SureFire

FirstSpear Friday Focus: MIL, LEO & First Responders Streamline Website w/ iD.me

July 19th, 2024

FirstSpear continues to offer Military, Law Enforcement & First Responders discounts and has directly integrated with iD.me on the website to make it faster, more secure and easy for members to be verified. FirstSpear takes great pride in continue to offer the industry’s most innovative, premium products at an exclusive price.

To get your discount, either create an account on www.first-spear.com and it will prompt users to go through the steps to input their iD.me credentials, or  simply shop on First-Spear.com and you will be prompted in the check out as a reminder to enter credentials to verify.

For over 13 years, FirstSpear develops hundreds of innovative products every year for the most elite military and law enforcement professionals in the world. For more information, check out www.first-spear.com.

For government GPC purchases please email govsales@first-spear.com. If you would like information on becoming a FirstSpear equipment dealer, please email dealerrequest@first-spear.com.

Virtual Symposium Develops Air Commandos to Maximize Potential

July 19th, 2024

Hurlburt Field, Fl —  

Participants across Air Force Special Operations Command took part in the Commando LEAD Symposium on July 15 virtually to learn techniques to continue to build the force we need.  

“We have a duty as leaders to ensure anyone who chooses to serve has an environment to thrive,” said Maj. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, Deputy Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. “We are talking about building strong teams, a fabric of unique and different thoughts, with trust, that are ready to deliver the full capabilities of our nation with the lethality we need to win,” she added.  

The Commando LEAD Symposium had an array of speakers, which all focused on the need to maximize an Air Commandos potential and to sharpen their mindset. 

“The Air Commando Mindset is a bias for action, setting really high standards, and holding each other accountable. It is this mindset that actually earns us the title Air Commando and comes from a rich heritage,” said CMSgt Anthony Green, Command Chief Master Sergeant at Air Force Special Operations Command. “We must have all three things and remain adaptive. We cannot allow ourselves to stagnate because of the risk of failure. Know the mission, seek our purpose, and unleash that out the box thinking that AFSOC has always been known for,” he added.  

At the virtual symposium, participants were provided insights on how to cultivate a professional workplace, nurture workforce talent, and promote an inclusive environment.  

“We are not a social justice organization, we are a combat capability generating and warfighting organization, but we can still find ways to take care of each other. And so, to that end, Air Force capabilities and warfighting skills are enhanced by the diversity of its personnel,” said SMSgt Remy Voisin, Senior Enlisted Advisor for the 1st Special Operation Wing Commanders Action Group.  

Topics at the event included “Air Commando Mindset,” “Diversity as an Operational Necessity,” and “Overcoming Systemic Barrier’s.”  

When we foster an environment of inclusion, our force becomes a more engaged, effective, and lethal.

“Bringing broad spectrum of teammates to the table so they perform to the best they can stands the test of time. Our expectation is everyone is a leader, and everyone needs to be leading in this space,” said Sonkiss.  

LEAD stands for Leadership, Equity, Advocacy and Development.

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Revolutionizing Team Connectivity – Savox Launches New, Game-Changing Wireless Team Communication System, Savox Pack-COM

July 18th, 2024

Savox Communications, the world-renowned leader in providing mission-critical hearing protection and communication solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the Savox Pack-COM. This revolutionary wireless team communication system is designed to enhance team efficiency, safety and security with unprecedented sound quality, ultralow latency, and full duplex capability.

Engineered to meet the rigorous demands of tactical environments, the Savox Pack-COM ensures seamless, secure, and reliable communication, empowering teams to perform at their best. It significantly improves team coordination, responsiveness, and situational awareness of whole the team.

The Savox Pack-COM system features a portable base station that creates a secure communication bubble, allowing teams to move freely and work securely. Utilizing AES-256 encryption, the Savox Pack-COM guarantees the confidentiality and security of all communications, protecting sensitive information in real-time. A robust, full-duplex connection within a 400-meter LOS (Line Of Sight) range of the portable base station ensures effective communication even in the most challenging environments.

Additionally, the Savox Pack-COM system also includes the Savox TRICS series tactical radio and intercom control system, offering the most advanced team communication solution to enhance your team’s operational capabilities in demanding conditions.

Providing crystal-clear communications, the Savox Pack-COM wireless team communication system reduces misunderstandings and enhances operational efficiency through its market-leading sound quality. It integrates effortlessly with existing radio infrastructure by connecting up to two external radios. This feature enhances versatility and interoperability, catering to your team’s specific requirements.

“We are thrilled to introduce the Savox Pack-COM, a revolutionary innovation in wireless team communication systems. This system represents a significant leap forward in ensuring our customers experiencing unmatched sound quality, security, and reliability in their communications. At Savox, we are dedicated to empowering our clients with cutting-edge solutions, and the Pack-COM is a testament to that commitment. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on teams worldwide.” says Janne Pöllänen, SVP Sales and Business development.

The Savox Pack-COM wireless team communication system ensures tactical teams have the tools needed to excel in every operation, offering an unparalleled combination of security, clarity, and reliability. At Savox, we empower the best to do their best.

savox.com

Traser Swiss H3 Watches is Proud to Serve

July 18th, 2024

Rescue forces, security agencies, and special units: Since its inception, traser swiss H3 watches have stood firmly by the side of thousands of first responders worldwide. Thanks to their robust construction, functional design, and energy-independent self-powered illumination technology trigalight, these timepieces are designed for reliability in case of emergency. With their latest “Proud to Serve” campaign, the Swiss watch pioneer now highlights three special collaborations with first response teams.

In 1989, the invention of the world’s first self-illuminated wristwatch led to the founding of traser swiss H3 watches. “The Original,” as the model is also known, was developed for, and supplied to the US Army, and met the strict MIL-W-46374F specifications. Since then, the Bern-based watch brand has equipped thousands of emergency responders worldwide with their highly functional timepieces, including the Swiss Air Force.

Now, traser presents three additional collaborations that seamlessly align with the brand’s mission to support professional users with a durable and capable timepiece.

“Our current ‘Proud to Serve’ campaign focuses on everyday heroes. And we wanted to do this with the utmost authenticity possible. Therefore, we deliberately produced the content, which can be found on our social media channels among other places, with emergency responders from the Swiss Society of Emergency and Rescue Medicine, the Basel Fire Department, and the long-serving Polish elite soldier Naval, instead of actors. We also share close partnerships with all of them,” explains Christian Leiggener, Head of traser.

Partnership with SSERM: Perfect Timing in Case of Emergency

Whether on the way to the scene of an accident, during initial treatment or in hospital care: In a medical emergency, a few moments often decide between life and death. As part of a three-year collaboration, traser is now equipping the Swiss Society of Emergency and Rescue Medicine with their tool watches and providing financial support to the association. Additionally, the approximately 470 members and staff of SSERM benefit from special conditions.

“In life-threatening situations, trained, intuitive actions are crucial. My traser watch supports this perfectly: It allows me to intuitively read the time even in the dark. This combination can make a decisive difference,” says Prof. Aristomenis Exadaktylos, emergency physician and former President of the Swiss Society of Emergency and Rescue Medicine, about his traser P99 T Tactical.

Elite Soldier Pawe? “Naval” Mate?czuk: Precision and Orientation on Every Mission

Former Polish elite soldier Pawe? “Naval” Mate?czuk and traser share a long-standing collaboration. His service took Naval to Lebanon, where he cleared the Lebanese-Israeli border area of mines as part of the UNIFIL mission. He then completed a total of nine military missions in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the GROM special unit, where he and his unit also participated in counter-terrorism efforts. In countless incidents, Naval has experienced firsthand how crucial full concentration, absolute precision, and constant orientation are for the success of a mission.

“A mission fails as soon as you lose orientation and your way. The traser P68 Pathfinder

Baden Fire Department: Despite Adverse Visibility Conditions

Dense smoke, operations in darkness or at night, and a race against time: Firefighting or responding to natural disasters tests firefighters physically and mentally every day. Not only the responders but also their equipment must withstand shocks, extreme temperatures, and water. The timepieces that traser provides to the Baden Fire Department (Switzerland) meet these exact requirements. All traser watches, thanks to sapphire crystals and high water resistance, possess immense durability. Especially under difficult visibility conditions, trigalight self-illumination elements guarantee consistent readability of the time.

“Just as we depend on the support of our comrades in case of emergency, we must also be able to uncompromisingly rely on our equipment. With my traser P67 Officer Pro, I don’t lose orientation even in exceptional situations,” states Alexander Braun of the Baden Fire Department.

An overview of the aforementioned models below:

P99 T Tactical Grey

Rubber – 110667

USD 785.00

P68 Pathfinder Automatic Green

NATO – 110456

USD 1,055.00

P67 Officer Pro Khaki

NATO – 111074

USD 530.00

Colt Canada C20 Patrol Marksman in .308 Win

July 18th, 2024

Colt Canada has debuted the .308 Win Patrol Marksman in rifle and carbine length variants of the operationally proven C20 platform at the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association conference in Penticton, BC Canada. 

Based on Colt Canada’s best-in-class C20 Semi-Automatic Sniper Weapon System platform, the .308 Win Patrol Marksman allows end-users to exercise SAAMI spec commercial-off-the-shelf ammunition versatility and availability with Colt Canada’s legendary reliability and performance.

www.coltcanada.com

Galvion’s Receives Follow-On 8,400 Batlskin Caiman Helmet Order for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) Programme

July 18th, 2024

Galvion, a world leader in innovative head protection systems and power and data management solutions, has received a follow-on order from the Department of National Defence (DND) Canada for its flagship Batlskin Caiman® ballistic helmet systems. The Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme contract was awarded in February 2023 for 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers, all successfully delivered. Now in year two of a five-year framework contract, the DND has exercised an option to order an additional 8,400 helmets and 16,800 helmet covers taking the total Canadian DICE order to 10,500 helmets and 21,000 covers, to date.

Developed over a number of years with extensive SOF community collaboration and feedback, Galvion’s Caiman® helmet system has been tried and tested on operations and is in service across multiple countries, delivering unmatched levels of weight and comfort, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs, now and into the future. The helmet is equipped with Galvion’s premiere APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customized fit for users.

The helmet systems assessed for DICE were trialled by members of the Canadian Light Infantry at the end of 2022. Conducted under operational conditions, the trials included the integration of equipment such as night vision goggles, gas masks, hearing protection, and cold-weather gear. The Caiman helmet received the highest rating by a significant margin and was selected after a phased bid process.

Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this significant order from the Canadian DND. The feedback that we are receiving is incredibly positive, and we look forward to outfitting more Canadian soldiers with our best-in-class Caiman head system under their wider equipment modernization initiative. Follow-on orders like this demonstrate partner confidence and end-user satisfaction, both of which are core drivers for everything that we do at Galvion.” He added: “In conjunction with the substantial Caiman orders that we continue to receive from NATO countries through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract, this recent Canadian order demonstrates that our flagship Caiman is fast becoming the global helmet of choice. In our unwavering pursuit to enhance the agility, lethality and survivability of the world’s most demanding military teams, this is certainly a rewarding achievement for our team.”

Marines Seek Dismounted Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (CsUAS) for Squads and Platoons

July 18th, 2024

Under a request for information from industry entitled, “Dismounted Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (CsUAS)” Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager (PM) Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) Dismounted Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (CsUAS) has announced its on the lookout for systems to support “every” Marines’ ability to conduct self-defense against threat Groups 1 and 2 small UAS (sUAS).

Photo: LCpl Christian J Robertson/Marine Corps

Specifically, capabilities for the Squad and Platoon organizations across the MAGTF that are capable of detecting, tracking, identifying and defeating Group 1 and Group 2 UAS.

The Squad-level solutions need to be carried by dismounted Marines with little to no impact on their primary mission.  The Platoon-level solutions may be transported in light tactical vehicles, assembled without the use of material handling equipment and operate on battery power.

They explain the reasoning behind the requirement below:

With the proliferation of UAS as a threat on the modern battlefield, Marines require the ability to maintain awareness of friendly UAS and conduct self-defense against threat UAS.  Every unit down to the individual Marine, regardless of geographic location on the battlefield, is vulnerable to reconnaissance and, more dangerously, attack from threat sUAS.  To facilitate freedom of movement, Marines require the ability to conduct self-defense against the threat.  This has been proven through multiple Department of Defense (DoD) experiments, training exercises, and has been proven during real-world operations.  

Each phase of the kill-chain requires a different component making dismounted CsUAS more difficult in terms of Size, Weight and Power (SWaP).  The dismounted CsUAS capability will be employed and support all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), not just professional air defenders.  The dismounted CsUAS solution will need to be easy-to-use, easy-to-train, light-weight and use systems currently organic to the Marine Corps to the maximum extent possible.

The Joint CsUAS Office (JCO) has identified dismounted CsUAS capabilities as a vulnerability to the Joint force.  The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) identified the need for dismounted CsUAS throughout multiple experiments.  Additionally, Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG), Infantry Officer Course (IOC), both Schools of Infantry (SOI), and other units continue to fly threat UAS against Marine units during field exercises and training events.  Each experiment and training exercise shows Marines are vulnerable to threat UAS and require the ability to defend themselves from the threat. 

Without a CsUAS capability to employ at lower echelons in an integrated and layered defense, every unit and every Marine will be vulnerable to reconnaissance and attack from threat UAS, risking mission success and loss of life. 

The solutions may include capabilities described below:

Detect / Track / Identify

• Squad level.  Passive detection system that can detect UAS using acoustic or radio frequency (RF) detection.  Sensor should be body worn with limited impact on primary mission equipment.  Components may include a Handheld tablet, bracelet, earpiece, and/or glasses that receives alerts, warnings, notifications from an external sensor(s) (i.e. radars and/or passive detection systems).

• Platoon level.  Passive detection system that can detect UAS using acoustic or radio frequency detection.  Sensor can be vehicle, mast or tripod mounted.  Components may also include a handheld tablet, bracelet, earpiece, and/or glasses that receives alerts, warnings, notifications from an external sensor(s) (i.e. radars and/or passive detection systems).

Defeat:

• Squad level.  Non-kinetic – Directional RF and/or Global Positioning System (GPS) jammer, ideally able to mount on organic rifle.  Kinetic – A rifle / rifle optic capable of tracking and defeating small UAS.  Enhanced ammunition for existing firearms (buckshot-like 5.56, 7.62, .50, .40mm).

• Platoon level.  Non-kinetic – Omni-directional RF/GPS jammer and/or spoofer.  Kinetic – A rifle / rifle optic capable of tracking and defeating small UAS.  Enhanced ammunition for existing firearms (buckshot-like 5.56, 7.62, .50, .40mm).

If you’ve got a solution, the Marines want to hear from you. Responses shall be submitted no later than 1700 Eastern Time on 2 August 2024.  Telephone replies will not be accepted.

The RFI specifies how submissions must be formatted and where to send them, so be sure to check it out.

BG Joseph G Lock Takes Command of Special Operations Command Europe

July 18th, 2024

STUTTGART, Germany – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven G. Edwards, the outgoing Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) commanding general, transferred command to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph G. Lock during a change of command ceremony at Patch Barracks on July 15.

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, presided over the ceremony and spoke of the mission entrusted to Lock: “You’re inheriting a command that is located at the forefront of our nation’s mission. There just couldn’t be a more important time. The events of the past two years have jolted us awake. The war in Ukraine has served as a terrible reminder of the large-scale wars throughout history and a reminder that they can occur again today.”

Lock most recently served as Military Deputy Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation at Department of the Army Headquarters (HQDA), G-8, and was responsible for the independent assessment, integration, and synchronization of the Army Program and Army’s Program Objective Memorandum (POM). Brig. Gen. Lock’s previous General Officer assignments include: Commanding General, Special Operations Joint Task Force Central; Commanding General, Over the Horizon Counterterrorism Command; and Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).

“Under the dedicated and reliable leadership of Brigadier General Lock, SOCEUR will continue to prosper,” said Edwards. “With over 25 years spent in the special operations community, his expertise, ethics, and leadership is key for the future success of SOCEUR’s efforts in supporting higher headquarters’ priorities. I have no doubt that he will excel in his new role as SOCEUR commander.”

Edwards took command of SOCEUR in 2022. Prior to this assignment he worked as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Edwards, who began his career as an Army Warrant Officer, is retiring after 33 years of service.

“I want to personally thank Major General Edwards for his leadership during the past two years here at SOCEUR,” Lock said. “His dedicated service to all allies and partners and the unique cultures they bring to our theater has fostered an inclusive operational footprint. I am honored to be a part of this dynamic command that continues to work throughout the theater, preserving security during this critical time.”

Courtesy Story
U.S. Special Operations Command Europe
Photos by SFC Tim Beery