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What’s Your Favorite OPFOR Uniform?

August 23rd, 2017

Over the years, the OPFOR (Opposing Forces), units which portray enemy forces, have worn a variety of uniforms. For example, there’s this classic look from the 50s and 60s, when the OPFOR were referred to as Circle Trigon forces.

The modified helmet liners were available to units through their local Training Aids Support Center.

At other times, permanent units at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center have worn various solid color and camouflague pattern uniforms, based on the types of adversarries they’ve depicted at the time. Below you can see the JRTC uniform.

FORT POLK, LA — The colors of Easy Company are uncased at BRDM Field to activate a forward support company of the 1-509 Infantry. Lt. Col. Matthew Tackett and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Young perform the solemn duties. Photo by Raymond Barnard, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center. (Photo Credit: Raymond Barnard, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center)

At NTC both Tan and 3-color Desert uniforms have been worn.

Although they wore Black BDUs for many years, currently, the OPFOR in Germany at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center are wearing All Terrain Tiger pattern from Tiger Stripe Products.

Soldiers return fire while conducting a town defense scenario during Saber Junction 17 at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 15, 2017. Saber Junction 17 is the U.S. Army Europe’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s combat training center certification exercise. It includes nearly 4,500 participants from 13 NATO and European partner nations. (US Army photo by SPC Gage Hull)

What uniforms do you remember, and what was your favorite?

Posted in Camo | 43 Comments »

CANSOF Seeks Advanced Special Operations Forces Combat Uniform

August 23rd, 2017

In a solicitation published to Public Works, the Department of National Defence (DND) has issued a requirement for Commercial-Off-The-shelf Advanced Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Uniforms (ASCU) to be supplied in accordance with DND specifications.

It is a two stage procurement:

Step I (Initial Contract): each Bidder deemed compliant will be awarded a contract for the supply of a quantity of twenty (20) Shirts and quantity twenty (20) Pants. These Combat Uniforms will be subjected to a User Acceptance performance Evaluation.

Step II (Main Contract): Following the User Acceptance Performance Evaluation result, one contract will be awarded for the Combat Uniforms. The Requisition on contract (ROC) will be for one (1) year with the option to extend for four (4) additional one (1) year period. The Bidder must supply and deliver the Combat uniforms as specified in Individual Requisition on Contract.

The candidate uniforms will be manufactured from No Melt No Drip fabric in the MultiCam print. The uniforms will be trialled by 10 wearers and their technical merit will be evaluated based in these factors:

Although they want samples in MultiCam print, they’ve included a place holder for other colors and patterns in the solicitation.

Have an exterior finish as follows:

a. Printed with the MULTICAM® camouflage pattern; and

b. Other finishes as available including white, black, tan and alternate camouflage patterns;

Another interesting requirement for potential bidders:

Expertise and Proven Design
The Bidder must be an experienced military uniform manufacturer by having been in the business of developing, manufacturing and/or selling military uniforms for a minimum of three (3) years and having sold a minimum of five hundred (500) uniforms to an American, British, Canadian or Australian (ABCA) military force in the last five (5) years.

It will be interesting to see if this solicitation gets CANSOF away from the Peerless manufactured uniforms they are currently using.

Tags: CANSOF
Posted in Clothing, Contracts, International | 6 Comments »

Bill Orr, Founder of GT Distributors and Former President of NAPED, Passes

August 23rd, 2017

New Bern, NC (August 2017) – The National Association of Police Equipment Distributors (NAPED) is sad to announce the passing of one of our industry greats, William J. “Bill” Orr, founder of GT Distributors and a founding member of NAPED.
Bill passed away Aug. 21 at his home in Georgetown, Texas.

He will be buried beside his late wife, Charlotte, at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Bill’s passion for firearms and Smith & Wesson® specifically, began in his youth. After his service in the Army and marriage to his college sweetheart, Charlotte, Bill managed an appliance store. On the side he bought and sold guns. In 1966, Bill was granted a Colt® distributorship while still running the appliance store. By 1972, Bill, with the help of Roy Jinks (Smith & Wesson historian), had received a Smith & Wesson Law Enforcement distributorship. He and his wife officially founded GT Distributors, so called because their first building sat on the Georgia and Tennessee state line in Rossville, Georgia.

Since those early years, Bill and Charlotte, and eventually their kids, built the business into one of the largest law enforcement distributors in the country. As a man passionate about collecting firearms, he was also passionate about business and was one of the original five members of NAPED in 1986.

“Bill will be sorely missed by everyone at GT and remembered as a man that was truly interested in everyone and every gun he met. He was an astute businessman and loving family man, who generously gave his time and energy to his employees,” Tim Brown, president of GT Distributors and of the NAPED BOD commented.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 25 at 12:30 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family and view the memorial tribute.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org) or the charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends 5 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug 24 at the Heritage Funeral Home.

Tags: Bill Orr, GT Distributors, NAPED
Posted in Memorial, Press Release | Comments Off on Bill Orr, Founder of GT Distributors and Former President of NAPED, Passes

Arc’teryx Norvan 14 Assault Hydration Vest

August 23rd, 2017

Designed for use as a runner vest, complete with a built-in, roll-top pack, the Norvan 14 Hydration Vest from Arc’teryx will debut in Spring 2018. It weighs just 415 g / 14.6 oz and is made from Warpknit mesh. The vest integrates mesh pockets which keep your gear secure, yet allow one handed access. Additionally, it comes with a 2 liter Source Hydration bladder and features adjustable straps to keep your load under control.

Officially, it’s called the Norvan 14 Hydration Vest, but no sooner did I get it out of the packaging than I realized the two front mesh pockets would accept magazines. Consequently, I’m calling it the Norvan 14 Assault Vest, due to its Black color, the standard color for assault vests up through the 1990s.

Remember, these mesh pockets were intended for soft flasks or GPS devices, but I found that I could fit a single 30 rd AR mag or 2 x 30 rd MP5 magazines in either pocket.

Here you can see the roll-top detail of the 14 liter integrated pack. It’s not waterproof, but rather highly water resistant.

Look for the Norvan 14 next Spring.

www.arcteryx.com

Posted in Arc'teryx, Load Carrying | 7 Comments »

MASF to Host Top Tier Speakers at Civilian Carry Mindset Seminar

August 23rd, 2017

Lovettsville, VA – Modern American Shooting & Firearms (MASF), a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Education Organization, focused on the premise that safety is learned though education and training, has announced they will be hosting their inaugural, Civilian Carry Mindset Seminar, August 26th, at the Lovettsville Game Protective Association, in Lovettsville, VA.

Attendees of the seminar will be able to interact with some of the industry’s top trainers and subject matter experts, to present topics ranging from mindset to daily concealed carry, law, justified shootings and much more!

Those in attendance will learn from six speakers, and a one-hour, open panel discussion at the conclusion of the day. Speakers include: VA Senator Dick Black (USMC Veteran), Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman (Former DEA), Philip Van Cleave (VCDL), Brett Harnish (USMC Veteran currently Green Ops), Attorney Daniel L. Hawes (Virginia Legal Defense), Nathan Murr (USMC Veteran, currently Kinetic Developement Group), Rob Tackett (USMC Veteran, currently Critical Carry Firearms Training and TacStrike Steel Target Systems).

All attendees are eligible to be entered in multiple door prizes. Some of our sponsor donated items include XP-15 DELTA – 5.56 beautifully accessorized out by KDG, Trijicon MRO® – 2.0 MOA Adjustable Red Dot with Low Mount, TacStrike Steel, PMAG® D-60™ AR/M4 5.56X45MM NATO, Green Ops One Day Class, FPF Training One Day Class (John Murphy) and too much more to list!

For more information, and to enroll in the MASF Civilian Carry Mindset Seminar, visit here.

Tags: MASF
Posted in Press Release, Training | 1 Comment »

Team Rubicon Appoints Four New Members to Its Advisory Board

August 22nd, 2017

LOS ANGELES, (August 21, 2017) – Veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon welcomes four members to its advisory board with the appointments of Andy Bessette, Gen. (ret) James Conway, Gregg Lemkau, and Jeff Smith.

“Our newest board members bring a broad range of experience from the finance, insurance, government, and military sectors,” said Jake Wood, Team Rubicon cofounder and CEO. “With nearly 50 disaster response operations under our belt in 2017 alone, these individuals will enhance and accelerate our efforts to build stronger communities through continued service.”

Andy Bessette is the executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Travelers. Bessette is responsible for operations from real estate to community relations as well as sports partnerships, including the company’s official marketing partnership with the PGA Tour. A member of the 1980 Olympic Team, he continues to support Olympic Committee activities. Bessette holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Gen. (ret) James Conway was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in 1969. During his 40-year career in the Marine Corps, Conway initially led the invasion of Iraq in 2003 with 90,000 troops under his command. During his second tour, he oversaw the Battle of Fallujah. Conway was the senior operations officer on the Joints Chiefs of Staff providing support as a military advisor to the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the President. He also served as the 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as the senior uniformed Marine.

Gregg Lemkau is the co-head of global mergers and acquisitions for Goldman Sachs. He is a member of firm’s management committee, the investment banking division executive committee, and the investment banking division operating committee. He joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1992. Lemkau was named managing director in 2001 and partner in 2002. He earned a Bachelor’s in Government and Economics from Dartmouth College in 1991.

Jeff Smith is the senior vice president of human resources for FedEx Ground. With over 20 years of strategic leadership in human resources and operational roles, he joined FedEx Ground in November of 2014 as vice president of human resources and was named senior vice president in June 2017. Jeff is a member of The Conference Board’s Chief Human Resources Officer Committee and served on the Client Advisory Board for Linkage – Women in Leadership. Jeff is an Army Veteran serving as a member of 5th Special Forces Group and as an Army Aviator with 1/147th Aviation Battalion of the Wisconsin National Guard. Jeff has a bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a master’s from the University of Iowa.

U.S. Marine Corps veterans Jake Wood and William McNulty founded Team Rubicon in 2010 following the massive Haiti earthquake. The nonprofit organization has grown from eight volunteers to over 50,000 with over 200 operations under its belt, including responses to Superstorm Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, and Hurricane Matthew.

www.TeamRubiconUSA.org

Tags: Team Rubicon
Posted in Press Release, Veterans | Comments Off on Team Rubicon Appoints Four New Members to Its Advisory Board

RCS Vanguard 2 – Available with Color Matched Overhook

August 22nd, 2017

Raven Concealment Systems is offering their Vanguard 2 Holster with color matched Overhook in Wolf Grey and Mil-Spec Coyote Brown. For those of you unfamiliar with the Vanguard 2, it’s a minimalist IWB holster which only covers the trigger guard of your pistol. The VG2 can also be used to guard the trigger of pistols inside of waist packs and other bags, with the VG2 tethered to the inside of the bag, as it will pull away from the pistol when drawn, remaining with the bag.

Available here.

Tags: Raven Concealment Systems
Posted in Holsters | Comments Off on RCS Vanguard 2 – Available with Color Matched Overhook

Australia’s Diggerworks Studies Exoskeletons

August 22nd, 2017

Diggerworks is undertaking a feasibility study to determine the potential utility of a passive exoskeleton for ADF dismounted close combatants. The intended purpose of the systems is to transfer the weight burden of the soldiers’ carried equipment directly to the ground, helping the dismounted soldier arrive at their destination less fatigued and ready for battle.

As part of the exoskeleton trial, participants were fitted with a surrogate suit made of 3D printed plastic. The surrogate suit was fitted to ensure measurements were correct prior to manufacturing titanium suits.

This looks to be the Mawashi UPRISE Tactical Exoskeleton we recently covered.

Tags: Australia
Posted in Disruptive Tech, International, Robotics | 15 Comments »