Once again, the Friday Focus serves to introduce one of FirstSpear’s OEM partners. This time, it’s San Diego, California-based Phokus Research Group.
Why/How was Phokus Research Group started?
Founded in 2008. Phokus Research Group identified a need for Military Inventor Support. Our mission is to find Inventors for the purpose of protecting, developing and commercializing their innovations.
How did the relationship between FS and Phokus begin?
Turns out team members from both companies share similar backgrounds. Dave Kent of FirstSpear offered to design our first pouch at SOMA in 2013. His efforts have made the biggest impact on this partnership.
Why did you ultimately choose FS?
FirstSpear has always been a solid company within the industry. Innovative approaches to nylon, quality craftsmanship, and professionalism as a company is why we use FirstSpear.
What drove development of the war fighter bundle?
Our customers requested a system that allowed Trauma Kits to be carried in any situation. Today’s warfighters are called upon to serve in various capacities. Whether on the FOB, assigned to a security detail, or on patrol, the Warfighter Bundle ensures your medical gear is always at the ready. The Warfighter Bundle V1 is comprised of our three top selling kits, two FirstSpear pouches and a C-A-T tourniquet.
How has your experience been thus far working with FirstSpear design and production, even customer service?
FirstSpear exceeds the standards across the board. Working with their designers is seamless, production quality is great, and customer service is always on top of things.
Anything new coming up between Phokus and FS?
Our newest collaboration with FirstSpear is currently in design. Should be ready for release in July-Aug 2015.
Summary/Objective:
This position is primarily responsible to acquire and maintain knowledge of product specifications, technology and equipment function/integration in support of sales, customer service and other departments within the organization. This is a full-time position working Monday through Friday during normal business hours, with the possibility of infrequent travel for 1-3 day periods as necessary.
Essential Functions
Acquire and maintain knowledge of product specifications, technology and equipment function/integration
Support sales, customer service and other departments within the organization as first level subject matter expert related to product specifications, technology and equipment function/integration
Service walk-in customers
Manage customer requests for test and evaluation of product
Other duties as assigned
Required Competencies and Expectations
Proficient computer, organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
Highly motivated and work well in a fast pace, team oriented environment
Detail oriented with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction
Enthusiastic interest in the type of product and services offered by the company
Required Education and Experience
High school diploma or GED, or equivalent years of experience.
Prior military and/or law enforcement experience, and working knowledge of load carriage systems (LCS) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) preferred.
During SHOT Show we gave you a sneak peek of the Forager Cap from FirstSpear. The story was quite popular and for this week’s Friday Focus, we are happy to announce that the Forager is now available for purchase. I’ve got one of the prototypes and I love it.
The Forager Cap features a slightly longer brim than other caps that gives extra shade and has a preformed, foldable bill that makes it a snap to store flat in your pocket. You’ll also notice that there are slits, called eyeglass channels, for the temple pieces of your eyepro that make sure they won’t go anywhere when stored above the brim.
The unique back hook strap combines stretch as well as a great deal of mechanical adjustment thanks to the buckle and loops. The Forager is also lined with an ultra light weight mesh for ventilation and wicking.
The front of the cap has a light weight breathable low nap pile from Velcro that will let you place a FS Cell Tag, PVC Patch or other ID marking. Additionally, the front breathable panel is embroidered with the FS logo if you don’t want to wear a patch.
Standard size currently available in Black, Coyote, and MultiCam. The Small size will be available in 4-6 weeks.
In honor of Memorial Day, FirstSpear is offering a special promotion. All orders of $100 or more at the FirstSpear online store will receive a free coyote FS logo PVC patch, and free domestic ground shipping.
Once again, the Friday Focus series serves to introduce one of FirstSpear’s OEM partners. This time, it’s North Carolina-based Spartan Blades.
Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey, Co-Founders of Spartan Blades, LLC, possess over 40 years of combined military service and experience. Mark and Curtis have combined their shared love of knife making, military experience and knowledge of the tactical equipment market to form Spartan Blades, LLC with a singular mission:
“Manufacture finely crafted tactical and field knives”
Why did you choose Made in America?
All Spartan’s knives are made by us in North Carolina with only US origin materials. As retired Special Forces NCOs, we have spent a lifetime working to advance the interests of our country. Spartan Blades does the same by only manufacturing in the U.S.A. and partnering with companies that do the same like FirstSpear.
Why did you choose FirstSpear?
Actually, FS was the only company that could source the inner sheath material we required. Another manufacturer stopped making sheaths for us but neglected to tell us! They kept us hanging for several months telling us they were going to send us sheaths all while knowing that they were not going to sew for small OEM companies anymore. This of course left us in a bind until first Spear stepped in and saved the day for us. They are a great company!
For this week’s Friday Focus, we’re taking a look at the Modular Armor Supplement System or MASS. MASS is a armor augmentation system which embodies the tenet “that when additional armor is necessary, it is time to get all you can functionally employ.” It consists of a series of interconnecting segments which offer additional protection to the neck/throat region, shoulders, upper arms, and groin. It comfortably integrates with a variety of FirstSpear plate carriers including the Siege R Optimized and MBAV Strandhögg.
Check out the video below to see how MASS connects to a vest.
For this week’s Friday Focus, we’re taking a brief look at the new FirstSpear facility based in Fenton, Missouri. This facility features state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution capabilities, as well as an office space for sales. It also happens to be the new company headquarters.
According to FirstSpear’s description, the Vertical Envelopment Pack is a top opening, rolled closure and Tubes secured Assault Pack that can be mounted to FS Modular Plate Carriers. Developed to “go forward from the Objective Rally Point (ORP)”, the VEP provides the Assaulter with a unique capability that augments the full spectrum of modern combat operations. The VEP can be carried with its own shoulder straps (included) for conventional use without a plate carrier.
Inspired by the Bag, Canvas, Field, M1936 (Musette Bag) so often associated with World War II-era paratroops, the Vertical Envelopment Pack is a simple design that can be worn is a couple of different ways and, like its mid-20th Century counterpart, allows rapid access to critical equipment. FS even had the parachutist in mind when they envisioned the VEP. When worn in front, it is compatible with a parachute harness. Clutter is also kept to a minimum around the biceps due to uniform pockets and there are no straps under the arms. Additionally, it was critical that the pack be removable without taking off any body armor.
Jon Laplume took the 117 Raid Bag FS had been making for a government customer as the basic size and worked from there. That 117 Raid bag itself is a shrunken FS Exigent Circumstances Pack and about two-thirds the size of what they eventually ended up with for the current VEP. That final size was derived from the kidney bean shape and simple carriability; any more and it just didn’t ride well as intended, although the bag is pleated and gusseted at the bottom to help stabilize the load.
He then began to experiment with ways to attach the VEP to an armor carrier and looked to some earlier work FS had done to attach the Draeger rebreather to carriers using Tubes. One trick Laplume told me was to attach the VEP further to the front on the lower part of the Vest’s shoulder straps. It rides better this way and makes sure it clears the head when flipping it to the front.
In addition to back mounted wear, attached directly to a vest, the VEP is easily flipped over the head for quick access or to get it out of the way while riding on vehicles.
You may notice that the main closure does not use zippers. Instead, they incorporated a stiffened roll top closure with Tubes. The height when the top is rolled down is roughly 17”, with top open it’s 21”. Additionally, it’s 4” deep and 12.5” wide.
Despite its small size, the sample VEP that Laplume showed me contained everything seen on the table above.
You can still mount a hydration on the back of your vest and the VEP will ride just fine and if you remove the VEP altogether, you will still have the water.
Naturally, after all of that, you’re going to look at this and wonder how you get it over your head. You use a Rat strap (above) that attaches to the pack via the daisy chain and is kept up front where you can get at it for a pull.
The VEP has 1″ webbing spanning both sides of the pack, about halfway down. This serves as daisy chain and allows adjustment of the removable compression net (which will accommodate a helmet). The bottom of the net secures via a bar.
Although everything is reversible, there are zippered pockets on either side. One side has a horizontal zipper and the other features a slanted zipper. This will help with figuring out what is in either pocket in the dark or under stress. Additionally, one side has a pile field for attachment of ID panels and the opposite a simple 1″ webbing handle which ends up on top once you roll it closed.
This video gives you a quick run through the paces.
Laplume showed me an early version of the VEP months ago and I immediately got it. There’s really nothing like this out on the market right now. In addition to the ability to fight from the contents of your buddy’s pack, the VEP offers so much to the individual wearing it. The ability to flip it up front for access or to free the back for sitting down in a seat is awesome. It’s also narrow and low profile enough that you can maneuver unencumbered through most any obstacle. In fact, it’s not wider than an armor plate. The size parameters of the VEP make it an edge to edge fit on carriers cut for the Swimmer/Shooter M – XL, SPEAR/SAPI M to XL or the MBAV S/M, L/XL & XXL. Plus, it’s lightweight.
Two more tidbits before I let you go. The VEP will fit into the open space of the frame on the new MIKE Force Pack and, Laplume says they are working on concepts for larger and waterproof versions of the VEP for down the road. Can’t wait to see if those materialize.
Available in Black, Ranger Green, Coyote and MultiCam. Optional VEP M4 Double Accessory Pouch sold separately.
