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FirstSpear Friday Focus – USA Centurion Pants

October 19th, 2018

The all new FirstSpear Centurion Pants are in stock and shipping now. Order any pair this weekend and get a free FirstSpear Logo hat.

Constructed from a ripstop nylon and combed cotton with several unique comfort features including nano glide stretch mesh pockets, quick dry breathable materials, and an integrated low-profile belt system that uses a customized BioThane webbing and a jam lock buckle.

Removable Poron Foam inserts on your left and right inside hip let you carry your pistol, knife or phone on the belt with total comfort. The belt loops on the Centurion Pants have been spaced to accommodate on-the-belt carry and off-hand draw as needed. The side pockets are made of 520 stretch fabric and will easily fit folding knives, common pistol magazines, and similarly sized items. In-stock and shipping now. Made in the USA with 100% USA materials.

www.first-spear.com/technical-apparel/outerwear/centurion-pants

Natick’s Exoskeleton Work is a Powerful Step Toward the Future of Soldier Lethality

October 19th, 2018

NATICK, Mass. — With exoskeleton technology, the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, or NSRDEC, is helping Soldiers to step into future.

The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is working with Lockheed Martin Space and Missile on a human augmentation system prototype. Trademarked under the name “ONYX,” the system is a powered, knee-based, mobility enhancing device that shows great potential for allowing Soldiers to stay in contact while maintaining peak performance longer, with equal or increased warfighting power. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo by Lockheed Martin Space and Missile)

Soldiers are the most important, effective platform in the U.S. Army. In finite quantity, these warfighters are being asked to move farther, faster, and carry larger loads — all while performing under harsh and challenging conditions. Responding to the Army Chief of Staff and the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team, NSRDEC awarded an “Other Transaction Agreement” for a human augmentation system prototype to Lockheed Martin Space and Missile, or LMCO.

Trademarked under the name “ONYX,” the system is a powered, knee-based, mobility enhancing device that shows great potential for allowing Soldiers to stay in contact while maintaining peak performance longer, with equal or increased warfighting power.

The NSRDEC’s exoskeleton effort will initially focus on the challenges faced by Army Close Combat Forces, validating their needs with data from ongoing combat operations, reports, user focus groups and validation Table Top Exercises.

Understanding that 90 percent of casualties since WWII are from the Close Combat Force, the Army Chief of Staff has directed that one of his strategic focus areas emphasizes improving the lethality, maneuverability, mobility and survivability of the Army’s most valuable asset — the individual combatant. The Army seeks to cover more ground with fewer forces through strategic systems that integrate innovative technological concepts such as exoskeletons, other worn advanced capabilities, and tactics.

Working with NSRDEC leads, the LMCO ONYX team will integrate user-based feedback into the new design and improved system performance and deliver demonstration-ready prototypes in FY19.

By NSRDEC Public Affairs

DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation Wins Navy SBIR PHI Computer Learning Obfuscating Adversarial Kit (CLOAK) Contract

October 18th, 2018

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ —DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation (DAC), a leader in cutting-edge Machine Learning development and application, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop the Computer Learning Obfuscating Adversarial Kit (CLOAK) system. Under this effort, DAC will provide the Navy with a portable camouflaging kit by advancing state-of-the-art adversarial imagery though physical-world manipulation and data synthesis.

In Phase I of this effort, DAC will select and train two modern classifiers on military and commercial vehicles, develop an advanced data synthesis pipeline, and develop an algorithm for learning camouflage configuration. DAC’s algorithms will combine advanced 3D data synthesis with a constrained adversarial generation process for generating physical-world robust computer vision camouflage.

Competitors Unite for A Girl & A Gun’s Fall Festival

October 18th, 2018

AUSTIN — A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) hosted its 2018 AG & AG Fall Festival on Oct 2-7, 2018. Fall Fest comprised three shooting events: one two-day training course, a two-day three-gun match, and a one-day pistol match at Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City, Kentucky.

“A Girl & A Gun Fall Fest is the most remarkable experience,” said Dianna Muller, professional shooter. “So much growth from the women who come to this match, for some, their first match ever!!” For 41 participants, Fall Fest was only their first or second major match. To help them navigate the stages, every squad was led by a pro with the help of a Squad Mom, who is a traveling Range Officer (RO) that shoots with their squads, helps competitors prepare for the stages, keeps the squads on time, assists stage ROs with tasks, and serves as a go-to staff member if competitors need help. This structure is indicative of the AG & AG culture — the stages and skills are tough, while the community is kind and supportive.

The Fall Fest events began with 3-Gun University Presented by TROY Industries, two days of clinics with professional shooters. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 35 participants attended rifle sight-in, rifle positions, chrono/ballistic data, pistol skills, rifle skills, and shotgun skills clinics with Tina Martin, Dianna Muller, Janna Reeves, Cindy DeSplinter, Ursula Williams, Beth Walker, and Dakota Overland. These classes gave students time to work with pros to hone their skills for the match. Participants also had guided stage walk-throughs to help them develop their strategies for tackling stages in the multigun match.

The Brownells Ladies Multigun Championship was a two-day three-gun match that took place on Friday and Saturday. Squads comprised 120 competitors and staff that shot 8 challenging stages designed by Bryan Corry. The division winners were:

Open: Dianna Muller
Tac Ops: Dakota Overland
2×4: Lena Miculek
Limited: Rhonda Allen
2-Gun: Laurel Walters

The SIG SAUER Ladies Handgun Championship was a one-day USPSA-style pistol match with eight fun stages designed by Rick VanBlaricum. Lena Miculek was the overall winner out of 92 competitors. The division winners were:

Production: Ashley Rheuark
Limited: Dianna Muller
PCC: Lena Miculek
Open: Cassie Beahr
Carry Optics: Denise Katz
Single Stack: Susan Maurer

Throughout the week, participants and guests were able to meet with vendors and sponsors. SIG SAUER instructor Tina Perrone offered demos of the new SIG SAUER P365 pistol and 365 ammunition. Phillip Goldsmith from GLOCK led individuals through a GSSF course of fire with the new GLOCK 45, and Tony Pignato from STI International facilitated a team 3-woman challenge using the new STI Staccato pistol. Tracy Barnes from Check Outside provided rental equipment for some of the stages. Stag Arms offered demos of their rifles and some full-auto fun. JP Precision, Ranger Proof, U.S. Law Shield, PrimEar, and Zero In were on site to showcase their products.

Fall Fest included two draw-dropping prizes tables, random-draw prizes, and fantastic swag and gifts for participants! Thank you to sponsors SIG SAUER, Brownells, Troy, GLOCK, Red Stitch Targets, Savage, Stag Arms, Sentry, STI, Voodoo Tactical, JP Precision, Safariland, XS Sights, Ranger Proof, and all of the partners that gave support and prizes. Thank you to Rockcastle for hosting the amazing event.

Learn more at agirlandagunclub.net.

1620 USA – Operator Cargo Pant

October 18th, 2018

1620 USA started life as Made in USA workwear brand, but like others in this space realized that some of their customers were military and law enforcement members who had chosen their clothing for both low viz assignments as well as off-duty wear. They’ve responded by creating some clothing more tailored to that crowd.

The Operator Cargo Pant is made of 4-way stretch Tweave and integrates low profile pockets as well as double knees.

Features:
– Gusseted crotch
– Durable water/oil/stain repellent finish
– Low profile cargo pocket with bellow and two way flap
– Extra-large zippered back pocket with angled top for ease of entry
– Left hand watch pocket compatible with XL size mobile device
– Military-spec shank button
– YKK zippers
– 3/4″ wide belt loops
– Modern fit

Fabric woven in the USA | Pant sewn in the USA

Available in Grey or Khaki, waists 30-40.

www.1620usa.com/collections/fall-2018-collection/products/operator-cargo-pant

TacJobs – Blackhawk Expanding, Seeks To Fill 10 New Positions

October 18th, 2018

Under the leadership of new President Joshua Waldron, Blackhawk is seeing a brand resurgence. Part of this is putting together a new team including these 10, key positions, right here in Virginia Beach. Some of the positions will also support Eagle Industries and Uncle Mike’s which are in the Blackhawk business unit as well. Visit the link for each of the positions to see full details.

Sales Operations, Business Development

This position is responsible for the sales of BLACKHAWK! products in a specified region. This position sells BLACKHAWK’s products and services with a thorough understanding of our company products in relation to our competitors and customer needs using as an influence to sell our customers our products to meet their current needs.

Sr Director, Product Development

The Sr Director, Product Development – BLACKHAWK, will act as a product General Manager to develop a three year product development roadmap for his/her portfolio of brands, heavily influenced by brand-right product development and consumer insights. This individual will use masterful brand-right product development that will result in new products driving 25% of revenue. Adept at influencing, this individual will ensure resourcing across operations, commercialization, digital, supply, and marketing teams around the globe.

Product Manager, Apparel

Product Manager – Apparel: BLACKHAWK is seeking a Product Manager to add to our team in Virginia Beach, Va. The Product Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of product development from concept development to commercialization for our line of Apparel. The ideal candidate will be an avid shooter and have significant experience in product development and managing the life cycle of products from concept to commercialization. Looking for an individual to aggressively grow the business by thoroughly understanding the marketplace, competition and by developing products that address global consumer and retailer needs.

Product Manager, Gun Accessories

The Product Manager – Gun Accessories will achieve annual top and bottom line metrics through new product development in support of the tactical products team’s strategy. This position will be responsible for leading many aspects of R&D, from conceptualization, validation, commercialization and launch. Additionally, the product manager will be responsible for managing the lifecycle of the product from inception, to design and manufacturing, to service and disposal.

Product Manager is responsible for executing near term product development initiatives and developing the long term new products pipeline. The Product Manager relies on an innovative skills set, personal drive and intimate knowledge of the category to define and create differentiated products that satisfy unmet needs of our end users. This leader should be familiar with instigating and analyzing market research to show whitespace—folding in these insights to create identifiable points of difference our customers appreciate that both professional and civilian users seek out. Ideally, this candidate will be an avid practical/tactical shooter with in depth knowledge for firearms, firearms components and usage. The candidate should have a prior background in the military or law enforcement and be able to easily lever their prior experience managing product development from concept to launch. Additionally, this position will support the Sr. Director Product Development—within the BLACKHAWK—to achieve all key metrics for the team.

Brand Manager

Vista Outdoor is seeking a Brand Manager for its BLACKHAWK! business unit to be based in Virginia Beach, VA. This position is part of a unique opportunity to help create brand strategy and direction for the BLACKHAWK! business unit from the ground up. You will be a crucial part of a fast-paced environment that is equal parts demanding and exciting. The Brand Manager reports directly to the Senior Director of Marketing and will be responsible for ensuring communications, advertising, product placement, sales support materials, and general branding is all in line with cohesive brand strategy. MUST either have direct experience in firearms industry or a closely related/beneficial industry. Brand Manager will serve as liaison to industry professionals, brands, influencers, and media to spread the BLACKHAWK! persona while also relaying market research and latest trends back to the Marketing team.

Senior Graphic Designer

Vista Outdoor is seeking a Senior Graphic Designer for its BLACKHAWK! business unit to be based in Virginia Beach, VA. This position is part of a unique opportunity to help create revitalized brand identities for all companies in the BLACKHAWK! business unit (BLACKHAWK!, Eagle Industries, and Uncle Mike’s are the three main brands). The chosen candidate will have a high degree of autonomy and be expected to bring well thought-out and creative design strategies to the table that accomplish both honoring past brand precedence while looking to the future image we are working to create. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Marketing and will have one direct report (Associate Designer). The chosen candidate needs to be able to clearly demonstrate their experience with creating across-the-board company branding to span web, print, packaging, apparel, event materials, and more. A flexible and adaptable style is a must since this person will be overseeing the graphic design direction for a variety of brands.

Photographer/Videographer

Vista Outdoor is seeking a Photographer/Videographer to create a second-to-none content library for the BLACKHAWK! business unit (BLACKHAWK!, Eagle Industries, and Uncle Mike’s are the three primary brands). The Photographer/Videographer will have a unique opportunity to help define the visual representation of all brands within the BLACKHAWK! business unit as part of a sweeping brand revival. The selected candidate will have a high degree of autonomy to dream up the photo and video shoots they would like to tackle and will be encouraged to bring their own creative direction to the table. This position will answer directly to the Senior Director of Marketing and will work alongside a team of graphic designers, brand managers, social media specialists, web/eCommerce specialists, product designers, etc. This person needs to be filled with ideas that they’ve been wanting to tackle for imagery styles, cinematography styles, etc. as we work together as a team to break the mold of what has previously been seen as commonplace in the tactical industry.

Web eCommerce Specialist

Vista Outdoor is seeking a Web/eCommerce Specialist to help bring the BLACKHAWK! business unit’s online presence into the 21st century. You’ll have a unique opportunity to create an eCommerce strategy from the ground up to support both existing and new web-based revenue streams as we work to make our products more easily accessible and make the buying process more appealing, streamlined, and data-driven. You will also lead the efforts of three separate company website redesigns (BLACKHAWK!, Eagle Industries, and Uncle Mike’s — bonus points if they can all be done in tandem) with ample opportunity for input regarding the final outcome of the project. This position will spearhead collecting data from all digital revenue sources to help drive both increased sales as well as a more in-depth understanding of our customer base. The Web/eCommerce Specialist will report directly to the Senior Director of Marketing while working alongside the Sales team to ensure both departments are working toward common goals. This person needs to be ready to hit the ground running and bring valuable experience with digital revenue streams to the table in short order.

Associate Graphic Designer

Vista Outdoor is seeking an Associate Graphic Designer for its BLACKHAWK! business unit to be based in Virginia Beach, VA. This position is part of a unique opportunity to help create revitalized brand identities for all companies in the BLACKHAWK! business unit (BLACKHAWK!, Eagle Industries, and Uncle Mike’s are the three main brands). The chosen candidate will have a high degree of autonomy and be expected to bring well thought-out and creative design strategies to the table that accomplish both honoring past brand precedence while looking to the future image we are working to create. This position falls under the purview of the Senior Director of Marketing and reports directly to the Senior Graphic Designer. The chosen candidate needs to be able to clearly demonstrate their knowledge of how to create across-the-board company branding to span web, print, packaging, apparel, event materials, and more. A flexible and adaptable style is a must since this person will be overseeing the graphic design direction for a variety of brands.

Social Media Specialist

Vista Outdoor is seeking a Social Media Specialist to curate, direct, operate, and analyze the digital public-facing image of the BLACKHAWK! business unit (BLACKHAWK!, Eagle Industries, and Uncle Mike’s are the three primary brands). This is a unique opportunity to create a social media presence to represent a portfolio of established and respected brands from the ground up – a chance that not many digital marketers get in their career. The chosen candidate will operate with a high degree of autonomy and bring a wide range of cutting-edge social media strategies to the table with a fast-paced implementation schedule. The candidate will be required to work directly with Brand Ambassadors, Brand Partners, and Media Partners to ensure proper dissemination of approved materials throughout our network. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Marketing and will work hand-in-hand with our in-house team that includes a photographer/videographer, two graphic designers, a brand manager, and a web/eCommerce specialist.

On This Day In SF History

October 18th, 2018

On this date in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) history, our 2nd Battalion was activated October 16, 1991 at Fort Bragg, N.C. The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) is comprised of a headquarters company, three Special Forces companies and a forward support company. The battalion was nicknamed Bush Hogs due to its original alignment with the Africa area of operations, but that came later. The 48th man assigned to the battalion, I was on SOT-A 305, MID/2/3 SFG(A).

Currently, 2nd Battalion is regionally aligned with the central Asian states with a focus on Afghanistan. For the past 13 years, 2nd Battalion has participated in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The Bush Hogs is the only Special Forces battalion in the Special Forces Regiment to have multiple rotations and engagements in combat while maintaining other operational requirements in their area of responsibility.

Revision Purchases Power Tech Company, Protonex

October 18th, 2018

Essex Junction, Vermont (October 18, 2018) – Revision—a world leader in both soldier-worn and platform power solutions— has acquired Protonex Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems. Protonex has deployed thousands of portable power solutions globally, and their products align well with Revision’s Nerv Centr® soldier power solutions.

The Revision® Nerv Centr® Power Management Systems are forward-thinking solutions for a wired battlefront, reducing weight burden and eliminating battery life uncertainty. At right is Nerv CentrSharePack™, an advanced lightweight, conformal lithium-ion power pack that integrates power provision and management into one unit. At left is the Nerv CentrSoloPack™, a rugged, high power density lithium-ionbattery offering high power density and state-of-charge display.

“In Protonex, Revision is acquiring an established player in the soldier power management solutions area. Their specialized product focus—particularly their power managers—perfectly complements Revision’s soldier power portfolio,” said Revision CEO Jonathan Blanshay. “With Protonex we are not simply acquiring their advanced technology, but also their talented workforce and engineering expertise. We will now be in an even better position to realize our vision of integrated power and data solutions to enhance warfighter survivability and lethality. Revision is a growth company that seeks complementary diversification; we’ve demonstrated this with expansion across every dimension of our business, but also through proactive acquisitions—including our purchase of MSA’s helmet business in 2012 and Panacis power systems in 2014. This is not just an opportunity to grow Revision’s power management capabilities; it’s also an ideal moment to invigorate Protonex’s established product lines.”

The Protonex® SPM-622 Squad Power Manager is a tough and compact device which weighs less than a pound and enables military units to optimize power for multiple electronic devices.  

In its history, Protonex has innovated in fuel cell design, invented the modern Intelligent Power Manager, and grown to become a leading provider of advanced power solutions for portable, remote, and mobile applications. Protonex’s commitment to providing solutions that overcome energy gaps for military, scientific, and commercial communities will continue.

For the immediate future, Protonex will operate under the Revision name as a stand-alone entity in Southborough, MA, under the continuing stewardship of David Long, General Manager. Current customer contracts and orders will be fulfilled as planned and Revision will take care to minimize disruption for customers and suppliers. Simultaneously, Revision will pursue business opportunities that leverage Protonex technology and know-how to provide increased capabilities and effectiveness to global warfighters.