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Bawidamann – Dive Girl Apparel

November 21st, 2016

Back by popular demand, Bawidamann is offering pre-orders for the SFOD-A/SF DIVESHOOL VERSION/ CIVI Version.

Years ago, Andrew Bawidamann drew an awesome depiction of a young lady in dive equipment. The image was adopted by many Special Forces Dive Teams for wear on team t-shirts.

About once a year, Bawidamann opens them back up for order.

He will leave this Pre-order open from 11/18/16 to 1/18/17. Whether you want just one for yourself of 15 for your team, here is your chance.

Once the pre-order window is closed he will run the whole Job. He needs a minimum order of 15 to get a customized ODA ### type set under the Dive Bubble. Make your Team order and put your ODA# in the ORDER NOTES.

For the rest of us non ODA/SF DUDES, you can get the DIVE GIRL /CALICO JACK SHIRT/HOODY. It is printed at the same time on the same press as the SF stuff and is just as badass.

DIVE GIRL HOODY PREORDER: CLICK HERE
DIVE GIRL SHIRT PREORDER: CLICK HERE

Note: THIS WILL NOT SHIP UNTIL 2.7.17. So Pretty Please don’t expect this for Christmas.

Tags: Bawidamann
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2A LiFE

November 20th, 2016

2A LiFE is a clothing and lifestyle brand that’s just recently sprung up. Right now, the first and only product available in their lineup is a red, white, and blue #2AVA PVC, Velcro-backed patch. Expect to see some t-shirts, and more, as time goes on.

Check out their site (to order a patch) and Instagram (to see what new products are being thought up) via the links below:

www.instagram.com/2a_life
www.2alife.us

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MATBOCK – Davinci Operator

November 20th, 2016

I stopped by MATBOCK the other day and they pulled out this awesome T-shirt. Limited to only 100, the design was inspired by Davinci’s Vitruvian man.

With every purchase of MATBOCK Gear, they donate 10% of your total MATBOCK Gear order amount to the Navy SEAL Foundation to support the families of the warriors who have given their lives for our freedom.

www.matbock.com/collections/shirts/products/davinci-operator

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Spirit Of Blue Wreath Fundraising Campaign

November 20th, 2016

In the spirit of the holiday season, Whitney Wreath has partnered with the Spirit of Blue Foundation to offer a special Spirit of Blue wreath. The Spirit of Blue wreath features a blue French wired ribbon trimmed in silver, an appropriate nod to its namesake, along with sliver-toned bunches of pine cones, berries, and holly. A portion of the proceeds of each Spirit of Blue wreath will be donated to the Spirit of Blue Foundation to further their efforts to promote public awareness for the protection of law enforcement officers as well as fulfill safety equipment and training needs.

store.whitneywreath.com/spirit-of-blue-p10

Tags: Spirit of Blue
Posted in Charity | 2 Comments »

SSD Saturday Night At The Movies – RAF Cold War Nuclear Bomber Force

November 20th, 2016

This documentary covers a rather interesting subject, the Royal Air Force Bomber Force which for several decades centered around the Vulcan and served as a Nuclear deterrent during the Cold War.

Posted in Air Force, History, International | 1 Comment »

Corps Strength – “Get it done.”

November 19th, 2016

It was one of those perfect Southern California winter days; Sunny, warm and crystal clear. Dec of 1981 and I was just another young Marine PVT in the 2nd or 3rd week of Infantry Training School (ITS). My platoon was busy digging into some C Rats after a fast ten mile hump out to one of the many training areas on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Our main instructor was a young Cpl, a sadistic prick (who later retired as a Sgt Major), but at the time was only a year or two older than most of those in his charge. We were there that morning to participate in one of the many live fire exercises that we would do during our month long course. I was just about to break open my own can of “Beef and Rocks” when I heard our Cpl’s familiar bark. “Where’s my Donkeys at?” This was a signal to me, my best friend and a couple of others (that he had singled out early in the training cycle), to come forward and “volunteer”. In most cases this meant we were going to have to carry, or go get something for him; like his folding chair, coffee thermos or ice cooler. In any case it wasn’t something that was going to be fun, but honestly the “Donkeys” were kept off the real shit details and every time we humped his cooler of beer, we always got one.

Anyhow, this was going to be different. In front of us were about 50 new, sealed ammo cans of 5.56. “We got the duty” He laid out, as he spit some tobacco juice on the ground. “We (meaning us) need to get that ammo to the top of that hill.” He pointed to a very steep, sandy and rocky hill that was about 200 yards to the top. When I looked up at the summit, I could see some other instructors up there already. I figured we would be shooting from one hill to another as another platoon ran below us to get to an assault position. In those days our training consisted mainly of just three things: (not counting the nonstop field day of the squad bay), humping, running and shooting, most of the time in combination (it was great). There were four of us assigned this task. We looked at the pile of cans, the steep hill and the rest of the platoon enjoying their chow. Sensing what we were thinking, our fearless leader dropped into his folding chair and added: “Donkeys eat when they get done working, get it done.” We each grabbed two cans and started up. It was hard work and took about 4-5 trips each. I was in outstanding condition having recently maxed the Marine Corps PFT and was pretty well used to those hills at that point, I could hump a heavy pack all day, but I never had to do this particular task before. I didn’t have a real problem, certainly not as hard a time as some of the others. But I never forgot how hard that hour was lugging those heavy ammo cans up that hill. I was also surprised how tired I was afterward and sore the next day? It was a real introduction to what they call now: Functional Fitness. Or should I say a lack of it. It made an lasting impression on me that being in top shape was more than just running, or doing pull-ups.

From that point on I almost always included some type of training with ammo cans. Mostly with two .50 cans. Fill them with sand they are about 30lbs, with rocks almost 40. Funny thing is that now many years later, this is standard training for Marines and part of the Combat Fitness Test, (CFT). However, I’ve been using them for over thirty years and still do. I use them and train my international students with them. They are an inexpensive, versatile and effective training tool. You can get them used for about ten bucks each at any military surplus store and if you don’t dump them on concrete they will last though many years of hard use. In my book Corps Strength, I lay out several ways to use ammo cans in training. They can be used by themselves or in combination with other types of functional training (like with a weight vest) for a real ass kicker. This type of training isn’t bodybuilding, or sports conditioning, but for toughening and conditioning your whole body to handle real world stuff, especially your back, legs, grip and shoulders. Plus, there is just something motivating about throwing around some ammo cans for PT, at least to me. So if you want to add something different and effective to your workout, without spending a lot of money. “Get it done” with a couple of (filled) ammo cans. You’ll find them to be a great training tool and always will be.

Till next month,

“Be safe always, good when you can.”

Semper Fi

MGunz

Tags: Corps Strength
Posted in Corps Strength | 3 Comments »

BCM Gunfighter Moment : Warrior’s Heart

November 19th, 2016

MISSION 22

Wars do not end for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Air Men because they have returned home. For the people who have fought our wars, their fight does not end when they step off a plane onto the tarmac outside a war zone.

Today, twenty American veterans kill themselves, everyday, in the United States. Making this singular truth known to all Americans is our purpose. From this truth, Mission 22 inspires others to take up the cause of Veteran’s Suicide by creating or supporting efforts in their communities that can insure the people entrusted with fighting our wars, have the support at home that they need to come home in both their hearts and minds.

Founded by US Army Special Operations Combat Veterans, Mission 22 was started by warriors facing personal battles with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) during and after their service with the military. When Mission 22 started, twenty two veterans were committing suicide every day. Mission 22 has reached millions of Americans with their message and as Americans learn the truth, they are taking action.

WARRIOR’S HEART

Co-founded by Mission 22 co-founder, Tom Spooner, Warrior’s Heart is a facility built specifically to treat Post Traumatic Stress and substance abuse issues facing veterans today. Built on the former site of the Purple Sage Ranch, northwest of San Antonio, Texas; Warriors Heart is a private facility with on-premises lodging, private therapy suites, group therapy spaces, fitness areas, recreational spaces, dining, and over 543 acres of Hill Country for exploration and private reflection.

With so much under one roof, Warriors Heart is able to provide physical, emotional, spiritual and cognitive healing for our veterans and first responders in one place. With their official opening on October 15, Warriors Heart is working to heal dozens of Veterans and First Responders who have come to the facility seeking a way to come home and connect with who they are.

ART THERAPY

From its beginnings, Mission 22 created public and private art pieces that both raised awareness of Veteran suicide as well as helped the creators, combat veterans, on their path to healing. These pieces were designed to live in the everyday, where Americans worked and lived. These pieces were put in place to remind everyone who saw them, that there was a human cost to protecting our nation.

At the Warrior’s Heart facility, Mission 22 maintains a creative workshop space where “clients” can express their experiences and themselves through art. Providing raw materials and the tools to craft them, warriors have crafted personal works that they take with them at the end of their journey or leave on the campus to be displayed throughout the grounds of Warrior’s Heart.

SERVICE DOGS

Operation Overwatch works with the clinicians at Warriors Heart to train service dogs specifically to what is needed in the treatment process for a veteran or first responder actively in the healing process. Post traumatic stress can be cued by smells, sounds or even the weather. Service dogs can be trained to recognize these triggers and intervene to help their person before an event can occur or to stop an event in progress. Additionally, these Service Dogs can be trained for mobility assistance and as companion dogs. To date, all dogs have either been rescues or “owner surrenders”, and often times clients can relate their personal struggles with that of one of the hand-picked shelter dogs. Group classes and private sessions are offered where clients learn training, husbandry, structure and communication skills vital to not only personal healing, but relationship building as well.

THE WAR AT HOME MEMORIAL

Conceived of and built by Mission 22, the War at Home Memorial features twenty Coreten steel plates, each with water jet cut silhouettes and dog tags of real American veterans that lost their battle, here at home. Arranged in a phalanx, these are the silhouettes of fathers, brothers, sisters and friends; killed by shots fired from the other side of the planet, in battles that ended long ago.

Debuting to the public at the Warriors Heart Opening, this memorial is unlike others, built in place and seen only by those who go out of their way to pay their respects. The War At Home Memorial has been designed to travel, so that it can find it’s way into the population centers of the United States where it can be seen by everyone and that they can know the truth about Veteran suicide in America today.

To arrange for the War at Home Memorial to come to your city, contact Mission 22 at www.mission22.com/ contact-us-1

Learn more about Warriors Heart and see how you can help here www.warriorsheart.com.

Learn more about Operation Overwatch and service dogs here www.operationoverwatch.org.