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GM Defence Appoints ISTEC as Preferred Mission Kit Supplier for UK and Wider EU/NATO Programmes

May 26th, 2026

GM Defence has appointed the UK company ISTEC Services Limited as its preferred mission kit supplier for UK and wider EU/NATO programmes. The agreement places ISTEC as the exclusive supplier to GM Defence for all UK opportunities and as a preferred supplier for all other EU/NATO or worldwide markets. This appointment reinforces GM Defence’s UK-based supply chain expansion strategy and is aligned with their wider UK-based development plans, thus supporting the sustainment and creation of UK jobs and increasing UK defence export potential.

ISTEC Services Ltd is a British company with 37 years of operationally proven experience in the design, manufacture and supply of complex weapon integration solutions for military platforms.

Under this agreement, ISTEC will supply GM Defence with weapons mounts, weapon and ammunition stowage, smoke dischargers and all relevant in-service support including spares, publications and training. The agreement reaches across GM Defence’s light vehicle range including all variants of the ISV, S10 and Silverado platforms, currently being offered to meet the UK’s requirements, but also across a number of wider NATO/EU opportunities.

This collaboration agreement is a clear demonstration of GM Defence’s commitment to supporting UK MoD programmes and, in particular, establishes an exclusive partnership with a well-respected UK-based supplier who has a long pedigree of providing the UK MoD with operationally proven, robust and high-quality products. Remaining OEM agnostic, ISTEC has recently signed a number of high-profile collaboration agreements proving that they are the partner of choice to support many OEMs with battle-proven mission system design, integration, manufacturing and support solutions.

Gilbert Nelson, Vice President for International Sales and Marketing at GM Defence said: “We’re pleased to announce this agreement today that places ISTEC as a tier one supplier to GM Defence. ISTEC is a trusted and proven supplier to the UK MoD so bringing them into our team increases confidence and reduces risk across all of our regional programmes. We are currently developing a robust UK-based supply chain and this appointment is a key part of that strategy, creating and sustaining UK jobs and strengthening UK defence exports.”

Anne Quelch, Director at ISTEC said, “This appointment by GM Defence is a major milestone for the company. We have been working closely and very successfully with GM Defence for some time now and we believe that this exclusive agreement for the UK programmes is a resounding endorsement of our reputation and the proven quality of our products. We are also extremely pleased to have been awarded preferred supplier status by GM Defence for EU/NATO and other worldwide opportunities where GM Defence is ideally placed to succeed.”

Posted in Industry, International, Mobility, Press Release | Comments Off on GM Defence Appoints ISTEC as Preferred Mission Kit Supplier for UK and Wider EU/NATO Programmes

Maritime Soldiers Earn Mariner Badge

May 26th, 2026

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Maritime Soldiers assigned to the 8th Special Troops Battalion, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, were recognized during an Army Mariner Badge pinning ceremony aboard the U.S. Army Vessel Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls, LSV-8, on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, recognizing their expertise and service as Army mariners.

Hosted by Lt. Col. Micah J. Hall, commander of the 8th Special Troops Battalion, the ceremony honored Transportation Corps port watercraft and seaport operations mariners for achieving significant professional milestones through certification, operational experience and sustained service aboard Army watercraft. During the ceremony, one Soldier received the Army Mariner Senior badge and 11 Soldiers received the Army Mariner Basic badge.

The Army Mariner Badge symbolizes the technical expertise, discipline and operational readiness required of Soldiers serving within Army maritime occupational specialties. Approved in October 2024, the badge recognizes Army mariners who demonstrate proficiency in nautical logistics and sustainment operations while supporting missions across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The badge is awarded based on certification and years of operational maritime service. Soldiers awarded the basic badge must complete required certifications and serve at least one year aboard an Army vessel, while the senior badge recognizes mariners with a minimum of five years of service and demonstrated expertise within their maritime field.

“This badge is more than a uniform item,” said Hall during the ceremony. “It represents technical competence, operational experience, discipline and commitment to the Army’s maritime mission.”

Hall emphasized the critical role Army mariners play in enabling sustainment and transportation operations throughout the Indo-Pacific theater, including interisland logistics, joint exercises and strategic sealift missions. He recognized the professionalism and resilience required to operate Army watercraft in demanding maritime environments far from home station.

Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner, commanding general of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, also addressed attendees and highlighted the longstanding legacy of Army mariners throughout military history, from supporting operations during World War II to modern-day joint logistics over-the-shore missions.

“This is not earned in port,” Gardner said. “This is earned underway.”

Gardner further noted that Army mariners continue to play a vital role in projecting and sustaining combat power across the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as the Army modernizes maritime sustainment capabilities in austere environments.

For many Soldiers, the ceremony represented more than professional recognition — it represented visibility for a uniquely specialized field within the Army.

“Being awarded the Army Mariner Badge means a lot to us because it’s the first visible identification the Army has given us that is unique to being a mariner,” said CW2 George Schwarz, one of the mariners recognized with the 8th Theater Sustainment Command. “We’re a really small field within the Army that doesn’t always receive a lot of recognition.”

As the ceremony concluded, the newly badged Army mariners were recognized not only for their technical qualifications but for their continued role in sustaining and moving combat power across the Indo-Pacific region.

SGT Deneisha Owens-McParland

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Maritime, Profession of Arms | 1 Comment »

Tac Jobs – TYR Tactical

May 25th, 2026

TYR Tactical is hiring for multiple positions at our headquarters in Peoria, AZ. If you’re passionate about innovation, mission-driven work, and supporting those who protect and serve, we want to hear from you.

Apply online at TYRtactical.com

Posted in TacJobs | 2 Comments »

Hogue Releases New Knives In Honor of Memorial Day

May 25th, 2026

New styles include Incursion, Mini Incursion, Ballista I, and Fray models.

The Incursion and Mini Incursion are Out-The-Front Automatics. Those along with the Ballista I Automatic Folder and the Fray Fixed Blade have been used by American servicemen.

Through an ongoing partnership with the DPI Group, Hogue continues to fulfill active contracts that directly support
U.S. armed forces units worldwide. The DPI Group is an organization committed to employing veterans with disabilities and plays a vital role in this campaign. Working closely with Hogue’s manufacturing team, their skilled veteran workforce helps hand-assemble each knife with precision and pride. This collaboration represents a continuation of service, providing meaningful employment while ensuring every blade meets the uncompromising standards of those who depend on them.

Every Hogue knife is made in the USA and is backed by three generations of manufacturing expertise. These new models, as well as all Hogue automatic knives, are only available through Hogue authorized dealers.

For more information, or to find a local dealer, please call Hogue directly at 1-800-438-4747 or visit www.hogueknives.com.

Posted in Knives | Comments Off on Hogue Releases New Knives In Honor of Memorial Day

BFG Monday: The Sling of the Marine Corps

May 25th, 2026

Anyone who has spent time around issued gear knows how rare it is for a product to earn real trust.

Most equipment gets tolerated. Some get modified immediately. Some get complained about until it quietly disappears from circulation altogether.

Very little becomes respected.

The Vickers Sling became one of those rare pieces of equipment because it solved problems users deal with every single day carrying a rifle.

Not on a flat range. Not during a product demo. During actual use.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joaquin Dela Torre

A rifle sling affects far more than most people realize. Anyone who has carried a weapon for hours at a time understands how quickly a bad sling becomes a problem. It twists at the wrong moment. Gets hung up on gear. Slides when it should stay put. Feels fine for twenty minutes and miserable six hours later.

That frustration adds up.

Somewhere along the way the tactical industry convinced itself that every problem needed more straps, more buckles, and more adjustment points. Experienced users usually move in the opposite direction. They want gear that works without becoming another thing they have to fight.

That mindset helped make the Vickers Sling the sling requested by name across military and law enforcement communities worldwide. Developed with Larry Vickers, the VCAS was built around real-world use from the beginning. The quick adjust system allows the user to tighten or loosen the sling immediately while still maintaining control of the weapon. No extra tails hanging loose. No complicated hardware. No wasted movement trying to make the sling cooperate while doing something else.

It just works.

That may sound simple, but simple is difficult to get right.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua

The Marine Corps does not field equipment because it looks good in product photos. Gear has to survive hard use, different environments, long hours, and thousands of Marines who will absolutely let everyone know when equipment fails to perform.

The VCAS earned its reputation the hard way.

Recently, Blue Force Gear was named the sole awardee of a Defense Logistics Agency contract supporting the U.S. Marine Corps. The award reflects years of hard use, feedback from professional end users, and a sling design that continues to prove itself across demanding environments and real-world use.

The VCAS Sling has been extensively tested and validated by military personnel, establishing itself as one of the most trusted slings in military service.

That kind of trust is not built through advertising.

It comes from years of hard use, feedback from professional end users, and a design that continues working when everything else starts becoming a distraction.

At Blue Force Gear, lightweight equipment has never been about chasing trends or shaving ounces for marketing purposes. Less weight matters because fatigue matters. Simplicity matters because attention is limited. Good equipment should help the user focus on the task at hand instead of constantly adjusting, fixing, or fighting their gear.

The best sling is usually the one you stop noticing until you need it.

That is why the Vickers Sling became trusted by professional users around the world.

And that is why it became the Sling of the Marine Corps.

Learn more about the Vickers Sling and Blue Force Gear’s full line of weapon slings and load carriage solutions at Blue Force Gear.

For units seeking to increase survivability and operational performance through reduced load carriage by upgrading to Helium Whisper, contact the Blue Force Gear Military Department or visit BlueForceGear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on BFG Monday: The Sling of the Marine Corps

Memorial Day 2026

May 25th, 2026

Memorial Day, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated in 1868 as Decoration Day.

As a nation we are becoming more divided every day. Decoration Day was an intentional move to help bring a broken nation back ringer following the Civil War and decorate the graves of fallen Soldiers with flowers.

Decoration Day was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1971, extending the observance to honor all Americans who died while in military service.

Pictured: A Civil War Veteran salutes with a Boy Scout and a Soldier at a grave-site in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, Ill., Decoration Day, 1927.

Let’s all take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation regardless of belief aside from dedication to our national survival.

Chicago Daily News photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Posted in Memorial | 1 Comment »

For Old Guard Soldiers, ‘Flags In’ Is a Personal Mission

May 25th, 2026

Yesterday, in the early morning dawn, soldiers assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” marched into the only two national cemeteries managed by the Army, their rucksacks packed with small American flags.

Their mission: to honor America’s fallen heroes by placing a flag in front of each headstone and columbarium column — approximately 250,000 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and 13,500 at the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington.

This tradition, known as “Flags In,” takes place annually at both cemeteries on the Thursday before Memorial Day.

As the soldiers fanned out through Arlington National Cemetery’s 639 acres, they placed a booted toe against each headstone and columbarium column before inserting a flag into the ground at their heel, creating a uniform distance for each flag.

“Getting this right is important,” said Army Master Sgt. Jeb Hague, as he turned back to a flag and adjusted it slightly. Hague, who has served in the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps since 2006, has placed flags in nearly every section of the cemetery. “When I do this, I learn a little bit more each year,” he said, adding that different sections have different meanings.

The Old Guard has been placing flags in front of headstones since 1948, when it was first designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit. Every available soldier in the regiment participates. At Arlington National Cemetery, where service members from the Revolutionary War through today’s conflicts are laid to rest, “Flags In” connects today’s soldiers to generations of military service and sacrifice — spanning 250 years of American history.

For many Old Guard soldiers, “Flags In” is also a deeply personal mission.

Hague is among those with friends and family members laid to rest in Arlington. His great-uncle, Alvin J. Buchanan Jr., who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War, is buried in Section 66. His friend Army Staff Sgt. Adam Dickmyer, a fellow Old Guard soldier who served as a tomb guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and is buried in Section 60.

“Memorial Day is so special and solemn,” Hague said. “But for me, [Flags In] is much more personal. “In the early morning quiet, before the cemetery opens to the public, soldiers can reflect on those who have lost their lives to defend our nation. I make sure to take a few seconds to read the name and remember them,” Hague said.

Later in the day, the tomb guards, also members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, placed flags at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the three unknowns buried there, along with all unidentified and missing American service members.

Meanwhile, at the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, veterans residing in the Armed Forces Retirement Home joined uniformed Old Guard soldiers in placing flags.

By the afternoon, American flags waved across the iconic landscapes of both cemeteries.

During Memorial Day weekend, visitors and family members will see the results of the soldiers’ meaningful mission — one of the many ways the U.S. military ensures that its fallen are never forgotten. For the Old Guard, the day represents, in Hague’s words, “a chance to give back” by commemorating all who served and sacrificed throughout the nation’s 250-year history.

– Via US Army

Posted in Army, Memorial, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Symbol of Grit Returns, 10th Mountain Division to Wear Crossed Ski Insignia

May 24th, 2026

Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division can once again wear the division’s historic crossed ski insignia on their Army Green Service Uniform garrison caps, restoring a visual link to the unit’s World War II roots and reinforcing the alpine spirit that resonates across the formation.

The insignia was first adopted in 1943, when the Army created the 10th Mountain Division as a specialized alpine force. The symbol represented the unit’s ability to fight in harsh winter conditions and rugged mountain terrain. Today, leaders say bringing the emblem back to everyday uniform wear honors that legacy while reminding soldiers of the division’s high standards.

Army Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, said the decision carries real meaning for the force.

“The crossed skis are more than a symbol from our past,” Naumann said. “They represent the toughness, adaptability and spirit that define this division. Seeing them on our soldiers’ caps connects who we are today with the mountaineers who built our reputation.”

The division’s origins trace back to Camp Hale, Colorado, where soldiers trained on steep slopes, icy ridgelines and snow-covered trails before deploying to Italy during World War II. Their assault on Riva Ridge and the breakthrough of the German Gothic Line became defining moments in U.S. military history. Although today’s 10th Mountain Division no longer fights on skis, its mission as a rapidly deployable light infantry force still demands the same warrior spirit, readiness and grit.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Brett Johnson, the division’s senior enlisted leader, said the return of the insignia helps reinforce that identity.

“When a soldier puts on that cap and sees the crossed skis, it’s a reminder of the legacy they’re part of,” Johnson said. “It tells them, ‘You belong to a division known for going where others dare not go and you’re expected to carry that forward.'”

Leaders say the change not only strengthens esprit de corps but ensures that the division’s heritage remains visible in modern formations. For those across the formation, the crossed skis serve as a proud reminder of the unit’s identity and the generations who shaped it.

By Army Maj. Geoffrey Carmichael, 10th Mountain Division

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Mountaineering | 2 Comments »