UF Pro continues their Guide to Close Combat with this installment of Defence Against Cold Weapons such as knives and sticks.
ufpro.si/combat_against_cold_weapons
UF Pro continues their Guide to Close Combat with this installment of Defence Against Cold Weapons such as knives and sticks.
ufpro.si/combat_against_cold_weapons
Way back when I first enlisted in the Marine Corps (1981), AKA the “Days of the Giants.” I worked for some real hard asses. Now for the most part these weren’t spit and polish Marines, though they could clean up when they needed to. The fact was back then, just about every Staff NCO and Officer from Major on up, was a Vietnam Vet. Many were highly decorated and had been wounded. They were some crusty SOB’s for sure. I recall even our company admin chief (a Gunny) had a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts. One time over a few beers at a unit picnic he was asked; Gunny, didn’t you ever learn to duck? He answered, “I got shot three times and I killed the bastard that did it every time.” OOOHH – F’ing – RAAA Gunny. I learned a lot from those Marines, things I used my whole career and even to this day with my international students. Yes, they were different than us, not better than our warfighters of today, just different.
They dam sure were different when it came to PT. These guys weren’t big on running and they never lifted weights, or did anything you could call “Cross-Fit” Most couldn’t give two shits about a PFT either. I remember at one of my first PFT’s holding my Platoon Sgt’s (lit and unfiltered) Pall Mall, so he could do his pull-ups. They tended to think about PT like they did about everything else, no bullshit. I had a Sgt Major (who served as a Capt in Vietnam), tell me the three most important things you need (physically) in combat were: The ability to suffer pain (hunger, thirst, cold, heat, injury and fatigue), the ability to dig a hole (fast), and the ability to hump a heavy pack (and carry gear), up and down hills, through the mud, etc. From my own experience, I think that’s still accurate. I would add to that list from my own experience, the ability to move your ass (with full gear), up and down and over obstacles in a GD hurry, is a good thing also.
Setting the first two aside for now, the ability to hump (ruck, hike, whatever you want to call it) a pack over varied terrain and for many miles quickly, is still a fundamental physical skill for any combat arms military people. I am also of the opinion however that it is a desired ability in anyone (military or civilian) who wants to achieve and maintain a high level of useful real-world fitness. There is just something about it that toughens and strengthens your entire body. It’s benefit is hard to duplicate by any other single exercise.
Now if you’re not in the military, (or a Wild Land Firefighter) you don’t need to take this to an extreme level to gain some real fitness benefit. I typically do 10 miles, with my 45lb training pack, 2x a month. This, along with my normal PT keeps me in very good condition to easily handle the field training I do with my students and to tackle any outdoor activities my sons and buddies come up with for us to do off duty. In fact, myself and my two sons have signed up to do the Mt. Everest base camp trek next spring. There we will be hiking roughly 100 miles from 4000 – 18,000 ft in elevation, over three weeks. I have no doubt my own (minor) “Force March” training will have me in good stead for that trip.
For general fitness get a good pack and add 20-40lbs of weight. You can get a used ALICE pack with frame at most military surplus stores for less than 50 bucks. Wear good boots (not running shoes) and hike 3-10 miles 2 x a month over varied terrain, the pace is up to you. This is plenty to gain some real fitness benefit. You can wear a weight vest if you like, though I prefer a pack, as I’d rather have all the weight baring on my back vs. my shoulders, but both will work. I like to do this early on Sunday mornings. My wife comes with the dogs and we have a nice couple of hours walking together, (she doesn’t carry a pack however). I think that 2x a month is enough, but you could do it every week if you don’t overdue the weight, distance or pace, but I think that these type of workouts can be tough and you need time to recover. The bottom line is this isn’t a cool, sexy or what you would call “cutting edge” fitness, but it works and if there’s nothing else I learned from my old Vietnam era mentors, it’s to go with what works and skip the bullshit. This works, and it’s no bullshit. Give it a try. Till next month;
“Be safe always, good when you can.”
Semper Fi MGunz
If you keep hoping and praying you’ll win a Minimalist Plate Carrier, you’re in luck. Day 6’s prizes are more MPC’s and some Grey Ghost Gear Backpacks! 10 Lucky Winners will be each get a Plate Carrier and Pack! Not only that, but you’ll snag a SSD Keep Calm Morale Patch! Winners will be announced tomorrow.
If you already entered, just sit back and keep your fingers crossed. If not, you’ve gotta get in on this! I’ll even make it easy for you, click HERE
The Day 5 Winners of the M.O.A.G. have been selected! Prizes were Grey Ghost Gear Minimalist Plate Carriers (with SSD Morale Patches) and Grey Ghost Precision 300blk Match Grade Ammo.
(Random Color, Mags and Pouches not included)
(Random Color, Mags and Pouches not included)
Winners will be contacted via email.
Didn’t see your name? That just means you have 9 more chances to win even bigger prizes, so stay tuned for each daily winner announcement. Not entered? click HERE.
REMINDER: U.S. residents 18yrs or older only for firearms prizes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16th, 2017
LAS VEGAS, NV – Now available, the Rex Zero 1T (Tactical model) in two colors, Black and Flat Dark Earth. Features a threaded barrel (with protector) 1.5×28, 20+ round capacity magazine (ships with 2), and ROR (Rex Optics Ready) System.
REX ZERO 1 TACTICAL SERIES
The Rex Zero 1T (REXZERO1T-01) Tactical pistol complies with strict military standards for reliability and has passed extreme temperature, hostile environment, and drop tests. Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original retail (commercial/civilian) purchaser, one year for law enforcement and military customers. Warranty and service by FIME Group LLC. Ships with (2) 20-round mags, (4) Plates for optics mounting, Hard Polymer Case, Cable Padlock, Operating Manual.
The Rex Zero 1T (Tactical) pistol continues the excellence in production, quality, and value that Arex of Slovenia has become known for since the introduction of the Rex Zero 1 to the US in 2016 with FIME Group, LLC as the official importer. The Tactical model has more options than ever before in the Rex Zero series of pistols, including the new ROR (Rex Optics Ready) platform. Adding on to the proven quality and craftsmanship of the basic features, the Tactical model now offers the following enhancements to increase shooter experience and customization ability.
The Rex Zero 1T (Tactical) is a 20-round, 4.9” threaded barrel 9x19mm pistol with several unique features:
Features
ABOUT FIME GROUP, LLC
FIME Group, LLC is a manufacturer, importer, and exporter of the finest, high-quality firearms from around the world. Founded with the mission to manufacture the finest firearms and establish long-lasting business relationships with multiple manufacturers, FIME Group, LLC seeks to provide all of the customer favorites among rifles, handguns, and shotguns.
FIME Group, LLC.’s partnerships include:
FIME Group, LLC. is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and may be found online at www.fimegroup.com
New York – June 14 – The Disaster Recovery International (DRI) Foundation is accepting applications for an industry-first “giving-back” scholarship program to active duty or recently separated military veterans.
“As an Air Force veteran, I know exactly what it’s like to have a lot of ambiguity about what my next career step was going to be,” said Larry Chase, Co-Chair of the DRI Foundation Veterans Outreach Program Committee. “We wanted not only to help, guide and mentor, but to create opportunities for veterans as they come out of military service and into the public and private sectors.”
Scholarships are open to recently separated and soon-to-separate military veterans and include, at no cost to qualified candidates, admission to a DRI International business continuity educational course, all course materials, qualifying examination, and all application fees. As the leading business continuity training organization worldwide, DRI has more than 15,000 certified professionals in over 100 countries.
The current round of applications will be accepted through June 30, 2017. This will be the second group of veterans to receive scholarships from the DRI Foundation.
“One of the major challenges is being able to take all the military experience you have and package it in a way civilians understand it,” said Florence Moss, a certified graduate of the DRI Veterans Outreach Program. “I had to rebuild my confidence as I was reintegrating. Completing my certification was a light for me. And I’m truly thankful for it. Having an international organization that validates what I’ve already accomplished shows organizations that I have those tools.”
The DRI Foundation is incorporating the scholarship into its summer giving agenda with a Fund-A-Vet online fundraiser via Crowdrise. With the help of its donors, the goal is to reach or exceed $4,000 (the cost of a DRI course and materials) by July 4, 2017. Donors can support the fundraiser at: www.crowdrise.com/veteransoutreachprogram/fundraiser/drifoundation
“We are delighted with the positive response to the Foundation’s Veterans Outreach Program,” said AnneMarie Staley, DRI Foundation Chair. “The resilience community recognizes the tremendous value that service members bring with them through their military experience, and we want to bring them into this career field for which they are a perfect fit, but with which they may not be familiar.”
For additional information, visit: thedrifoundation.org/what-we-do/veterans-outreach-program
About the DRI Foundation:
The Disaster Recovery International (DRI) Foundation’s vision is to promote ‘Resilient Communities Worldwide’. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity and recover stronger. The Foundation focuses on sustainable resilience activities over immediate relief with the goal of empowering communities to help themselves. It pursues its vision by promoting disaster risk reduction through partnership and education and aiding recovery efforts through fundraising and volunteerism.
About DRI International:
A recognized expert resource, DRI acts in an advisory capacity to organizations and government institutions worldwide, helping to create professional standards and promote greater resilience. DRI is a member of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNISDR) Private Sector ARISE Initiative on disaster risk reduction, an ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization, an IRCA Approved Training Partner, and International Organization Liaison Observer to ISO/TC 292 for standardization in the field of security to enhance the safety and resilience of society.