When I spoke with former SEAL Dom Raso, he showed me his new DynAmis Belt named for his company Dynamis Alliance. As you can see in the photo above it’s a low profile, buckle-less web belt. While it will keep your pants up, it pulls double duty as a self defense item thanks to the mesh spare change pocket in the front opening.
Coming soon from www.dynamisalliance.com/gear
When the Army began its quest to identify a new camouflage pattern several years ago it also realized that it was going to have to do something with the several Billion Dollars worth of Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment in the Universal Camouflage Pattern, already in its inventory. By PM SPIE, COL Robert Mortlock’s own assertion, the Army plans on an eight year period to fully transition from the current patterns to the new one. That UCP gear is going to be with some units, particularly TDA-based, for years to come.
Last week, the Army issued a Sources Sought Notice to industry on behalf of Project Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment (PM-SPIE), Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier seeking a Overdying Process for Fabrics and Other Items.
This isn’t the first time we’ve written about this and it isn’t the first time PEO Soldier has looked into the solution. Just last Fall they issued a similar Sources Sought but cancelled it in late November. To me, what the reissue of this notice signals is that the Army is finally moving forward with a transition plan. Although, they are stumbling through a couple of issues right now that should have been anticipated before the leadership selected a course of action.
In particular, they are seeking:
Project (sic) Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment (PM-SPIE), Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 is seeking information from potential industry partners who can provide a technology/process solution to modify the camouflage pattern utilized in the manufacture of current individual Soldier equipment. This development effort is aimed at over-dyeing fabric and/or end items comprised of nylon (500/1000 denier), cotton, FR rayon, and para-aramid of various fabric constructions. Specific items include but are not limited to Modular Lightweight Load carrying Equipment (MOLLE) and Improved Outer Tactical Vests (IOTV). Items requiring an over-dye process may have been treated with water repellants such as DWR, polyurethane, as well as flame resistant treatments, and may be comprised of fabrics of various fiber types and fabric constructions. The objective of this process is to over-dye the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) to create a darker color that more closely matches the shade/color of coyote brown. Of particular interest are portable technologies that can be utilized outside of the manufacturing environment.
I was told long ago that a solution had been identified, but it’s always good to see if industry has come up with anything new. Also, did you notice that they are interested in a solution that closely resembles Coyote Brown? The big challenge here is getting everything dyed to a common shade. With different wear and substrates, dying is as much art as science. As it is, getting the same production run or the same material, dyed to the same shade is a challenge because Cordura, webbing, NYCO, FR rayon, and para-aramid all absorb dyes differently and the concentration of dye is as much an issue as the wear to the fabric’s fibers. And that’s not to mention previous treatments which may also affect the absorption of dye. Consequently, the kit may end up looking like various shades of this:
The Feed is a Boulder-based subscription service that provides fitness foods and snacks in a monthly package. They offer a starter Pro Box, which includes a balance of nutrition, hydration, and recovery products. Customers also have the option to completely customize their own box from over 700 products available on the site.
Designed to be attached directly to a Velcro equipped bicep pocket, the Chemlight Pocket from RE Factor, places up to 4 chemlights right at your fingertips in a discrete location. The design does not drastically alter the appearance of your uniform as you can see in the photos and attaches directly to the Velcro on your pocket.
Be aware that the dimensions are optimized for the Crye Precision combat shirt pocket (5.25″ x 5.50″). Made in USA! Offered in Black, Ranger Green, Tan and MultiCam, it will match virtually any uniform you are wearing.
www.refactortactical.com/chemlight-pocket
We all have much to owe Stephanie L Kwolek, who invented the basic Kevlar compound while working for DuPont in 1964. Amazingly, she was attempting to develop a material to replace steel radial belts in tires when a polymer she was working didn’t quite come out right. On a hunch, she had it spun into fiber that turned out to be five times as strong as steel as well fire resistant. Further development resulted in the Kevlar family of aramids we know today, although it took a decade for the material to be introduced into soft body armor. Eventually, Ms Kwolek was honored with a National Medal of Technology in 1996 for her work that has resulted in countless lives saved.
DuPont continues to develop the material discovered by Ms Kwolek. Just last week, they announced that the millionth vest made from Kevlar XP had been manufactured and they recently launched DuPont Kevlar AS450X, specifically engineered for greater comfort to the body armour wearer while protecting against multiple threats including bullets, knives, spikes, bullets and blunt objects as well as DuPont Kevlar XP S104, a water repellent fabric that offers enhanced bullet stopping power and reduced back face deformation, even in hot and humid climates and wet conditions.
Born on July 31, 1923, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Stephanie L Kwolek passed away in Wilmington, Delaware, on 18 June, 2014 at the age of 90.
Thank you for your hard work. Rest In Peace.
Extreme Outfitters is now offering an expanded line of Bertucci Field watches, including the Bertucci A-2T Vintage watch, which features a DX3 solid titanium case, Swiss all-metal jeweled quartz analog movement, super luminous hands and markers, and a five year battery life.
www.extremeoutfitters.us/search.aspx?manufacturer=185
The NYMPH came about as a result of Spartan Blades wanting to produce a high quality slip joint folder, using as few small moving parts as possible. The resulting design features a blade made from S35VN steel in a Drop Point style, with a frame and clip made from 6AL-4V titanium.
Spartan partnered with Les Halpern of Halpern Titanium to develop the locking system of the NYMPH, which is called an “Integral Frame Slipjoint”. This system utilizes the dorsal side of the frame which is cut to work as a spring and holds a pin that creates a bias to close and open. To open the blade, one must push on the tab on the blade while pulling on the triangle cut-out of the opposite side and hand. The pin locks into the blade when held firmly by the thumb and forefinger in position of use, but is free to rotate upon release of the frame handle.
Due to its unique design, the NYMPH is legal in countries such as the UK and Germany which restrict knives with traditional lock systems, knives capable of one-handed opening, and those with long blades. SSD’s Editor picked up a NYMPH at Blade Show 2014, and used it on his recent trip to France; he was very happy with the performance.
The blade finish is Stonewashed. Frame finish available in Stonewashed and Purple Anodized.
spartanbladesusa.com/NYMPH-Intregral-Frame-Slipjoint
“Albert Einstein” Drill
I’ve got a new drill that I run on line and it’s been tough for me to put the proper vernacular to it. The drill is prefaced by asking where we should stand, time-wise, as far as single shot from the holster at 10 yards.
Opinions and answers vary, as they should. I then propose to set up timers on a par of 2.5 seconds and ask shooters to pick a zone on an IPSC target where they know, without a shadow of a doubt, they can maintain consistency. The zones are ‘A’ Credit Card Head, ‘B’ Head, ‘A’ Body, ‘C’ zone, or entire target. I tell shooters to outline their zone with a sharpie and stay in it for five consecutive, 2.5 second, single shot draw strokes.
The objective is not only to stay in it, but to strive to achieve better.
Thanks to Albert Einstein for assisting me in amending the verbiage for this course of fire; “One must develop an instinct for what one can barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts. Mark the boundary of your current ability, and aim a little beyond it.”
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.
He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
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 some words of wisdom.
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