The 2022 Connecticut SWAT Challenge is coming up soon, August 16-18 in the Hartford area.
Not only does the Connecticut SWAT Challenge host teams from all over the US to challenge themselves against various events and one another, there are also training courses.
For vendors it’s a great way to meet face to face with these teams and show off your wares. Spots are still available.
To learn more, visit www.ctswatchallenge.com.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
The Air Force is expecting lower promotion rates for the next few years due to enlisted grade restructuring, a leveling-off of end-strength growth, and high retention levels.
Based on structure revisions and end-strength requirements, grades E-5 through E-7 will be impacted. Through this realignment, the Air Force intends to balance and increase experience within its noncommissioned officer tier.
“We value the experience Airmen bring to their work centers and we want to ensure we are aligning our enlisted force grade structure appropriately,” said Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services. “Although this news may be discouraging for some, this revision is absolutely needed and allows us to grow the Air Force our nation needs.”
The review also confirmed various career field managers’ concerns on the decrease of experience levels among their Airmen after analyzing historical data.
“While a small part of the decline can be explained by the elimination of time-in-grade and time-in-service points from enlisted promotion considerations, the majority of the experience decline was attributable to the Air Force trying to achieve an enlisted force structure with too many higher grades,” said Col. James Barger, Air Force Manpower Analysis Agency commander. “We also found that experience levels would continue to decline unless the Air Force lays in more junior Airmen allocations and fewer E5-E7 allocations. So, we built a plan to transition to a healthier grade distribution by Fiscal Year 2025.”
From 2015 to 2021, enlisted end-strength grew by nearly 16,000 Airmen and since more promotable quotas were available to Airmen during the period of growth, promotion rates over this time period were higher.
Now that the end-strength growth has leveled off, the higher promotion opportunity is no longer available and will be further constrained as strengths drops by 3,000 into FY23 from its high in March 2022.
Furthermore, due to record-high retention levels across the enlisted force, promotion opportunities due to Airmen separating or retiring have also been reduced. Over the next several years, and as retention levels may be expected to normalize, increased promotion opportunity may be expected.
The revised grade structure distribution is essential for solidifying and building upon the experience gained and captured from the recent revisions to the Enlisted Evaluation System. Within this FY22 promotion cycles, the Air Force adopted the Promotion Recommendation Score, which places value on the experience of Airmen and sustained superior performance when it comes to promotions. The goal is to slow the rate at which the average Airman is promoted to give an average of an additional year of experience at each of the E-5 and E-6 grades.
Last year, the Air Force introduced Airman Leadership Qualities which focus on competency-based development and lay the foundation for “Developing the Airmen We Need” for both officers and enlisted personnel. The ALQs are also an integral part of the recently released “Blueprint: Roadmap to Enlisted Development.” ALQ-based evaluations, slated to begin this fall, allow the Air Force to measure what it values for leadership development and future conflicts.
“As we continue to improve and revise our enlisted evaluation system and grade distribution, we must ensure members are ready to both take care of their Airmen and are experts in their primary duties,” Miller added. “Our enlisted force must be poised and structured to be able to accomplish both of those key tasks.”
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Rheinmetall has scored further contract successes in the field of 40mm ammunition. The South African subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition has been awarded contracts for the supply of 40mm ammunition by two customers in Asia. In one case, this is a new customer who has ordered 400,000 40mm low-velocity grenades. These are to be delivered by December 2022. In the other case, an existing customer ordered 100,000 rounds of medium velocity grenades. These are to be delivered between December 2022 and February 2023. In total, the order is worth about 25 million euros.
“With these two contracts, we are expanding our customer base in Asia,” says Jan-Patrick Helmsen, CEO Rheinmetall Denel Munition. Negotiations are already underway to increase the quantities.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition offers a comprehensive range of high-quality 40mm ammunition, including. 40x46mm Low Velocity (LV), 40x53mm High Velocity (HV) and 40x51mm Medium Velocity (MV).
The 40mm MV ammunition has a range of up to 800 metres – 200 metres more than comparable products on the market. The 40mm LV ammunition has a range of up to 400 metres. Both types of ammunition use a High Explosive Dual Purpose projectile. This combines fragmentation and shaped charge, which has a high penetrating power. It can be used against bunkers and armoured targets and can penetrate 50 mm rolled homogenous armour (RHA).
The ammunition is manufactured in accordance with international standards and is suitable for use with suitably qualified grenade launchers of the latest generation.
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA. – July 12, 2022 – Oakley® Standard Issue has announced the launch of the new American Heritage Collection to honor and recognize the distinctive nose art seen on 1940s allied military aircraft. The three-piece collection features Gascan®, Holbrook™ and Drop Point™ models, all uniquely designed to commemorate the rich history and individuality behind these iconic aircraft and their crews.
“We’re excited to introduce the latest addition to our American Heritage collection paying tribute to the iconic aircraft art from the 1940s,” said Erick Poston, Senior Director of Oakley SI. “This method of self-expression allowed these men to showcase their individuality and give their planes a persona to not only keep them safe, but also give them some reminders of home.”
Born from practicality in identifying friendly units from foe, the nose art on these aircraft gave each plane its own personality. These designs were morale-boosting, good-luck charms, and reminders of personal lives, hobbies, characteristics and much more. It is a kind of folk art that provides a unique insight into the mindset of the aircrew and ground personnel who were thrust into an environment where the only certainty was the uncertainty of their survival.
The American Heritage Collection consists of three different configurations from Oakley’s assortment with options in the Holbrook™, Gascan® and Drop Point™ models. All eyewear includes Prizm™ Lens Technology and features a unique scheme associated with historic aircraft designs. MSRP starting at $183.
To learn more about the American Heritage Collection, check out this article on OakleySI.com.
To become a member or learn more about Oakley Standard Issue, visit OakleySI.com. Details about products, promotions and future offers can also be found on the Oakley SI Instagram, Facebook and YouTube pages.
Offered in 2 and 8 Liter versions, Matador’s Flatpack Dry Bags feature welded construction of Waterproof 70D ripstop nylon for an IPX7 rating (Submersible to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes).
They feature a roll top and clear window to ID your gear along with a Hypalon carrying handle.
matadorup.com/products/flatpak-drybag-8l
Both TXC Holsters and OTTE Gear hires Austin Miller for sales, communications, and digital marketing!
TXC Holsters, Houston based manufacturer of Kydex forearms retention, and OTTE Gear, New Jersey based manufacturer of tactical clothing any nylon, are both proud to announce that Austin Miller has joined their team.
Austin joins as OTTE Gear’s newest Social Media Manager and TXC Holsters as the Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Austin is experienced in marketing through a vast number of digital channels. From a small business owner back in 2018, to most recently, 2 years at Modlite Systems as the Customer Engagement Director where he managed the customer service and marketing team. He brings his friendly and charismatic attitude, and experience as both a salesman and product end-user to two new teams with missions that are close to his heart.
“Many of you who have known me throughout the years know that I got my start in this industry manufacturing my own holsters, and that textile products are an addictive passion of mine. Having the incredible opportunity to work in both realms is a dream come true. Working with two amazing companies that didn’t make me pick has been incredible, and frankly I was shocked when they said yes to the proposal. Days are long, but the payoff is well worth it. Both companies are uniquely positioned with the resources to have an amazing impact, but nimble enough to respond to changes and new product needs by the end-user.”
– Austin Miller
If you have any inquiries, Austin Can be reached at:
The GLOCK family of pistols has an interesting feature which has spawned quite a few aftermarket accessories.
Refined Savages saw the empty channel in the grip behind the magazine well and thought it would be the perfect space for a fire starter.
The G-Spot Fire Starter Kit includes:
Ferro Rod
Metal Striker
Flame Wicking Cotton
Accelerant Gel Packs
Compatible with the GLOCK 17, GLOCK 19 GLOCK 34, and GLOCK 35.
refinedsavages.com/product/firestarter
HELSINKI – Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; and the Guard Jaeger Regiment of the Finnish Army, conducted bilateral training in Santahamina Island, Finland, June 28, 2022.
Over 200 U.S. Soldiers conducted urban operations training alongside Finnish soldiers, learning tactical skills from each other in order to operate seamlessly with partner nations.
The training is part of the Finnish Summer Exercise, a training exercise conducted in various bases throughout Finland, running from the end of June to September.
“Finland has been great. We appreciate the hospitality. From a military standpoint, the training has been exceptional. The Guard Jaeger Regiment has been very accommodating for anything we need,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jacob Teplesky, commander of the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
During the exercise, U.S. engineers and sappers conducted training on breaching, demolitions, and have learned how to use Finnish type charges they’ve never experienced before, said Teplesky
The Guard Jaeger Regiment’s primary mission is to train soldiers for urban operations. These soldiers would defend the capital as part of wartime units formed by the regiment.
“It’s very important, the cooperation between Finnish and U.S. forces. I think you will continue to see, as we continue to expand these exercises, throughout the summer as … we move from squad and platoon level, to a battalion command post exercise, we fly our unmanned aerial systems and we shoot a mechanized gunnery,” said Teplesky.
The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe.
SPC Hassani Ribera Soto
