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Vertx Gamut Checkpoint Backpack in Tigerstripe

January 3rd, 2022

A Tigerstripe version of the popular Vertx Gamut Checkpoint Backpack in now available exclusively from Amazon.

Features:

• Convertible front panel stows behind loop-faced MOLLE webbing to provide ready access to items mounted there and to rapidly change the bag’s appearance.

• Main compartment has adjustable padded laptop sleeve, three gear slots, one abrasion-resistant zippered mesh pocket and strategically located loop panels for Tactigami and other hook and loop-compatible accessories.

• Weapon-compatible concealed carry platform with loop lining & Rapid Access Pull tab.

• Hydration bladder compatible with dual hose pass-through ports.

• G-hook straps enable front panel to convert to a sling for larger items.

Order yours here.

Posted in Advertiser, Packs | Comments Off on Vertx Gamut Checkpoint Backpack in Tigerstripe

Bill Wilson Announces Purchase of Lehigh Defense

January 3rd, 2022

[Berryville, Arkansas, January 3, 2022]

Bill Wilson is proud to announce the acquisition of Pennsylvania-based ammunition and bullet manufacturer Lehigh Defense.

Lehigh Defense will join other Wilson-owned companies Chip McCormick Custom, Circle WC Ranch, Khumba Bush Camp, Scattergun Technologies, Wilson Custom Ammunition and Wilson Combat to expand the group’s presence in the firearms and hunting marketplace.

Lehigh Design, originally founded by Dave Fricke later expanded to Lehigh Defense with the addition of Pete Vogel and Mike Cyrus and has been designing and manufacturing solid brass and copper bullets using the latest technology since 2004. In 2009, Lehigh started working with Black Hills Ammunition in developing unique military projectile designs. Years of collaboration later, the Fluid Transfer Monolithic design culminated with the release of the Black Hills Honey Badger line. Another patented design is the Maximum Expansion 300 Blackout subsonic bullet used by US and many NATO special operations groups throughout the world with over 7 million sold to date.

Lehigh Defense currently operates two manufacturing plants, one in Pennsylvania and one in South Dakota. Once a new purpose-built facility in northeast Texas is completed in Q3 2022 some operations will begin the move to their new home in Texas. There are immediate plans to increase production and some products are already in production in Arkansas at the Wilson Combat facility to rapidly increase production capacity. Lehigh will have a substantial increase in manufacturing capacity and a state of the art testing facility once the Texas plant is operational. Our goal is to meet product demand, add exciting new products and build brand awareness.

To add stability to these changes we’re proud to announce Dave Fricke will retain minority ownership and continue to work with Lehigh for several years into the future.

Wilson Combat®

Visit www.wilsoncombat.com for more information.

Lehigh Defense

For additional information on Lehigh Defense LLC email info@lehighdefense.com

Posted in Ammo, Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on Bill Wilson Announces Purchase of Lehigh Defense

Looking to Outsource Your Social Media Presence During SHOT Show?

January 3rd, 2022

MCT Marketing is a full-service social media management + growth company and we will be at SHOT Show this year.

This is a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your products/services on your social media platforms. MCT will be able to post + create content for you throughout SHOT Show. There is so much going on during SHOT Show, this will keep your clients up to date with any special releases and current offers that are available! We will also be able to help you reach a new audience on your platform and target people that are attending the show with social media strategies and hashtags. This is a great option if your social media manager will not be traveling to SHOT Show and you need someone to document your experience without paying for all the overhead expenses. MCT Marketing will only be taking a limited number of clients so if this is something you are interested in, please let us know as soon as possible to ensure your spot.

NEED help with social media after SHOT Show? Mona Tolleson, founder of MCT Marketing will be available to meet during the show. Before starting MCT Marketing, she was in the defense contracting industry for 7 years. She is a social media expert (with over 35K followers), she strives to help businesses take their social media presence to the next level.

To learn more about our SHOT show packages or to schedule a meeting with Mona, please call 757-300-3627 or email mctmarketingllc@gmail.com.

Website: www.mctmarketing.com

Posted in Guest Post, Media, SHOT Show | Comments Off on Looking to Outsource Your Social Media Presence During SHOT Show?

EOTECH Acquires Intevac Photonics

January 3rd, 2022

Plymouth, MI (January 4, 2022) –

In an exciting strategic move, EOTECH, the Michigan-based manufacturer of the world’s best holographic and magnified optics, has acquired Intevac Inc’s Photonics business (Photonics), a California-based technology leader in cutting edge digital sensor systems.

Photonics leads the world in the design and manufacturing of high-sensitivity night vision sensors, cameras, and systems. The organization boasts powerful technology-development capabilities and has a long history of successfully delivering winning solutions for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the US Army IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) programs, to name a few.

The combination of EOTECH and Photonics as a single entity opens unique business opportunities, and the integration of the two businesses will result in significant growth in the years to come. “The idea of acquiring Photonics made great strategic sense from Day One.” said Christopher Kouza, Chairman and Founder of Kouza Capital, Inc., the sponsor of the deal. “Combining the Photonics advanced digital sensor capabilities with EOTECH’s world-class marketing and global distribution reach will be a powerful engine for the future.”

Both companies share market leadership positions in their respective sectors, and plan to combine their energies toward the development of all-new product lines and markets. “Naturally we’re looking forward to combining our teams to strengthen our service to the US military as well as our service to the governments of allied nations. The cultures of both companies are tailor-made for that kind of teamwork.” said Matt Van Haaren, CEO of EOTECH, “But we’ll also be working in parallel to develop great new product lines that elevate the performance expectations of digital visual augmentation systems for the soldier, the civilian, the vehicle driver, the aviator, and many other users around the world.”

Posted in Industry, Optics, Press Release | 1 Comment »

US, Ukrainian Infantry Soldiers Connect at Combined Resolve XVI in Germany

January 3rd, 2022

HOHENFELS, Germany — On the snow-covered hills of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, U.S. and Ukrainian soldiers solidified their partnership through more ways than just combat training.

Combined Resolve XVI was an exercise to evaluate the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division’s ability to conduct operations in a complex, multi-domain simulated battlespace.

Combined Resolve included approximately 4,600 soldiers from Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

Integrated battalions conducted operations with multinational units operating under a unified command and control element, allowing the U.S. and its allies and partners to experience invaluable training alongside each other.

“It’s very different and new for our company to participate in this kind of training,” said 1st Lt. Andrii Tretiak, commander of the Ukrainian Mechanized Company, 92nd Mechanized Brigade. “I think that our company gained new experiences during this training exercise.”

While the overall goal of Combined Resolve was for the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team to get a better feel of its battle rhythm, it creates an environment for multinational soldiers to come together and fight and win as one.

“We’re all out here living together,” said Pfc. Dawson Anderson, a forward observer with 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “When it’s too cold, we’re all huddled around little camp stoves trying to make some hot coffee. That’s when you start to realize that people across the globe aren’t so much different than you.”

Finding common ground among multiple militaries creates ties that are harder to break than seeing each other in passing. When the smoke clears and everyone makes their way home again, soldiers get to leave with a sense of having developed life-long friendships.

“CBR XVI allows us to build mutual trust, competency and interoperability with our NATO allies and partners,” said Polish Maj. Gen. Adam Joks, Deputy Commander of Interoperability, V Corps. “By conducting combined operations with our allies, our soldiers learn how to work together effectively and efficiently to achieve tactical objectives.”

During the field exercises, every soldier in every uniform played a key role in mission success, coming together and facing a common goal builds team confidence on another level.

“It’s not always about the training and shooting and maneuvering,” Dawson said. “It’s also about seeing different kinds of people and understanding different walks of life.”

Through snow storms and bitter cold, soldiers found ways to coincide. Going through these exercises together on a daily basis builds cohesion that may look different or speak another language but assures continuity if ever faced with opposition.

Story by SGT Tommie Berry

Photos by photo by Ukrainian Army Col Sergii Teliatytskii and US Army SSG George Davis

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International, Training | 5 Comments »

Clif Bar & Company Launches Trailblazers Incubator and Introduces CLIF Pet

January 2nd, 2022

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Dec. 13, 2021 – Today, Clif Bar & Company announced the launch of the Trailblazers Incubator, an in-house new ventures group built to deliver disruptive innovation and create sustainable business opportunities. Based in Clif Bar’s Emeryville, CA headquarters, the Trailblazers team of “intrapreneurs” is applying an agile start-up mindset to driving new growth strategies for Clif Bar. This includes expanding into new categories that align with the company’s Five Aspirations business model.

Overseen by Chief Innovation Officer, Rizal Hamdallah, and led by Incubator Senior Director, Greg Lok, the Trailblazers first venture is CLIF PetTM, with the introduction of plant-based pet snacks. Slated for national launch in early 2022, CLIF Pet will start with three flavors of snacks for dogs with plans to build out the Pet portfolio in the near term.

“Just as Clif Bar was founded on disrupting the energy bar category nearly 30 years ago, the Trailblazers Incubator is built to consistently deliver our bold innovation agenda and accelerate our growth plan,” said Hamdallah. “In addition to a rapid, data-driven product development and go-to-market strategy, what makes our approach different is extending the loyalty of the CLIF® brand. By introducing CLIF Pet, we will bring energy to the whole family.”

Clif Bar has set a bold goal to multiply its positive impact on the world by doubling the size of the company. The decision to enter the pet snacking category is supported by the dramatic increase in pet ownership coupled with the emerging demand for human-grade pet food1. Today, as pets are considered part of the family more than ever before, the category represents a significant growth opportunity for Clif Bar.

“With more than 11 million U.S. households bringing a pet home during the last 18 months of COVID, the category is exploding and ripe for new offerings2,” said Lok. “What makes this launch unique is the combination of speed and discipline to bring an innovative, relevant product to market during a global pandemic. We are truly blazing new trails by applying best practices from tech start-ups to our expertise in consumer insights and packaged goods – it’s a winning combination.”

www.clifbar.com

Posted in K9, Outdooralamode, Press Release | 1 Comment »

SCUBAPRO SUNDAY – Snorkels

January 2nd, 2022

As far back as 3000 B.C.E (5000 years), people were going after natural sponges off the coast of Crete and breathing through the world’s first snorkel tube that they made from hollow reeds. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, recalled instances of divers breathing through a device similar to the trunk of an elephant.

In later years, the Assyrians developed an alternative snorkel device. They filled animal skins with air to breathe from under water. Aristotle wrote about divers who used a tube that led from the surface to the divers below. The consummate Renaissance Man, Leonardo Da Vinci, had many designs that he called diving or underwater apparatuses. He designed a self-contained dive suit and even sketched diving gloves with webbed fingers. Technically, they could be considered the first fins.

The development of the diving bell, which contained air bubbles for divers to inhale while underwater, was overseen by Alexander the Great.

• 900 B.C.E- Assyrian divers used animal skins filled with air to lengthen the time they could spend below the water’s surface.

• 333 B.C.E Alexander the Great encourages divers to develop and use the first diving bell — a large bell-shaped object that trapped air in the top of the bell (and a person) to submerge and maintain the ability to breathe.

• 1538- Greeks in Spain (Toledo) submerge themselves in a large diving bell-like gadget to the bottom of the Tagus River, only to emerge later with dry clothes and a still-burning candle.

The same concept allows modern-day snorkelers to breathe air from the surface with their face submerged. Modern rubber and plastics make equipment durable and comfortable while offering maximum safety. Snorkels have significantly improved their function and use with the advances in rubber and plastic composite materials. The most popular snorkel is the J-shaped plastic tubes connected to the diver’s mask by a flexible strap or clip assembly.

Snorkels for diving

The snorkel makes it possible to breathe safely on the surface without using the air in your tanks. When choosing a snorkel, think first about what you want to use it for and how it will most. The diameter is critical because it minimizes your effort while using it. Most snorkels are brightly colored, so dive boats can easily spot them and you, more importantly.

Free-diving Snorkels

Free-diving snorkels are often the simplest models. They are made without a complex purging system and valves to limit breathing noise; snorkels are also shorter to quickly expel water from the tube and easily tuck away. They usually have a slightly larger diameter to ventilate between two dive immersions properly. They are one of the best for Combat swimmers to use, as they are small and can be packed away quickly and come in dark colors.

Types of Snorkels

There are four common types of snorkels, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Classic

The classic snorkel, also called a J-style snorkel, is a plastic tube with a mouthpiece attached. This snorkel is usually slightly bent, but it can also be made to fit a more specific shape. The SCUBAPRO Apnea snorkel can be rolled up and easily stored in a pocket or attached to the sides or bottom of a Rebreather. This is the one best suited for combat swimmer operations.

Flexible Snorkel

The flexible snorkel has a purge valve. This snorkel has a flexible portion and a rigid portion, as well as a one-way valve located at the bottom that makes it easier to expel any water that may get into the snorkel. The added flexibility allows divers to fit the snorkel better around their masks and faces. The purge valve at the bottom of the mouthpiece helps ensure uninterrupted breathing as it flushes water out every time you exhale.

Simi Dry

The semi-dry snorkel is a mix of a classic and dry snorkel. The top features a splashguard, and sometimes even a flexible tube and a purge valve. The splashguard at the top helps prevent splashes or sprays of water quickly entering the tube. It doesn’t stop all the water from entering, especially if you fully submerge yourself underwater or if water covers the top like in a high wave.

Dry

The dry snorkel has a valve at the top of the snorkel. The valve blocks water and air when the snorkel is submerged—and a purge valve at the bottom. They are great for snorkeling on the surface and occasionally diving without worrying about constantly clearing water out of the tube. When used for diving, the advantage is that divers don’t have to clear them of water when they reach the surface.

As with semi-dry snorkels, the one-way purge valve at the bottom allows the user to flush water out with a few quick exhalations easily. While the dry snorkel is more convenient and efficient, it can also have its drawbacks. The valve at the top of the snorkel can sometimes become blocked. The dry snorkel may also be more buoyant underwater.