This 1942 US Army training film is a great snapshot in time, depicting various clothing and equipment issued at the time to ski troops, specifically members of the 10th Light Division.
WWII US Army Training Film – Ski Equipment
December 26th, 2024Merry Christmas from Bu Dop Special Forces Camp (A-341) December 1969
December 25th, 2024
Bu Dop Camp was located some four kilometers south of the Cambodian border in South Vietnam and far from any friendly forces. Deep in enemy-held territory, A-341 was under constant attack and the only access to the camp was from the air. It was manned by a Green Beret A-Team from 5th Special Forces Group and a force of CIDG troops (indigenous Nungs and Montagnards).
Bu Dop was also home to a top-secret team of Army Security Agency Green Berets from the 403rd Special Operations Detachment (SOD) who monitored and collected communist communications for its intelligence value. The ASA men were fully-qualified Special Forces soldiers and required to fulfill their Green Beret duties in addition to their intelligence duties.
Photograph: Christmas at Bu Dop – 1969 – On the left is Lt. Dietz (aka Santa Claus), 5th SFG, and on the right is Gary Lamberty of the 403rd SOD. (© thespecialforce.com now defunct)
Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men
December 25th, 2024
Some of you will recognize this Nativity scene from the movie “Threads” which paints a very bleak future at the hands of nuclear Armageddon. Released at the height of the Cold War in 1984, a year after the US TV movie, “The Day After,” it is a much more frank and horrifying look at the subject by British production by the BBC, Nine Network and Western-World Television, Inc.
We should all thank our forebears on both sides of this tense period who loved us so much that they pulled us back from the brink. They had survived the deprivations of a global depression and at least one world war. They didn’t want us to experience something worse.
On this Christmas, let us all pray for peaceful times.
WC-135R Conducts Atmospheric Testing in the CENTCOM AOR
December 24th, 2024In a rare occurrence, the USAF has released photos of a WC-135R Constant Phoenix conducting sampling operations in an undisclosed location within the CENTCOM AOR.
WC-135 is the only aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory that conducts air sampling operations and collects particulate and gaseous effluents and debris in the atmosphere in support of the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty which ensures signatory nations adhere to prohibited above ground nuclear weapons testing.
Assigned to the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Constant Phoenix is used worldwide to conduct radionuclide baseline flights. The aircraft’s onboard atmospheric collection suite allows mission crew assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, to detect radioactive “clouds” in real time through its internal compressor system.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem
Tactical Concealment LLC x Sniper Dynamics Introduce Arctic Warfare System
December 24th, 2024Tactical Concealment LLC, has developed the Arctic Warfare System of concealment items In a collaborative effort with Sniper Dynamics LLC,.
Featuring Sniper Dynamic’s new StalkLand VOID Arctic concealment pattern, the Arctic Warfare System has been designed using end-user input, offering an effective Arctic terrain individual visual & nIR spectrum signature reduction solution.
StalkLand VOID was developed in collaboration with Brookwood Roll Goods, a leading U.S. textile manufacturer. The product uses Brookwood’s “Eclipse” 2-ply Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coated 70D textile as the base material. This same Eclipse fabric is currently utilized as the exterior shell material for the U.S. Army’s Gen 3 Level 7 Parka.
The Arctic Warfare System features three primary item sets meticulously designed to offer a total of five distinctive variations. Each variation aims to deliver a diverse array of concealment solutions, catering to various operational needs in challenging Arctic environments.
– Cobra
– Surgeon
– Helmet Cover
TC Cobra Hood
The Cobra Hood combines Tactical Concealment’s proven Cobra design with Over-White-Weight textiles to create a highly effective, breathable, and lightweight option. It features easy access for the end user to the lower chest mounted kit, removable sleeves, and an oversized hood that accommodates larger dual-tube night vision goggles (NVGs) such as the PVS-31. The Cobra is available in both sewn-on and removable hood variations.
To address the extreme cold of Arctic conditions, which can drop to -30°F, the traditional Cobra ITW Fastex buckle chest closures have been replaced with ITW metal G-Hooks. Additionally, based on input from cold-weather subject matter experts, all Velcro fastenings have been replaced with button configurations.
TC Surgeon Hood
The Surgeon hood is specifically designed for snipers and reconnaissance personnel. It features a bar-tacked white
550-cord grid for attaching jute and natural vegetation. Additionally, the Surgeon includes an integrated hook-and-loop quick-disconnect veil for enhanced concealment of precision weapon platforms or observation equipment.
TC Helmet Covers
The Arctic Warfare System offers two variations of helmet covers: the Recce and the Assaulter. Both are designed to fit a Gentex / Ops Core High-Cut ballistic helmet and have been confirmed to fit over a medium/large USMC-issued ECH.
The Recce was designed for maximum user concealment and features a grid made from 550 cord with bar-tacked points. It also includes quick-disconnect mounting points for vegetation, crafted from 550 cord and cord locks. Additionally, a roll-over, one-wrap cable management system has been integrated along the top left and right sides of the cover, as well as a rear loop section for securing NVG battery packs.
The Assaulter was designed with infantry troops and close-quarterscombat in mind. It provides ample space for mounting various items such as flags, unit identifier patches, IFF strobes, rear NVG battery packs, cameras, and other equipment that users may choose to attach to their helmets based on their operational needs.
USASOC Year In Review
December 24th, 2024Soldier/Journalist Sarah Blake Morgan spoke with United States Army Special Operations Command, Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann about what the command has been up to this year.
Varusteleka Project MEGA Update
December 24th, 2024Our project MEGA is moving forwards. Where are we at now, and why is this project so important?
Read more in the article: www.varusteleka.com/en/articles/project-mega-gtfo-of-china-3/692
U.S. Army Takes Delivery of Textron Systems’ MK 4.8 HQ Aerosonde System for Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Program
December 24th, 2024Redstone Arsenal, AL – The U.S. Army’s Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (FTUAS) Product Office has officially taken receipt of the Textron Systems’ MK 4.8 HQ Aerosonde system, marking a significant milestone in the program’s rapid prototyping effort. This achievement follows a comprehensive two-year development and testing process, which included extensive technical testing, ground and flight acceptance testing, and a joint effort between the vendor and the United States Government (USG).
The delivery of the system, formalized through the DD-250 process, transfers ownership to the USG. The FTUAS team will now proceed with New Equipment Training (NET) to qualify instructors and operators at the Redstone Test Center on the MK 4.8 HQ Aerosonde system. This training is expected to be completed by late January 2025.
Upon completion of NET, the FTUAS team will embark on a USG-led developmental testing cycle, which will culminate in the program’s capstone event. This testing effort will occur in parallel with the ongoing efforts to evaluate production proposals for award, anticipated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.
The FTUAS program will provide Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) with an organic capability for reconnaissance and surveillance operations, enabling them to collect, develop, and report actionable intelligence. This will allow BCT commanders to maintain dominance during Multi-Domain Operations. The FTUAS system boasts transformational capabilities, including vertical take-off and landing, on-the-move command and control, and Soldier-led, field-level maintenance. Its Modular Open Systems Approach enables rapid capability insertions, ensuring the system keeps pace with evolving technology.
The Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aviation, located at Redstone Arsenal, AL, is responsible for modernizing the Army Aviation fleet of crewed and uncrewed aircraft. PEO Aviation’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Office is dedicated to rapidly fielding innovative UAS capabilities to Army formations, maintaining the Army’s asymmetric advantage over peer adversaries in large-scale combat operations.
Courtesy Story from Program Executive Office, Aviation
Photos by David Hylton
