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CSM Michael Weimer selected as 17th Sergeant Major of the Army

December 14th, 2022

WASHINGTON — Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville announced today that Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer will serve as the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army. The announcement came during closing comments at the Army Profession Forum held in Alexandria, Virginia, Dec. 7-8, 2022.

“We have the greatest Army in the world because we have the greatest NCO Corps,” Gen. McConville said. “I’m proud to select Command Sgt. Maj. Weimer to lead that Corps.”

“When I joined the Army in 1993, I never would have thought I’d make it this far,” Weimer said. “It’s an absolute honor to be selected as the next Sergeant Major of the Army, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve our incredible Soldiers and their families.”

Weimer will assume responsibility from Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston in August 2023. Until then, Weimer will continue to serve as the senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

“Right now, I want to make sure that the Soldiers and families at USASOC have what they need to take care of their people and sustain readiness,” he said. “I’m not looking ahead, just focusing on the task at hand.”

Grinston has previously said he plans on retiring at the end of the year.

Weimer joined the Army in 1993 and successfully completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1994. He completed the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course and earned his Green Beret in 1996 and has served more than 20 years within Army Special Operations.

Weimer is a graduate of Norwich University, where he earned a B.S. in strategic studies and defense analysis.

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

Industry Expert Joins Darley as Leader of Pump Customer Service & Applications Engineering

December 13th, 2022

Scott Vavra is an industry veteran, Army Reservist and expert who creates best-in-class customer service experiences in manufacturing.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – 12/14/2022 – Scott Vavra will assume leadership of Darley’s Pump Customer Support and Applications Engineering Team effective January 9, 2023.

“We are thrilled Scott has joined Darley to lead one of the most vital parts of our business to put our customers first and exceed expectations,” said Greg Field, Pump Division General Manager commented. “We’re confident our customers will be in good hands with Scott and his team as we continue to take the total customer care experience to the next level.”

Scott is succeeding Lairy Normand, who is retiring on January 6, 2023, after 30 years of distinguished service.

“On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Lairy for his many contributions to Darley over the past 30 years, and I wish him all the best,” said Field.

Scott is an accomplished leader in global customer support. Before joining Darley, Scott spent over 15 years with Cummins, where he successfully held a range of customer support leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility. Scott improved total customer support experience by developing and implementing innovative and comprehensive operations and training programs. Scott received the Silver Drop Award for Outstanding Customer Service from the Cummins Engine Company in 2010.

Scott also serves in the Army National Guard and received a leadership award while stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Industrial Technology, Technical Sales and Service. He also earned an Automotive Technology degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College and a teaching certificate from Mount Senario College.

Scott lives in Holcombe, WI, with his wife of 27 years, Holly, and his three daughters, Kayla (24), Emily (22), and Carly (18). When not spending time with his wonderful family, Scott is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys working on various projects.

www.darley.com

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Rampart Range Day & Expo 2023

December 13th, 2022

The 2023 Rampart Range Day & Expo is coming up on 30 May, 2023 at the Stittsville Range near Ottawa, Ontario in Canada.

To sign up, visit rampartcorp.com/rampart-range-day.

Posted in International, Tradeshow | Comments Off on Rampart Range Day & Expo 2023

XS Sights Introduces Inline Rear Sight Pusher Tools for Glock Pistols

December 13th, 2022

Fort Worth, Texas (December 12, 2022) – XS® Sights is pleased to introduce two Inline Rear Sight Tools for Glock® pistols – the DIY Series™ and GUNSMITH Series™. Both are fast and easy to use, reducing installation force by up to 50%.

The unique open-top design of these tools allows easy visual alignment and viewing of the installation process, while the locking wedge feature makes it quick and easy to secure the slide. The tools feature a non-marring brass bit to prevent scratching and a built-in centering scale for precision windage adjustments. The compact, lightweight footprint of these sight pushers make them ideal for the range or a workbench. Both tools work with all Glock generations and models and, unlike other Glock sight pusher tools on the market, can be used with suppressor-height sights and even on Glock pistols equipped with red dot sights without removing the optic.

DIY Series™ Sight Pusher Install Kit for Glock®

Engineered for the do-it-yourselfer who owns or maintains multiple Glock pistols, the DIY-Series Sight Pusher Install Kit for Glock allows users to easily complete a wide range of sight installs on all Glock slides, including optic/suppressor-height sights. An Allen key, included in the kit, is turned to move the pusher back and forth across the slide, and the process of installing and removing sights requires up to 50% less force with the XS tool than other available sight pushers due to the low placement of the pusher bit. When installing optic and suppressor-height sights on Glock MOS and aftermarket optic cut slides, the optic and factory plate cover must be installed before mounting the tool on the slide. (No plate cover necessary with the GUNSMITH Series.)

The DIY-series kit includes the sight pusher with stainless steel bolt, locking wedge, Allen key, Go / No-Go gauges for troubleshooting, steel Glock front sight tool, oil and threadlocker.

This sight pusher weighs 1.4 lbs. and is rated for 50-100 sight installations.

Retail Price: $150.00

GUNSMITH-Series™ Sight Pusher Install Kit for Glock®

Engineered for professional use, and DIYers who demand the best performance from their tools, the GUNSMITH Series offers the fastest Glock sight installation. Instead of an Allen key to move the rear slide, this tool comes with a T-handle for even more leverage and easier turning to slide the rear sight. The handle doubles as a front sight tool and both it and the tool bolt are equipped with magnets. The magnet in the bolt head secures the multi-function T-handle while installing rear sights. When installing front sights, the magnetic hex bit securely holds the Glock front sight’s screw in place for a drop-free installation process.

This series fits all Glock OEM and aftermarket slides and is Glock MOS compatible for easy installation of sights with a red dot sight mounted on the pistol.

The GUNSMITH-Series kit includes the professional grade rear sight pusher with steel black oxide bolt, multi-function T-handle / magnetic steel Glock front sight tool, Go / No-Go gauges for trouble shooting, and built-in centering scale.

This sight pusher weighs 1.8 lbs. and is rated for 200+ sight installations.

Retail Price: $200.00

The XS Sights Inline Rear Sight Pusher Tools are designed for use with the XS R3D and F8 Night Sights, however, they will work with many other brands of aftermarket sights. Maximum tool life is estimated based on installing XS R3D Night Sights in Glock OEM slides. Aftermarket slides do not mirror Glock’s exact dovetail. Users should expect to apply 50% to 75% more force on aftermarket slides which applies more load on the tool, reducing lifespan. A sight pusher is not necessary for installations of XS’ flagship DXT2 Big Dot night sights.

“Knowledge from our 25-plus years of sight manufacturing and gunsmithing experience went into the development of these Inline Rear Sight Pusher Tools, and we are excited to give Glock owners such versatile sight pushers that are easy to use and work with all Glock pistols,” said Addison Monroe, Marketing Manager, XS Sights. “Portability is an important factor, so we used an aluminum body that is 40% lighter than other Glock-only sight pushers on the market. Compatibility with suppressor-height sights and red dot optics was another key consideration, given the increasing popularity of both. The design gives ample clearance for taller sights and allows windage adjustments to the rear sight of MOS pistols while keeping the red dot sight attached to the slide.”

Made in the USA from 6061 T6 aluminum that is hard coat anodized, versatile, durable, and reliable, the XS sight pusher tools make changing sights on Glocks easy. All the more reason to upgrade your factory sights with XS night sights that are highly visible in any light.

For more information and installation instructions, see the following videos:

DIY Series Intro Video

DIY Series Install Video

GUNSMITH Series Intro Video

GUNSMITH Series Install Video

DIY & GUNSMITH Troubleshooting Video

Posted in Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on XS Sights Introduces Inline Rear Sight Pusher Tools for Glock Pistols

Long Legacy, Small FN SCAR

December 13th, 2022

FN Proudly Introduces the FN SCAR 15P Rifle-Caliber Pistol(McLean, VA – December 13, 2022) Building on the heritage of the FN SCAR® family, FN America, LLC proudly introduces the long-awaited FN SCAR 15P rifle-caliber pistol. The 5.56 NATO-chambered pistol is an extremely lightweight and compact design, weighing in at 5.65 pounds unloaded and just under 20-inches in length with its 7.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel. Specifically developed with flexibility and mobility in mind, the SCAR 15P is an ideal choice for home and personal defense applications or for everyday range use.

“The release of the FN SCAR-SC in 2018 created excitement amongst SCAR enthusiasts who hoped that we would, one day, offer this configuration as a semi-automatic pistol to the U.S. firearms market,” said Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FN America, LLC. “With the FN SCAR 15P release, I am pleased to be able to deliver exactly what our consumers asked for – a pistol variant of the FN SCAR-SC – backed by the legendary reliability, durability and adaptability of the FN SCAR series.”

Machined from a single piece of aluminum, the receiver features a continuous M1913 Picatinny rail in the 12 o’clock position along with side rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, providing ample rail space for a red dot, flashlight or angled foregrip. The rear of the receiver features a vertical Picatinny rail (VPR) with a quick-detach sling attachment for use with single-point slings. The trigger module that acts as the lower receiver is identical to the SCAR 16S, sharing a number of parts commonalities across the two systems. It offers an ambidextrous selector and magazine release along with compatibility with any AR-pattern magazine.

“The SCAR is renowned for its uncompromising reliability, durability and accuracy – the hallmark of FN’s quality. We are proud to say that the FN SCAR 15P meets those measures handily and delivers a shooting experience worthy of the name,” said Benjamin Voss, Senior Product Manager for FN America’s Long Guns. “This long-anticipated release carries the DNA of SCAR throughout from its short-stroke gas piston operating system, NRCH capabilities, cold hammer-forged and chrome-lined barrel, and so much more. We’re happy to deliver the FN SCAR 15P to our consumers who have eagerly anticipated this release.”

The ultracompact SCAR pistol is driven by the legendary and highly reliable short-stroke gas piston system at the heart of every SCAR. The pinnacle of reliability and durability, the pistol-length gas system runs cleanly, isolating spent gases from the moving parts group and giving you more rounds fired without stoppages. Its adjustable low-flash gas regulator and three-pronged muzzle device that reduce muzzle flash are especially appreciated in pistol configuration when firing repeated rounds down range from the fully free-floated 7.5-inch cold hammer-forged and chrome-lined barrel.

The pistol is equipped with the non-reciprocating charging handle assembly that reduces overall felt recoil due to the reduced mass of the bolt carrier, thus producing an extremely easy-to-manage system when shooting from a sling. The assembly includes the redesigned bolt carrier, charging handle sled and ambidextrous, reversible charging handles – one in a low-profile configuration and the other a 30-degree offset that enables the use of low-mounted optics and can act as a hand stop, if so desired. The low-profile charging handle is preinstalled from the factory and the 30-degree offset is included with the pistol as an available upgrade at the customer level.

Packaged in a discreet, soft-sided carry case color-matched to the pistol, moving from the home to the range and back has never been easier. With ample room within the case for spare magazines and other accessories, the FN SCAR 15P pistol case is an easy option to stow and go. The pistol is available in black or flat dark earth (FDE) and ships with one 30- or 10-round FN SCAR-L magazine. With its overall compact size, lightweight configuration and reliable FN SCAR operating system, the FN SCAR 15P is the perfect choice for a home or personal defense firearm and also an ideal addition to any FN SCAR collection.

To learn more about the FN SCAR 15P or other FN SCAR firearms, please visit www.fnamerica.com/scar.

Posted in Press Release, weapons | 15 Comments »

The Smoker by MUB

December 13th, 2022

You may remember the Multi-Use-Block which was developed by Special Forces Veterans to offer a versatile mount for various optical systems used for sniping and reconnaissance. This was expanded to include a common platform to emplacements optics and lasers on a common plane. While the company shares its name with the initial product they’ve come up with something new and quite useful for an even wider audience.

The Smoker is an inexpensive impact indicator for steel targets. Ingenious in its simplicity, the Smoker emits a puff of smoke each time the target is struck. It is requires no batteries and is gravity fed.

Attached to the rear of a target with Velcro it uses inexpensive, commercially powders like Baby powder, Talc Powder, Cornstarch & Talc mixtures.

www.themub.com

Posted in Training | 5 Comments »

Conlog Group Receives Finnish Defence Force Communications Contract

December 13th, 2022

Monday 12 December, 2022: Conlog Group announces that it has been selected by the Finnish Defence Forces for the design, implementation, documentation, use and maintenance of containerised communication stations.

The self-contained stations will allow Finnish forces to maintain communications in challenging environments.

Over the lifetime of the contact if all options are exercised the value of the project will amount to €39.1 million. In terms of workload, it will equate to 113 person-years per annum to the company.

Announcing the contract CEO of Conlog Group, Juha Moisio, said: “This is a major contract for Conlog Group and shows that when it comes to building transportable installations that can meet the most challenging of environments then it is Conlog that the Finnish Defence Forces trust.”

“One of the advantages we have is that our engineers all know the type of environments in which military personnel need to deploy as nearly all of us have undertaken military service at some point. That means that we can combine real world experience of operations to ensure that each and every solution we design meets those real-world requirements,” he added.

The solution being developed for the Finnish Defence Forces is based on one of Conlog Group’s main product lines – its containerised communications installations – but will be further developed to meet the specific requirements of the Finnish Defence Forces.

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Secretary of Defense Establishes Office of Strategic Capital

December 13th, 2022

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today (Dec 1, 2023) established the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), a Department of Defense organization that will help build an enduring technological advantage by partnering with private capital providers.

OSC will connect companies developing critical technologies vital to national security with capital. Critical technologies such as advanced materials, next-generation biotechnology, and quantum science often require long-term financing to bridge the gap between the laboratory and full-scale production, often referred to as the “Valley of Death” in industry.

“We are in a global competition for leadership in critical technologies, and the Office of Strategic Capital will help us win that competition and build enduring national security advantages,” said Secretary Austin. “By working with the private capital markets and by partnering with our federal colleagues, OSC will address investment gaps and add a new tool to the Department’s investment toolbox.”

These technology companies also suffer from a limited supply of longtime-horizon “patient capital,” which results in an inability to transition technology into military capabilities – even for technologies developed with the help of federal research grants or contracts. Moreover, many of these technologies are essential for future defense capabilities but are not purchased directly by the DoD, meaning existing procurement programs are unable to support the relevant companies’ immediate capital needs.

“America’s strategic competitors are working to influence U.S. technological innovation to their advantage,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu. “OSC is part of a broader administration-wide effort to ‘crowd-in’ private capital in areas where our efforts can boost our future security and prosperity. Our hope is that OSC will be able to strike its first deals by early next year.”

As an office overseen by the Secretary of Defense, the OSC will have an advisory council that includes the Under Secretaries of Defense. The OSC will work across policy, acquisition, and research efforts to increase the amount of capital available to critical technology companies. OSC will also help counter non-market actions by strategic competitors that use U.S. capital markets to advance their own technology goals.

In support of the Under Secretary Defense for Research and Engineering, OSC will complement the innovation organizations already executing programs to support critical technology developers. OSC aims to scale investments between science and technology-focused organizations, such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and commercially-oriented organizations, such as the Defense Innovation Unit, by increasing the capital available to critical technology companies to help them reach scaled production.

While existing offices rely on grants and contracts to deploy capital, OSC is investigating the use of non-acquisition-based tools, such as loans and loan guarantees. Many other federal agencies use credit programs to participate in capital markets through loans, loan guarantees, development funds, and other tools.

These types of federal investments have been vital in helping companies such as Apple, Cray Research, and Sun Microsystems early in their development. The OSC is unique within DoD by seeking to use proven credit programs, making strategic public-private investments in supply chains, and supporting critical technology companies from early-stage to full production.

Read more about the OSC at: www.cto.mil/osc

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