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Army Uniform Board Votes On Soldier-Driven Changes for New AGSUs

February 19th, 2020

WASHINGTON — The Army Uniform Board (AUB) recently met to address and vote on the latest feedback from Soldiers for improving the design of the new Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU). The AUB, which included the first all-female board for the female uniform, sought and addressed the critical changes from Soldiers in designing the uniform for function and fit.

The AUB discussed and voted on 20 uniform changes for both complex and simple design features. These changes directly stem from Soldier participation in the limited user evaluation that is intended to enhance the AGSU’s performance and functionality for Soldiers across the Army.

Voting efforts focused on balancing responses from Soldiers and costs for the Army and Soldiers. “It was important we voted in such a way that demonstrated we understand the valuable input and concerns of our Soldiers. We must also continue to safeguard our promise to keep the AGSU cost down,” stated Lieutenant General Duane Gamble, Deputy Chief of Staff G-4 and AUB Chairman.

The AUB is the Army’s only forum to address the changing requirements of Soldiers’ uniforms and accessory items. Every Soldier can contribute to the Uniform Board process by providing his or her recommendation to his or her unit’s Sergeant Major. Incorporating the feedback from our Soldiers is a big part of the AUB process and without their input, the new uniform would not have the support it currently has.

Members of the AUB include Soldiers of all levels, and representatives from the active component, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. Each member has an equal vote in deciding which recommendations go forth to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

By Ms. LeAndrea O White (G4)

Warrior Countdown – Warrior WEST 2020: Readiness in the Age of Innovation

February 19th, 2020

ADS Inc’s Warrior West is right around the corner, April 1st and 2nd in San Diego. This year’s theme is “Readiness in the Age of Innovation” and it looks like it’s going to be pretty good.

You’ll have access to hundreds of leading industry suppliers along with 3,000 other vetted attendees. This event offers networking, training and product demonstrations.

Schedule:

Wednesday, April 1

0900 – 1630: Warrior Expo Open to Attendees

0900 – 1000: Keynote Speaker | Announcement coming soon!

San Diego Convention Center, Second Floor Sails Pavilion

1930 – 2300: Warrior Bash | Customer Reception

Hard Rock Hotel: 207 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Thursday, April 2

0900 – 1530: Warrior Expo Open to Attendees

San Diego Convention Center, Second Floor Sails Pavilion

Training Never Stops

Whether you’re a Program Manager, Procurement Specialist, or end user, the key to success is staying ahead of the curve through training and continuing education.

The training courses cut out irrelevant details and are delivered by experts who have firsthand experience.

• Receive course credits
• Learn from subject matter experts
• Walk away with hands-on, scenario-based training

Here are a few examples:

Stop the Bleed: Stop the Bleed is a course designed to educate the public on how to effectively reduce blood loss in an injured patient. Phokus Research Group will cover: identifying different types of bleeding, methods to control bleeds, and how to treat the patient post bleeding control. Any and all skill levels are welcome.

FMT Tactical Athlete Medic Certification: This course introduces the concept of movement therapy and performance enhancement to create simple and effective non-opioid musculoskeletal treatment and selfcare programs for the tactical athlete. Musculoskeletal injuries are one of the leading causes of non-combat related injuries within the Department of Defense. This course is a new paradigm for decreasing Return-to-Duty timelines and increasing force readiness with each athlete and command.

Procurement Strategies: Recent crises all have one thing in common: equipment was needed and FAST! (Equipment that the DoD, military and federal agencies wouldn’t otherwise have.) From Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) and service-specific contracts to tailored solutions, learn how ADS leverages agile and flexible procurement solutions to meet your needs in a time of crisis.

Make sure you get signed up here.

Warrior WEST is open exclusively to active duty military*, federal, state and local government agencies, law enforcement, and first responders. Military and government attendees must present official government-issued identification.

*Registration is not open to retired military or the general public.

Brigantes Presents – Brigantes Issue Essentials

February 19th, 2020

Each week we bring you products that should be on all military standard issue kit lists. This week it’s the Armadillo Merino Condor base layer.

ARMADILLO MERINO make clothing that is made for tactical operators and other professionals in the most extreme environments. They have had our products go to space, and worn by professionals operating in some of the highest risk places and environments on earth.

Their condor uses a soft but strong rib knit structure (similar to honeycomb) for maximum versatility. In summer this open knit structure moves heat and moisture away from the skin keeping you cooler and drier. In winter this same knit structure traps still air to give you a buffer zone of warmth.

The strong and stretchy knit structure is designed to be figure hugging and with flat lock stitching the Condor functions as the ideal base layer garment for year round applications.

Its Rib knit designed for year round comfort but the tight design enables it to be worn under your uniform. The seamless shoulders and underarm, with extra strong thread and a tag free neckline are ideal for load carrying, eliminating chaffing and a tag free neckline.

The Condor benefits from Armadillo’s “no melt or drip” technology. They have natural flame resistance up to 1100F, and will not melt or drip when exposed to heat.

Their garments do not smell as they have natural anti-microbial properties. You can wear the Armadillo tops for days on end without odor. A great all round base layer to give super comfortable 365 days a year.

For more information contact international@brigantes.com

For UK sales contact warrior@brigantes.com

 

 

US Elite Battle Rattle Raffle

February 19th, 2020

Text the code GEAR to 29071 to enter for a chance to win the legendary Arc’teryx LEAF Alpha Jacket and a pair of boots from LOWA Task Force or Salomon FORCES. Battle Rattle Kit is valued at over $1000 MSRP.

Or you can go directly to: www.us-elitegear.com/pages/battle-rattle-raffle

US Elite is accepting entries until 11:59 pm ET on Monday, February 24th and the lucky winner will be announced during a live Facebook event on Tuesday, February 25th.

MARSOC to Consolidate All Marine Special Operations Forces to Camp Lejeune by 2022

February 19th, 2020

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marine Forces Special Operations Command will soon begin implementing a phased plan to consolidate all MARSOC personnel and equipment to its headquarters aboard Camp Lejeune by the end of 2022. This initiative will relocate approximately 900 Marines, Sailors, and civilian employees from 1st Marine Raider Battalion and 1st Marine Raider Support Battalion, which have been located aboard Camp Pendleton, C.A. since MARSOC’s inception in 2006.

“MARSOC has been pursuing numerous lines of effort to increase performance, efficiencies, and capabilities in support of the 2018 National Defense Strategy’s imperatives to build a more lethal force and reform the department for greater performance and affordability. One line of effort is the consolidation of all Marine Special Operations Forces to the east coast. Consolidation will enhance the command’s Enterprise Level Agility to meet the future operating environment challenges articulated in the NDS, the Commandant’s Planning Guidance, and our own vision and strategy, MARSOF 2030,” said MajGen Daniel Yoo, MARSOC Commander. “It will also position MARSOC for more economical experimentation, testing, and evaluation of future operating concepts and near-peer offset capabilities, while streamlining organizational learning to enhance component-wide standards, performance, training, and readiness across the force.”

The efficiencies gained through consolidation extend beyond performance and training, with significant impacts to time and money. Consolidation will allow MARSOC to gain back almost 2000 man-days per year that would otherwise be lost to PCS and other TAD requirements not associated with deployments. This creates tangible and significant cost-savings and increased readiness across the force. In addition, MARSOC will be better positioned to meet the Secretary of Defense’s Deployment-to-Dwell (D2D) guidance, providing greater stability and increased quality of life to Marine Raiders and their families.

The physical movement of personnel and equipment from the West to the East Coast will occur over three phases. The phasing plan allows for minimal disruption to normal Marine Corps transition timelines, like those associated with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. It also provides a managed population increase to the local area. Personnel and families will begin moving from the West Coast during the traditional PCS cycle beginning in the summer of 2021.

MARSOC and Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST) School Liaisons and Community Plans and Liaison Officers (CPLO) have been working together to estimate impacts on the local communities and school districts. According to Joe Ramirez, MCB Camp Lejeune Director of Government and External Relations, MCB Camp Lejeune will continue working with Onslow and Pender County Schools and Governments to anticipate and plan for increases in student population and to ensure that all students will be accommodated effectively and receive a quality education.

Story by Maj Kristin Tortorici, Marine Forces, Special Operations Command

Photo by Cpl Bryann K. Whitley , Marine Forces, Special Operations Command

Wildlife Victoria Fundraiser – Halfbreed Blades

February 18th, 2020

With the devastation caused by the Australian bush fire disaster, it’s estimated approximately 1.25 billion animals have been killed across Australia to date. This includes thousands of koalas and many other indigenous species burnt alive, and thousands more injured and homeless.

In an effort to do their part, HALFBREED BLADES is offering a Limited Edition Drop Bear morale patch to raise funds for Australia Wildlife. $10.00 from the sale of every patch will be donated to Wildlife Victoria to help our native koalas and their friends get back on their feet.

A limited run of 1,000 patches are available for immediate delivery, so please help reach the target donation goal of $10,000. 

So far $5,000 in donations have been raised, the target goal is well in sight!

Please visit the EDC window at the HALFBREED BLADES web store or copy the following link to your browser: www.halfbreedblades.com.au/shop/edc/drop-bear-morale-patch-2020

Blackwater Announces 9mm Contractor Grade Ammunition

February 18th, 2020

For Immediate Release – Concord, NC – Blackwater Worldwide is proud to announce their Contractor Grade 124 grain 9mm ammunition is now available and shipping to the civilian market.

Manufactured in the Blackwater Ammunition facility based in Concord NC, Contractor Grade 9mm is designed to deliver maximum reliability and terminal performance in all weapon platforms. Contractor Grade is a +P 124 grain 9mm, that features a lightweight split case with a nickel alloy top and aluminum base. This case design is reloadable, 30% lighter than traditional brass casing, and performs perfectly with the higher +P pressures. The powder is clean and temperature stable to support reliable function with high round count maintenance cycles of both suppressed and unsuppressed fire.

The 124 grain 9mm projectiles are precision cnc machined, lead free, solid copper expanding projectiles that expand to meet FBI penetration requirements while maintaining nearly 100% of its original weight.

Calibers from .380 through 50BMG will be available early summer 2020.

Features
Bullet Weight: 124 Grain
Bullet Type: Monolithic Copper Expanding Hollowpoint
Ammo Casing: NAS3
Ammo Caliber: 9mm Luger (9x19mm)
Muzzle Velocity: 1100fps

MSRP: $20.95 per 20 round box!

For more information please visit:

www.blackwaterworldwide.com

OTTE Gear Range Bag in MultiCam Arid

February 18th, 2020

I’m a fan of OTTE Gear’s Range Bag with its valise-style top opening which gives you full access to everything in the bag. Now, it’s available in MultiCam Arid.

Made from 500D Cordura, the opening is stiffened to provide structure and it features padded carrying handles as well as a detachable padded shoulder strap. There are four exterior zippered pockets and three on the inside. Dimensions are 24″L x 11″W x 13″T.