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Leadership as a Core Competency from the McChrystal Group

December 22nd, 2012

In a recent blog post entitled “Leadership as a Core Competency” author Joe Wollfel a Sr. Consultant with the McChrystal Group and former Navy SEAL, discusses successful traits for a practitioner leader.

The power of practical leadership lies in the integration of high-performing individuals’ skills and ideas, not the mastery of the individual leader in his or her field or function: the leader’s function is leadership.

It contains excellent pointers for someone in charge of a group of high-performers. Such conditions are often found in SOF units with highly competent and experienced NCOs being led by a generalist officer. As these officers are often still early in their careers and serious go-getters themselves, there is a tendency to compete with the troops. Years ago, I served with one such performance obsessed young officer. “Bob” was in constant competition with his team, whether at the shooting range or at the gym, he wanted to outdo everybody. I remember speaking with him about his overtly competitive behavior. It wasn’t exactly making him very popular with the men so I tried to explain to him that he needed to learn as much as he could about his charges, their strengths and weaknesses so that when he needed them, he’d know how to make best use of their skills. He never got it and ended up getting out of the Air Force. It’s too bad. He had a lot to offer but he wasn’t willing to learn how to lead.

So, it was refreshing to read this article by Wollfel. Take a few minutes to read it and see how you can apply these principles to your leadership experience.

mcchrystalgroup.com/content/leadership-core-competency

Tags: McChrystal Group
Posted in Disruptive Tech | Comments Off on Leadership as a Core Competency from the McChrystal Group

A Blast From The Past – Just In Case

December 22nd, 2012

Posted during SHOT Show, January 2009. This is the Herring Modular Sporting Rifle at the time exhibited by Ares Defense.

Ares Defense Systems, Inc.
The shape of things to come? The Modular Sporting Rifle prototype may be just the thing if threatened weapon bans are enacted. Designed to fit any AR-15 style upper receiver, the MSR looks as if an M4 mated with an 870. It certainly hides some of those menacing “assault weapon” features such as pistol grips, collapsible stocks, and external mag wells. When combined with a flat top upper, you can barely tell the rifle is a black rifle.

Tags: Ares Defense
Posted in 2A, Black Rifle, weapons | 35 Comments »

Preserving the Second Amendment – Ballot or Bullet

December 21st, 2012

Over the next few days SSD will be posting items from industry professionals that we hope will inform and spark discussion on the Second Amendment of the Constitution. This first article is from Special Forces Veteran Richard Mason of the Direct Action Resource Center.

Comrades,

Let’s take a step (or two) back and look at the whole instead of just the current debate. I promise to make you angry at some point: either at what you read or me.

There is a lot rhetoric and hyperbole being slung around. Emotional arguments proliferate, for and against.

On this issue, the public can be divided up into these basic groups:
1. Pro 2A – don’t tread on me
2. Anti 2A – you are morally corrupt for liking guns
3. Owns a gun(s) but welcomes ‘reasonable’ restrictions for assorted reasons
4. Doesn’t own a gun, isn’t opposed to guns but thinks there should be various restrictions of firearms control.
5. It doesn’t affect me, who cares: is the mall open yet?
6. Non-Americans

Actually, there are only two groups, regardless of where you think you stand on the issue. You are either for your Bill of Rights, you are against them (for whatever reason), or you are too stupid and/or lazy to care (which means you are aiding those opposed to them). The reason is history. Mostly, it is the history of the 2nd Amendment – it really does matter. Second would be the history of man and their governments. History echoes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Direct Action Resource Center
Posted in 2A | 33 Comments »

Happy Holidays from Our Friends at CTOMS

December 21st, 2012

www.CTOMS.ca

Tags: Canada, CTOMS
Posted in Morale | Comments Off on Happy Holidays from Our Friends at CTOMS

Legion Firearms LF-4 Update

December 21st, 2012

As of 1336EST Legion Firearms had seven (7) LF-4 rifles (Adam Morehead of Legion Firearms frequently refers to them as Patrol Rifles) remaining in stock. They just shipped three and have taken five orders over the last couple of hours.

The LF-4 is Legion’s newest offering, a 14.5” chrome-lined barrel with BattleComp attached, cold hammered forged steel components, B5 Systems SOPMOD stock, fixed front sight post, folding rear iron sights and a MagPul MOE grip.

“The way I see it,” Adam says, “if you look at what we’ve offered in the past, they’ve got incredible longevity and accuracy, requiring little maintenance…the LF-4 answers the need for a beefy carbine with that sort of reliability for the shooters for whom the LF-15C and LF-15D just aren’t practical…it’s more robust, with forged ordnance grade 416 uppers and lowers rather than billet aluminum. We’re looking at 2-3 times the longevity.”

Preorder the rifle over the holidays to receive a weapon with serial number 10-100; the ones still in stock, and then 30 or more each month through March (which is when 101-250 will become available).

The price for the LF-4: $1,990.00, which is what was proposed well before recent events.

www.LegionFirearms.com

Posted in Black Rifle | 1 Comment »

The NRA Speaks

December 21st, 2012

After a week of self-imposed silence on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the NRA’s Wayne Lapierre issued the following statement earlier today. I agree wholeheartedly that the real issue is how to deal with the root cause. We also need to protect our children from violence, just as the precious resources that they are. As a nation, we are failing miserably on that point. Gun free zones are an open invitation to mayhem.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre

The National Rifle Association’s 4 million mothers, fathers, sons and daughters join the nation in horror, outrage, grief and earnest prayer for the families of Newtown, Connecticut … who suffered such incomprehensible loss as a result of this unspeakable crime.

Out of respect for those grieving families, and until the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment. While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectfully silent.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: NRA
Posted in 2A | 16 Comments »

AOL Comes Out of the Anti-2A Closet

December 21st, 2012

In a statement posted early this morning, AOL laid out their four point plan to reduce gun violence in America. Point number two is most telling. We love it when people are so oblivious that they come out in favor of laws that are already on the books like criminal background checks.

Second, we’re joining with 750 mayors and other leaders in the Demand a Plan campaign (http://www.demandaplan.org/) to ban high volume assault weapons and require criminal background checks for firearms. This is a sensible idea and is in line with our commitment to family safety.

However, it seems as if the statement was drafted by committee or a schizophrenic. Despite coming out in favor of a ban on high volume assault weapons (whatever the hell that is) they also acknowledge that they don’t know it all and ask for input on how to “prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown.” Too bad they are so focused on the least effective; firearms legislation.

Third, we know not all of our members agree on potential changes to gun laws. So if you have different ideas on how to prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown, please let us know in the comments area below and we’ll share the best of them on AOL.com. This isn’t about ideology — it is about reducing the number of mass murders, so please share any realistic solution you may have.

AOL members, let them know what you think. So far, the comments are the typical no-nothing anti-2A drivel; ban automatic weapons, etc. It would be nice nice for a change if people who call for additional laws knew about the ones already on the books.

portalblog.aol.com/2012/12/21/a-message-from-the-aol-com-team

Tags: AOL
Posted in 2A | 17 Comments »

An Update From Combat Flip Flops

December 21st, 2012

Combat Flip Flops has asked is to share this message with you. I have spoken at length with the CFF crew discussing the challenges of economic development in what amounts to a combat zone. While things are better economically in Afghanistan than they were 10 years ago, challenges remain.

SSD Community,

We started Combat Flip Flops with the mission of supporting a growing Afghan economy. Our goal to manufacture in Afghanistan is anchored in the belief that a strong economy will sustain the gains made over the last decade.

While our mission hasn’t changed, some things are out of our control. As international forces prepare to withdraw in 2014, the mature Afghan National Army and Police are taking the lead. Afghans are making the best financial decisions to sustain the army and police created alongside coalition forces. Footwear manufacturers in Kabul depend heavily on military contracts, so any decrease in volume has a huge impact on sustainable operations. Unfortunately, the decline came faster than expected and the CFF plant could not sustain operations on supplemental flip flop volume. We received word earlier this month that our current factory would be closing its doors on December 31 due to a lack of military boot contracts.

Although the military manufacturing sector is slowing down, the economy in Afghanistan is on the rise and we’re amazed at the progress we’ve seen over the past few years. Small businesses are booming, schools are creating empowered Afghan youth, and the most professional security services in Afghan history are in place. This wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunity created by the US military and international forces.

So what to do with 3,400 pair of raw materials? We’re bringing it home.

We’ve paid attention to the emails, blog postings, and phone calls asking, “Why don’t you make them in the USA?” Roger that. With a foundation of predictable U.S. production, CFF can withstand the delays, setbacks, and difficulties of doing business in post conflict areas. The shop will be set up in Issaquah, Washington and will begin manufacturing in January 2013. Combat Flip Flops will resume production in Afghanistan and offer a full line of U.S. and Afghan made products to our customers in the near future.

We truly appreciate our customers’ faith and support over the last year. Thank you for sticking with us and we look forward to having regular inventory for delivery this Spring.

Respectfully,

Andy, Griff, and Lee
Combat Flip Flops. Bad for running. Worse for fighting

www.combatflipflops.com
www.facebook.com/businessnotbullets

Tags: Combat Flip Flops
Posted in Boots, Industry | 2 Comments »