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American Humane Applauds Congress for Passing the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act

February 9th, 2020

Wash., D.C. – American Humane today applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, H.R. 4305. The PAWS Act underscores the critical role trained service dogs play in helping veterans recover from post-deployment mental health issues.

“We are thrilled to see the House pass the PAWS Act which validates what we at American Humane have long believed – trained service dogs are critical to helping veterans in need,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane President and CEO. “Our Pups4Patriots program has been saving lives on both ends of the leash for years. Today’s action by the House will spur much needed attention in this space and help veterans and their canine heroes live more fulfilled, healthier lives.”

Much like American Humane’s Pups4Patriots program, which identifies dogs in need of forever homes and trains them to be lifesaving service dogs free of charge for veterans with Post Traumatic Syndrome and Traumatic Brain Injury, the PAWS Act would ultimately pair and train vets suffering from post-deployment mental health issues with service dogs also in need of training.

“The process of obtaining a PTS service dog is lengthy and costly, a cost that is out of reach for many veterans,” Ganzert said. “We cannot thank Congress enough for working to ensure even more veterans have access to the life-saving love only our four-legged friends can provide. This is long overdue.”

With too few trained service dogs available for our service men and women in need, American Humane is proud to provide critically necessary training and service dogs to veterans.

Posted in K9, Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on American Humane Applauds Congress for Passing the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act

Eighth Order Mens Dress Shirts Available for Pre-Order

February 8th, 2020

Eighth Order, Inc is a specialty apparel brand started by Army SF Veteran Tom Kerr and Air Force Veteran William Romes. This Veteran owned small business was started with mission, purpose, and giving back in mind. As many of us know, transitioning Veterans are faced with several challenges when they leave the military and try to establish themselves in the civilian sector. For many, they bring the scars of the battlefield everywhere they go and often fall short. One of the most difficult pieces of that transition is feeling a loss of purpose. This wasn’t different for Tom and Will as while both are generally highly motivated individuals, they were struggling with “what they want to be when they grow up”.

Tom and Will being friends for nearly 15 years decided to create their purpose. “If purpose is what I am lacking now, I guess I am just going to create mine” Will said. “I had all of these uniforms laying around in my closet, accumulating for the last 20 years… I have got to try and figure out something to do with them instead of throwing them in the dumpster.” After 3 different manufacturers and nearly 2 years of building the business out, they are launching with their first product. Pre-order began this week, with stock arriving at their office on February 24th.

As they lead with extremely high-quality button-down shirts, fitted with camouflage trimming, they are already in development of their next 3 products. The Gray Label product release is made of a Cotton/Poly/Spandex blend and will become even more customizable, with the addition of woodland and AOR camo. Additional products over the next weeks and months will include the short sleeve version of these shirts and new 4 way stretch bamboo fabric logo and pocket T’s.

Eighth order manufactures in Chicago, Illinois. They chose Chicago because it is an emerging apparel ecosystem filled with small sewing shops and pattern makers who are working hard to remind America of Midwest manufacturing. You do not have to go to NYC to make high performing, rugged, quality, beautiful garments. For Eighth Order, it’s 3 hours and 40 minutes in a car from Ohio to Chicago to craft high quality products at fair prices, without having to go offshore.

Beyond making and selling high quality products people wear each an everyday, Tom and Will care deeply about Veterans issues. Today, there is an entire generation of fighting men and women who are suffering from PTSD, TBI, and suicide. If this year is anything like last year, we will see another record number of Veteran suicides. “I know what it is like to suffer in silence and have the worst thoughts. I think about Tom and other action hero’s like him. So many of them go from American hero to an American hero statistic. I’ve had enough of that and I want to do something, anything, about it. That’s one of the reasons we started this business. More must be done because we can’t keep setting new records for suicide. We are working with Warrior Rising to empower Veteran entrepreneurs to start business’s or boost their existing businesses. We are also speaking with several Veteran advocacy and treatment program entities who provide PTSD, TBI, and suicide prevention programs to our ailing Veterans. Right now, we have committed 5% of each sale to organizations like Warrior Rising, with larger percentages committed as we grow our new business.” Said Romes.

Thanks for all your support. From now until forever, the committed readers of Soldier Systems Daily can get 10% off everything in our webstore by using the code “SSD”.

For the Lost Souls

Posted in Clothing, Press Release, Veterans | 18 Comments »

ASA Reports from Richmond – Virginia Ban on Suppressor Sales Passes Out Of Committee

February 8th, 2020

Since the Commonwealth of Virginia turned blue last Fall, Democratic lawmakers have introduced a slate of anti-gun legislation, along with bills that would curtail freedom of speech.

The American Suppressor Association has been hard at work in Richmond, lobbying to prevent the banning of suppressors.

This is their report on the current state of affairs.

RICHMOND, VA — This morning the Virginia House Public Safety Committee voted 12 – 9 in favor of passing an amended version of House Bill 961. Knox Williams, President of the American Suppressor Association, was on hand to testify in opposition. The vote took place on party lines, with the exception of Delegate Joshua Cole (D-28), who abstained. Now that the bill has passed committee, the House of Delegates will have until Tuesday, February 11th to pass this legislation prior to the crossover deadline.

The amended version of HB 961 makes several key concessions regarding suppressors. Chief among them is that lawfully obtained suppressors in Virginia will no longer be subject to confiscation. That means, should the bill become law, anyone who possesses a suppressor in the state prior to July 1st would be able to keep them. ASA spoke with legislators who said that the educational groundwork laid by the Association over the past month – including meetings with every member of the committee or their staff – was a key factor in their decision to amend the suppressor provisions of the bill. While this is a step in the right direction, HB 961 remains a bill that we oppose.

When asked during the hearing by Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-11) to clarify our stance on the bill, Williams made the following statement:

“Our position is essentially that these have been heavily federally regulated since 1934 and that those federal regulations are more than exhaustive; that additional state level regulations should not be imposed upon suppressors.”

ASA would like to thank Chairman Patrick Hope (D-47) for granting us time during the hearing to provide expert testimony to the committee.

The new language, which was not made available until several minutes into Delegate Mark Levine’s (D-45) opening testimony, reads:

18.2-308.11. Import, sale, transfer, etc., of silencers; penalty.

For purposes of this section, “silencer” means any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a firearm, including any part or combination of parts designed or intended for use in assembling or fabricating such a device.

It is unlawful for any person to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, or purchase a silencer, provided that a person may transfer a silencer in accordance with the provisions of the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.). A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 6 felony.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any government officer, agent, or employee, or member of the Armed Forces of the United States, to the extent that such person is otherwise authorized to acquire a silencer and does so while acting within the scope of his duties; (ii) the manufacture of a silencer by a firearms manufacturer for the purpose of sale to any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or to a law-enforcement agency in the Commonwealth for use by that agency or its employees, provided that the manufacturer is properly licensed under federal, state, and local laws; or (iii) the sale or transfer of a silencer to any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or to a law-enforcement agency in the Commonwealth for use by that agency or its employees.

Posted in 2A, Press Release, Suppressors | 63 Comments »

Mountain Hardwear – Firefall/2 Glove

February 8th, 2020

Coming Fall 20, the new Firefall/2 globe from Mountain Hardwear features a Gore-Tex membrane and Primaloft insulation. Additionally, they are smart screen compatible.

Posted in Handwear, Outdoor Retailer | 1 Comment »

Haven Tent

February 7th, 2020

At last week’s Outdoor Retailer I ran into Haven Tents which was originally launched on Kickstarter.

They’ve taken the best of the hammock and tent and put them together. It will accept a sleeping pad and offers a much more stable sleeping platform than a traditional hammock. Additionally, it has a roof which will zip closed so no need for an additional tarp.

As you can see, there’s interior storage and you can even store your pack inside the Haven with you.

Posted in Outdoor Retailer, Shelter | 10 Comments »

Support SOC-F When You Purchase An OTTE Gear Aloha Now Tigerstripe Tote Bag

February 7th, 2020

Feel the love all day long with the limited edition OTTE Gear x Bawidamann Tiger Stripe Tote while simultaneously giving love to SOC-F. Made with an easy-to-clean rubberized interior coating that stands up to muddy shoes, grimy gear, and spilled Monster Energy. Perfect for beach, boat or game day.

25% of all proceeds will be donated to SOC-F to help support the amazing work they do for SOF members and their families, learn more here.

SPECIFICATIONS //

– Burly 1200D fabric provides great structure
– Rubberized interior coating is easy to wipe
– Zippered interior pocket with Made In the Shade label
– 4″x4″ loop morale panel with Pattern Patch Cover
– One Size 23″w x 14″h x 10″d

Posted in Charity, Load Carrying, Press Release | Comments Off on Support SOC-F When You Purchase An OTTE Gear Aloha Now Tigerstripe Tote Bag

New QD Sling Loops From Strike Industries

February 7th, 2020

The Strike Industries Quick Detach Sling Loop can be removed with a single hand. Simply squeeze the mechanism for attachment and detachment.

Instead of a traditional push button QD that is tough to disengage, the patent pending side to side mechanism allows for uninterrupted quick attach and detach while the sling is in use.

Crafted from 17-4 Stainless Steel and after a quench polish quench (QPQ) process, the durability of the sling loop is greatly increased.

The enhanced geometry of the sling loop allows the strap to never pinch, bite, or roll around the interior of the loop.

www.strikeindustries.com/shop/strike-industries-quick-detach-sling-loop

Posted in Weapon Accessories | 7 Comments »

Special Tactics Operators Simulate First-Ever Extreme Cold Weather FARP with Next Generation Fighters

February 7th, 2020

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — If an aircraft is behind enemy lines and running low on fuel, a forward area refueling point may be necessary to refuel that aircraft and carry out the mission.

Behind those enemy lines, Special Tactics Airmen are relied on to survey the area of interest to ensure the aircraft can land and be refueled. Special Tactics teams can assess, open, and control major airfields to clandestine dirt strips in either permissive or hostile locations, providing strategic access for our nation’s military.

For the first time, aircrew with the 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, along with a team of Special Tactics Airmen carried out a simulated FARP for F-22 Raptors assigned to Pacific Air Forces’ 3rd Wing in an extreme cold weather environment during Emerald Warrior at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, January 21- 31.

“The ability to refuel aircraft at forward airfields and in austere environments is a critical element of Agile Combat Employment,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Davis, commander of the 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. “Practicing this capability with Special Tactics operators enhances our interoperability with the special operations community and increases our ability to generate combat power in a contested environment. Special Tactics operators are uniquely suited to seize and control airfields, and demonstrating our ability to conduct forward area refueling in challenging arctic conditions takes ACE to new heights.”

The ACE concept provides special operations forces an opportunity to produce lethality with a smaller footprint.

“Bringing together [Air Force Special Operations Command] and the [Conventional Air Force] capitalizes on the rapid planning cycle and precision lethality of Special Tactics in combination with the overwhelming firepower of the CAF,” said a Special Tactics officer and one of the leads for the exercise. “We are able to break open opportunities not afforded to aircraft, like the F-22, in a major combat operation when we rapidly seize an airfield and utilize it to rearm and refuel air dominance assets to keep them in the fight.”

The training familiarized Special Tactics operators with the Air Force’s fifth-generation aircraft, providing unmatched lethality and adaptability to the warfighter.

“F-22s and F-35s were designed to compete and win against advanced adversaries,” said a Special Tactics officer. “Working with the newest and most advanced fighters in the Air Force provides [Special Tactics] the opportunity to maintain technological edge and develop the tactics, techniques and procedures needed in order to leverage their full capabilities.”

During this exercise, Special Tactics operators integrated with an MC-130J Commando II and F-22 Raptors. The airfield was surveyed, secured and operated by an ST team while the C-130 crew refueled the fighters.

The environment allowed ST teams to train on how to best prepare and pack for an extreme cold weather mission as well as perform certain tasks with decreased dexterity.

“This year’s location pushed our limits on sustainability in a major combat operation and provided an opportunity to refine and rewrite TTPs for a challenging operational environment,” the STO said.

Emerald Warrior is a U.S. Special Operations Command directed exercise focusing on irregular warfare in a joint, NATO combined realistic environment. This training hones special operations forces’ air and ground combat skills and the development of improved tactics, techniques and procedures, while strengthening relationships for future deployments.

For Special Tactics, Emerald Warrior is a way to execute and demonstrate a range of skills while integrating the capabilities of joint assets and allies, maintaining an edge over the nation’s adversaries.

“The team was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the professionals in the F-22 and MC-130 community,” the STO said. “We experienced incredible motivation and creative problem solving to push this program forward.”

Special Tactics is U.S. Special Operations Command’s tactical air and ground integration force, and the Air Force’s special operations ground force, leading global access, precision strike, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery operations.

Story by: Senior Airman Rachel Williams, 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

Photos by: Staff Sgt. Ridge Shan

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post | 3 Comments »