Ivan made a video on how to make your own reactive targets.
Kit Badger – How To Make Reactive Targets
December 25th, 2021My Second Favorite Christmas Tale – Washington Crosses The Delaware
December 25th, 2021On Christmas night 1776, George Washington led a force of American patriots across the Delaware River to attack the Hessian mercenary garrison at Trenton, New Jersey which was fighting for the British.
You’ve likely seen Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze, painted in 1851, but modern artist Mort Kunstler created a much more likely depiction of events in his 2011 painting entitled, Washington’s Crossing.
It was audacious plan; take a force of 5400, including artillery, across a river at night in a storm in order to attack the enemy in his sleep. 2400 made it with 3,000 troops and the critical artillery stranded in the wrong side of the Delaware. Washington struck out toward his prey and attacked at 8:00 AM, fortunate that the defenders were groggy from their Weinacht’s Fest, surprising many still in bed.
Miraculously, only three Americans were killed, while over 1000 Hessians were captured with 22 killed and 98 wounded. Unfortunately, without his additional force, Washington was forced to withdraw. But the psychological victory fed faith in the revolution.
Consequently, George Washington crossing the Delaware in the middle of a stormy night in order to kill German mercenaries remains my second favorite Christmas tale.
Merry Christmas
December 25th, 2021
From my Air Force Family to yours!
Spartan Armor Systems Leonidas Legend Berry Compliant Plate Carrier
December 24th, 2021Spartan Armor Systems’ Gen 2 Leonidas Legend plate carrier is proudly made in the U.S.A. and 100% Berry Compliant, making it an ideal choice for Law Enforcement, Military or Concerned Citizens alike.
Tucson, Ariz. (December 2021) – Spartan Armor Systems®, manufacturers of American-designed and made body armor, tactical gear, and targets, proudly announce the second generation Leonidas Legend plate carrier with new enhancements designed to meet the most rigorous demands of the modern operator. Enhanced with lightweight Squadron laser-cut laminate material over a Cordura 500D body, the Leonidas Legend plate carrier is built to last. The Leonidas Legend features effective thin and lightweight high density foam standoffs for air circulation, enhanced shoulder pads, quick release cummerbund and many more upgrades.
With enhanced padding in the front, back and shoulders, the Leonidas Legend is designed to minimize fatigue and maximize comfort during extended duty use. The tough, but soft, spacer mesh helps this carrier breathe while facilitating heat dissipation. The fully adjustable (and removeable) cummerbund provides seven levels of adjustment, allowing for a variety of body types ranging from L to 3XL. High abrasion laminate exterior panels not only provide a super low profile mounting solution, but reduces weight while shielding the 500D Cordura body.
The Leonidas Legend comes standard with MOLLE side plate pouches capable of holding 6”x6” or 6”x8” armored side plates. Each shoulder pad also features multi-directional laser-cut webbing to allow for greater freedom in mounting and retainment options. First Spear Tubes are integrated into the cummerbund to allow for faster dawning and removal of the carrier. The top zippered admin pouch is capable of holding smartphones up to 6.5” long. Additional storage is also provided by way of the front kangaroo pouch which is retained by hook-and-loop. The Leonidas Legend plate carrier is proudly made in the U.S.A. and 100% Berry Compliant making it an ideal choice for Law Enforcement, Military or Concerned Citizens alike.
Spartan Armor Systems Leonidas Legend plate carrier specifications:
• Made in the USA and Berry Compliant
• Available in Black, Coyote Brown, MultiCam and Black MultiCam
• Designed to hold 10”x12” or 9.5”x12.5” SAPI/ESAPI plates
• Removeable shoulder pads feature enhanced padding and multi-directional laser cut webbing for more attachment options
• Mil Spec Construction 500D Codura° and lightweight Squadron Laminate materials
• Reinforced Rear drag handle with retainment Velcro
• First Spear Tube Technology for easy cummerbund release and re-dawning without having to readjust cummerbund sizing
• Hook-and-loop front and back ID panels with laser cut PALS webbing
• Bungee sizing system allows cummerbund to adjust from L to 3XL
• Cummerbund accepts Spartan Armor Systems 5”x11” soft armor inserts
• Removeable cummerbund with secondary retainment straps allows carrier to be run without cummerbund
• Front hook-and-loop kangaroo pouch
• Chest and back ½” padded standoffs increase airflow without producing hotspots
• Included MOLLE side plate pouches designed to hold 6”x6” or 6”x8” side plates
• Top zippered admin pouch
• MSRP – $349.99
To view the Leonidas Legend product page, go to: www.spartanarmorsystems.com/leonidas-legend-plate-carrier
The Leonidas Legend will be on display at SHOT Show 2022, see it at booth# 43360.
Cloud Defensive Unveils The Mission Configurable Handheld
December 24th, 2021Cloud Defensive just released a video showcasing the Mission Configurable Handheld Light.
GAO Report – Special Operations Forces: Additional Actions Needed to Effectively Manage the Preservation of the Force and Family Program
December 24th, 2021The GAO has released a new report on USSOCOM’s Preservation of the Force and Family Program which boasts a budget of about $80 million in FY 2021.
The program offers a holistic system of care that targets physical, psychological, spiritual, and other areas of well-being. However, key program terms aren’t well defined, making it unclear how subordinate commands will carry the program out and achieve its goals.
What GAO found is that although SOCOM has established minimum requirements for its Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program to improve the readiness and resilience of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and their families, it has not clearly defined a key term—integrated and holistic system of care—to guide implementation of its efforts across the five POTFF domains (see figure). SOCOM officials interpret this key term differently and SOCOM guidance does not provide clarity on how subordinate commands should implement activities to achieve it. Without defining an integrated and holistic system of care or how to achieve it, SOCOM leaves interpretation of the term to subordinate commands and is unable to establish a standard for POTFF’s essential coordination functions or activities against which it can assess efforts to help SOF and their families.
GAO is making five recommendations, including that SOCOM update its guidance to define its objective to coordinate POTFF programs, establish an allocation model that uses program data, develop a deployment strategy that aligns with its updated allocation model, and develop guidance for POTFF data that aligns with SOCOM’s strategy for managing data. DOD concurred with all five of these recommendations.
Read the report here:
www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104486
FirstSpear Friday Focus: Merry Christmas
December 24th, 2021Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the FirstSpear team. We’re proud to bring you 100% American made products and to continue to support those at the tip of the spear.
Free domestic shipping on orders over $99; check out our non-standard, non-stocking page for discounted items.
For more information about FirstSpear, check out First-spear.com.
Check out our latest technology on first-spear.tech.
NORAD Tracks Santa
December 24th, 2021It’s that time of year again boys and girls. Starting at 4 a.m. Eastern on Dec. 24, you’ll be able to see updates.
Hit the tracker…
