Kitanica is launching a brand-new website on Monday, November 10th, full of new features including easier navigation, mobile platform compatibility, and enhanced social media connectivity. Make sure if you order from Kitanica to do by end of evening on Sunday, November 9th, as there will be a temporary hold on orders during the website migration.
As a career Marine who has now been retired from active duty for over five years, I find myself taking a somewhat clearer perspective of my military experience. No, I’m not talking about rewriting history (like many do), what I mean is looking at things with a longer view. That includes many different areas; the people you served with, the deployments forward, mistakes made and successes gained. One way or the other, all these things look different in your rear view. Fitness and health are different.
As a lifelong, self confessed “PT freak” this is something that I’m sure I’ve studied much more than most. Way back in the dark ages when I came in (1981) the PT program was much different that the “scientific” programs you see in the military today. I think just being a hard ass was more of a priority than actual fitness back then. Over the years that attitude has changed and has shifted more towards actual physical ability, to include better health. Just for one example look at smoking. When I came in everyone smoked, and they smoked just about everywhere. Needless to say those days are gone and the overall health of our military members are better because of it.
On thing that illustrates in a real way is some of the lifelong Marine buddies that I’ve know for over 30 years. Now while many of these guys could out PT me on their worst day when we were in our early 20’s, now sadly, many are now in poor health. Many are very overweight, and have some serious health issues. I’m not talking about battle wounds or injury for the most part here. Just the result of their day to day habits over many years. Eating and drinking to excess, smoking, stress and lack of exercise.
Look, I’m not trying to lecture anyone about how to live your life. It’s a free country and if you’re not hurting anyone else, or breaking the law, have at it I say. What I’m getting at here is that I don’t think that you are doomed to poor health and fitness just because you are getting older, and/or have retired from active duty. You don’t. I know this from my own personal experience and many years of first hand observation. All it really takes is a program of moderate, consistent effort in PT and a little discipline in your personal life. These are not that hard and yield positive benefits in your life that are almost too good to measure, especially in the long run.
I wrote my book “Corps Strength” in 2010. But I’ve been pretty much have been following that same PT program for about 25 years. Does it work? Better yet does it work long term? Note the picture below. These two pictures were taken 18 years apart. Both at the Marine Corps Marathon (1996 and 2014). Now I will admit I can’t run as fast as that hard headed Jarhead on the left, but I still run pretty good at 54, and and you can too, and that my friends is the point. Take care and be safe.
Semper Fi
MGunz
A classic American trait is we like to customize and modify our prized possessions. Everything from cars, bikes, guitars and of course guns. I would argue it is one of our strong points and goes hand in hand with our quest to make things ‘better’.
My only advice is to know why you are customizing your firearms specifically. If it’s to make it a better range ‘toy’, then that’s okay. Just understand that I see a lot of shooters who think they are customizing their self defense firearms to make them more useful for the assigned task, when in fact they are making them less usable. I see this in every class I teach.
Be careful and do your research before you modify a weapon that you stake your life on. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.
-Larry Vickers
Vickers Tactical Inc.
Host of TacTV
Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical is a retired US Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran with years of experience in the firearms industry as a combat marksmanship instructor and industry consultant. In recent years he has hosted tactical firearms related TV shows on the Sportsman Channel with the latest being TacTV of which Bravo Company is a presenting sponsor. Larry Vickers special operations background is one of the most unique in the industry today; he has been directly or indirectly involved in the some of the most significant special operations missions of the last quarter century. During Operation Just Cause he participated in Operation Acid Gambit – the rescue of Kurt Muse from Modelo Prison in Panama City, Panama. As a tactics and marksmanship instructor on active duty he helped train special operations personnel that later captured Saddam Hussein and eliminated his sons Uday and Qusay Hussein. In addition he was directly involved in the design and development of the HK416 for Tier One SOF use which was used by Naval Special Warfare personnel to kill Osama Bin Laden. Larry Vickers has developed various small arms accessories with the most notable being his signature sling manufactured by Blue Force Gear and Glock accessories made by Tangodown. In addition he has maintained strong relationships with premium companies within the tactical firearms industry such as BCM, Aimpoint, Black Hills Ammunition, Wilson Combat and Schmidt & Bender.
Larry Vickers travels the country conducting combat marksmanship classes for law abiding civilians, law enforcement and military and has partnered with Alias Training to coordinate classes to best meet the needs of the students attending the class.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Alias Training & Security Services. Each week Alias brings us a different Trainer and in turn they offer us some words of wisdom.
Reaper Outdoors “Survive the Hunt” is in the office today sporting Beyond Clothing. Shooting for the Sportsman Channel and Wild TV. 20ft off the ground, ready to ambush a big whitetail buck, undisclosed location in Pa. Airs 30 December 2014 to July 2015.
Rogue American Apparel is offering a Desert Tigerstripe version of their American Flag and Death Card Caps
Here we get to take a look inside Salomon’s Skunkworx shop, also known as S-LAB, where they develop their highest-quality products.
UF PRO is currently offering three new cold weather garments in licensed MultiCam: the Hunter Sweater, Delta AcE Sweater, and Delta AcE Plus Jacket.
Hunter Sweater
The Hunter Sweater is a lightweight layer intended for cold, windy, or wet days. It is made from 100% polyamide, and lined with 37.5 COCONA micro fleece. Additional features include the Striker sleeve pocket configuration, elastic cuffs, and a 1/2 front zipper.
Delta AcE Sweater
The Delta AcE Sweater is a cold weather sweater designed using UF PRO Hybrid/Design technology to create a garment with a windproof and water repellent nylon ripstop laminate front material lined with 37.5 micro fleece, 37.5 micro fleece in the back and arm pit areas, and sleeves filled with G-Loft insulation lining. UF PRO air/pac inserts in the shoulder allows for comfortable carry of packs, plate carriers, and other heavy gear. Additional features include Striker sleeve pocket configuration, dual access front pocket, wrist warmers, Velcro loop panels on the upper arm of both sleeves, and a 1/2 front zipper.
Delta AcE Jacket
The Delta AcE Jacket is designed with UF PRO’s Hybrid/Design technology, creating a garment with an ePTFE softshell laminate front and back, 37.5 micro fleece contours at the back and arm pit areas, and two layer laminate sleeves filled with G-Loft insulation lining. UF PRO air/pac inserts in the shoulder and upper back area allows for comfortable carry of packs, plate carriers, and other heavy gear. Additional features include Striker sleeve pocket configuration, two front pockets, wrist warmers, lined collar, Velcro loop panels on the upper arm of both sleeves, and a full length front zipper.
UF PRO has been offering garments in the MultiCam-inspired SloCam for a while now, however this is the first time they’re offering products in the original MultiCam pattern itself.
Thanks to Greg for the tip!
Strohman Enterprise is now offering two new mounts for the VIRB action camera line:
VIRB Picatinny Mount
The VIRB Picatinny Mount allows the user to mount their VIRB camera to the Picatinny or Weaver rail of their firearm. Comes with 0 and 90 degree angle mounts for multiple mounting options.
VIRB Dog Harnesses
The VIRB Dog Harness is a lightweight, fully adjustable harness which allows dog owners to mount a VIRB camera to their dog at one of two mount locations. The VIRB Dog Harness comes in two sizes: Short for dogs with a length of 15-25 inches, and Long for dogs with a length of 26-36 inches.
