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Max Talk 26: Advanced Patrolling 2: Multiple Enemy Firing Points

June 17th, 2019

This is the twenty sixth installment of ‘Max Talk Monday’ which shares select episodes from a series of instructional videos. Max Velocity Tactical (MVT) has established a reputation on the leading edge of tactical live fire and force on force training. MVT is dedicated to developing and training tactical excellence at the individual and team level.

A follow up video to the previous ‘Advanced Patrol Techniques: Satellite Patrolling.’ This time, examining and running a sand table scenario for multiple enemy firing points. Utilizing a sand table model with figurines, as a method of introduction to explain these advanced patrolling techniques.

Detailed explanations can be found in the MVT Tactical Manual: Small Unit Tactics.

Max is a tactical trainer and author, a lifelong professional soldier with extensive military experience. He served with British Special Operations Forces, both enlisted and as a commissioned officer; a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Max served on numerous operational deployments, and also served as a recruit instructor. Max spent five years serving as a paramilitary contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan; the latter two years working for the British Government in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Website: Max Velocity Tactical

YouTube: Max Velocity Tactical

Excellence in Tactical Training.

D3O Launches Its Lightest Helmet Pad System Yet

June 17th, 2019

D3O, the world’s number one impact protection company, has just launched its most lightweight helmet pad system for law enforcement and military applications, D3O® TRUST NimbusTM.

TRUST NimbusTM has been designed to provide superior impact protection performance and comfort, suitable for integration into any helmet shell, via 7 or 9 helmet pad configurations.

This Berry Amendment Compliant helmet pad system exceeds the required level of protection for the Advanced Combat Helmet Standard (AR/PD 10-02) in both Polyethylene and Aramid helmet shells, offering excellent performance across multiple impacts.

Bill VanMullekom, Executive Vice President of D3O US LLC, says “Soldiers or law enforcement officers must be able to execute the mission without being distracted by their own comfort level or fatigue. This knowledge led our team at D3O to develop our most lightweight helmet pad system, focusing on combining exceptional impact protection with complete comfort.”

The launch comes in response to the movement in the defense market today towards lightweight protection, which reduces fatigue over long periods of time and enables greater freedom of movement and agility.

3M is a global leader in head protection for military and tactical applications and has enjoyed a long-term relationship with D3O. 3M’s Vasilios Brachos, Senior Defense Product Development Manager says: “Our approach is to work with customers and end users to understand the specifications we are required to achieve. End users are asking for lightweight and comfortable products which are proven to protect – that’s why we’ve chosen the TRUST Nimbus for use in several of our helmets.”

The integrated memory foam comfort liner and moisture wicking head-side fabric with anti-microbial properties enhances the comfort of the helmet pad system, while providing superior impact protection performance.

Terry Griffith, Global Business Manager – Defense and Law Enforcement at 3M, notes “We are pleased to work with D3O and offer their latest advanced lightweight impact protection pad system to our customers. Combined with our advanced ballistic protection and lightweight helmets, it will enhance our product value to the end user.”

TRUST NimbusTM will be available for individual or unit sales through D3O’s distribution partners, RRDS and TSSI, over the coming months.

www.d3o.com

US Marine Corps Adoption of M18 Underscores Success of SIG SAUER Modular Handgun System Program

June 17th, 2019

NEWINGTON, N.H., (June 17, 2019) –SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to adopt the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS), as their official duty pistol.

“The Marine Corps announcement to put the M18 in service with the Marines is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and a true testament to the success of the MHS program,” began Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The Marine’s procurement of the M18 brings the adoption of our Modular Handgun System full circle, as this means, beginning in 2020, either the M17 or the M18 will be officially in service with every branch of the U.S. Military.”

 

The M18 is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with black controls.  The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE front night sights and removable night sight rear plate, and manual safety. 

Recently, the M18 successfully completed a MHS Material Reliability Test that consisted of firing three M18 pistols to 12,000 rounds each for a total of 36,000 rounds in accordance with the MHS requirements.  Comparatively, the U.S. Army’s legacy pistol was only tested to 5,000 rounds making the test duration for the M18 pistol 2.4 times greater than that of the legacy pistol.  In this testing, the M18 experienced zero stoppages despite being allowed up to twelve stoppages.  Additionally, the M18 passed a parts interchange test, and met stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements.

“The success of the MHS program is the direct result of the indisputable performance and superior quality of the M17 and M18 pistols, and the commitment and dedication of the men and women of SIG SAUER to those that serve in the defense of freedom,” continued Cohen. “We are very proud, and humbled, to have earned the trust of every branch of the U.S. Military through their acceptance of the MHS program and adoption of the M17 and M18 pistols.”

Currently, the M17 and M18 are in service with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.  The USMC will begin their acquisition of the M18 pistol in 2020. 

SureFire Exhibiting at 2019 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

June 17th, 2019

Fountain Valley, CA—SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest—and most innovative—illumination tools and tactical products, will be a featured exhibitor at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, held June 18-20 in Denver, Colorado. SureFire will be displaying its best-in-class illumination tools, including the ultralight, 650-lumen Stiletto, which weighs just 2.8 ounces. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the SureFire booth (#42059-UL) to check out the latest SureFire offerings.

www.surefire.com

Original PlateFrame Drag Handle From S&S Precision

June 17th, 2019

S&S Precision’s Operator System Suite (OSS) accessories include a Drag Handle which attaches to their original PlateFrame.

See the complete OSS line of pouches and accessories at www.sspgear.com

One and a Half Tons of Love and Support Delivered for U.S. Veterans and Service Dogs

June 17th, 2019

3,210 pounds of Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Arrives to Support Pairing of Veterans with Service Dogs in American Humane’s Pups4Patriots™ Program

STILLWATER, OKLA., June 13, 2019 – Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food has delivered one and a half tons of love and support (3,210 pounds to be exact) in the form of nutritious free pet food to support two of the nation’s most vulnerable populations: America’s vets and America’s pets.

American Humane’s Pups4Patriots™ program in Stillwater rescues qualified animals in need of forever homes and trains them as service dogs for veterans coping with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. While American Humane, which has supported military veterans and animals for more than 100 years, completely covers the cost of the dogs and their expensive training, which can run upwards of $30,000, the cost of food for these large, active service animals can be significant. Today’s donation will help feed the current class of service dogs being paired with veterans for six to eight months.

“By providing this welcome donation, Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food is helping both our brave veterans and animals who otherwise might never have found homes,” says American Humane veterinarian Lesa Staubus, DVM. “We and those who will be benefited by this extraordinary generosity are very grateful for their support.”

The delivery is part of a national effort by American Humane and Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food to distribute more than a million meals of premium, all-natural Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food to U.S. shelters each year. Last year, Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food also supported Oklahoma City by delivering 13,000 pounds of pet food to the Pet Food Pantry in Oklahoma City.          

“This campaign provides help where it is needed most,” said Robin Ganzert, PhD, president and CEO of American Humane, which was also recently involved in the rescue of animals in the devastating Oklahoma floods. “On behalf of all our brave veterans and the life-changing, life-saving animals who work with them, a big thank-you to our friends at Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food’s CEO Chris Mitchell said, “We are honored to play a part in helping our brave veterans and their valiant service animals and thank American Humane for advancing this vitally important work.”

SOFWERX – Offline Language Translation Tool Capability Assessment Event

June 16th, 2019

USSOCOM PEO-C4 Military Information Support Operations (MISO) is in search of offline translation devices or Android-based applications that are available and/or can be readily available to provide near real-time translation of incoming audio to English and text.

Submit your technology for an opportunity to brief and demonstrate your proposed solution to the MISO evaluation panel at the July Capability Assessment Event, 30-31 July.

For more information and to submit, visit www.sofwerx.org/translator

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Self Adjusting Fin Straps

June 16th, 2019

Self-adjusting fin straps are one of the best ways to don and doff your fins. It also makes it easier to use different size booties. Steel spring straps are a relatively new product for fins. It was invented by cave divers that didn’t want their rubber straps breaking on them in the middle of a cave. So, they took screen door springs and made fin straps out of them. Typical rubber straps have a good chance of breaking at some point. If you are lucky, it will happen as you are putting them on before a dive, not in the middle of one. While you should always try and carry a spare strap on you, replacing a strap can be a pain in the middle of a dive. 

The spring strap helps avoid most of these problems. Available for many open heel fins, spring straps permanently mount to the fin. Furthermore, spring straps typically attach using rust-resistant metal hardware. SCUBAPRO Steel Spring Straps are available for SCUBAPRO Jet fins, Twin Jet Max, Veloce fins, and the Seawing Nova fins. They are made with High-grade marine steel. These straps can replace the traditional fin strap with the added benefits of being easier to don and doff, and they will compensate at depth for the pressure underwater.  The flexible nature of the spring strap tightens as you descend to compensate for the crush on your boots, meaning your fins stay on at the exact tension you set them to at the surface.

 

                                 

 

Spring straps are strong springs with a rubber or nylon heel cover for comfort. Instead of having to adjust the tension every time you put them on like with traditional straps, you simply stretch the spring over your heel.  

 

This decreases your time and energy spent putting on and taking off your fins before and after a dive. Several models of fins now come with spring straps pre-installed, but they can also be added to many fin models.

The other type of self-adjusting straps is made from quality marine-grade bungee designed for years of reliable use. Marine grade bungee is design and construction, making it ideal for prolonged exposure to moisture, sunlight/UV radiation, and the general wear and tear that fins regularly go through. A denier Dacron polyester cover is thick and long-lasting, repelling water and resisting abrasion better than nylon. Made from a top-quality first extruded latex rubber, this bungee has a consistent 100% stretch and high modulus that won’t lose its elasticity as many others do. Bungee straps are depth compensating as they compress when your neoprene boots get thinner due to increased water pressure. Like the steel spring, the bungee is self-adjusting at depth. Upon ascent, they decompress keeping fin straps comfortable throughout the dive. Straps have a large rubber finger loop to aid in donning and doffing. Marine bungee is highly reliable and has a very low percentage of breaking. All this being said, I know you can break it if you “test it” to try and prove me wrong.