Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Proposed Changes To Service Animal Accommodation

February 20th, 2018

The United States Department of Justice is reconsidering significant portions of the Americans With Disabilities Act. One of the provisions involves reasonable accommodation when the disabled person (and/or their service dog) presents a “direct threat” to those around them. In the past, reasonable accommodation could be dispensed with if the individual was afflicted with a communicable disease. Now, the government is considering expanding “direct threat” to include service animals as well as other circumstances. The way this is worded, it is probably going to fly under the radar. Quite a few Veterans I know have service dogs and this may affect them.

The issue is open for public comments on the Federal Registry. If you have any feedback, please visit www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/19/2017-01057/amendment-of-regulations-implementing-section-504-of-the-rehabilitation-act-of. Please, be thoughtful and respectful. Comments are open until March 20th, 2018.

Posted in Medical, Veterans | 8 Comments »

SPARTANAT – Interview With TARDIGRADE TACTICAL

February 20th, 2018

SPARTANAT: Tardigrade Tactical, you are from Denmark. What do you specialize in?

We specialize in designing and developing equipment for military and law enforcement end-users. – Equipment that cuts down on bulk, weight and comprises and integrates functionality in each design. We work hard to fit all functions into one layer rather than to do several layers, with each layer having a different function – both in a literal sense with layers of fabric but also in a more holistic sense, knowing that our products will become a part of an end-user’s complete setup – most likely wearing issued kit and other brands of gear. It’s really all about focusing on helping the end user perform as good as possible. We actually produce products meant specifically to be integrated with the professional end-user’s issued kit. We know that some departments of the military and the Danish law enforcement have strict guidelines on what’s allowed to be worn and we work around that issue with a “low footprint integration” in mind, basically ending up with designs that looks like an integrated part of the original gear. This makes it a lot easier for the end-user to wear his gear and focus on his task at hand rather than being concerned of what his or her leaders might think of a non-issued product – which is a very real issue these days.

SPARTANAT: How long have you manufactured gear? How did it all begin?

We have been manufacturing gear since 2011, but it all really started when I was deployed the Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009, with a small reconnaissance unit. At that time, we bought a lot of our own kit and spent tons on money making our setup perfect. We imported most of the stuff from USA but the integration with our issued kit, at the time, was never perfect. It lacked a “Danish touch”. I started doing sketches on different designs during our down-time in the FOB (Forward Operation Base), and figured I needed a creative hobby to focus on, in my spare time, when returning to Denmark. When I returned home to Denmark after my deployment, I bought my first industrial sewing machine and spent a few years learning different design- and manufacturing processes – basically learning the “source code” on how to turn fabric and webbing into a piece of gear. For a few years I was designing sewing gear for my colleges, in my basement, but things really escalated in 2015, when we set up shop in an old building not far from my home, in Copenhagen.

Today, my business partner Frederik and I run the company and have two employees working at our facility on a daily basis, producing gear for several web shops and retailers as well as government departments and SOF units.

SPARTANAT: You have a logo not easy to identify. What does it show and why?

Yes, we are often asked that question and I always enjoy telling people about the meaning behind our name and logo. The Tardigrade is a small organism, gaining more and more popularity due to its tough attributes. When the Tardigrade is in a certain state, it has the ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, radiation and even the vacuum of space. The creature is no more than 1 mm of size, but lives in all corners of the world, making it really great mascot for our brand: sturdy, versatile and with a small foot print. I have always been very fascinated with science and biology and have always admired the low profile of the tardigrade, that is most likely the only living organism to outlive all other, here on Earth.

SPARTANAT: What’s your favorite product?

My favorite product? That’s a hard one to answer. I love all my children… I’ll have pick the one that has made the most impact with our customers, specifically those in the Danish Army: the “Low Profile Laminate Belt (beta)” so far has proven to be a great piece of kit for the soldiers, wearing heavy MOLLE belts. It’s really light weight, has a very low profile and very easy to adjust, using hook and loop. The belt is designed to follow the curvature of the hip and to do nothing more than keeping the operator’s pants in place. The idea came from wearing big, bulky rigger belts (that does not serve any other purpose, anyways) under the issued MOLLE belts. Big belts on top of each other will created fatigue, irritation and soars, during longer patrols. The “Low Profile Laminate Belt (beta)” does not, as it is so light and thin, you can hardly feel it, when wearing it. We plan to crowd fund the final version of the belt, for an international audience within a few months, as we think it has a very big potential.

Also, worth mentioning is the combination of our “Tardigrade Tactical – Speed Reload Pouch, 5,56 Rifle” and “Tardigrade Tactical – Light Weight Dump Pouch”. Two products that has been around since approx. 2012. A great deal of effort has been put into designing these two products, basically to give the operator the option of placing two pouches on the same space normally used for one pouch, with the MOLLE/PALS on the inside of the dump pouch. The “Tardigrade Tactical – Speed Reload Pouch 5,56 Rifle” is very light weight, very small but very functional magazine pouch, designed to allow the operator at full grip of the magazine when drawing for a speed reload. The design allows for adjusting the tension on the magazine and the opening allows for an easy insertion on a full magazine during breaks in engagements: a soldier should never take his eyes away from the thread, even when rearranging his full magazines.

SPARTANAT: Anything you want to tell your costumers? 3-5 pictures, portrait (if wanted), give us a short bio

Absolutely! A big thank you so far for supporting our brand and project! Also, a big thank you to all service members using our products down range and providing us with much appreciated end-user feedback! This helps us to continually design products that will fit the needs of future end-users deploying worldwide.

Finally, I very much appreciate all the different individuals we meet during shows, helping us to gain a bigger and better understanding of the industry as a whole and in detail.

Bio:

Name: Birk Anton Knudsen.
Age: 30
Geo: Copenhagen
CEO and founder of Tardigrade Tactical.
Military background: Corporal in the Danish Army since 2007 – Reconnaissance and Armored Infantry (PNINF), Gardehusar Regiment, Slagelse.
Deployments: Helmand, Afghanistan

http://www.tardigradetactical.dk/
http://spartanat.com/

Tags: Spartanat, Tardigrade Tactical
Posted in International, Load Carrying, Spartanat | 5 Comments »

SSD Service Outage Announcement

February 19th, 2018

Last week, we were supposed to upgrade our server but found out at the last minute that the upgrade had been delayed until this evening.

SSD will be down for a few hours this evening, but should be back to normal operation by tomorrow AM.

Posted in Admin | Comments Off on SSD Service Outage Announcement

Law Industries Kneeboard

February 19th, 2018

UK-based Law Industries makes SERE and recce equipment. Their LI Kneeboard is designed to sit on your knee allowing a solid writing surface for your Fieldnotes or Moleskine notepad.

Think of it as a hard surface when you need one. They offer several customization options, so check out their site to learn more.

store.lawindustries.co.uk/product/l-i-kneeboard

Tags: Law Industries
Posted in Recce | 6 Comments »

Former CEO and Executive Management of Defense Contractor, Wellco Enterprises, Inc., Pleads Guilty to $8.1 Million “Made In The USA” Marketing Scheme and Government Contract Fraud

February 19th, 2018

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On February 15, 2018, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Wellco Enterprises, Inc. (Wellco) and Tactical Holdings Operations, Inc. (Tactical Holdings), Vincent Lee Ferguson, 66, of Knoxville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wellco’s former Senior Vice President of Sales, Matthew Lee Ferguson, 41, of Geneva, Illinois, and former Director of Marketing and Communications, Kerry Joseph Ferguson, 36, of Houston, Texas, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Wellco’s former Vice President of Government Contracting, Neil Streeter, 55, of Warren, Massachusetts, and former Operations Manager, Stephanie Lynn (Ferguson) Kaemmerer, 45, of Knoxville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to smuggling goods into the United States.

Sentencing has been set for Vincent Lee Ferguson, Matthew Lee Ferguson, and Kerry Joseph Ferguson for June 6, 2018, before the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge. Sentencing for Neil Streeter and Stephanie Lynn Kaemmerer is set for June 11, 2018, also before Judge Greer. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and smuggling goods into the United States both carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each defendant was released pending sentencing.

According to information on file with the U.S. District Court, Wellco was a leading manufacturer and supplier of military footwear to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and to civilian (commercial) customers for over 70 years. From 2006 through 2012, DoD alone paid in excess of $138 million to Wellco for the supply of combat boots. Wellco pioneered and patented the first practical method for molding and attaching a rubber sole to a shoe upper in a single operation. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army adopted Wellco technology for the manufacture of its hot-weather boots for the jungles of Vietnam, a boot that became known as the “Vietnam Boot” or the “jungle boot.” In May, 2007, in a deal involving approximately $22 million, Wellco was acquired by two investment firms, Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and Integrity Brands, Inc. Wellco became a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Gate’s portfolio company, Tactical Holdings.

In March 2006, Vincent Lee Ferguson was made President and CEO of Wellco. At that time, he discussed with Wellco’s Board of Directors, his turnaround plan for the company to increase commercial sales and “aggressively pursue” sales to the U.S. government. From December 2008 through August 2012, he conspired with his executive team to import military-style boots that were made in China into the United States and then deceptively market and sell those boots to DoD (and other federal departments and agencies), government contractors, and the general public as “Made in the USA” and as compliant with the Berry Amendment and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). The Berry Amendment prohibits DoD from buying clothing that is not grown, reprocessed, reused or produced in the United States. The purpose of the Berry Amendment is to protect the viability of America’s textile and clothing production base. The TAA provides that the government may acquire only “U.S.-made or designated country end products” and requires government contractors to certify that each “end product” meets applicable requirements.

By December 2008, Wellco was manufacturing certain military boot model uppers and insoles in China. In order to conceal this fact, the conspirators required the Chinese manufacturing facility to include the American flag and “USA” on labels of certain boot uppers. After two shipments of these deceptively marked boots were detained and seized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, the conspirators ordered the Chinese facility to stitch tear-away “Made in China” labels in Wellco boot uppers. After importation, the conspirators instructed Wellco factory workers in Morristown, Tennessee to tear out the “Made in China” tags prior to shipping the boots to government and commercial purchasers.

The defendants marketed and sold these Chinese-made Wellco boots as “Made in the USA.” They also submitted false certifications to DoD and other federal agencies, and to government contractors that these boots complied with the Berry Amendment and TAA and met certain safety standards, including electrical hazard and blood-borne pathogen protections for U.S. troops. For example, on August 15, 2012, the defendants submitted a signed “Certificate of Conformance” to a government contractor, representing that Wellco’s boot model S161 was “100% Berry Compliant” and “fully protective against Electrical Hazard,” even though the model was imported from China and not safety tested. The boots were then supplied to troops stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. In total, Wellco sold at least $8.1 million of fraudulent boots.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, and Defense Contract Audit Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David L. Gunn and Timothy C. Harker represented the United States.

This does not involve anyone currently with Wellco or Altama.

www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/former-ceo-and-executive-management-defense-contractor-wellco-enterprises-inc-pleads

Tags: Wellco
Posted in Industry, Press Release | 8 Comments »

B.E. Meyers & Co. at Enforce Tac

February 19th, 2018

February 19, 2018 (Redmond, WA) – B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc. will be exhibiting its full range of laser and flash suppression solutions for military and law enforcement applications at Enforce Tac in Nürnberg, Germany 7-8 March, 2018 in hall 11.1 at booth 137. The company will be showcasing its full catalog of products, including: the MAWL, GLARE, and IZLID series of lasers; as well as the BOARS-M2 modular optic and accessories rail for the M2 platform.

To schedule a meeting with B.E. Meyers & Co. at Enforce Tac, please email sales@bemeyers.com.

MODULAR ADVANCED WEAPON LASER (MAWL)

The B.E. Meyers & Co. MAWL family of individual carbine lasers have been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the modern night fighter and is currently used by Special Forces groups across the world, including the French GIGN. Understanding the shortcomings of common laser devices in use with both military and law enforcement, B.E. Meyers & Co. built the MAWL with three ideal settings (Close Range, Mid Range, and Long Range) which allow for seamless transitions in any operational environment. The MAWL-DA (Direct Action, class 3B) and MAWL-C1+ (Class 1+) feature high powered near infrared and visible green aiming and illumination capabilities. The MAWL-CLAD (Covert Laser Aiming Device) distinguishes itself from other MAWL variants through the inclusion of a Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) laser pointer. Every MAWL features cutting edge Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology to provide consistently superior NIR beam quality and clarity, as well as a significantly greater illumination range.

HAIL AND WARNING

The GLARE® RECOIL, now designated the LA-22/U, was selected by the Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) as the sole source winner for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Ocular Interruption Systems (OIS) program. It features the B.E. Meyers & Co. patented SmartRange™ technology that utilizes laser range finding and near-field detection to self-regulate power output. The result is a product that represents the pinnacle of Hail and Warning systems technology, featuring controlled EyeSafe™ irradiance while simultaneously achieving maximum permissible exposure on target.

B.E. Meyers & Co. also offers a class 1M variant of the LA-22/U, known as the GLARE HELIOS™.

IZLID

The IZLID® series of NIR and SWIR laser pointers/illuminators are versatile and dependable. Theyallow Special Operations and conventional forces to clearly and precisely communicate with to other assets both in the sky, and on the battlefield. Primary applications include marking, pointing, targeting, and illumination. The IZLID series of lasers can be used as handheld units or mounted to various weapons systems or aircraft.

BOARS-M2

In response to the need for a modular, compact optic mount for the M2 platform, B.E. Meyers & Co. developed a revolutionary low profile mounting solution, the BOARS-M2™. It offers a modular, quick-disconnect system with true return-to-zero reattach, and a pass through aperture for use with iron sights. The BOARS-M2’s low profile form factor increases operator survivability by lowering the end-user defilade.

For more information about B.E. Meyers & Co. products, please visit www.bemeyers.com.

Tags: BE Meyers & Co Inc, Enforce Tac
Posted in Advertiser, IWA | Comments Off on B.E. Meyers & Co. at Enforce Tac

MATBOCK Monday || R-LIFT

February 19th, 2018

Last but definently not least, the R-LIFT is the lightest and most versitle rigid litter on the market. Yes, as an individual litter this is more expensive than your typical rigid littler, but the value is in the system. At 6.5lbs, it is half the weight and size of any other rigid litter on the market and comes with a thermal blanket, inflatable head pillow to allign the spin and a simple one buckle “X” pattern patient retention system to secure the patient’s core.

The poles in the R-LIFT are the same as used throughout the rest of the LIFT System. This allows the assault teams to carry the ladder or extension poles while the medic is left with only a 4lb attachment to be used in the event of a casualty.