The FirstSpear Slick™ is designed for wear underneath garments or Load Carriage Platforms. The Slick is light and comfortable, cut to fit either SAPI ballistic plates or swimmer / shooter plates that are the same size as carrier.
This minimalist carrier is not designed to be an outer most carrier for Tactical Operations.
Visit FirstSpear to find all the gear and apparel for America’s Warfighter.
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. —
Those who go to war together must live and train together, according to the philosophy behind the Air Force’s Special Warfare Training Wing here, which prepares operational Airmen in seven career specialties.
Modified facilities were built at the SWTW to ensure appropriate levels of privacy for mixed-sex cohorts of trainees at the Special Warfare Candidate Course, the course of initial entry for those who want to become Air Force Special Warfare Airmen.
These mixed-sex facilities include open-bay dormitories where male and female trainees bunk together, equipped with specially designed mixed-sex locker areas to incorporate individual shower rooms and restrooms with privacy for each trainee.
“Fostering an environment of inclusion is an imperative for the SWTW,” said Col. Nathan Colunga, SWTW commander. “The mixed-sex facilities built at our candidate course, where we first welcome Special Warfare Airmen, are only the beginning for the SWTW. The larger strategy is to build mixed-sex facilities throughout the entirety of the SWTW footprint, across the nation where every trainee, regardless of gender, is afforded the same level of privacy.”
In 2015, the U.S. Air Force began the process of integrating women into the AFSPECWAR career fields previously closed to them. The construction of the mixed sex facilities marks a positive step in the wing’s progress.
For Air Education and Training Command and 2nd Air Force, the process of broadening the pool of recruits for instructors and trainees in the Air Force’s technical-training pipelines is a top priority.
“We continuously struggle to recruit enough people who have the potential to meet our standards in Air Force Special Warfare,” said Maj. Gen. Michele Edmondson, 2nd Air Force commander, who oversees basic military training and the majority of non-flying technical training for AETC.
“I want to leave no stone unturned,” she said. “We need to be more deliberate about bringing in anyone who has the propensity to serve in these career fields and meets the standards it takes to graduate.”
The SWTW has graduated five female AFSPECWAR Airmen to date and continues to see the benefits of the mixed-sex integration efforts. There are currently two female trainees in the SWTW pipelines and continued efforts to fully integrate facilities for all sexes will ensure further diversity, inclusion and integration.
One of those graduates is Capt. Lauren Laffosse, a tactical air control party officer who is currently the chief of force integration at 2nd Air Force.
“My focus is not just on women in the special warfare pipelines,” said Laffosse. “I look at all under-represented groups and my job is to help remove barriers and ensure equitable processes across all career fields trained in 2nd Air Force.”
Laffosse participates first-hand in training courses to discover ways to make instructor and training opportunities available to a wider range of potential recruits.
“I go into training environments alongside students to observe and experience things personally,” she said. “My experience as a TACP enables me to understand the operational and training requirements so that we’re not changing the standards.”
One example Laffosse cited was a lack of female restrooms or changing areas in facilities where AFSPECWAR candidates train, something the SWTW is working to rectify.
“We need to negate the unintentional barriers that prevent people from being on the team,” said Edmondson. “I believe it is a national imperative that we look at the future fight and ensure we have the right operators available to be able to assemble the proper team required to meet an evolving mission set that looks different in the future than it has in the past.
“If we don’t appeal to all demographics to join these career-fields, we are missing a huge portion of the available talent our nation has to offer,” she said. “We need to entice anyone who can meet the community’s standards.”
For the SWTW, the future of training will be completely mixed-sex integrated.
The SWTW aquatics training center set for completion in August 2023 will be fully equipped for mixed-sex training. When complete, the $66.6M aquatics training center will accommodate training for more than 3,000 AFSPECWAR trainees annually by incorporating a full range of special operations training scenarios.
The 76,000 square-foot center will feature mixed-sex restrooms, locker rooms, and showers, as well as two enclosed climate-controlled indoor pools of varying depths geared to meet the training needs for the Air Force’s global combat operations.
“The foundation we set today at the SWTW will produce the operators of the future who will compete, deter, and win the future high-end fight against peer and near-peer adversaries,” said Colunga. “We must ensure that these operators, who begin their careers in our pipelines, are able to reach their full potential and are not limited by the barriers of the past to then form the lethal and inclusive APFSPECWAR teams we need.”
Members of SWTW provide initial training for all U.S. Air Force Special Warfare training specialties, to include combat controllers, pararescue, special reconnaissance and tactical air control party Airmen.
To learn more about AFSPECWAR Airmen or other U.S. Air Force Special Warfare career opportunities, go to: www.airforce.com/careers/in-demand-careers/special-warfare.
By 1st Lieutenant Xiaofan Liu
Special Warfare Training Wing
American Rheinmetall Vehicles (Sterling Heights, MI) has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Develop¬ment Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC). The CRADA allows American Rheinmetall Vehicles and DEVCOM GVSC to collaborate on a regular basis to develop integrated combat vehicle suspension, track, and running gear technologies.
In addition to the defined research and development tasks, the CRADA provides a conduit for the team to explore integration of the U.S. Army’s Advanced Lightweight Track and improvements in running gear systems and configurations on platforms that are potential candidates for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program and other critical vehicle modernization programs.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles and DEVCOM GVSC will leverage their respective expertise to improve track, suspension, and running gear solutions, which may also be applicable to future weapons systems for broader military services, international military markets, and further spin-off applications. The effort may include, but is not limited to, modeling and simulation, development, and testing of track, running gear, suspension, road wheels, and subsequent developments to improve these systems and sub-systems in harmony for best-in-class ride quality for tracked combat vehicles.
“The CRADA is the start of a budding relationship to research, develop, and integrate the newest technologies into modern combat vehicles,” said Mike Milner, American Rheinmetall Vehicles Director for Business Development and Strategy. “Specifically, efforts on integration of the Advanced Lightweight Track will provide ride quality improvements and room for growth without reductions in performance on tracked combat vehicles.”
About American Rheinmetall Vehicles
Sterling Heights, MI, based American Rheinmetall Vehicles delivers next-generation, advanced tactical wheeled vehicles and innovative tracked and wheeled combat vehicles in support of today’s highest combat vehicle modernization priorities. Rheinmetall’s collaborative global structure allows for the maturation and strengthening of the U.S. Industrial Base now and into the future. American Rheinmetall Vehicles is part of the American Rheinmetall family of U.S. companies including American Rheinmetall Munitions in Stafford, VA, American Rheinmetall Systems in Biddeford, ME and U.S. corporate parent American Rheinmetall Defense in Reston, VA.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – September 14, 2022 – Butler Creek, maker of smart, field-proven hunting and shooting accessories, announces that the new Featherlight Minimalist Sling is available at retail just in time for this year’s hunting season. The new rifle sling is designed for backcountry hunters needing a simple, dependable sling that doesn’t interfere with their backpack and gear, all while maintaining maximum strength and durability.
While other, bulky rifle slings can get caught up in your backpack straps, the Minimalist Sling has a low-profile design that forms to your shoulder and provides a non-slip grip. When not in use, the extremely compact sling can be rolled up into the size of a baseball and stuffed in a pocket.
“Just as its name implies, the new Minimalist sling offers hunters a functional, modest design that offers all the features you need without extra weight or bulk”, said Monte Koenigs, product manager for Butler Creek. “The new sling expands our popular line of Featherlight models, which includes several of the lightest and strongest slings in the industry.”
Weighing in at only three ounces (including the steel swivels), the Minimalist Sling’s 0.04″ thick hyper-lite material boasts extreme tensile strength at more than 3,000 pounds per square inch. It can also handle extreme temperatures ranging from -22° F to 248° F, so hunters will never have to wonder if it can stand up to the harshest conditions.
The Featherlight Minimalist Sling is available in four colors: black, black and tan, black and orange, and gray with Prym1® camo.
To learn more about the sling or to check out Butler Creek’s full lineup of gear, check out ButlerCreek.com.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – September 14, 2022 – Blackhawk®, a leader in law enforcement and military equipment for over 20 years, has released 24 new fits for the Omnivore™ Multi-Fit Holster, bringing the total number of compatible firearms past 250 and cementing it as one of the more versatile OWB holsters on the market.
New fits available in the Blackhawk Omnivore include options for the Gen5 Glock® 17/19/22/23, Ruger® Security-9®, Smith & Wesson® M&P® M2.0™ 10mm, SIG P320®, Springfield XD® 9mm and XD-M® Elite, plus several others.
The Omnivore manages its versatility by not directly attaching to the frame of the handgun. Instead, the holster attaches to the weapon mounted light (Surefire X300/X300U-A or Streamlight TLR 1&2). With non-light bearing firearms, owners can use the proprietary Rail Attachment Device (RAD) supplied with the holster.
This small polymer accessory mounts to any handgun with at least one slot of Picatinny rail along its dustcover. The thumb-driven active retention mechanism locks onto the Omnivore’s proprietary RAD, not the frame of the handgun. By utilizing the handgun’s accessory rail or mounted light, the injected molded holster is compatible with a wide variety of semi-auto handguns.
To learn more about the Blackhawk Omnivore, to see the complete list of fits, or to see the full lineup of Blackhawk holsters, head over to Blackhawk.com.
ANOKA, Minnesota – September 14, 2022 – Federal Ammunition has been awarded a 5-year contract to produce the United States Army’s 5.56mm training ammunition valued at $114 million dollars. AA40 5.56mm frangible ammunition is used by the U.S. military branches in rifles and carbines chambered for this caliber for training.
“This contract is historic,” said Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. “It is the largest government contract awarded to Federal in its 100-years of operation and speaks volumes to the trust the United States military has in our American workforce assembling the best products for our servicemen and servicewomen.”
“Successfully executing on the AA40 contract requires large scale production capabilities combined with stringent quality control measures,” said Erik Carlson, Senior Director of Operations at Federal’s headquarters located in Anoka, MN. “Awards of this magnitude are validation of Federal’s committed workforce to meet these demands and provide the best ammunition possible for our U.S. Armed Forces time and time again.”
“Federal’s frangible training ammunition has been recognized as the best in the business by the United States military and this latest U.S. Army awarded contract continues that recognition,” said Vice President of Government Sales David Leis. “The ammunition is designed to disintegrate into small fragments on impact, minimizing over-penetrating and ricochet hazards, making it ideal for training purposes.”
Federal ammunition can be found at dealers nationwide or purchased online direct. For more on Federal ammunition, visit www.federalpremium.com.
Fredericksburg, VA, September 12, 2022 – Team One Network announced their collaboration with Smith & Wesson to provide Smith & Wesson armorer training on the S&W M&P and M2.0 pistol as well as the M&P 15 rifle to military and law enforcement personnel.
Smith & Wesson armorer courses taught by Team One Network will focus on nomenclature, field stripping and maintenance, safeties and safety checks, detailed disassembly, troubleshooting and minor repairs. All armorer courses will be 1 day/ 8-hour courses. Students will be provided with both the weapon and all required tools to complete the course.
“Smith & Wesson is committed to the after sales support of our professional customer base.” Said S&W’s Matthew Fehmel, Senior Director of Global, Professional & International Sales.
“Our partnership with Team One Network helps us extend our reach and deliver world-class maintenance instruction to meet the needs of all of our customers in a timely manner.”
“We are honored that Smith and Wesson has selected Team One Network to provide armorers training programs for them,” said John T. Meyer Jr., President of Team One Network. “Our team of armorer instructors have more than 100-years of combined armorer experience. Their passion for the firearms is rivaled only by their desire to train.”
Team One Network has the ability to bring Smith & Wesson armorer training to any location for group or department training. They also welcome individuals to attend scheduled events across the country.
The new CA$H 9k suppressor from HUXWRX is manufactured almost entirely of titanium and 17-4 stainless steel making it perfect for submachine, PCC, lever action, and fixed-barrel systems.
The Flow-Baffle design is based on their patented and proven Flow-Through technology. Added wrench flats at the base and cap make for a quicker disassembly and available adapters allow for greater modularity and system compatibility.
Suitable for use with 9mm, 300 BO Sub-sonic, 350 Legend, the CA$H 9k weighs 5.9 oz and 5.15″ long.
