Yesterday Rampart hosted their 10th Range Day at Stittsville Range just west of the Canadian Capitol of Ottawa.
It’s great to be back in Canada as the country begins to open back up from the COVID-19 lockdowns. Turnout was great and there was a wide variety of vendors on hand.
We’ve got lots to cover.
There has been an order of magnitude increase in the number of electronic systems on the battlefield over the past 2 decades, and thanks to these systems, our Boots-on-the-Ground now have unmatched C5ISR capabilities at the tactical edge.
However, this increase in capabilities comes at the cost of an increased burden on the troops – as many spare batteries must be carried to keep systems operational. As a result, it is now common for Squad members to carry 20-40 pounds of spare batteries on a typical patrol – on top of all the other things they need to carry (such as food, water, ammunition, and clothing). As a result, the total individual load can often exceed well over 100 pounds.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the debilitating effect that such heavy loads have on the physical health and performance of our service members, as well as their operational effectiveness. But while much focus has been put on making gear and equipment lighter, there is still much room for improvement in reducing “the burden of power”.
As mentioned above, spare batteries make up the majority of the bulk and weight associated with the power burden. However, short of changing the Laws of Physics, what can be done to decrease the amount of spare batteries that troops need to carry to be operationally effective? Standardization and interoperability are two areas where step-change improvements can be made that will reduce the number of different, and often proprietary batteries, that don’t work across platforms.
The Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB), which was featured last week, is a major step towards creating standardization, interoperability, and mission-adaptive power for the Warfighter. With eight different capacity and size options, plus eight different attachment methods, the STUB series reduces the Warfighter’s battery burden and provides unprecedented levels of interoperability and power commonality. The STUB is a significant step toward reducing complexity in the supply chain, easing logistics and reducing the battery burden on the troops.
A supporting avenue of approach is the incorporation of USB technology. Leveraging industry-standard USB protocols enables shorter product development cycles, reduces overall program cost, and simplifies training, logistics and support for end-users. The use of USB technology also brings advantages in terms of end-user familiarity and platform commonality and interoperability. USB technology also delivers weight savings and performance improvements over legacy military platforms and power sources.
Developing and delivering solutions that are purposefully-designed to provide power commonality and interoperability will certainly help ensure that every ounce counts. Incorporating globally-proven industry-standards and technologies will also help reduce the battery burden and enhance operational effectiveness for the Warfighter. These approaches also constitute a formula that can be implemented now to cost-effectively reduce the battery burden and extend the capabilities of tactical electronics.
Guest post by EXO Charge
WASHINGTON – Three changes to the Army’s retention program are scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, as the Army looks to simplify aspects of the reenlistment process and give Soldiers more flexibility before their expiration term of service date.
A modification to the Career Status Program, formerly known as the Indefinite Reenlistment Program, an adjustment to the Reenlistment Opportunity Window, or ROW, and to one of the extensions will all take effect starting fiscal year 2022, said Sgt. Maj. Tobey J. Whitney, the Army’s senior career counselor.
“These changes are being made with the intent of increasing predictability for Soldiers and their families while also reducing turbulence within Army organizations,” Whitney said.
Career Status Program
Soldiers ranked E-6 and above and with 10 years or more of active service will now be eligible for the Career Status Program, reducing the time in service threshold from 12 years, Whitney said.
“We found through collected data that staff sergeant and above with more than 10 years of service were required to reenlist at least twice to make it to retirement,” Whitney said. “That doesn’t seem like a logical solution to keep Soldiers in the Army.”
The update to the CSP will not change any of the Army’s voluntary separation policies, which allow Soldiers to request a discharge or enter into the Career Intermission Program, he added.
Under CIP, Soldiers can take a break in service while receiving their benefits and a portion of their pay for up to three years, Army G-1 officials said earlier this year.
“We want to ensure that [qualified] Soldiers understand their eligibility for the Career Status Program,” Whitney said. “If Soldiers can just reenlist for an indefinite term of service, they can go and continue with their careers.”
ROW changes
The change to the ROW policy will give Soldiers 12 months before their ETS to review their reenlistment options and make a final decision, Whitney said.
“The ROW is currently set at 15 months, but we are changing it to 12 for two main reasons,” he said. “First, it is simple for Soldiers, leaders and families to understand when they are 365 days from their ETS.
Second, “the analytics over the past several years [show] that the vast majority of Soldiers wait until they are between eight to 11 months before they reenlist.”
The adjustment to the ROW extension would increase the minimum term length from 12 to 18 months, Whitney said.
The transition process can create a lot of turbulence in a Soldier’s life, he said, as well as impact their organization as they navigate the Soldier for Life program and finish their out-processing tasks.
As the Army continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ROW extension change would remain a short-term retention option for Soldiers. Further, changes to the program will not impact those who need to reenlist for promotion, reassignment, selection, or other requirements.
“We found that it is pretty common for Soldiers to extend,” Whitney said. “We are adding six additional months to provide a little more predictability for Army units, the Soldier, and their family.”
Many other short-term extension options remain available for Soldiers who need additional time and meet the requisite qualifications, he added.
By Devon L. Suits, Army News Service
After a number of years of being one of the top rated LPVO’s on Optics Planet, the XP8 has been reborn into the illustrious OPMOD EDITION line up from Optics Planet. Joining the ranks of Steiner, EOTech, Vortex, and more. The FDE Cerakoted Atibal XP8 1-8×24 SFP OPMOD EDITION low power variable optic is not only highly versatile, but it is also highly durable.
The Atibal XP8 1-8x is one of the most versatile 1x variable scopes on the market with the Atibal Rapid View Lever allowing you to make lightning fast magnification changes. This optic was made for 3 gunners in mind!
The XP8 utilizes the Diamond Tactical Reticle (DTR) with a .5 MOA center red dot with a BDC calibrated for 5.56 62gr. ammo. The DTR reticle allows you to quickly obtain your target with the diamond reticle in CQB scenarios and for more precise shots at longer distance with it’s fine .5 moa center red dot.
This LIMITED EDITION OPMOD EDITION optic is only available through OPTICSPLANET.COM, see the link below.
www.opticsplanet.com/opmod-atibal-xp8-1-8x24mm-riflescopes-w-rapid-view-lever
The XP8 utilizes the Diamond Tactical Reticle (DTR) with a .5 MOA center red dot with a BDC calibrated for 5.56 62gr. ammo. The DTR reticle allows you to quickly obtain your target with the diamond reticle in CQB scenarios and for more precise shots at longer distance with it’s fine .5 moa center red dot.
FEATURES:
– LIFETIME WARRANTY
– SECOND FOCAL PLANE
– EXTRA BATTERY STORAGE IN WINDAGE COMPARTMENT
– .5 MOA CENTER DOT WITH BDC
– 11 BRIGHTNESS SETTINGS
– FULLY MULTI-COATED LENS
– LOW PROFILE TURRETS
– FOG PROOF
– SHOCK PROOF
– WATER PROOF
SPECIFICATIONS:
– MAGNIFICATION: 1-8x
– OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER: 24mm
– EYE RELIEF: 4″
– LENGTH: 10″
– WEIGHT: 17.4OZ
– FIELD OF VIEW: 105′ @ 1x – 12.45′ @ 8x
– TUBE SIZE: 30mm
– TURRET STYLE: LOW PROFILE CAPPED
– BATTERY SIZE: 1x CR2032
– ADJUSTMENT PER CLICK: 1/2 MOA
– MAX ELEVATION ADJUSTMENT: 120 MOA
– MAX WINDAGE ADJUSTMENT: 120 MOA
– MADE OF 6061-T6 ALUMINUM
– COATING: CERAKOTE, FDE COLOR
OROVILLE, Calif. – September 28, 2021 – RCBS®, the leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved RCBS app, now available to download free for both Apple and Android devices.
The recently released app goes above and beyond with the ability to work across the entire lineup of RCBS Bluetooth-enabled dispensers: MatchMaster, ChargeMaster Supreme and ChargeMaster Link. With the app at a user’s fingertips, calibrating any of these dispensers is a breeze.
Once calibrated, a user can go straight to dispensing, entering in powder information and required dispensation weights. When paired with the MatchMaster, dispensing can be completely customized as well. Each loading session provides intelligent feedback, including notations on over- and under-charges, length of the session, and number of charges thrown, all of which aids the shooter during future loading sessions.
At the range, the RCBS app’s “Load Log” tracks the progress of your reloading / handloading process. Start by creating a firearm profile with make, model, cartridge, round count, rate of twist, scope manufacturer, scope height, free-bore length and any other data that might affect accuracy. Then create a new load profile, entering critical load data such as:
• Bullet manufacturer, model, weight and dimensions
• Powder charge weight and dispenser device information
• Powder manufacturer, type, lot number, production date and date the container was first opened
• Primer manufacturer and type
• Case manufacturer, trim-to length, neck thickness, overall length, annealing temperature and time, total firings per case, and total firings per case between annealings
The app also allows a shooter to enter range conditions including range name, date, temperature, humidity, elevation, barometric pressure, latitude and longitude, and wind (cardinal wind direction, clock wind direction and wind speed). From there it’s all about shooting and recording groups. Users can upload photos – groups, changes to cases post-firing, etc. – for future reference. With the virtual “Reloading Bench,” users can also keep track of all their RCBS products.
“We’re pretty excited about the new app and how complete it is,” said Will Hemeyer, senior product manager for RCBS. “You can use it all or in part. The new app is a perfect way to let shooters wring every benefit they can from their RCBS dispenser and, in turn, help perfect their custom load so that each bullet has unparalleled repeatability.”
The new RCBS app comes with phone and email tech support, so shooters have easy access to assistance at home or in the field. To learn more about the RCBS app or to see the full lineup of Bluetooth-enabled RCBS products, visit RCBS.com.
MIAMI, OKLA. – Scepter™, a leader in the fuel container industry, has introduced a Duramax 14-gallon fuel caddy meant especially for diesel fuels. Launched during the 2021 IBEX, the Scepter Flo n Go Duramax 14-Gallon Fuel Caddy features a patented pump handle that looks just like the ones used at gas stations. In addition, the dependable container has sturdy wheels, making it easy to transfer diesel fuel to any location.
The Duramax pump handle includes both a spill-proof shut-off and a child lock for added safety. The unit has a flow rate of two gallons of fuel per minute when in the siphon mode, making it ideal for transferring diesel fuel in a variety of situations.
“This Duramax container has two brass shut off valves,” says Melissa Obradovic with Scepter. “There’s one at the tank and one at the hose. This allows for easy disconnect with no fuel spillage. And, the caddy has a dependable 10-foot hose, made out of automotive grade rubber. For ease of storage, the unit also has a hose hanger.”
Holding 14-gallons of diesel fuel, the Scepter Flo n Go Duramax diesel container is ideal for refueling diesel engines in boats, farming equipment, construction and other vehicles using compression ignition engines.
“Our Scepter Flo n Go Duramax Fuel Caddys — available for both gasoline and diesel — have ergonomically-designed, heavy-duty top handles on the containers featuring extra deep handholds for transport,” says Obradovic. “And, molded-in feet keep the container off the floor for increased ventilation and stability.”
Constructed of durable and safe high-density polyethylene, the new Duramax container for diesel fuels will be available after November 1, 2021 on Amazon.com. Visit www.scepter.com for more information.
Leatherman has expanded their Raptor foldable scissor line with the new Response model.
With slimmer grips for everyday use, the Raptor Response integrates a ring cutter, ruler, oxygen tank wrench, and pocket clip.
Offered with Grey, Navy and Crimson handles.
www.leatherman.com/raptor-response
O P Tactical Inc is proud to bring back the Mayflower Hodge Defense Universal Case in a new version.
Designed by Hodge Defense, built by Mayflower / Velocity Systems. The goal in creating the Universal Case was to provide a discreet solution to carry a fully assembled rifle or other equipment when an innocuous profile is required for transport or trips where you are a stranger in a strange land. The case was born out of common experiences in less than desirable places, complete collaboration between the three companies’ founders and a desire to create a truly universal utility case capable of fulfilling multiple roles for end-users.
As a weapon case, it can hold a 16” barreled AR-15 or similar platform and perfectly accommodates a 10.5” to 12.5” M4, with suppressor attached. For general transport or range use, one end of the 37” x 10” case can be unzipped to accommodate larger weapons. The exterior flap secures with three low-profile adjustable ITW G-hooks and the case can be carried by the sewn in carry handle or the shoulder strap clipped into one of the five attachment points. The shoulder strap utilizes a single piece of 1.5” webbing and doubles as an improvised weapon sling,
The Universal Case exterior is 1050D Cordura, with 500D internally. A 2” x 8” internal pouch on the right side of the case is capable of holding a suppressor, two M4 magazines, long-range camera lens, cleaning kit, or anything else similar in size. There is an 8” x 11” internal document pocket sewn into the center of the case to stow small items, data books, maps, NFA Trusts, or other documents. Two sewn in Velcro loops secure the main contents and along the inside of the top flap, there is a row of PALS webbing. The length of webbing can be used to secure other ancillary items such as bipods, weapon lights, and secondary optics via the two ITW QASM Picatinny RAMP attachment points included. 1/4” closed cell padding offers protection and structure without adding excessive bulk.
The design of the end flaps and the geometry used for the heavy-duty, locking zippers, enables the Universal Case to unzip and convert into a 31” x 37” workstation for extended urban observation operations or range use. In addition to its suitability for common uses, the nondescript design lends itself to transport of many other items without outwardly giving away its contents. Because a hard-sided case is not always practical, the Universal Case is an ideal solution for use in low-visibility SOF or LE operations when transporting elongated items like weapons, collapsible breaching tools, tripods, communications antennas, tripods or lightweight medical litters such as the Matbock S-Lift with Combat Carbon Fiber Poles.
What is the difference between V1 and V2?
With the growing popularity of LPVOs among end users, OPT had Mayflower add a middle strap to the bag, due to billowing created by the larger optics.
As of this posting there will be only one run of these bags.
Made in the USA
