The Enhanced Clip-On Thermal Imager or ECOTI from Safran Optics 1 adds a thermal overlay to the image intensified (I2) NVD scene without modification of existing hardware. It also offers HUD (Heads Up Display) capability that provides real-time, geo-referenced navigation/route execution. When used with Android devices, the NVD becomes a remote display for identifying teammates, targets and route points.
www.optics1.com/products/ecoti-enhanced-clip-on-thermal-imager
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CHAPMAN TRAINING ANNEX, Texas (AFNS) —
Air Force Special Warfare has refined its rich history of Assessment and Selection for entry into the special tactics and Guardian Angel career fields.
A&S is a character-based process that is indexed off of physical performance and mental fortitude, but fuses the cognitive domain to build a unit of action–an agile and adaptive operator. A&S is a high performance system designed to prepare operators for uncertainty, to embrace pressure and improve their crisis management abilities.
“No inflection point, we’ve been doing this for 65 years so this isn’t new to us,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jamie Clark, Special Warfare Training Wing command chief. “Our A&S has always been about developing the operator, a problem solver, not a specialty. Let’s not mince words though, it starts and ends with grit. At the very core, our A&S is a talent management process designed to build an Air Force joint leader to project airpower in combat, humanitarian and gray zone operations.”
In January of 2019, the wing revised its previous A&S into a single, more comprehensive process designed to push and test the upper limits of a candidate’s physical, mental and cognitive abilities. The course is four weeks long and aspiring attendees consist of pararescue, combat control, special reconnaissance, combat rescue officer and special tactics officer candidates. Previously, candidates of these career fields attended different initial entry courses such as the Pararescue Indoctrination Course or Combat Control Selection Course.
“In the past, combat control and pararescue candidates went through the Indoctrination Course together,” said Senior Master Sgt. Lopaka Mounts, A&S superintendent. “Bringing combat control, pararescue and now special reconnaissance back into the same A&S ensures candidates are evaluated along the same guidelines for trainability, suitability and durability.”
This A&S is no different than other special operations career fields across the Department of Defense. Its task and purpose is to ensure candidates have the requisite attributes to operate in any environment under extreme conditions, either individually or in small teams with limited to no support infrastructure. Stress is levied on candidates to simulate and inoculate them to high-risk, reduced signature and politically sensitive situations they will face in their careers, so attrition is expected.
“There is always going to be stress put on candidates in this course because we need to ensure they are able to perform. Therefore, attrition is unavoidable,” Mounts said. “The physical and mental tests throughout A&S is purposeful, anchored to and meant to ensure our candidates meet mission requirements. Candidates should come to the course ready to crush the standards that are in place.”
The goal has always been readiness and lethality while increasing operational placement and access, as well as range and maneuverability to operate in contested and noncontested environments. In essence, it’s about preparing the environment, which is what the Air Force envisioned when it created GA and ST. A&S is the mechanism to achieve this goal.
“We’re extremely proud of our GA and ST lineage and history. A&S is vital to what we represent, why wouldn’t it be? It’s the benchmark experience of who we are and fight for,” Clark said. “Our goal has and continues to be to position the Air Force to be successful, to create an unfair fight so we win. This is no more evident than the ultimate sacrifice paid by some of our heroes like William Pitsenbarger, John Chapman, Jason Cunningham, Scott Duffman, Scott Sather, Andy and Sean Harvell and Bill Schroeder.”
By 1st Lt Jeremy Huggins, Special Warfare Training Wing
Nightforce Optics was established in 1992 with one goal in mind: to build the finest riflescopes on the market. The same qualities that have made Nightforce the choice of professionals have now created a dedicated following among hunters and serious shooters.
Note: All job offers are contingent on passing pre-employment requirements, including a drug screen and criminal background check.
**This position can be based in either of our office sites located in Orofino, ID and Meridian, ID.
PURPOSE:
Responsible for integration of electro-mechanical and/or electro-optical systems into riflescopes, sporting optics, and related accessories. Must possess the ability to apply the following: Analog and digital circuit design, PCB layout, embedded firmware, software for PC and mobile devices, and testing/validation for project-specific goals
Technical Experience, Qualifications & Skills Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• 10+ years’ experience in hands-on hardware and firmware design
• Working knowledge of signal processing, communication protocols, sensing, displays, PCB layout, programming languages, and wireless communications.
• Strong familiarity of FCC certification requirements and procedures for embedded devices
• Ability to prioritize workload effectively and manage a project from concept to full production
• Languages: C/C++, Assembly
• Prototype fabrication and assembly, including surface mount and through-hole soldering, testing and validation
• Solid debugging skills and the ability to solve difficult problems
• Self-motivated to resolve problems in creative ways, researching new technologies and standards
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies and skills quickly. Dynamic and open-minded.
• Must have excellent written & verbal communication skills, be team-oriented and be able to work autonomously
Desired Qualifications:
• Proficient with embedded test equipment
• RTOS experience including low level hardware drivers
• Software: Altium Designer, Subversion, other IDE’s for microcontroller development
• Experience designing for and testing MIL-STD-416 environmental, ESD, and EMI compliance
• Real-time, event driven firmware programming
• Low power, battery operated hardware and firmware design
• Protocols: USB, SPI, I2C, RS-232/485, Bluetooth, 802.15.4 (Zigbee)
• Graphical user interface and human interface device design is a plus
• Optical and opto-mechanical experience would be considered a plus
• Contribute expertise to and learn from the R&D group
Core Accountabilities:
• Component selection and circuit design for position sensing, environmental sensing, data display, user interface, wired and wireless communications in battery operated systems
• Assemble and validate high-reliability prototypes for in-field use
• Provide technical documentation and support for production, including PCB design files, bill of materials, firmware binaries, assembly/operating procedures, testing and inspection criteria, etc.
• Coordinate with other team members to ensure proper fit, form, and function using 3D models, drawings, etc.
• Work directly with prototype shops ensuring timely delivery of prototypes to verify new designs.
• Serve as technical correspondent to materials making sure product details are successfully communicated to vendors.
• Ensure vendors comply with specs and are approved prior to manufacturing according to organizational guidelines.
• Work with customer requests, sales vision and emerging technologies to ensure projects fulfil market demand and sales potential.
• Manage modifications to all design files and documentation.
• Task status is regularly and formally communicated to project teams
• Ensure changes follow the ECO process and are documented appropriately
• Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems and needs
• Conduct research that tests and analyses the feasibility, design, operation and performance of equipment and components and systems.
• Recommend design modification to eliminate quality issues
• Guide product through the entire design phase, including the transfer from final design samples to implemented production.
• Other duties, as required
Process Improvement:
• Define methodology and present proposals for process improvements
• Detail process design improvements to relevant US standards
• Manage procurement of equipment, jigs and fixtures
• Prepare information for quotes for new product and product parts
• Plan & manage projects within outlined scope and within acceptable time frames
• Contribute to cost down projects
Nightforce Optics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, disability or any other category protected by law.
For more information about our company and its products, please go to nightforceoptics.com.
Apply for this job here.
*OPEN UNTIL FILLED*
Nightforce Optics was established in 1992 with one goal in mind: to build the finest riflescopes on the market. The same qualities that have made Nightforce the choice of professionals have now created a dedicated following among hunters and serious shooters.
Note: All job offers are contingent on passing pre-employment requirements, including a drug screen and criminal background check.
Purpose:
The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for developing manufacturing processes than ensure operator safety and efficiency, with built-in quality. He/she works closely with Production, the Machine Shop and Research & Development departments and is responsible for dealing with technical issues. The Manufacturing Engineer is the liaison between departments.
Qualifications/Skills/Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or related discipline
• Five years documentable experience in Manufacturing/Process Engineering
• Sound literacy in 3D CAD (ideally Autodesk Inventor or Solid Works) & Microsoft packages
• Manual and automated assembly experience
• Machining and threading knowledge
• Tool, jig and fixture design experience
• Lean manufacturing knowledge and skills
• Ability to prioritize workload effectively and manage a project from start to finish
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, team oriented and able to work autonomously
Core Accountabilities:
• Evaluate bottlenecks and find/implement process improvements.
• Develop concepts and/or design fixtures or tooling concurrent with product design.
• Identify optimum manufacturing techniques.
• Update 2D print data into 3D environment capturing all necessary manufacturing details.
• Act as liaison between assembly and machine shop/suppliers assuring product details and processes are captured.
• Troubleshoot and document assembly and machine shop problems.
• Assist/develop inspection processes.
• Provide technical documents outlining assembly and process standard operating procedures.
• Serve as technical correspondent to materials making sure blueprint details are successfully communicated to suppliers.
• Assist QA with supplier qualification
• Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems and needs
• Recommend design modification to eliminate quality issues and improve manufacturability
• Contribute/lead manufacturing activities in new Product Development Process
• Complete manufacturing responsibilities of Engineering Change Order process
• Justify, specify and oversee commissioning of capital equipment.
Nightforce Optics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, disability or any other category protected by law.
For more information about our company and its products, please go to nightforceoptics.com.
Apply for this position here.
Damascus Push Dagger, a rare, limited-run specialty knife, helmed by Andrew Arrabito, Navy SEAL (ret.) and founder of Half Face Blades, is up for auction benefiting the Silent Warrior Foundation. The auction runs until Aug. 14, 2020.
The Silent Warrior Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charity serving our military members and their children since 2010.
Half Face Blades knives are designed with the distinction and ruggedness required for the work they are intended to do. Each knife is calculated to meet requirements gained by experience, by testing knives and axes, by using them over time at sea and in remote wildernesses.
To bid for this item and to view other products listed for the auction, please head to Whiskey and War Stories 2020 Auction page.
Written by a group of US Marines, ‘SIGMAN Camouflage SOP: A Guide to Reduce Physical Signature Under UAS’ goes into great detail regarding signature management against Unmanned Aerial Systems.
The Marines have changed up their doctrine, adopting Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), which require Fleet Marine Forces to support Navy sea control missions. This disperses small units along key littoral terrain. As you can imagine, our adversaries will be looking for them and one of the most effective means is via air, UAS in particular. Remaining hidden from these eyes in the sky isn’t just critical for mission success, but for survival.
Available for download from 2ndbn5thmar.com.
August 4, 2020 GARLAND, TX – True Velocity officials confirmed recently that the Texas-based technology company delivered more than 170,000 rounds of its 6.8mm TVCM lightweight ammunition to the U.S. Army in May as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program.
“As a team, True Velocity is excited and proud to have delivered this significant order of next-generation ammunition to the Army in-full and on-time,” said True Velocity President Chris Tedford. “Our 6.8 TVCM composite-cased cartridge is capable of unprecedented ballistic performance, while simultaneously exceeding the Army’s expectations in terms of weight reduction.”
The U.S. Army down-selected True Velocity’s composite-cased ammunition in August 2019 for the NGSW modernization program. True Velocity submitted its 6.8mm composite-cased cartridge as part of an overall NGSW weapon system in partnership with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and firearm manufacturer Beretta.
True Velocity’s proprietary composite 6.8mm case design provides end users with significant logistical and operational advantages over metal-hybrid cases and traditional brass cases, including substantially increased effective range and muzzle energy, drastic reduction in cartridge weight and enhanced accuracy, regardless of weapon platform.
“True Velocity’s ammunition – and particularly our 6.8 TVCM cartridge – are changing the paradigm,” Tedford said. “It turns out you don’t have to operate at unsafe chamber pressures in order to generate increased velocity, enhanced terminal performance and improved accuracy. Our cartridge achieves all of these things, while maintaining safe operating pressures and drastically reducing the overall cartridge weight.”
The NGSW program is designed to provide the U.S. Army’s Close Combat Force with an enhanced 6.8mm cartridge replacement for the currently fielded 5.56x45mm round, as well as to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M4A1 with next-generation weapons.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – July 31, 2020 – RCBS, the leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, announced today that it has begun shipping the 6mm ARC SB T/C Die Set, a new addition to the AR Series Dies line for progressive reloaders.
The 6mm ARC SB T/C Die Set (#28007), is specially designed for the versatile 6mm ARC cartridge, which utilizes efficient, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets to deliver top performance from AR-15 rifles. Each set features a Small Base sizing die that sizes the case to slightly below minimum specifications to ensure each round chambers in an AR-style rifle, and a Taper Crimp seating die to put the correct crimp on the case. This combination helps make reloading easier for shooters and ensures the cartridge will rechamber properly.
“AR-15 fans are fired up about the versatility and performance of the 6mm ARC cartridge,” said Jason Slinkard, Director of Shooting Accessories for Vista Outdoor. “This die set is a great example of how we are always working to anticipate customer demand and bring new dies to the market as needed.”
All AR Series Dies carry the RCBS lifetime warranty. More information on the new 6mm ARC SB T/C Die set can be found here.
RCBS offers reloading equipment throughout the world. To learn more RCBS products, visit www.RCBS.com.
