more about the program, see here: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas
