Aquaterro

MOD-X9 Suppressor Now Available from SIG SAUER

December 2nd, 2020

The MOD-X9 Suppressor from SIG SAUER is a Segmented Titanium 3D Printed design in 9mm.

It’s the first in their new line of pistol suppressors featuring modular and configurable titanium baffles. The MOD-X9 can be easily disassembled and reconfigured with fewer baffles, when your priority is size over sound.

It includes 1/2×28 and M13.5x1LH Pistons as well as a Fixed Barrel Spacer for use with Carbines.

Fully assembled it is 7.5 in long and weighs 8 oz.

www.sigsauer.com/modx-9

Here’s their press release:

NEWINGTON, N.H., (December 2, 2020) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to introduce the MOD-X9 Pistol Suppressor.  The MOD-X9 is the first release of SIG SAUER’s modular line of pistol suppressors made of titanium baffles for the ultimate in lightweight strength and performance that allows the user to personalize their suppressor for overall length, weight, and sound. 

“SIG SAUER was the first to innovate and design the first truly modular pistol with the P320, and we’re now excited to bring new, innovative modularity to our line of suppressors with the MOD-X series of suppressors,” began Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc.  “The MOD-X9 is designed for 9mm pistols and rifles, is easily configurable allowing the user to choose the amount of baffles to optimize sound, length, and weight.” 

The SIG SAUER MOD-X9 Suppressor is comprised of seven, 3D-printed titanium baffles and an encapsulator with 21-points of impact adjustment.  The length is adjustable from 3.25 inches to 7.5 inches, the weight is adjustable from 5 ounces to 8 ounces, and the sound is adjustable from 127.4dB to 145.3dB.  The suppressor is easily, user-configurable and comes with two pistons, disassembly tools, ½ x 28 and 13.1 pistons, and a fixed-barrel spacer and includes the most popular inch and metric position for its given caliber.

“This is an exciting addition to our line of suppressors because it’s the first product launch of brand-new innovation in suppressors and moves past the traditional baffle design currently in the market.  Once again SIG has raised the bar with the groundbreaking technology we engineer into our designs, and you can expect to see a full line of suppressors from SIG with this new technology in 2021 for all calibers,” concluded Taylor.

MOD-X9 Suppressor Specs:

Overall Weight: 8oz.

Overall Length: 7.5in.

Overall Width: 1.35in.

dB Average: 129dB (147gr 9mm)

Caliber: 9mm

Finish: Black DLC

Baffle Material: Titanium

Mount: 1/2×28 and m13x1xLH Pistons

The SIG SAUER MOD-X9 Suppressor is now available for purchase at retail stores.  For more information about the SIG SAUER MODX-9 Suppressor or the full line of SIG SAUER Suppressors visit sigsauer.com.  

MarCorSysCom Fielding New Cold Weather Boot in 2021

December 2nd, 2020

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.—This fiscal year, Marine Corps Systems Command plans to begin fielding a new boot that protects Marines in cold-weather climates.

The Marine Corps Intense Cold Weather Boot is a full-grain, leather boot designed foruse in temperatures as cold as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The ICWB allows Marines to complete various missions that might involve hiking or skiing in arduous, cold weather environments without having to change boots.

“In order to effectively conduct your mission in a cold weather environment, you need to be warm,” said Todd Towles, project officer of Cold Weather Gear with the Program Manager for Infantry Combat Equipment at MCSC. “This boot helps to accomplish this goal.”

The Marine Corps currently employs a temperate and an extreme cold weather boot. The Temperate Weather Marine Corps Combat Boot is designed for employment in conditions between 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Extreme Cold Weather Vapor Barrier Boot is intended for use in environments between -65 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, Marines have said the TWMCCB does not provide enough warmth in sub-zero temperatures because the boot is not designed for such environments. They often have to switch to the Vapor Barrier boot, which can cause excessive sweating if worn extensively in environments above -20 degrees Fahrenheit, said Towles.

The ICWB fills a capability gap left by these two boots. The ICWB will be used in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Towles said the boot can last up to 18 months or longer if cared and maintained correctly.

“The Intense Cold Weather Boot is not going to have the same insulation capabilities that the Extreme Cold Weather Boot provides, so the foot shouldn’t sweat as much,” said Towles. “It’s also less bulky than the Extreme Cold Weather Boot.”

From 2018 to 2020, MCSC held several user evaluations involving an early version of the ICWB, made of suede, in Iceland, Norway, Alaska and Montana, as well as at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. Curtis Johnson, a logistics management specialist with MCSC, said Marines felt that the suede boot was well-constructed and durable but also thought it was bulky and did not dry well once wet.

Leveraging this feedback, MCSC then acquired a full-grain boot in 2020. Marines indicated the full-grain boot dried well but didn’t provide enough warmth in below-zero temperatures. CWO2 Christopher Latham, an infantry weapons officer for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, assessed the updated boot at Bridgeport earlier this year.

“When the temperature dipped into the negative-degree range, your feet became very cold,” said Latham. “I believe that we need more insulation in the boot to get down into the negative temperatures.”

The program office then added an additional 200 grams of insulation to the boot. If a Marine is wearing the boot for extended periods of time in sub-zero temperatures, MCSC provides a protective overboot for additional warmth if needed. The improved ICWB is also less bulky than the earlier prototype and comprises a black, leather boot to repel moisture.

“The first prototype ICWB we tested received mixed reviews, but the second prototype with the added insulation has been well-received by Marines thus far,” said Johnson. “The boot is similar to the boots they wear every day.”

The program office expects the ICWB to begin fielding in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. Towles believes the ICWB will serve the warfighter well in the coming years.

“The ICWB lightens the load for the Marines by their needing only one boot for fighting and ski missions, as opposed to in the past when Marines had to maintain two boots,” said Towles. “I believe these boots will further support Marines in cold weather environments and help them achieve mission success.”

Photo by Matt Gonzales, Marine Corps Systems Command

Story by Marine Corps Systems Command

Armageddon Gear – Tripod Caddy

December 2nd, 2020

Designed by Armageddon Gear pro staffer Francis Colon, the Armageddon Gear Tripod Caddy provides you a convenient way to keep your match essentials close at hand.

There is a spot for your Kestrel, data boards, pens, match book, magazines, water bottle and even snivel gear. The convenient fold-down workspace provides a rigid surface to take notes and keep up with your score or record data. Perfect for shooting the match and especially useful for Range Officers.

Available in MultiCam and Gray.

Like all Armageddon Gear products, made in the USA.

www.armageddongear.com/tripod-caddy

Competition-In-Arms: Pendleton Hosts

December 2nd, 2020

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton hosted a Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition for the first time in seven years.

The competition at Pendleton is the first part in a series of events for the 2021 Competition-In-Arms Program, which will end with a championship match in April at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

As part of the program, the Marine Corps Shooting Team is coordinating and supervising five regional MCMCs held on Marine Corps bases across the world. Marines of all different trades are being encouraged to volunteer to participate in the event.

“We had operators, vehicle operators, engineers, infantrymen, intelligence Marines, and others,” said U.S. Marine Col. Carlos Jackson, the commanding officer of Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, who hosted the completion aboard Pendleton. “They will be able to take back the skills they learned here and train others, which is all we can really hope for.”

Participants received a total of 12 training days over a two week period where they were given instruction on advanced pistol and rifle positions, firing while moving, dynamic target engagement and more.

“My biggest take away is learning how to run stages, think critically under stress and engage multiple targets in a dynamic environment.”

Sgt Evan Nicholas, a Combat Logistics Regiment 45 metal worker

“Marines who participate will not only get their annual pistol and rifle qualification taken care of but they’ll also learn how to use their weapons in an environment like they’ve never done before,” said Sgt. Evan Nicholas, a metal worker with Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group. “It’s unlike any other course of fire that you’ll experience in the Marine Corps.”

The program is designed to significantly enhance participants’ proficiency in the use of individual small arms by refining fundamental marksmanship skills, learning marksmanship techniques, and pushing through mental and physical boundaries in a competitive forum.

According to Jackson, the goal of the MCMC is to make a more confident, more competent, more capable and lethal Marine to send rounds downrange, and that’s exactly what the Marines did on Pendleton over the last two weeks.

At the end of the competition, Marines were awarded for their hard work. The top 10 percent for rifle and pistol stages earned a MCMC medal, and the best performing rifle and pistol teams were awarded a trophy.

The next competition is slated to be at MCB Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan, December 6-8.

Story by LCpl Kerstin Roberts, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Photo by Sgt Jeremy Laboy

NP Aerospace Targets North America & Global Markets with New Bomb Disposal Suit

December 1st, 2020

The new 4030 ELITE Bomb Disposal Suit and Helmet System from NP Aerospace
Global armor manufacturer, NP Aerospace, has extended its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) portfolio with the launch of a next generation Bomb Disposal Suit targeting North America and other strategic global markets.

The new 4030 ELITE Bomb Disposal Suit and Helmet System is the result of extensive collaboration with EOD operators and uses cutting edge technology to meet the requirements of NIJ 0117.01*, the US National Institute of Justice Public Safety Bomb Suit standard. It introduces a new approach to EOD protection, delivering superior survivability and enhanced ergonomics at a reduced weight. The 4030 ELITE Suit provides a scalable platform where communication and cooling systems can be integrated within the base suit without full scale upgrades – a cost efficiency benefit for defense and security organizations.

NP Aerospace entered the EOD market in 2004 with a bomb disposal suit designed for British Forces in Northern Ireland and has expanded its presence with multiple global customers.

Key enhancements to the 4030 ELITE include:

• New suit and frontal armor plate design, delivering 360° protection, with seamless coverage of critical areas

• Enhanced fit and mobility enabling extended wear and access in confined spaces

• Advanced EOD helmet design for enhanced optical performance and impact protection

• Increased size range to fit 5th percentile female to 99th percentile male operators

• Additional safety features for fast, emergency suit removal (less than 30 seconds)

• User configurable with full system integration (communications, cooling, CBRN)

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, comments: “NP Aerospace has an extensive EOD heritage designing and manufacturing bomb suits for global customers. Our new 4030 ELITE continues that heritage and allows us to target customers requiring NIJ compliance with a cost effective, high performance solution. Operators and procurement teams are looking for the high levels of blast protection and enhanced mobility which NP Aerospace suits provide while ticking the boxes on budget.

“The 4030 ELITE offers a highly modular and scalable system with the option to build and accessorize the suit around the user’s requirements. It also provides excellent ergonomics and dexterity due to our patents in flexible armor construction. This has been a major development and we are looking forward to the next phase in our EOD growth.”

EOD and Tactical Search suits are part of the NP Aerospace high-performance defense systems range which includes Ballistic Helmets and Shields, Body Armor Plates and Composite Armor for vehicles, vessels or aircraft.

www.npaerospace.com

*The 4030 ELITE is NIJ compliant. Certification is in progress.

Safariland and Flying Cross Launch Virtual Sizing Technology for Body Armor and Uniforms

December 1st, 2020

XpertFit™ is a Touchless, First-To-Market Innovation for Public Safety

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of safety products, along with Flying Cross, a Fechheimer Brothers Company brand and global leader in public safety uniforms, announced today their collaborative launch of phase one of a new virtual sizing technology called XpertFit. This virtual sizing technology revolutionizes the process in which individual officers are sized for body armor and uniform apparel. XpertFit offers a touchless, self-measure method of capturing body measurements right from a mobile phone.

“This new sizing service really sets apart the level of innovation and depth of resources available to our customers as two leading industry brands,” said Bob Getto, President/CEO of Fechheimer Brothers Company, the parent company of Flying Cross. “XpertFit will provide our dealers and end users value and efficiencies they have not previously experienced up until now. In addition, XpertFit is the perfect solution during this heightened time of social distancing.”

XpertFit takes the guesswork out of onsite measuring by providing instant and accurate measurements from a smart device. The process takes less than 2 minutes to complete from initiating the technology until the time you are provided with product sizing.

Individuals will simply access the technology from a mobile device and choose their path to fit either body armor or uniforms. Next, the technology will gather general information and then take a front and side profile picture. This is then used to calculate measurements based on its uniquely developed algorithm, and determine a recommended size for Safariland body armor, or Flying Cross uniform apparel.

The new XpertFit technology will enter phase one of its release in early December to a select group of dealers and customers and will be ready for a full launch in Q2 of 2021. This first-to-market technology is an exclusive for Safariland and Flying Cross through their participating partnering dealers. XpertFit was created in partnership with 3DLOOK, the global leader in AI-first contactless body measuring and fit solutions.

“The proper fit of armor and uniforms is essential to duty and safety personnel, and our collaboration with 3DLOOK has allowed us to revolutionize the process.” said Brad Williams, President of Safariland. “Convenience and accuracy of measurements is a growing concern. XpertFit will allow the reflection of this urgency and efficiency to change the procurement process in an effort to save time and increase consumer confidence.”

“We’ve worked hard to bring this level of service to our customers,” said Getto. Every detail has been vetted from the algorithms, use in market, process flow and privacy of customer information. Being able to partner with Safariland to incorporate body armor makes this even more powerful. We are excited to see what this will do for our top customers, retailers, and internal teams as well.”

“We’ve had the pleasure of working with the amazing teams at both Fechheimer and The Safariland Group to deliver this first of a kind simple and accurate fit and sizing solution that delivers a contactless and safe measuring experience. This is a major step in digital transformation for the whole global uniform manufacturing industry,” said Vadim Rogovskiy, Co-founder and CEO at 3DLOOK.

TacJobs – Diplomatic Security Service Agent

December 1st, 2020

This one is hot! It just dropped and as you know, openings for Diplomatic Security Service Agents don’t come up very often. The suspense is short, until 7 December.

Here is a sample of the announcement:

Announcement No: SA-2021-0001

Position Title: Diplomatic Security: Foreign Service Special Agent

Open Period: December 1, 2020 – December 7, 2020

Series/Grade: FP-06

Salary: $55,416 – $80,763

Promotion Potential: MC

Position Information: Work Schedule is Full-time – Permanent after being tenured in the Foreign Service by a Foreign Service Tenure Board.

Supervisory Status: Yes

Security Clearance: Top Secret

Agency Contact Information: DSRecruitment@state.gov

Duty Locations: Department of State Posts – Overseas and Domestic, United States; MANY vacancies

Who May Apply

Must be a U.S. citizen. Potential applicants should read the entire announcement to ensure that they meet all of the requirements and understand a Foreign Service career. Applicants may not reapply for one year after the previous application for the same position. If a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years, you may not apply.

Duties

Summary

This is a 2501 Foreign Service position equivalent to the 1811 CS Series.

The Department of State is developing a rank-order list of eligible hires for a number of Special Agent (SA) vacancies. The specific number to be hired will be based on the needs of the Department and is subject to change.

For additional information, please visit the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s website at www.diplomaticsecurity.state.gov or the Department of State’s Career’s site at careers.state.gov.

For full details and to apply, go here.

UPDATE – Frank Woods – Belt Set Up

December 1st, 2020

Since I’ve been asked about my belt setup a few times recently, and I needed to take new pictures of my belt as it’s currently set up anyway, here’s what I use:

– Emdom MM CM Belt

— Emdom MM CM Belt pads (Left & Right)

— First Spear AGB point pad (Center)

– Safariland 6305RDS ALS/SLS

— Glock 34 Gen 5 MOS/RMR, Ranger Green variety

– S&S Precision Holster Extender w/ GRT adjustable ride height mount

– Dark Angel Slim Gen 2 IFAK

– HSGI leg rig, blank MOLLE platform

— Tyr Tactical Combat Adjustable Pouches

— 2x Rifle, 3x Pistol

– Blue Force Gear Ten Speed Dump Pouch

This setup retains pistol, IFAK, and consistent point of reload regardless of which torso worn LBE is being used, if any. The Tyr Tactical pouches are like a better version of the TACO, and accommodate 5.56 & 7.62 sized mags easily, while offering additional retention between both the bungees and the interior surface of the pouches not being slick smooth plastic.

The belt itself is lined with PALS webbing, which allows for pouch attachment without a big thick padded sleeve. The belt pads, while making the belt fit tighter, add a friction lock of sorts that prevents the belt from rotating while I’m wearing it.

Though the S&S adjustable ride height holster mount hasn’t given me a problem, and helps when going from sitting to standing/walking, I’ve been seriously considering switching over to the True North Concepts, LLC MHA if it means I can:

1.) Delete the forward cant and situate the holster straight up and down.

2.) Using a leg strap would provide for the holster staying secure against my leg and not pulling outward and away from my leg while trying to draw the pistol. That’s always annoying.

I upgraded/replaced the dragon whatever buckle that comes with the Emdom MM CM belt with a 2″ aluminum cobra buckle from Milspec Monkey.

Leg rig allows me to spread the load and distribute the weight and not have it all concentrated at/on my belt line. I do that shit at work as mandated by policy, I’m not a huge fan. Reloads are located where my hand naturally falls at my side.

UPDATE – 23 March, 2021

Since this article was posted, I have modified my HSGI leg rig so that it would stop sagging and tilting outwards/away from my body under the weight of the loaded magazines, due to the slack in the straps.

I’ll walk you guys through it in case you wanna do it on your own.

This modification took some minor effort to make it work, but nothing difficult and nothing permanent. The end result is that the leg rig rides much higher and conforms to my leg without sagging or tilting away, much to my satisfaction.

First I unclipped the buckles and took the leg rig off the belt, then I removed the male end buckles and the straps they were sewn into from the belt.

Then I got a good grip on the female end buckles attached to the leg rig itself (they’re attached via velcro, just give em a decent yank and they’ll come off,) and set them aside.

I put the QASM buckle loops (2″ variety) onto my belt and looped their straps through the PALS webbing on the inside of the belt.

Then I took the male end buckle loops, and slipped them through the PALS webbing on the leg rig upside down, reversed from their original orientation. Now the buckles are facing up, and the tri-glide is keeping them locked into the PALS webbing.

Ideally, I’d like to find male end buckles sewn into hook side velcro backed nylon straps, not unlike the female side buckles that come with the leg rig initially that I took off. Maybe I can send the ones I have to someone that can modify them.

Otherwise, tying a knot in the excess nylon strap under the tri-glide will keep it from pulling through the tri-glide under tension while it’s clipped in. Honestly though, the leg strap itself keeps enough tension on my leg to keep the rig from moving up and down.

After it’s all said and done, clip the newly located male end buckles on the leg rig into the QASM buckles on the belt, put it on, fasten the leg strap, and marvel at the new height and non-droopy stature of your leg rig platform.

Go forth and slay.