SIG SAUER - Never Settle

Wearin’ Connected Vest: New Ready-to-Use Wearable Technology for Connected Soldiers

October 26th, 2020

Fischer Connectors Group, the leader in rugged connectivity solutions for harsh environments, is proud to present its spin-off Wearin’™, the provider of new wearable connectivity solutions.

Wearin’s solutions integrate wearable technology into ergonomically designed gear, helping reduce weight, simplify use and enhance situational awareness.

Easy-to-use, rugged & lightweight, Wearin’ connectivity solutions are suited for the Generic Soldier Architecture (GSA), Soldier Modernization programs and C5ISTAR applications.

At the recent AUSA NOW, Wearin’ unveiled a connected vest designed to meet SWaP (Size, Weight & Power requirements) and enhance soldier mobility, performance and safety.

The Wearin’ connected vest offers a distributed data (USB 2.0) and power bus, eliminating external cables and multiple batteries. Connector receptacles sewn in strategic locations turn the soldier’s vest into a flexible hub delivering power and data.

Communications gear, sensors, cameras, night vision systems, smartphones, tactical computers, GPS devices and other essentials can be fastened with matching plugs built directly into the device.

The new ready-to-use connected vest is Wearin’s Starter Kit, now commercially available. It includes:

• 1x tactical plate & load carrier (vest)

• 1x tactical wearable hub USB 2+ / plug & play with standard wiring integrated within the vest without break-out cables

• 6x Fischer LP360™ cabled receptacles integrated into the vest, i.e. sewn thanks to the new Fischer LP360™ Quick Detach System* including an adapter, a sewing junction, and a retaining ring

• 1x cable with a Fischer LP360™ plug and Fischer UltiMate™ 80* plug (6-pin NATO STANAG 4695 compatible)

• 1x cable with a Fischer LP360™ plug and a USB type A

• 1x Fischer LP360™ LED

• 1x Fischer LP360™ USB 2.0 adapter

Optional applications include the Fischer LP360™ Rugged Flash Drive and the Fischer LP360™ BodyCam*.

* Fischer Connectors’ NEW products commercially available as of September 2020

Wearin’ for Defense & Security. As part of the Fischer Connectors Group, Wearin’ combines the agility of a start-up with the expertise of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rugged connectivity solutions for harsh environments. With a global network of specialized partners in wearable technology, data management, garment manufacturing and other fields, Wearin’ breaks the silos of product development to help create comprehensive, rugged and reliable military-grade wearable ecosystems. www.wearin.tech.

MATBOCK Monday – Lift System

October 26th, 2020

Lift System

Good morning and Happy MATBOCK Monday!

S – Lift

At 6.5 feet long, the stretcher is long enough to accommodate all operators and has a maximum carrying capacity of 400 lbs for both the operator and his/her gear. The stretcher has 5 handles per side to give each team a multitude of configurations for carrying a downed man. Additionally, the litter collapses and zips together to form a multipurpose, lightweight, Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE) bag. The bag is augmented with a single adjustable strap for easy carry when loaded, a drawstring to secure the bag contents and is small enough to fold up and be stored in a cargo pocket. The S-LIFT is compatible with the Combat Carbon Poles.

J – Lift

Made from Ultra High-Density Polyethylene, it will not absorb water, biological or chemical hazards and can handle decontamination in all standard chemicals without degradation in strength or abrasion resistance. Additionally, the stretcher is constructed with Kevlar stitching to ensure even the stitching won’t absorb those hazards. The J-LIFT is compatible with the Combat Carbon Poles.

6″ W x 5.5″ L x 1.5″ D in case

26″ W x 78″ L when deployed

Weight: 12 ounces (with carrier)

Weight with poles: 3.3 lbs

R – Lift

The R-LIFT is a fully rigid litter that deploys in seconds, weighs only 6 lbs on its own and only 6.5 lbs with the carrying pack. It boasts a maximum load carrying capacity of 400 lbs. The litter is constructed from Ultra High-Density Polyethylene and Kevlar stitching, offering extremely high abrasion resistance and strength, inability to absorb blood, pathogens, chemical or biological hazards, and still decrease weight and size. Additionally, The R-LIFT comes with a built-in inflatable air bladder designed to support the head and align the spine. The R-LIFT comes with a replaceable integrated emergency blanket that can be deployed quickly to prevent hypothermia. The R-LIFT is compatible with the Combat Carbon Poles.

Don’t forget to tune in on Monday at 1:00 PM EST as we go live for a demo and answer your questions!

www.matbock.com/collections/medical/LIFT-System

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

October 26th, 2020

Our friend Taylor Weldon from Carryology fame, is on an overlanding adventure with Four Points Adventures, “Driving the 4Runner rig and look what I have on my ceiling.”

Honor and Celebrate Veterans with Pilot Company’s Round-Up for Wreaths Across America and Free Breakfast for Veterans Day

October 25th, 2020

KNOXVILLE, TN. (October 22, 2020) – In recognition and appreciation of all who served, Pilot Company announced today an in-store round-up fundraiser benefiting Wreaths Across America through the end of the year. The funds raised will support Wreaths Across America’s goal to place more than 2.2 million wreaths in all 50 states to remember and honor fallen soldiers during the holidays. In celebration of Veterans Day, from Nov. 9-15, the company will offer all veterans one free breakfast combo, valid at participating U.S. Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers.

“The holiday season is a special time to remember and recognize veterans for their sacrifice,” said James A. Haslam II, a U.S. Army veteran and founder of Pilot Company. “On behalf of our 28,000 team members, we sincerely thank the men and women who’ve selflessly served our country. We appreciate Wreaths Across America’s mission of remember, honor and teach and invite our guests to partner with us in support of their goal to lay a wreath on every hero’s grave.” 

Now through Dec. 31, guests visiting any of the 750 company-operated stores in the U.S., including participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers* and One9 Fuel Network stores, can opt to round-up purchases** to the nearest whole dollar and donate the additional amount to Wreaths Across America. In remembrance of the company’s hometown heroes, Pilot Company is donating $20,000 and contributing $20,000 from the round-up campaign to support the Wreaths Across America ceremonies in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“It is partners like Pilot Company that continue to step up and amaze us with their generosity, not just with the financial support of sponsoring wreaths, but in their commitment to the veterans in the industry and in their communities that deserve recognition,” said Karen Worcester, Executive Director, Wreaths Across America. “This new round up program is beyond anything we could have expected or hoped for and we are grateful to Pilot Company and all the professional drivers and carriers that help us move the mission.”

The round-up fundraiser is part of Pilot Company’s long-standing support of Wreaths Across America, including helping to fuel the organization’s traveling Mobile Education Exhibit to visit cities across the U.S. The exhibit is open to the public for free tours at several locations throughout the year and recently made a tour stop on October 20, 2020 at the Pilot Travel Center in Mebane, North Carolina. Pilot Company also supports and is honored to participate in Wreaths Across America’s celebration of veterans in the trucking industry, recognizing and thanking the veteran professional drivers that transport the wreaths to more than 2,200 locations across the country for the annual holiday wreath-laying ceremonies.

Pilot Company also will celebrate Veterans Day with a week-long special offer for all U.S. military veterans. From Nov. 9-15, all veterans are invited to enjoy a free Pilot Coffee of any size and one free breakfast offering, such as the french toast sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. The Veterans Day Breakfast Combo offer is available through the Pilot Flying J app and is redeemable at participating U.S. Pilot and Flying J travel centers.

To learn more about Pilot Company and its longstanding commitment to giving back, visit pilotcompany.com/about. For nearby travel center locations to donate and to redeem the breakfast offer for veterans, download the Pilot Flying J app.*** More information on Wreaths Across America is available at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

*Round-up donations made at Knoxville-area Pilot Convenience Stores will benefit JDRF through November 1, 2020 and Salvation Army from November 23 – December 25, 2020.

**Certain purchases (including, without limitation, fuel and fuel additives and purchases made on fleet cards or direct bill programs) are not eligible for round-up contributions.

***Standard data rates may apply.

SCUBAPRO Sunday – D420 Regulator

October 25th, 2020

Combining the original D-Series regulators’ iconic design with the latest advances in breathing performance technology, SCUBAPRO engineers have created a 21st-century regulator in terms of quality, reliability, performance, and style.

The new D420 features a brand-new balanced valve inside a housing supported by a full metal structure. Called the Progressive Flow Control Valve, it can deliver excellent airflow for the best breathing performance, with a natural smoothness comparable to what you might experience breathing on the surface. The uniquely shaped fiberglass-reinforced nylon casing is ultra-durable and allows the LP hose to be connected on either the right or left side for maximum rigging flexibility. A new dive/pre-dive system includes a switch on the top of the casing with a thumb tab for adjusting the direction of airflow right out of the valve. The highly efficient purge button is a technical jewel based on a new concept that gives the D420 its unique face — teamed with the MK25 EVO balanced piston first stage, a regulator system purpose-designed for avid and professional divers.

SCUBAPRO has been a Leader in the Evolution of piston controlled first stages since it was started in 1963; the MK25 EVO carries on this heritage with an array of patented features ensuring unfailing performance. The MK25EVO is a balanced piston first stage and is one of the best in its field. It is a superior regulator because of its ultra-stable intermediate pressure (IP), resulting in extraordinarily punctual and constantly high air delivery.

Air balanced, flow-thru-piston first stages with air balanced pistons deliver significantly more air to the second stage than any other first stage. At the same time, their performance is totally unaffected by the changing tank pressure. A balanced piston allows the use of lighter and more sensitive components, resulting in ultra-fast breathing response, instant delivery of air on demand, and extra-high airflow, especially in low tank pressure ranges. This benefits a tired diver giving them a smoother breathing regulator during all stages of the dive, from the descent to the ascent or deco stop. Balanced piston first stages are the first choice of demanding sport divers and professionals. A balanced piston performs equally in warm and cold-water environments.

Cold Water Diving conditions can be different, including extreme cold water and outside temperatures, posing the possibility of a regulator “freezing.” Therefore, resistance to freezing is imperative for the diver. The MK25 EVO regulator uses SCUBAPRO’s new Extended Thermal Insulating System (XTIS). The SCUBAPRO MK25 EVO first stage regulator meets the new EN250-2014 requirements for cold water diving, CE approved for 3360psi (230 bars). This model goes even beyond this super stringent qualification and has successfully been tested in extreme cold diving conditions at less than 36°F (2.2°C). The freezing resistance has been increased by 30% over the previous MK25 regulator first stage. SCUBAPRO has achieved this with some new design features. The new MK25 EVO has a proprietary thermal insulating coating on key internal components and an encapsulating main spring bushing that resists the cooling effect in previous MK25 first stage regulators, also; as a specific anti-freezing measure; our engineers have designed a patented finned cap with additional body fins for the MK25 EVO first stages for optimal-cold water diving. The fins (ribs) of the XTIS act as a radiator to increase the surface area of heat transfer from the water to warm up the internal parts that have been drastically cooled down by the gas pressure drop. The new MK25 EVO has a bigger body cap, a new body with insulating bushing and ribs, a new antifreeze cap patented isolation system with all internal parts fully insulated to improve cold-water performance dramatically.

The MK25 EVO is manufactured from marine grade chrome plated brass and offers a balanced composite/stainless steel flow-thru piston that would make any diver proud. It demonstrates SCUABPRO’s dedication to quality and creating positive diving experiences.

Operation Urgent Fury

October 25th, 2020

On the morning of October 25th, 1983, America awoke to reports that US forced had invaded the small Caribbean nation of Grenada, in order to liberate American medical students from danger posed by political instability. Joined by Regional Security System troops from a variety of Caribbean partner nations, they swiftly overwhelmed the Grenadian and Cuban troops. While Operation Urgent Fury was in name, a joint force operation, and included the use of Special Operations Forces, it highlighted many interoperability challenges, such as use of joint operational overlays and communications issues.

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Several stove pipe problems suffered by the pre-Goldwater-Nichols military were identified during this operation. Additionally, Urgent Fury was conducted with many systems dating from the Vietnam war.

Just six years later, during the invasion of Panama, saw the first employment of several new weapons developed during the Reagan buildup such as the F-117 stealth fighter and the Marine Corps LAV-25. Grenada was a great learning experience for the US military as it highlighted issues with joint service operations, particularly in the communications arena as well as interoperability between Special Operations and General Purpose forces. For example, SOF also took a much more prominent role in operation Blue Spoon during the Panama invasion. We’ve come even further in the past three decades.

Finally, as with any conflict, lives were lost. Let us not forget the 19 Americans killed in action and the 116 who were wounded. Unfortunately, there were also 24 Grenadian civilians killed in the conflict.

AG-Tactical to Offer Crye JPC 2.0 in MultiCam Tropic and MultiCam Black for European Customers

October 25th, 2020

AG-Tactical is pleased to offer its French and European customers a limited-edition release of the JPC 2.0 in MultiCam Tropic and MultiCam Black. Getting these plate carriers made and available to our customers has been of the most frequently received e-mails to our customer service team since our release of the JPC in MultiCam Arid. Crye has just shipped out the finished items and the consignment is on its way to us as you read this post. Pricing and release date will be published shortly.

For those wondering ‘Who is AG-Tactical?’

AG-Tactical is a French company.

We offer the very best in U.S. made tactical gear and aim to stock product from the most innovative brands in the world – Eagle Industries, Drifire, AXL, Crye and many more.

Our catalogue will continue to evolve in order to offer our French and European customers the best of what is available on the market.

Also, we are always on the lookout for unique projects, specific products and personalized colors.

This special edition has been made possible thanks to Crye Precision, also with some small input from our friend Chris from TheFull9. Chris has been a friend of ours for some years and advises us on a few atypical and specific projects.

We invite you to read his very detailed reviews at TheFull9.net; we plan to have our future collaborations with him featured there in some detail.

Stay tuned!

Salomon – Cross Hike Mid GTX

October 24th, 2020

The Cross Hike Mid GTX covers your ankles and provides the all weather protection of a Gore-Tex membrane while incorporating the aggressive Contagrip outsole with multi-directional lugs and their famous quick lace sustem for quick donning, doffing and adjustment.

Other features include the EnergyCell midsole compound that provides energy return along with cushioning and durability.

Although they are offered in several color schemes, the version I have chosen to show is Phantom/Black/Ebony.

www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/cross-hike-mid-gtx