FirstSpear

Carrington Textiles to Showcase Latest Military Textile Innovations in the Middle East

February 7th, 2023

Adlington, United Kingdom: Global Textile manufacturer, Carrington Textiles, is set for its first appearance at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) taking place in Abu Dhabi in February, where the company will be unveiling some of their latest innovations in military textiles.

After announcing their development of a fabric and pattern in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, Carrington Textiles is showcasing a brand-new product as part of their Defence Range.

The new Spartan HT Flex Lite fabric is a lightweight textile that features military grade INVISTA T420 nylon 6.6 staple fibre to be light yet strong. It offers integrated stretch properties thanks to its LYCRA® composition, and the comfort of cotton.

The company has also revealed the launch of their new camouflage print concept called Night Stealth Camo, created for military special operations carried out in the dark. Night Stealth Camo incorporates infra-red signatures of printed camouflages when viewed under night vision devices, but in normal daylight appears as a black dyed fabric.

Carrington Textiles’ Sales Director, Paul Farrell, says: “We are pleased to be attending our very first IDEX in 2023 with these outstanding military propositions. Night Stealth Camo is a concept unique in the market that has already received great feedback from partners. The same for our new Spartan HT Flex Lite fabric which offers the stretch properties, comfort and durability our customers in the armed forces are currently looking for.”

Carrington Textiles will be exhibiting at IDEX from the 20th until the 24th February in stand 04-A23.

20th Special Forces Group Military Intelligence Company Conducts Water Jump

February 7th, 2023

GREEN RIVER LAKE, KY – Soldiers of the 20th Special Forces Group Military Intelligence Company (MICO) conducted a water jump at Green River Lake near Campbellsville, KY, Aug. 6, 2022. The jump was conducted to enhance the company’s proficiency in conducting airborne operations that require a water landing.

“This type of training is important to ensure that when we conduct these sorts of operations over water that our soldiers remain safe.” Said Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Lunger, a jumpmaster with the 20th Special Forces Group MICO. As a facilitating jumpmaster in the training event, Lunger ensured that all soldiers participating in the jump had a thorough understanding of the jumping process, while also training the MICO on the survival swimming required to avoid entanglement or entrapment beneath a parachute in the water – both very real risks when performing airborne operations into water.

For a few soldiers in the 20th Special Forces Group MICO, this was their first time conducting this sort of airborne jump. As new soldiers arrive to the MICO from AIT, the importance of properly training and maintaining proficiency in this skill has only increased. Jumpmasters ensured that these soldiers understood the process of making the jump, the survival swimming required after landing in water, and how to handle their parachute as it becomes waterlogged.

“Today was a special day because you don’t have to worry about landing on the ground and any sort of impact there. It’s just nice and smooth into the water.” Said Spc. John Stark. This was Stark’s first time performing a water jump with the MICO. “It’s against human nature to jump off of something at fifteen-hundred feet with the faith that something is going to catch you… I love having these [training] exercises because for me personally, it stretches me.”

Solders’ families and the locals from Campbellsville gathered by the lakeshore to watch as the 20th Special Forces Group MICO conducted the training exercise. The soldiers made a total of 4 flights over the lake. During each pass, the soldiers defied human nature and jumped into the open air. The only thing standing between them and a fatal fall was a pack full of fabric and rope secured to their backs – their parachutes. After the thrill of jumping out of the aircraft, the soldiers enjoyed a steady descent down into the lake, where Zodiac rafts pulled them from the water and brought them to shore. For many, their families watched the training and welcomed them back to shore with cheers.

Story by SPC Caleb Sooter 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Altra Lone Peak Hiker 2

February 6th, 2023

I am a big fan of Altra shoes and apparently I’m not the only one. Numerous friends were wearing various models during SHOT Show thanks to the comfort and support they provide.

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The Lone Peak Hiker 2 is a mid-height hiker with loop fabric eyelets.

The Altra original foot shape offers plenty of room for your foot with a low rise.

Offered in Black/Grey or Brown. Be advised the Brown colorway includes mint green EGO foam mid-soles while the Black model has Orange MaxTrac outsoles.

www.altrarunning.com/shop/mens-shoes-outdoor-adventure/mens-lone-peak-hiker-2

Rohde & Schwarz UK signs Armed Forces Covenant

February 6th, 2023

Formalized commitment builds on track record of understanding and flexible employment of former service members and support for charitable activities.

London, February 6, 2022 – Rohde & Schwarz UK has confirmed its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), a UK government initiative to support ex-services staff, at a signing held during the company’s recent board meeting in London.

“About 20% of the Rohde & Schwarz UK workforce have formerly served in the armed forces and contribute strongly to our organization’s culture as well as business performance,” Frank Mackel, Vice President Sales Europe at Rohde & Schwarz, said. “Signing the AFC creates a platform for us to extend our engagement in new ways including support for service spouses and partners as well as armed forces charities.”

Lieutenant Commander Russ Haines RN, Relationship Manager (South), a member of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) team at the signing, commented: “Historically, Rohde & Schwarz has demonstrated its’ commitment to fairness for armed forces staff and we are delighted that this is now formalized through the signing of the AFC.”


Fltr: LtCdr Russ Haines of the Royal Navy and Frank Mackel, Vice President Sales Europe at Rohde & Schwarz, signing the AFC. (Image: Rohde & Schwarz)

“Entering civilian employment can be tough for service leavers, despite the outstanding skills and personal qualities they have to offer,” Andrew Gibbs, South East Regional Employer Engagement Director with the MoD Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, added. “We appreciate Rohde & Schwarz’ support for our desire to ease their transition and we look forward to enjoying a productive and enduring connection.”

The AFC is a flexible framework that organizations can customize according to their available resources and the needs of any ex-service staff employed. Rohde & Schwarz’ commitment includes supporting the employment of veterans and recognizing military skills and qualifications in recruitment, as well as supporting the employment of service spouses and partners. There is also support for employees who are members of the reserve forces or engaged with cadet organizations, and for armed forces charities and events such as the Poppy Appeal Day and remembrance activities.

In addition to the terms of the AFC, Rohde & Schwarz supports initiatives, such as the Forces Family Jobs website and the MoD’s Career Transition Partnership.

The company has close links with the armed forces and employs many veterans. Stephen James, who began the initiative to sign the covenant, is a former naval officer and now Secure Communications Business Development Manager at Rohde & Schwarz UK. He concluded by stating: “I would like to thank everyone here and in the MoD organizations who have helped facilitate signing the AFC. As an armed forces reservist, I have received considerable help including granting of time away, when needed, to fulfil my responsibilities.”

Training Mini Rig In Desert Night Camouflage From Helikon-Tex

February 6th, 2023

Features:
-Central Cargo pocket
-Detachable MOLLE/PALS pocket for medical refill or other accessories
-Bottom PALS panel for additional pockets/accessories
-Three Velcro panels for easy identification: on the main pocket, attachable accessory pocket, on the back on the shoulder straps
-Dedicated internal pouch for AK/AR magazines
-Main pocket with internal organizer and mesh zip pocket
-Four fixed pockets with removable flaps for pistol magazines, multitool, flashlight
-Two fixed pockets for AR/AK carbine magazines

In addition to DNC, the Mini Rig is offered on a variety of colors and patterns.

www.helikon-tex.com/pl_pln/kk-tmr-cd-training-mini-rig-tmr

The DI RUC Rifle – Rainier Arms Urban Combat Build

February 6th, 2023

The Rainier Arms RUC is a Direct Impingement rifle they describe as the “…next step in [their] efforts to bring the highest quality rifles to the market…while offering the best value as well.” The RUC is a complete AR15 rifle built around the recently upgraded Rainier Arms Select barrel. It features the Rainier Urban Combat Rail (UCR) and boasts many other high-end features as well.

Read on and learn more.

Take a look at this setup.

Rainier Arms Urban Combat Rail (UCR)

The RUC DI Rifle utilizes the RA Urban Combat Rail to provide shooters with a rock-solid handguard that can take any abuse thrown at it.

RUC DI Urban Combat Rail

The UCR MLOK slots are positioned at the 3, 6 & 9 o’clock positions for adding user-defined rail sections. There are also anti-rotation QD sockets at the 3 o’clock & 9 o’clock positions. Other features include:

  • CNC machined 6000 Aluminum
  • Hard Coat Anodized Milspec Type III/Class 2
  • 7075 Aluminum Barrel Nut
  • Patent Pending 17-4PH Cored Stainless Steel Rail Mounting Hardware
  • Anti-rotation tabs to easily align the rail to upper receiver
  • *No Barrel nut shims are required for installation if you decide to switch things out
  • 1.315? Interior Diameter

FHAV2 Flash Hider

Rated 5 stars out of 5 stars by Rainier Arms customers, this is definitely, as one reviewer put it, a “bad azz flash hider.” The only downside to this muzzle device is how hard it is to keep them in stock.

DI RUC FHV2 Flash Hider

FHAV2 Specs

  • 303 Stainless with Black Nitride finish
  • 1/2-28 thread & 1/2-36 thread pitches
  • 2.26 length, .89 Diameter, 1.76 oz.

The Rainier Arms DI RUC Rifle

Rainier Arms Select Barrel

RA designed these as an affordable alternative to their match-grade barrels. They’re so confident about the quality they offer a 100% money-back guarantee within 90 days of purchase.

RA Select Barrel

Barrel Specs

  • Stainless Steel Match Grade Blank
  • Twist: 1:7 | Thread Pitch: 1/2 x 28
  • .750 Gas Block Seat
  • Polyganol 5-groove rifling
  • M4 Feed Ramps
  • Proprietary Contour
  • Nitride Finish

Avalanche ANC Charging Handle

A patented ambidextrous design, the Avalanche’s interchangeable handles offer an individualized look and feel. Made for fast and fluid operation, the Avalanche is built in Rainier’s own facility in Wichita, Kansas.

Avalanche ANC Charging Handle

Avalanche features:

  • 15% increase in wall thickness
  • Reduced vent holes to minimize flex and improve rigidity
  • Latch angles redesigned for improved locking and charging
  • 7075 T6 Aluminum
  • Weight 1.34 oz

RUC DI Rifle Full Specs

Upper Receiver:

  • RA Select 5.56 Barrel – 16 in.
  • RA Forged Upper Receiver
  • RA Urban Combat Rail – 15 in.
  • RA Precision Bolt Carrier Group
  • RA “Avalanche” Charging Handle
  • RA Low Profile .750 Gas Block
  • RA FHV2 Flash Hider

Lower Receiver:

  • RA Forged Lower Receiver
  • RA Modified Trigger Guard
  • B5 Systems QD End Plate
  • H1 Buffer – 3.9 oz
  • Carbine Buffer Spring
  • ALG Defense Quality Trigger
  • B5 Systems Bravo Stock
  • B5 Systems Type 23 Pistol Grip

RUC Rifle ejection port side

Atibal Sights Releases Plumb Precision Products (P3) Competition Reticle

February 6th, 2023

Issaquah, Washington: Atibal Sights and Plumb Precision Products are excited to announce the release of the patented Plumb Precision Products (P3) Competition Reticle in the Atibal X 1-10 First Focal Plane Scope. The P3 Competition Reticle is a commercial market variant of military oriented reticles submitted to various programs such as NSGW-FC IDEAS. Instead of a focus on military applications, the P3 Competition Reticle is oriented for use with IPSC style targets.

The P3 Competition reticle allows for close engagements with a 4.5 milliradian center horseshoe that is daylight bright.

IPSC targets and those of a similar size, can be ranged and engaged with unprecedented versatility and speed. Unique to the P3 Competition Reticle, any caliber can be used. The patented ranging arcs are an average trajectory of calibers, which allows rapid engagements without calculation.

Using the “S.A.S” or “Size, Aim, Shoot” method, the P3 Competition Reticle provides range to target and immediate references for range. The shooter “Sizes” the target. The shooter then uses caliber and weapon specific data to provide the best point of “Aim”. The shooter can then “Shoot”. The ability to range targets in yards or meters is supported.

Other patented features, such as the milling arrows, provide hyper accurate ranging information for more deliberate shots. The milling arrows also provide index points for quick zeroing at 25 yards or meters. The ranging arcs allow for 1/3rd, 2/3rd, or full target presentations for shoot/ no-shoot scenarios.

Packed full of features but with a clean and clear presentation the P3 Competition Reticle needs the proper optic. From close quarters to long range precision shooting, the Atibal X 1-10×30 FFP with daylight bright illumination has been designed to be the most versatile LPVO on the market.

The Atibal X offers the clarity and dependability normally found in high end optics, but without the high-end price tag.  

The Atibal X is a true 1x to 10X powered optic. Atibal was the first to market with this type of optic. Atibal delivers features such as 1/10 MIL click finger adjustable windage and elevation target turrets. The Atibal X illumination dial has 6 brightness levels with off positions between each setting. The magnification adjustment ring has an oversized low profile finger tab that makes deliberate zoom adjustments quick and easy.

The Atibal X has low dispersion ED glass. This Extra-low Dispersion Glass corrects optical color defects commonly found in optics when light passes through multiple optical glass lenses.

All of this is reenforced by Atibal’s Full Lifetime Warranty and available now for under $1000.

atibal-optics.com/products/atibal-x-1-10×30-ffp-plumb-reticle-mpvo

Sneak Peek – Forward Operations Grip by Contour Tactics

February 6th, 2023

Developed by Josh Burgess and based on over 20 years of experience including two combat tours and years of private contracting experience.

It is designed to replicate the thumb forward support hand grip used on handguns but accepts a variety of grip styles.

They’ve also integrated wire management for enablers as well as a mounting point for tape switches.

Additionally, it provides insulation from heat transfer off of the handguard and barrel. The design also enhances recoil management thanks to the forward hand stop.

This video gives a great overview of the ergonomic design and wide management integration.

Pre-orders are currently open with delivery this summer.

forwardoperationsgrip.com