Available from ADS Inc, the 2nd Skull Protective Skull Cap is a great choice for times when you need to protect your head from impact but a helmet is too much.
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It is designed to fit comfortably under any helmet or as a stand-alone in non-helmet activities. The material is flexible at rest but can instantaneously harden under sudden pressure, helping to mitigate the effects of sudden impacts.
Powered by a Li-Ion battery pack, Streamlight’s Stinger 2020 is a handheld light boasting up to 2,000 lumens.
There are three modes which are easily selected via a switch:
High: 2,000 lumens, 315m beam distance, 2 hour run time
Medium: 850 lumens, 200m beam distance, 4 hour run time
Low: 100 lumens, 70m beam distance, 24 hour run time
Additionally, there is a tail switch for thumb activation.
www.streamlight.com/products/detail/index/stinger-2020
Last year, Tactical Distributirs introduced their MTHD clothing line. MTHD – pronounced either by the initials or as the word “Method”, stands for “Mountain|Tundra|H20|Desert”. It’s a tactical-inspired outdoor brand and their goal is to cover you, no matter what environment you find yourself in.
MTHD is made from some of the finest materials on the market and sold direct-to-consumer to help keep prices down.
The launch of their second run of products introduces clothing for training. There’s the Mesa Wind Jacket, Habitat Tech tee, Allivium Tee, Climate Polo, and Traverse Trail Run Short along with the Talus Performance Trail Short and Pant.
Let’s take a closer look at the Mesa Wind Jacket. One thing you’ll notice is that MTHD pieces are labeled by level in order to give you an idea of how to fit them into your clothing system. In this case, the Mesa is a Level 4/5. It’s made from from DWR-treated CORDURA UltraLite 20D stretch and is meant for trail runners.
Next, we’ll check out the Talus Trail Short. It is made from a water resistant lightweight 20D nylon micro ripstop fabrication with 4-way stretch performance. This level 2 garment features a 10″ inseam for off-trail wear.
Check out the full line at www.tacticaldistributors.com/collections/mthd.
Today we are getting a look at the Base Layer Bottoms from FirstSpear’s American Merino Wool line (ACM). Featuring three available styles a Boxer Brief, Calf Length, and Full Length available in black and all new Sand color way.
These are built with FirstSpear’s ACM BASE-100 a super light wool package providing excellent natural moisture wicking properties. All three feature a front facing fly, gusseted crotch and flat seamed technology.
The full length is a traditional full length inseam finished with a low ankle cuff, the Calf Length is cut just below the knee designed to pick up where your boot sock stops reducing clutter under footwear and increasing comfort. The Boxer brief is finished in a traditional boxer brief length. 100% American Made with American Materials, now shipping in black and sand on first-spear.com.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — New rules of engagement on the battlefield will require a deep understanding of networks and how they operate according to new Army research. Researchers confirmed a theory that find that networks of no more than 150 are optimal for efficient information exchange.
“This is the beginning of a new way to address competition and conflict in today’s complex world,” said Dr. Bruce West, senior scientist, Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory. “To increase the utility of the Army’s evolving network structures in terms of robustness, resilience, adaptability and efficiency, requires a deeper understanding of how networks actually function, both ours and those of our adversary.”
Researchers at ARO and the University of North Texas tested a theory proposed by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar in the 1990s, which suggested that 150 was the largest group that humans can maintain stable social relations. In the vicinity of this size the social group becomes unstable and splinters into smaller groups.
“It takes a network to defeat a network,” wrote retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, in his book Team of Teams. He discusses understanding the implications of the theory, abstracting from battlefield experiences in Iraq battling the loosely networked but effective terrorist organization Al Qaeda.
Researchers published their findings in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. In their study, they prove Dunbar’s conjecture, demonstrating that certain sized network has better information transport properties than others, and that networks of no more than 150 are optimal for internally sharing information.
“A fundamental property of a network is the relation between its functionality and size, which is why understanding the source of the Dunbar Number is important,” said West, a co-author of the paper.
The researchers propose that the number 150 arises as a consequence of internal dynamics of a complex network self-organizing within a social system.
Based on that theory, the researchers also indicated that a peaceful demonstration can be turned into a mob by just a few agitators, with the size of 150 being the most vulnerable to such disruption.
“The 150 optimum has been observed by Dunbar and others, but Dr. West and colleagues are the first to computationally capture the theorized process of information dynamics, which are fundamental to problem-solving, development of group factions, and formation of cohesive groups,” said Dr. Lisa Troyer, who manages ARO’s social and behavioral sciences research program. “This is an important leap forward by for social science theory and will likely lead to further research and insights on collective action.”
Dunbar predicted that social groups have optimal sizes. He referred to these group sizes as nested layering and that they have a scaling ratio of approximately three. Consequently, he identified the sequence of sizes of cognitively efficient social groups 5, 15, 50, 150 and 500, explaining that these layers were not equal in terms of strength of relationships.
“The layering sequence is interesting because each number in the sequence is within a factor of two of the empirical magnitudes of entity sizes in the U.S. Army, ranging from a squad of roughly 15 to a platoon of approximately three times the squad size, next to a company consisting of three platoons and followed by a brigade the size of roughly three companies and so on,” West said. “This is the intuition on which armies have been hierarchically constructed by military leaders since the Roman Empire.”
According to West, understanding how information flows within, is analyzed by, and is accepted or rejected from groups of various sizes is crucial in the training of teams. He said that this is not only true in the development of a single team, but is just as important for the training of teams to work together, to form teams-of-teams.
“The size of a team may be the determining factor in the potential success of a complex mission that depends on adaptability and collective problem solving,” West said. “The same understanding can be applied to the reverse process, that of insinuating disinformation within an adversarial group. The size of the group may at times be more important than the form the lie takes for its acceptance and immediate transmission, witness the recent riots.”
By U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs
Atlantic Signal was recently awarded an order for the 3rd SFAB following extensive testing of the company’s new Viper II Control Hub and Atlantic Signal exclusive ComTac VI headset.
Atlantic Signal began development of its new VIPER II Control Hub / Push-to-Talk in early 2019 with the input and assistance of several key customers. There had been a clear dissatisfaction with the design and capabilities, or lack thereof, of several of the PTT/control box options on the market that could interface with both standard and dual band radios along with various ancillary cable capabilities.
Further, Atlantic Signal introduced the Brigade to its exclusive ComTac VI headset featuring the all new NIB feature. The ComTac VI offers a new way to adjust the auditory settings of the headset for each mission. Traditionally, a headset has a set frequency response, and the operator can only increase or decrease the volume. The MAP function provides new advanced ambient listening modes that allow access to a variety of gain settings, but with frequency shaping, to enhance auditory performance in five conditions. The MAP Profiles have been designed with a variety of combat and combat support operations in mind.
NIB enables short-range, headset-to-headset communication in high noise environments, without the use of an external communications radio. The NIB function allows for 4 team members to speak simultaneously, and over 60 people within a 10 – meter radius to listen at any given time. Audio transmit is activated by either a voice activated switch (VOX) for hands free operations or by push-to-talk. The VOX switch is adaptive, meaning the threshold to activate will adjust automatically to the noise environment. To help reduce user burden, a tactile button has been added to the left ear cup that allows the user to easily turn on or off the function / and switch from VOX to PTT settings.
“We listened closely and carefully to several of our most demanding Federal LE and Military Special Operations customers in an attempt to better understand how their needs had changed and or broadened since several of our competitor’s dual band PTTs had come to market. Without divulging the detailed reasons as to why our VIPER I and VIPER II Control Hub/PTT is different from our competitors – some of those design changes are immediately recognizable but just as important are the tasks the VIPERs can perform and how easily each individual can program the VIPER for a personal end user experience. Nothing is complicated from the operator’s engagement perspective but a Control Hub / PTT that is VERY powerful both from the outlook of what it can do now and how it can be utilized in the future. After nearly 18 months in development and dozens of generations / modifications of both VIPER models in the field, we’ve received orders ranging from dozens to hundreds to over a thousand in a single purchase.” states Randall Hedrick, President and Managing General Member of Atlantic Signal.
The first SFAB was raised in 2018 at Fort Benning, GA, On May 18, 2018, the Army announced that the Security Force Assistance Command (SFAC) would be established at Fort Bragg. This division-level Command, led by a Brigadier General, will oversee the Army’s six Security Force Assistance Brigades, as well as the MATA for SFAB training and oversight.
3rd SFAB tested and evaluated the Atlantic Signal combination of the VIPER II PTT, ComTac VI headset and an assortment of custom cables both CONUS and OCONUS and decided upon this product mix to replace their current communication systems.
Atlantic Signal is based out of Topeka, KS where they develop, design, manufacture and sell tactical communications and accessories. The company started in 1989 with a focus on tactical law enforcement. Today, thirty-one years later, the company’s clients include NYPD ESU, CBP, NSW, LAPD, ATF, DEA, MARSOC, USCG, USSS and the FBI among thousands of military and law enforcement clients around the world.
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear riflescopes and reflex sights, is pleased to announce that its award-winning Mark 5HD riflescope selected for use with the United States Army’s M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System has been issued Nato Stock Number (NSN) 1240-01-690-1728. Like all of Leupold’s riflescopes, the Mark 5HD is designed, machined, and assembled in the company’s Beaverton, Ore. factory.
The Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44 being built for the M110 will come in a proprietary flat dark earth coating and utilize the Army’s patented Mil-Grid Reticle. The Mark 5HD has been crafted to redefine accuracy, precision, and optical performance for long-range shooters. Three models – a 7-35×56, 5-25×56, and 3.6-18×44 – are available in both milliradian and MOA configurations.
Leupold proudly provides its optics to the United States military, law enforcement, and government agencies across the country, and to the armed forces of many of our nation’s closest allies.
Waterproof, fogproof, and guaranteed to perform for life, the Mark 5HD is backed by the company’s legendary Lifetime Guarantee. For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at Leupold.com.
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