RAIDER July 2018

TH E MAGAZ I N E FO R TH E ALPHA MALE

OUTDOORS - ADRENALINE - TACTICAL - ESSENTIALS - FITNESS - EXPLORE

ON EXERCISE! PROVIDING INNOVATION TO THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE SHORTEST TIME! WE TAKE A LOOK AT FOUR OF THEIR BEST

■ SLING IT ON: PAGE 26

HOLSTERS

WIDELY REGARDED AS THE PINNACLE OF SIDEARM HOLSTER MANUFACTURING. WE PUT THEM TO THE TEST

■ TOP 'DRAW!' PAGE 43

best WATCH on THIS!! test TACTICAL TIMEPIECES FOR YOUR BATTLEFIELD NEEDS!

■ PAGE 48

AKU FACTO RY VI SIT! FITN ESS ESSENTIALS VELO CITY SYSTEM S RO U N D U P! TEAM B RIT

ebcon publishing ltd.

£4.25

SLINGS ON TEST

SAFARILAND

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 4

WHAT'S HOT AND WHAT'S NOT!

BRINGING YOU THE LATEST FROM THE FRONT LINES

PAUL MONAF

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR With a strong history in publishing, Paul founded Ebcon Publishing in 2004 when he launched Airsoft International. After the success of AI, Paul soon launched Raider, with the aim to provide our Armed Forces with non-bias opinions on a plethora of equipment.

CONNOR MONAF

EDITOR Taking the helm in 2014, Connor revolutionised the face of Raider after the subsequent downturn in military operations after the Afghanistan War. Since then he has steered the ship, bringing a range of expertise that lend well to Raider’s current AO.

READ RAIDER ONLINE VIA POCKETMAGS! OUTDOORS - ADRENALINE - TACTICAL - FITNESS - EXPLORE

BEN DICKIE

ART DIRECTOR Having joined Ebcon Publishing in its infancy, Ben has very much become a part of the team since and is now responsible for all publications under the Ebcon umbrella. Armed with a Mac and a keen eye for detail, Ben really is a master of shapes and colours, with the ability to bring Raider to life.

TRAMPAS SWANSON

STAFF WRITER When it comes to firearms, Trampas is our guy.

Based in the United States, Trampas comes from a police background, climbing his way up to Deputy Sheriff before his retirement. Having been a part of a SWAT sniper team, we can think of no better person than Trampas to keep you up to speed with your firearms needs.

FRED BAUER

STAFF WRITER (Ret) Corporal Fred Bauer is a 27-year veteran of the Howell Township Police Department in New Jersey. During his tenure, he obtained 20 years of tactical experience with the Howell/MOCERT Teams as an entry-element Team Leader.

Corporal Bauer is also the Director of the Gung Ho Chuan Association (GHCA), which is a WW2 Close Quarter Combat Organisation that studies the principles of Arwrology.

RICHARD MITCHELL

STAFF WRITER A welcome addition, Richard Mitchell joins the Raider test team with a wealth of knowledge on tactical gear having been in and around the Ebcon set-up for a few years now. Finally taking the plunge into furthering his writing portfolio, Richard will be providing us with a range of gear reviews and insight.

JASON GREEN

STAFF WRITER Jason Green is our boots on the ground, and an all round, self professed ‘Geardo’ who has an unrivalled passion for anything made from Nylon and covered in MOLLE. Jason’s main contribution to Raider will be flying the Raider flag at a number of media days and trade shows across the world - bringing you the latest news from a range of sources.

SUBSRCIPTIONS

SHARON MONAF: ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR sharon@ebcon.co.uk

ADVERTISING

PAUL MONAF: SALES AND PUBLISHING DIRECTOR paul@ebcon.co.uk

EBCON PUBLISHING LTD 1 Glengarry Way, Greylees, Sleaford, Lincs. NG34 8XU - United Kingdom

ebcon publishing ltd.

READ RAIDER ONLINE VIA POCKETMAGS!

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles in this magazine, but the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in material from independent sources or authors. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustration in any form without permission from the publisher/editor is strictly prohibited. We welcome articles, photographs or artwork. Raider Magazine cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please enclose a SAE if you wish your material to be returned.

Competitions will be judged on the dates specified. No correspondence will be entered into and the judge’s decision is final. In the event of the published prize not being available due to circumstances beyond the control of the magazine, a suitable alternative of similar value will be provided.

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 4

CONTENTS 006 ON OUR RADAR

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW AND EXCITING GOING ONS IN THE INDUSTRY!

008 GALLERY

IMAGERY FROM THIS YEARS ARMED FORCES DAY IN BLACKPOOL

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013 HELLO BIG BOY!

TRAMPAS TALKS US THROUGH THE HENRY BIG BOY STEEL .357 CARBINE

017 VELOCITY SYSTEMS

5 PAGES OF THE FINEST TACTICAL LOAD BEARING KIT!

024 ARMY FITNESS

THE U.S. ARMY ANNOUNCE NEW FITNESS TESTS

026 MAGPUL

WE TAKE A LOOK AT A RANGE OF MAGPUL’S INNOVATIVE WEAPONS SLINGS

028 GHCA

FRED BAUER LOOKS AT HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF IN THE EVENT OF A KNIFE ATTACK

030 BATTLETECH

U.S. ARMY ELECTRONIC WAREFARE PROTOTYPES ROLLED OUT

032 POSTER 035 AKU FACTORY VISIT

JASON GREEN VISITS AKU’S FACTORY IN ITALY AND GIVES US HIS TAKE ON THE PRESTIGIOUS BOOT MANUFACTUER

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040 TEAM BRIT

THE LATEST NEWS FROM TEAM BRIT

043 SAFARILAND

SAFARILAND ARE JUST ABOUT THE BEST IN THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO HOLSTERS AND WE GET HANDS ON WITH THEM

046 MEDIA

CHURCHILL’S SPY FILES - MI5’S TOP-SECRET WARTIME REPORTS

048 TACTICAL TIMEPIECES

BUY A WATCH FOR ALL OCCASIONS, NOT JUST FOR THE HIGH STREET

051 DIRECT ACTION

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NEWS FROM THE FRONT LINE! NOW BIGGER AND BETTER THAN BEFORE!

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DIRECT ACTION! FRONTLINE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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WITH THE SPEED THAT ‘NEWS’ TRAVELS IN THE TACTICAL AND MILITARY WORLDS, WE STARTED TO REALISE THAT OUR CURRENT ‘NEWS’ FEATURE WAS ESSENTIALLY A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. NOT ONLY WAS IT OFTEN HUGELY OUT OF DATE DUE TO THE WAY PRINT MEDIA WORKS, BUT IT WAS ESSENTIALLY JUST EATING PAGE SPACE. WITH THAT IN MIND WE HERALD IN A NEW AGE - ON OUR RADAR. ON OUR RADAR WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST GEAR THAT HAS CAUGHT OUR EYE OVER THE PAST MONTH, ALONG WITH ANY NEWS THAT SIMPLY CAN’T BE IGNORED!

THE REQUIREMENTS GROUP

ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN EXPANSION

The Requirements Group (TRG) is a law enforcement veteran owned and operated company. Based in Canada, it has expanded its distribution to hundreds of locations across North America. Its two leading brands are Shadow Elite and Shadow Strategic.

Having had tremendous success in North America, The Requirements Group (TRG) is expanding to the European market to provide premium Canadian grade tactical and air-soft garments and accessories, launching its European headquarters officially in the Netherlands as of July 9, 2018.

With its two flagship brands; Shadow Elite and Shadow Strategic, TRG will be able to serve both the agency and civilian markets. Having its own factory allows TRG to source and manufacture products the way they are meant to be. Having the ability to regulate strict quality control is what the company prides itself on. Reducing production costs by not outsourcing to third-party factories passes on the savings of premium products to the customer.

“WE ARE NOT YOUR TYPICAL GARMENT MANUFACTURER. TACTICAL POLICE AND MILITARY WORK IS IN OUR BLOODSTREAM. UNLIKE OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHO START OFF IN REGULAR OUTERWEAR AND THEN SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE TACTICAL AND AIR-SOFT WORLD, WE STICK TO WHAT HAS BEEN SECOND NATURE TO US FOR THE PAST 80 PLUS YEARS IN COMBINED EXPERIENCE,” SAYS GLEN TURPIN, RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, TACTICAL EXPERT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE REQUIREMENTS GROUP. “WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ON OUR TEAM, VETERAN AND ACTIVE FRONTLINE POLICE AND MILITARY OPERATORS WHO DESIGN AND TEST THE KIT OUR END USERS WEAR AND TRUST. AS WELL AS EXPERT SEARCH & RESCUE (SAR) TECHNICIANS TESTING THE LOAD BEARING AND RIGGING COMPONENTS OF OUR KIT. IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO THE END USER TO HAVE THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN A FACTORY THAT ONE DAY PRODUCES LOAD BEARING TACTICAL VESTS, AND THE NEXT DAY DOLLS OR NAIL CLIPPERS. THIS IS WHY WE INVESTED SO MUCH INTO BUILDING OUR OWN FACTORY WHERE OUR DEDICATED EXPERT WORKERS AND ENGINEERS FOCUS ON TACTICAL KIT EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

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EMDOM

RELEASE A NEW AMPHIBIOUS PISTOL MAGAZINE POUCH

Emdom USA recently announced a new pistol magazine pouch that’s designed for amphibious combat operations. Designed to carry a standard full size Glock magazine, the pouch will also accommodate most extended base pads.

A 3D Cover flap provides full coverage of magazine to keep out debris such as dirt and mud. This cover flap is also designed to prevent snagging of the magazine on maritime hazards such as netting. The opening of the pouch is rigid so it stays open when inserting or extracting magazines while under water.

Instead of using plastic buckles that could easily break from impact within the confines of a seaborne vessel, he cover flap is secured with a flat streamlined length of webbing with a rigid tab that tucks into a slot.

The pouch features a built in MOLLE strap to facilitate quicker and simpler removal and installation between platforms.

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SUREFIRE

RELEASE NEW DUAL POWER SOURCE TORCH

SureFire have long been one of the go-to manufacturers of torches. With a wide range of options to choose from, it does always amaze us that they’re constantly churning out new products, but they’ve done it once again with the SureFire Fury DFT. The “DFT” stands for dual fuel tactical, and represents the natural evolution of our best-selling Fury® Tactical flashlight into a single-output 1,500* lumen light that can also function as a searchlight. The dual fuel feature means the light can be powered by either two 123A lithium batteries or a single economical 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

Press or click its tailcap switch for ergonomic, foolproof activation under even the most stressful conditions. Its precision micro-textured reflector shapes a smooth useful beam that is far-reaching, with a bright central area that is also optimised for situational awareness.

The high-strength aerospace aluminium body and tailcap are knurled for a secure grip and Mil-Spec hard anodised for extreme resistance to abrasion and corrosion.

Retailing at $199.99, we’re yet to see a stockist in the UK however we’re sure that will change in the near future. For now though you can either order via SureFire’s US web-store or we’ve spotted a couple for sale via auction sites such as eBay.

U.S. ARMY

TO SELL SURPLUS 1911 .45S

Whilst not exactly relatable for our UK readership, we thought our readers from America may appreciate this.

The U.S. Army’s Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has released the much anticipated instructions for purchasing surplus 1911 .45s, however it’s definitely not going to be an easy - or cheap buy for anyone interested.

Order form packets were posted on the CMP website on the 4th June, with the orders closing around October 5th, where the interested parties names will be fed into a computerised random number generator. It will then provide a list of names in sequential order through the random selection process and contacted to make their purchase. The pistols have been broken down into 4 grades - Service, Field, Rack and Auction. The Service, Field and Rack grade of pistol are in various states of use, with the Auction grade being a mixture of the three, but available at auction instead of a fixed price.

Customers will have the opportunity to select their grade of pistol - Service, Field or Rack - from available inventory at the time of order notification, the site states.

Information can be found on www.thecmp.org.

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BRITAIN’S ARMED FORCES DAY

THIS YEARS ARMED FORCES DAY WAS ONCE AGAIN A MASSIVE SUCCESS. HELD IN BLACKPOOL, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE JOINED THE FESTIVITIES, PAYING THEIR TRIBUTES TO OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE VARIOUS ARMED FORCES.

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HENRY BIG BOY! STEEL .357

CARBINE raider test team

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WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE OLD SAYING “WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING” AND I FROM MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE BIG BOY STEEL CARBINE FROM HENRY REPEATING ARMS, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS RIFLE. WHEN IT COMES TO RELIABLE AND ACCURATE LEVER ACTIONS, IT STANDS IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN WHEN YOU SAY IT IS ONE TOUGH RIFLE. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE TRADITIONAL “TRAPPER” STYLE MINIMUM LEGAL LENGTH BARREL KNOW AS A CARBINE, HENRY REPEATING ARMS PRODUCES THIS RIFLE IN .44 MAG / SPL, .45 LONG COLT, .357 MAG, .327 MAG, AND .41 MAG.

Right off the bat, when you see the Big Boy model of Henry rifles, you can see its roots trace back to those of Benjamin Tyler Henry, easily one of the top 5 names in the history of firearms development. The modern incantation of Henry Repeating Arms is a family owned business led by the charismatic company president, Anthony Imperato. Using domestic resources, each Henry rifle is proudly made under the company motto, “Made in America or not at all!”

Tram pas.

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A few months ago, I was given an opportunity to test and review the Big Boy Steel Carbine chambered in .357 Mag. As with most firearms in this caliber, the Steel Carbine can also fire the smaller .38 cartridge just as well. As luck would have it, timing was everything for this review as the rifle arrived from Henry Repeating Arms just in time for hog season.

Along with the rifle, I received a shipment of bonded .357 Mag lead hollow points from the great folks at Buffalo Bore Ammunition.

This ammo has proven reliable and effective for several of my Swanson Media Group teammates. To give things a true authentic “western frontier” feel, Northwest Traders (www.northwesttrader.com) was kind enough to send along a very supple leather rifle sheath with a blanket lining from. With my kit complete, I was set for business to hit the woods and take down some wild pork!

Technically speaking, this particular model for this review is listed as the H012M lever action with a 16.5” barrel and all steel construction. Unlike its larger Big Boy Steel

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counterpart sporting the beautiful octagon barrel, the Steel Carbine has a slightly thinner and lighter weight round barrel construction to aid in carrying the rifle longer distances with much more ease. The rifle was paired with Buffalo Bore’s “Heavy 357 Mag” 158 grain JHP which is rated at 1475 FPS. With a magazine tube capacity of 7 rounds, these heavy hitting rounds offer more than enough to get the job done for any hunter.

The easy to see rear sight is fully adjustable semi-buckhorn with white diamond insert.

The front sight is a brass bead, which really does a great job when taking quick shots or pushing out to distances of 75 – 80 yards.

The blued steel receiver is drilled and taped for Henry’s model BB-RSM scope mounts for those who wish to scope the carbine. To round out the rifle’s construction, there is a black solid rubber recoil butt pad that does a great job absorbing any undue recoil. The length of pull comes in at 14” which is perfect for most medium built shooters even while wearing heavy jackets. The transfer bar style safety

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protects from any accidental slam fires if the rifle falls from a tress stand. Henry’s Big Boy Steel Carbine also includes swivel studs to attach your favorite sling for steadying off hand shots using the sling method as well as overall comfort in carrying during those long walks to the shooting blind. The M.S.R. Price is $850.00 according to the Henry Repeating Arms site but can often be found in stores marked around $769.99.

■ SPECS QUICK LOOK ■ Model Number: H012MR ■ Action Type: Lever Action ■ Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl ■ Capacity: 7 Rounds ■ Barrel Length: 16.5” ■ Barrel Type: Round Blued Steel ■ Rate Of Twist: 1:16 ■ Overall Length: 34” ■ Weight: 6.59 lbs.

■ Receiver Finish: Blued Steel ■ Rear Sight: Fully Adjustable Semi-Buckhorn w/ Diamond Insert ■ Front Sight: Brass Bead ■ Scope ability: Drilled and Tapped for model BB-RSM Scope Mount ■ Stock Material: American Walnut ■ Butt plate pad: Black Solid Rubber Recoil Pad ■ Length Of Pull: 14” ■ M.S.R. Price: $850.00

■ HOG HUNTING WITH BIG BOY

Looking back to my previous hog hunt before receiving the Big Boy Carbine, I shot a 90lbs bore at 30 yards using a Ruger M77 bolt action rifle chambered in .270. Despite a picture-perfect shot placement, I still had to fight my way through thick brush for about 100 yards to retrieve my trophy. As I made my way through the woods with my Ruger .270, it did not take long before I was getting too hung up in the underbrush and the wait-a-minute vines to be able to safely retrieve my kill. I ended up having to take my rifle back to the truck and get my 1911 pistol chambered .45 ACP. The brush and vines

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most of what you would use this rifle for. This tube design is better than the receiver load for unloading the rifle, less marking to the rounds being loaded and unloaded.

■ The rifle caliber was a real treat to shoot. It gave you excellent performance with very little recoil. The ballistics of the round and caliber are very impressive on paper and in the field.

■ The Buffalo Bore .357 ammo worked great. The lead and jacket stayed together and mushroomed perfectly. Dropping game in its tracks was not unusual with this bullet/rifle combination.

were grabbing everything on my rifle including the scope. Sufficient to say, a Ruger bolt action is not a suitable Florida swamp brush gun.

When I received the Big Boy Carbine, I knew right off, this season was going to be easier.

First off, I started with a new rule for myself, shoot the hogs behind the ear and drop them where they stand instead of the traditional game vital area behind the shoulder. The .357 Mag Buffalo Bore round, combined with the Henry Big Boy Carbine’s accuracy did what it was designed to do. When the first opportunity came and I put that gold bead front sight right where I wanted it and that hog dropped right in its tracks!

Overall, I ended up taking six hogs with the Henry Big Boy Carbine in one day. All shots dropped pigs where they stood. When I had to work through the brush to get to my vehicle from where I was hunting, it was much easier than my experience with a scoped rifle. For safety purposes, I felt much better being in tight quarters with a hog and having the Henry Big Boy instead of my .45 ACP pistol alone.

■ THE HENRY .357 MAG IN ACTION

Below I listed my field report on the Henry Big Boy Carbine to give readers a clear way to see my thoughts on the experience as it came to me.

■ Last year I shot a full-grown hog with a .270 caliber rifle using respected ammo. I was at 30 yards when he popped out in my sight. I made a heart lung shot and still had to drag it 100 yards back out of the woods. I did change my shot placement to behind the ear with this rifle and caliber combo but 6 for 6 they all dropped in the spot where they were shot. I did not have to drag a single one out of the brush. I contribute this to the Buffalo Bore ammunition holding together and performing as advertised combined with the Henry rifle’s great accuracy.

■ The rifle is well balanced and extremely maneuverable, especially in heavy brush conditions.

■ The lever action worked flawlessly and smooth.

Other lever actions have a safety in the lever and during rapid firing can cause an issue. Henry’s lever was on time, every time.

■ Rear sight elevation stair was easy to set and change back and forth one distance for each step is known. I had mine set on the third step and it was perfect for 50-75 yards.

■ Front sight gold bead was awesome; my eye picked it up quickly. It caught my eye almost like a tactical red dot scope does.

■ Loading was unusual but worked fine. The Henry loads via a tube under the barrel instead of in the side of the receiver. It may not be ideal for loading on the fly, but with 10 rounds it handles

■ FINAL THOUGHTS

Henry Repeating Arms boasts on their website the Big Boy excels in performance when used for target shooting, hunting and even hunting large game. From what I have seen firsthand, this isn’t just bragging.

I was very pleased with the results and performance of this rifle. I feel that it offers an excellent choice as a brush gun or a short-range big game rifle depending on intended game and caliber chosen. There are no doubts in my mind this rifle has the capability to get the job done and it proven to be a tough, rugged and reliable rifle built to pass down through the generations For plinking and overall practicing fundamental rifle marksmanship, you have the option I previously mentioned with running .38 Spl loads, which are much less expensive therefore more bangs for your buck and easier on new shooters learning the art of rifle craft. I look forward to getting my own Big Boy in .357 and combine it with my .357 revolver as my “go to” brush rifle/handgun combination set especially when working the Florida brush and swamps for game. I believe it would be the perfect combination to have whether I am hunting, exploring, camping or horseback riding.

Special thanks to Henry Repeating Arms, Buffalo Bore Ammunition and Northwest Traders for giving me that opportunity to experience bush hunting the way it was intended to be. If you have been looking at the Henry Repeating Arms line up for your next rifle purchase, I highly recommend buying one, you won’t regret it. Check out www.henryusa.com and find which Henry rifle is right for you today!

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MAYFLOWER R&C

IN ASSOCIATION WITH VELSYSY.COM

IN 2007 A LEGACY BEGAN. HAVING LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST ONLINE STORE, MAYFLOWER BEGAN WORK ON BUILDING A TACTICAL GEAR EMPIRE. SOON AFTER ITS INCEPTION MAYFLOWER RESEARCH AND CONSULTING PARTNERED WITH VELOCITY SYSTEMS AND IN 2014 WAS OFFICIALLY ACQUIRED BY VELOCITY SYSTEM. 10 YEARS ON, MAYFLOWER RC BY VELOCITY SYSTEMS SITS PROUDLY ON TOP OF THE PILE, BECOMING ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES MENTIONED WHEN THE SUBJECT OF LOADS BEARING IS BROUGHT UP. TRUSTED BY OPERATORS AND LOVED BY GEAR AFICIONADOS. Over the years Mayflower have released some absolutely cracking pieces of equipment, with their chest rigs and mounting system being some of the most renowned items within the tactical gear industry - all of which have been imitated by many other companies.

This month we’ll be bringing this range together, taking a look at the various items associated with their plate carriers and chest rigs, of which we believe them to be some of the best on the market. So if you’re in the market for some new MOLLE real estate, or simply a ‘High Speed, Low Drag’ chest rig, then the next 4 pages are definitely worth taking a look at.

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MAYFLOWER

ASSAULT PLATE CARRIER

The Mayflower Assault Plate Carrier (APC) is designed to provide the wearer with a high degree of mobility while providing ample surface area for mounting mission essential pouches. The upper front of the APC contains an integral admin pouch with internal elastic loops to retain pens, pencils, chemlites or similar items. The front lower half of the APC has an integrated kangaroo pouch sized to hold up to three M4 sized magazines.

The APC shoulder pads are made of a stretch woven material that allows enough elasticity to permit room for cable/hydration tube routing and feature a Velcro routing channel for cable and drinking tubes. The APC is available in two sizes; S/M and L/XL. The plate pockets are sized to accommodate Stand-Alone or ICW ESAPI or Swimmer cut plates. The S/M APC fits size small, medium and 10"x12" sized plates. The L/XL APC fits large and x-large plates.

The APC comes with the option of the Low-Profile Elastic Cummerbund (CBN1) (No Plate Pocket) and the Standard Molle, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3). The Standard Molle, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3) is designed to accept 6"x 6" hard armour plates or side soft armour inserts.

AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 The size small cummerbund has 5 complete columns of PALS. Size medium cummerbund has 6 complete columns of PALS. Size large cummerbund has 7 complete columns of PALS.

THE APC SHOULDER PADS ARE MADE OF A STRETCH WOVEN MATERIAL THAT ALLOWS ENOUGH ELASTICITY TO PERMIT ROOM FOR CABLE/HYDRATION TUBE ROUTING

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5.56 HYBRID CHEST RIG

The Mayflower 5.56 Hybrid Chest Rig is designed to be a low profile, light weight general purpose chest rig for the Military individual, Law Enforcement Officer, or recreational shooter who requires the flexibility to add to or take away from the base platform to accomplish his required task. This chest rig is designed to carry four 5.56mm magazines (6.8mm or similar sized) in an integral pouch with an adjustable shock cord retention system closure. The front of the magazine pouch has three general purpose pouches sized to carry mission essential items. The sides of the chest rig have three rows of PALS webbing to tailor the remainder of the chest rig for the mission. The body of the chest rig has a built in map pocket with a velcro closure. The H style harness features loops to route antennas, comms wires and hydration bladder tubing.

MAYFLOWER

UW CHEST RIG SPLIT FRONT GEN V The Mayflower UW GEN V Split-Front Chest Rig is a multi-purpose chest rig capable of carrying 5.56, 7.62x51, 7.62x39, MP7 or 9mm magazines by using a system of easily changed inserts.

The chest rig features two radio/ general purpose pouches that will accommodate several types of radios including (but not limited to) PRC-148, PRC-152, Motorola 5000 and several types of mini SAT antennas and Blue Force Trackers.

The pouch will also fit a purpose built medical insert (IFAK). The front of the magazine pouches also features three general-purpose pouches and one pistol magazine/ GP pouch. The chest rig body features a center zipper closure and an additional strap closure for use over “puffy” winter clothing or for ventilation in hot weather environments.

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MAYFLOWER

HELIUM WHISPER 24 HOUR ASSAULT PACK This pack is light weight and mission-focused to provide the right size bag to carry the items necessary to conduct 24 hour dismounted operations.

It's designed to be used as a standalone assault pack or to be mounted directly to the back of an armour carrier via PALS webbing.

The inside of the pack features a sleeve to carry a hydration bladder; the exterior features PALS webbing and shock cord on the backside to stow an outer garments.

MAYFLOWER

UW CHEST RIG GEN IV The Mayflower UW Chest Rig Gen IV is a low-profile mission focused vest built to be ambidextrous and designed to carry the following: 4 ea 5.56mm magazines, 2 pistol magazines, up to 2 small radios (PRC-152/MBITR) as well as two GP pockets. The H style harness features loops to route antennas, comms wires and hydration bladder tubing and is removable via 4 one inch ITW-Nexus side release buckles and designed to be mounted to the front of the Low-Profile Armour Carrier. The body of the chest rig has a built in map pocket with a velcro closure. Elastic is provided for cable management and antenna relocation.

raider test team

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MAYFLOWER R&C - IN ASSOCIATION WITH VELSYSY.COM

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MAYFLOWER

HELIUM WHISPER ABP: T YPE 1

The Assault Back Panel Type 1 is designed to carry the minimum amount of kit for a short duration dismounted mission. The main body has been redesigned to carry a greater variety of 50-70 oz water bladders; the upper zippered pouch is designed to hold the SOCOM issued NVG protective insert, the bottom pouch is designed as a removable medical pouch. The removable medical pouch features internal elastic retainers, a flat Velcro external pouch and elastic on the bottom to hold a tourniquet.

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MAYFLOWER

HELIUM WHISPER ABP: T YPE 2

The Assault Back Panel Type 2 is designed to carry the minimum amount of kit for a short duration dismounted mission. The main body has been designed to carry a 100 oz/3L water bladder, the top row of pouches is designed to carry 4x flash bangs or 4x 40mm grenades, the upper zippered pouch is designed to hold SOCOM issued NVG and the bottom pouch is designed as a removable medical pouch. The medical pouch features internal elastic retainers, a flat Velcro external pouch and elastic on the bottom to hold a tourniquet.

MAYFLOWER

LE PLATE CARRIER

The Law Enforcement Plate Carrier (LEPC) was designed for ultimate modularity. The vest was designed with limited Molle and elastic cummerbunds for a sleek and clean look. The vest has large VelcroÂŽ loop blocks on the front and back for ID as well as a drag handle. The front kangaroo pouch that accepts magazine inserts which was modeled after the APC. What makes this system modular is the optional removable front Molle flap that allows you to easily add the optional quarter flaps. The quarter flaps house both soft or hard armour and allow the end user to dawn/doff from that single point without having to lift the front flap. The modularity of the LEPC also allows the use of multiple Velocity Systems cummerbund options that can be used with any of the above configurations. Their SwiftclipÂŽ placards work on all of the above mentioned as well.

The LEPC comes with the option of the Low-Profile Elastic Cummerbund (CBN1) and the Standard Molle, Plate Pocket Cummerbund.

The Standard Molle, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3) is designed to accept 6"x 6" hard armour plates or side soft armour inserts. The size small cummerbund has 5 complete columns of PALS. Size medium cummerbund has 6 complete columns of PALS. Size large cummerbund has 7 complete columns of PALS.

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH VELSYSY.COM - M

MAYFLOWER

UNIVERSAL CHEST RIG

The Mayflower Universal Chest Rig is designed as a platform to enable many different users from all walks of life, wherever your deployment or employment takes you. An essential pice of kit for photographers, search and rescue, medical personnel to name a few.

The Mayflower Universal Chest Rig is a comfortable option to transport your mission essential equipment over varied terrain.

The chest rig features two large padded front pouches and two smaller padded side pouches to accommodate various sized items.

$385 W W W.VEL S Y S T.COM

MAYFLOWER

7.62 HYBRID CHEST RIG

The Mayflower 7.62 Hybrid Chest Rig is a low-profile vest built to be used in the Law Enforcement sniper/counter sniper environment when a lightweight small package is necessary for climbing over obstacles and/ or maintaining a low profile in a firing/hide position. The chest rig is designed to carry 3x 7.62mm magazines (POF, SR25, M110, DPMS, FN, SCAR H or similar sized) or 7.62x39 magazines (AK-47 or AKMs) in an integral pouch with an adjustable shock cord retention system closure. The front of the magazine pouch has three general purpose pouches sized to carry the tools of the trade; mini binos, mini laser range finder, GPS, cell phone, PDA etc.

The sides of the chest rig have three rows of PALS webbing to tailor the remainder of the chest rig for the mission. The H style harness features loops to route antennas, comms wires and hydration bladder tubing. The rig is removable via 4 one inch ITW-Nexus side release buckles and designed to be mounted to the front of the Low-Profile Armor Carrier. The body of the chest rig has a built in map pocket with a velcro closure.

MAYFLOWER

PUSHER BACK PANEL

The Pusher Back Panel was made to augment the Pusher Chest Rig. The design provides flexibility; it can be worn with a front plate (If Front Plate Sleeve is fitted), back panel with back plate, chest rig and back panel or just the pusher chest rig. The features and accessories include a plate pocket, 2-litre water bladder pouch, small molle panel for tools or pouches, medical pouch, envelope for a breacher tool, and an extendable breacher bag. The Pusher Back Panel can also hold a large plate. Raider test team recommends!

MAYFLOWER R&C - IN ASSOCIATION WITH VELSYSY.COM

$200 W W W.VEL S Y S T.COM

MAYFLOWER

PRC-117G RADIO ASSAULT BAG

The Mayflower PRC-117G Radio Assault Bag is designed to hold the PRC-117G or similar sized radio. The Assault Bag can be worn with the removable shoulder straps in place or attached directly to the back of a body armour carrier or load bearing vest via a PALS compatible attachment system. The PRC-117G Assault Bag is designed with PALS compatible webbing on the majority of its exposed surface to configure the radio accessories to the task at hand.

$350 W W W.VEL S Y S T.COM

MAYFLOWER

30L SUMMIT PACK

This pack was designed to fill the gap between the short duration 24HR Assault Pack and a full size rucksack. Combining features of technical climbing packs and traditional military three-day packs it is meant to fill the 48-72 hour roll. Features include: internal frame sheet and ergonomically shaped aluminum wire frame.

Top loading, PALS panels on the sides, top pocket with small internal electronics pocket and two daisy chains. Two hip climbing gear attachment loops, two top hauling handles, internal Velcro panels for gear organization and a water bladder pocket. Webbing on top for attaching crampons of other equipment, attaching points to attach the Mayflower Helmet Carrier accessory piece.

raider test team

recommends! ✪✪✪✪✪

$200 W W W.VEL S Y S T.COM

MAYFLOWER

LE/ACTIVE SHOOTER CHEST RIG The Mayflower LE/Active Shooter Chest Rig is a mission focused vest built to provide the Law Enforcement Officer the necessary tools to respond to escalating situations. It is designed to carry the following: 4ea 5.56mm magazines, 2 pistol magazines, 1 patrol radio, 1 baton, 1 OC canister or flashbang and three small front GP pockets. The body of the chest rig has a built in map pocket with a velcro closure.

Additionally, the H style harness features loops to route antennas, comms wires and hydration bladder tubing and is removable via 4 one inch ITW-Nexus side release buckles and designed to be mounted to the front of the Low-Profile Armour Carrier.

raider test team

recommends! ✪✪✪✪✪ W W W.V E L S Y S T. CO M

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FITNESS! ARMY COMBAT FITNESS TEST SET TO BECOME NEW PT TEST IN 2020

THE U.S. ARMY HAVE OFTEN WRONGLY BEEN GIVEN THE LABEL OF BEING UNFIT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER FIGHTING FORCES ACROSS THE GLOBE - PROBABLY DUE TO THE STEREOTYPES OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. U.S. ARMY SENIOR LEADERS HOWEVER HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK, APPROVING A NEW A NEW STRENUOUS FITNESS TEST DESIGNED TO BETTER PREPARE SOLDIERS FOR COMBAT TASKS, REDUCE INJURIES AND LEAD TO AMPLE COST SAVINGS ACROSS THE SERVICE. I had been planning on unveiling the new and improved Fitness section this month, however some issues with my own fitness - namely a rather annoying and reoccurring hip injury - have prevented me from doing so. With that said though, it probably came at a relatively decent time due to the upcoming changes in regards to U.S. Army fitness testing.

The six-event readiness assessment, called the Army Combat Fitness Test, is intended to replace the current three-event Army Physical Fitness Test, which has been around since 1980.

Beginning October 2020, all Soldiers will be required to take the new gender- and age-neutral test. Before that, field testing set to begin this October will allow the Army to refine the test, with initial plans for up to 40,000 Soldiers from all three components to see it.

“The Army Combat Fitness Test will ignite a generational, cultural change in Army fitness and become a cornerstone of individual Soldier combat readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost, commander of the Army’s Center of Initial Military Training. “It will reduce attrition and it will reduce musculoskeletal injuries and actually save, in the long run, the Army a heck of a lot of money.”

At least six years of significant research went into the test’s development as researchers looked at what Soldiers must do fitness-wise for combat.

“Throughout that research and testing, the goal was to provide our leaders with a tough, realistic, field-expedient assessment of the physical component of their Soldiers’ individual readiness,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey. “The ACFT is scientifically-validated and will help better prepare our Soldiers to deploy,

fight, and win on any future battlefield.”

Roughly 2,000 Soldiers have taken the test, previously called the Army Combat Readiness Test. They also provided feedback as part of the Army Training and Doctrine Command and Forces Command pilots that began last year.

“The current PT test is only a 40 percent predictor of success for performing in combat and executing warrior tasks and battle drills,” Frost said. “This test is approximately an 80 percent predictor of performing based on our ability to test the physical components of combat fitness.”

■ SIX EVENTS

While the ACFT still keeps the 2-mile run as its final event, it introduces five others to provide a broad measurement of a Soldier’s physical fitness. The events are completed in order and can take anywhere from 45 to 55 minutes for a Soldier to finish.

■ STRENGTH DEADLIFT: With a proposed weight range of 120 to 420 pounds, the deadlift event is similar to the one found in the Occupational Physical Assessment Test, or OPAT, which is given to new recruits to assess lower-body strength before they are placed into a best-fit career field. The ACFT will require Soldiers to perform a three-repetition maximum deadlift (only one in OPAT) and the weights will be increased. The event replicates picking up ammunition boxes, a wounded battle buddy, supplies or other heavy equipment.

■ STANDING POWER THROW: Soldiers toss a 10-pound ball backward as far as possible to test muscular explosive power that may be needed to lift themselves or a fellow Solider up over an obstacle or to move rapidly across uneven terrain.

■ HAND-RELEASE PUSHUPS: In this event, Soldiers start in the prone position and do a traditional pushup, but when at the down position they release their hands and arms from contact with the ground and then reset to do another pushup. This allows for additional upper body muscles to be exercised.

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as the Army buys more sets at wholesale.

Equipment should last about 10 years, meaning it will cost less than $3 per Soldier over time.

“If I have a femoral neck fracture in the hip of a Soldier, that injury will cost the government about $1 million,” McGurk said. “So, if I avoid 20 of those injuries a year I’ve paid for the program for the next 10 years for equipment. The potentials on return are very significant.”

■ COST AVOIDANCE

■ SPRINT/DRAG/CARRY: As they dash 25 meters five times up and down a lane, Soldiers will perform sprints, drag a sled weighing 90 pounds, and then hand-carry two 40-pound kettlebell weights. This can simulate pulling a battle buddy out of harm’s way, moving quickly to take cover, or carrying ammunition to a fighting position.

■ LEG TUCK: Similar to a pullup, Soldiers lift their legs up and down to touch their knees/thighs to their elbows as many times as they can. This exercise strengthens the core muscles since it doubles the amount of force required compared to a traditional situp.

■ 2-MILE RUN: Same event as on the current test.

In the ACFT, run scores are expected to be a bit slower due to all of the other strenuous activity.

The ACFT gauges Soldiers on the 10 components of physical fitness: muscular strength and endurance, power, speed, agility, aerobic endurance, balance, flexibility, coordination and reaction time. The current test only measures two: muscular and aerobic endurance.

■ TEST SCORING

The vast majority of policies with the APFT will likely be carried over to the new test.

Scoring could be similar with 100 points for each event for a maximum of 600. Minimum scores, however, may change depending on a Soldier’s military occupational specialty.

Soldiers in more physically demanding jobs may see tougher minimums, similar to how OPAT evaluates new recruits.

“The more physically challenging your MOS, the more you’ll be required to do at the minimum levels,” said Michael McGurk, director of research and analysis at CIMT. Another difference is that there are no alternate events planned for this test, he said.

Soldiers will still get adequate time to rehabilitate from an injury. But under a new “deploy-or-be-removed” policy, Defense Secretary James Mattis said in February that troops who are non-deployable for more than 12 months will be processed for administrative separation or referred to the disability evaluation system.

“Generally speaking, somebody who has a long-term permanent profile that precludes taking a fitness test may not be retainable for duty in the Army,” McGurk said.

At about $20 million, the new test will be more costly for the Army to conduct. A single lane of equipment at full retail value is about $1,200.

A battalion set of equipment will range from $12,000 to $20,000. Those prices will likely drop

The Army estimates $4 billion is spent each year due to injuries, non-deployable Soldiers, accidents and other health-related costs.

As part of its culture change, the Army is building a Holistic Health and Fitness System to produce healthier and fitter Soldiers. The new test is one piece of the system, in addition to the OPAT, the improvement of fitness centers, and healthier options at chow halls.

Army researchers studied foreign militaries that have rolled out similar holistic programs and found them to be highly successful.

The Australian army, for instance, introduced it to their basic training and saw a roughly 30 percent reduction in injuries.

“Do I know we’re going to have a 25-30 percent reduction? No, but I certainly hope we will,” McGurk said. “We think [the test is] well worth it and it’s the right thing to do for Soldiers in any case.”

Feedback from Soldiers so far has also been overwhelmingly positive.

“As we all know, physical fitness training can become rather monotonous if people train the same way,” McGurk said. “So, a lot of them saw this as a great change and how it required them to use different muscles.”

While some Soldiers may disagree with replacing the current test, McGurk said that fitness has come a long way from 40 years ago when the APFT was first developed.

“In 1980, running shoes were relatively a new invention,” he said. “The Army was still running in boots for the PT test back then. Change is difficult, but we’re an Army that adapts well to change.”

■ ARMY VISION

In early June, senior leaders outlined what the Army should focus on over the next decade to retain overmatch against potential adversaries.

The 2028 vision statement, signed by the Army’s secretary and chief of staff, calls for modernized equipment, particularly the development of autonomous systems. It also stresses the need for physically fit and mentally tough Soldiers to fight and win in high-intensity conflict.

“Technology is going to be dominant and we need a lot of things that we’re looking at through modernization,” Frost said. “In the end, you still need the United States Army Soldier to be able to seize and hold terrain.”

The ACFT is a foundational method, leaders believe, that the Army can use to start a new era of fitness and obtain Soldier overmatch in combat.

“The current leadership … has really coalesced and understands the importance of fitness itself and the importance of the PT test to drive that change in culture,” Frost said. “They’ve made the decision and we’re ready to execute.”

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VERSATILE SLINGS ON TEST SLING IT! FOUNDED IN 1999 WITH THE INTENT OF DEVELOPING A SIMPLE DEVICE TO AID IN THE MANIPULATION OF RIFLE MAGAZINES WHILE RELOADING UNDER STRESS. SOME SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER, MAGPUL HAVE CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDED INNOVATION TO THEIR USERS WITH A RANGE OF PRODUCTS, FROM THE ORIGINAL MAGPUL THROUGH TO VARIOUS WEAPON ACCESSORIES SUCH AS GRIPS, STOCKS AND HAND GUARDS. THIS MONTH WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE PRODUCTS FROM MAGPUL THEIR INNOVATIVE RANGE OF WEAPON SLINGS.

MAGPUL

RLS SLING

Building on the heritage and proven performance of Magpul’s MS Sling series, the Magpul RLS (Rifleman Loop Sling) is a durable, lightweight, and affordable shooting aid and retention device.

Combining the best features of Rhodesian and 1907 match-style slings, the RLS was created with Magpul’s famous proprietary nylon mesh webbing and high-strength polymer hardware.

At the core of the RLS lies Magpul’s proprietary chafe-resistant 1 ¼” nylon mesh webbing. Its tubular construction eliminates harsh edges that can rub or snag and provides double layers of cushioned comfort against the end user while shouldered. During employment, the strap’s smooth texture remains comfortable, even when torqued against the user’s arm. Like all Magpul slings, coloured webbing is NIR treated to reduce infrared signature.

The Magpul RLS was designed with mobility in mind. At a mere 4.4 oz, the optimised weight of the RLS doesn’t add unnecessary ounces to the rifle and weighs less than many competing slings and straps. Like all Magpul slings, the RLS has been extensively tested to its limit to ensure reliability and performance in wet, dry, and sandy conditions, to include load and drop testing. It’s been hiked with, biked with, swam, climbed, hunted and shot (a lot) with in a variety of field conditions.

Available in Black or Coyote.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.MAGPUL.COM

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MS1 QDM SLING

The Magpul® MS1 QDM Sling further enhances one of the most versatile line of rifle slings by including factory-installed Magpul QDM quick-disconnect swivels. As a heavy-duty replacement for the typical pushbutton swivel, the Magpul QDM offers an innovative low-profile design, singlehanded manipulation, a superior corrosion-resistant Melonite® finish, and a high-strength, freely rotating bale that canalises sling webbing to prevent rollover. This sling system not only provides the strength, speed and security of Magpul QDM hardware, but is also optimised for dedicated two-point sling functionality built around the streamlined MS1 Slider. Once set, this system allows for rapid adjustments to either lengthen or shorten the sling without slippage, tails, loops or other potential snag hazards.

In a two-point role, the MS1 allows seamless shoulder transitions, fast adjustability for hands-free rifle carry and shooting support from various positions. The Magpul MS1 QDM Sling retains all of the original MS1 functionality and is fully adaptable for one-point applications with a series of adapters (sold separately) based on the MS3® and MS4® Slings In testing, the MS1 Sling survived tens of thousands of cycles in wet, dry and sandy conditions, static-load testing without slippage for 72 hours, and weighted six-foot dynamic drop tests. In addition to the controlled lab tests, we also swam with it, jumped with it, hunted with it, hiked into the mountains with it, and—most importantly—shot with it in a variety of rugged field conditions.

Available in Black or Coyote.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.MAGPUL.COM

MAGPUL

MS1 PADDED SLING

The MS1 Padded Sling is the most versatile addition to the Magpul® line of rifle slings.

This sling system starts as an optimised, dedicated two-point sling that serves equally well in a one-point role when using optional adapters.

Built around our MS1 slider, this system provides rapid adjustments to either lengthen or shorten the sling with no slipping once set, and no tails, loops, or other potential snag hazards. In a two-point role, the MS1 allows easy shoulder transitions, rapid adjustability for hands free rifle carry and shooting support from various positions.

The padding built into the sling is made from a high-grade, ripstop coated, closed cell foam, giving the MS1 Padded Sling unrivalled protection, making it great for heavier weapons such as Light Machine Guns.

The MS1 system also has a series of adapters that are sold separately and based on the MS3® and MS4™ slings. By adding the appropriate adapter (available with Paraclip™ or QD Sling Swivel) for the sling, you can easily add one-point functionality to your MS1.

Available in Black, Coyote, Grey and Ranger Green.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.MAGPUL.COM

MAGPUL

MS3 SLING GEN 2

Driven by the operational experience of Magpul instructors, the MS3 Multi-Mission Sling System was designed to give a versatile weapon-retention solution for a multitude of tactical environments and missions. As a standalone product, the rapidly-convertible MS3 allows an operator to leverage the manoeuvrability of one-point attachment for direct action, or two-point attachment for stability.

Single-hand adjustments and quick-release, positive-locking hardware provide flexibility and durability in a truly adaptable sling system.

Used in conjunction with the optional Magpul ASAP® plate, the MS3 enables seamless transitions into an array of shooting positions without getting bound or fouled. The MS3 concept allows switching from Weapon Shoulder to Reaction Shoulder for shooting around corners, under vehicles, or to minimise exposure. The MS3 can also increase operator survivability by keeping the weapon in the fight in case of injury to the operator's shoulder, arm, or hand. The MS3 GEN2 incorporates a new low profile quick-adjust Slider which minimises bulk and allows for secure, yet effortless, sling adjustment. Webbing length has also been increased for a comfortable fit with all body types and armour configurations.

Available in Black, Coyote, Grey and Ranger Green.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.MAGPUL.COM

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K NIF E T A C TIC S

GUNG HO CHUAN ASSOCIATION

COUNTER GROUND TECHNIQUES

IN TODAY’S WORLD THERE EXISTS THE ALARMING REALITY THAT YOU MAY BE ATTACKED AND END UP ON THE GROUND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, MOST SIGNIFICANT TO SURVIVING IS IMMEDIATELY REACTING TO AVOID BEING KICKED, MOUNTED, BLUDGEONED OR STABBED. In this article we will discuss a knife tactic to deploy if you find yourself on the ground.

Even thou we are discussing a knife technique a similar tactic can be utilized if you have a firearm. The tactics discussed below are designed for you to survive and win an attack while on the ground.

The scenario is when you have been pushed/ knocked down or you find yourself on the ground and your adversary, who is still on his feet, is

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standing over you circling in an attempt for a further assault.

To avoid the attack and to effectively deploy your knife, as soon as you find yourself on the ground immediately rotate your body so your feet are directed towards the attacker. By positioning your body in this manner the critical targets, being your head and torso, are less exposed to immediate injury.

From this position, roll your body so your knife

side is up and deploy your knife. Keep in mind that under stress, caused by a violent attack, drawing and deploying the knife maybe difficult.

Don’t rush the draw and possibly lose your knife!

Secure a firm grip, deliberately draw and index the knife against your body to maintain weapon retention. As you draw, simultaneously go on the offensive by attacking your adversary’s legs with your feet. Striking at your assailant’s shins and knee joints will put him on the defense taking away his intent to assault you.

Now that his attention is towards defending himself, swiftly get back up on your feet, leading with the knife. Avoid leading with your head!

Utilize a slashing attack while rising from the ground then follow up with any offensive attack available to overcome and survive!

STOCKISTS

LEDER-GRIS

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ALSO AVAILABLE IN MOST SHOPS AND PRI’S IN CAMPS

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HIGH SHINE WAX FOR PARADE & BARRACK USE COLOURS: MOD Brown or Black

B AT T L E T E CH!

A R M Y

E L E C T R O N I C

W A R F A R E

ELECTRONIC WARFARE PROTOTYPES REACH FIRST CONUS BRIGADE

A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE BATTLEFIELD FOR TODAY’S COMMANDER, HAVING A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE BATTLEFIELD IS ALMOST AS MUCH ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM AS IS IT ABOUT READING A MAP. BY NANCY JONES-BONBREST - U.S. ARMY To better equip and train brigades to compete against near-peer adversaries with sophisticated electronic warfare, or EW, capabilities, the U.S. Army recently delivered new EW prototypes to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division ‘Devil’ Brigade, marking the first unit stateside to receive the systems after completing fielding to select Europe-based units in February.

The training in the United States prepares the units for future potential deployments where they will use the new technologies in theater, and helps spread updated electronic warfare technology, knowledge and tactics throughout the force.

“This is really driving us to answer the question, ‘how do we, as EW professionals,

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get better tactically?’” said Warrant Officer 1 Christopher Mizer, an electronic warfare technician with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “Up until recently, the EW sections have been mostly planners on the brigade and battalion staffs, as well as the higher level. Now, our EW Soldiers can effectively move and maneuver and support the other warfighting functions with equipment on the ground, and that’s really driving us in how we train from here on out.”

This integrated package of EW capabilities, consisting of mounted, dismounted, and command and control systems for electronic sensing and jamming, were fielded to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

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at Fort Riley in March. In May and June, the unit’s electronic warfare officers, or EWOs, had a chance to use the equipment at the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, located in California’s Mojave Desert.

Yet instead of working alongside the rest of their brigade at the NTC, which will come later this year, the EW Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division were at the NTC to participate as part of the Opposing Force, or OPFOR. The EWOs were able to push the equipment during operational scenarios by electronically locating the “blue” or friendly forces on the battlefield, passing that information to the OPFOR commander and even applying some jamming effects against the friendly forces.

“This was our initial test of the equipment away from home station in a realistic operational environment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Robinson, electronic warfare non-commissioned officer in charge with the 1st Brigade Combat

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Team, 1st Infantry Division. “When our brigade goes to the NTC later this year we’ll be able to integrate the equipment within our organic brigade, using the equipment in the same environment but this time against the OPFOR.” The systems are prototypes that serve as an interim solution until the Army’s enduring EW programs of record can be fielded. Together, they provide electronic protection, as well as the ability to detect and understand enemy activity in the electromagnetic spectrum, and disrupt adversaries through electronic attack effects.

“Recognizing this is a prototype system, it is still a step in the right direction,” Mizer said. “We haven’t had a system within the electronic warfare community that looks at the electromagnetic spectrum and forces Soldiers to think through what they are seeing, how that affects their commander’s mission, and how they can affect the spectrum to enable the commander.”

The Army Rapid Capabilities Office and Project Manager EW & Cyber developed and delivered

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the prototypes in response to an Operational Needs Statement from U.S. Army Europe. The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division is the first brigade to receive the equipment and train with it in the continental United States. Units in Europe, including the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Infantry Division were provided the equipment and have also used it operationally in exercises this spring, including Saber Strike and the Joint Warfighting Assessment.

Together these units in Europe, and now the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are adapting electronic warfare techniques for the brigade and below and providing valuable feedback on how to employ or “fight” the systems on the battlefield. The prototype fielding and training has also provided a chance for the different units to examine how to task organize cyber and electronic warfare personnel as they integrate the systems within their formations.

“If we did nothing electronic warfare-wise

B R I G A D E

until we actually field a program of record EW system, we would be significantly farther behind,” Mizer said. “We wouldn’t know how to integrate them, operate them, maintain them or fight those systems when we get them. This is really informing that process. It’s forcing our EW Soldiers to look at the intellectual problem of determining how you fight an EW system. That’s something the Army hasn’t really done in almost three decades.”

That input is helping to feed information back into the enduring solutions. This approach, where the RCO worked with the program of record developer PM EW&C to adapt existing systems and incorporate emerging technologies to provide new EW effects and meet an emerging threat, enabled the Army to rapidly move an interim solution to the field in 12 months. The Army will continue this phased fielding approach, which incrementally builds EW capability through direct Soldier input and as new technologies are made available.

At the NTC, for example, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Soldiers were able to work directly with equipment developers on improvements to the systems, some of which could be incorporated over the next several months.

“We were able to work with the engineers and identify items that needed to be fixed,” Robinson said. “We expect some improvements shortly before we take the equipment back to our brigade’s rotation at the NTC later this year. We did point out that the systems need a more user-friendly interface and improvements are needed with the integration between the mounted and dismounted systems so we can get better end results from the information we’re receiving.”

on the scene!

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HALEY STRATEGIC D3 SLK SLING - MULTICAM

RE-FACTOR BLASTING CAP TIGER STRIPE

OPS STEATLH WARRIOR PANTS IN US4CES WOODLAND

OPS GEN 2 IMPROVED DIRECT ACTION SHIRT IN US4CES WOODLAND

HALEY STRATEGIC - D3CRX AVAILABLE IN MULTICAM

FIRSTSPEAR FIELD SHIRT ACM BASE 100 COMMANDO

N E W IN !

A -TA C S

NEW IN!

IX

£169.99

£72.99

£49.95

£67.99

£89.99

FIRSTSPEAR WIND CHEATER AVAILABLE IN COYOTE AND MANATEE GREY

OPS D-RING COBRA WARRIOR BELT

SPIRITUS SYSTEMS S.A.C.K IN MULTICAM

OPS GEN 2 IDA SHIRT A-TACS IX

OPS ADVANCED FAST RESPONSE PANTS

£38.50

£59.99

£169.95

£19.99

£44.95

£39.99

FIRST SPEAR CSM SLING - SINGLE POINT

FIRST SPEAR: HYBRID HELMET COVER - OPS CORE

LBX 0300 PLATE CARRIER MULTICAM AVAILABLE IN RANGER GREEN & WOLF GREY

MECHANIX: ORIGINAL WOLF GREY GLOVE

PATROL INCIDENT GEAR (PIG) FDT ALPHA GLOVE - NEW STYLE!

MAGPUL CORE PATROL GLOVE - CHARCOAL

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G R O U N D

V I S I T

SINCE STARTING TO WORK WITH EBCON PUBLISHING - MAINLY ON RAIDER'S SISTER MAGAZINE - I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW A HUGE NUMBER OF PRODUCTS, HOWEVER THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY GO AND VISIT A MANUFACTURER AND SEE HOW PRODUCTS ARE MADE IS THE PROVERBIAL CROWN JEWEL FOR ANY GEAR FANATIC, AND I DEFINITELY PLACE MYSELF IN SUCH A GROUP. SO WHEN PAUL GAVE ME A CALL AND OFFERED ME THE CHANCE TO HEAD OVER TO MONTEBELLUNA, ITALY, TO VISIT ONE OF AKU FOOTWEAR'S PRODUCTION FACILITY, I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE, AFTER ALL IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY, LET ALONE AN ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP THROUGH WORK. by jason green

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B O O T S O N TGHRE O GU RP O TU ENSDT Whilst I was hugely looking forward to the trip, I approached the task ahead with apprehension as I wasn't quite sure what to expect. By the time I was driving to the airport to depart on the trip I'd managed to talk myself out of the initial excitement, instead replacing that with a sense of being let down, convincing myself the trip would likely end up just being a PR gig with a bunch of representatives talking their products up and no real insight being given to the actual build process. That feeling continued throughout the airport process and after sitting around in the Departures lounge for a period of time, I pursued another member of staff who got me on my way.

Once I cleared all the Airport nonsense, I grabbed myself three large coffees in the airport concourse whilst waiting for my flight to keep me awake - bare in mind it was around 4:30AM at this point - and waited for the all important boarding gate to be announced. Once the gate was called, I managed to bump into another member of the press heading over to Italy, a veteran footwear reviewer, who put my previous worries to bed and sent my mood from apprehensive to excitable once more.

On touching down in Italy, we were met by a driver who held an AKU signed board complete with my name on it, which almost made me feel like a VIP! Said driver guided myself and the other reviewer to a Mercedes CLK, and the continued feeling of importance shone through - it was clear AKU regarded us with importance and wanted to make a favourable impression on us from the very get go. After a rather fast journey which definitely left me with a few more grey hairs than I left England with, we arrived at the AKU factory and began our tour.

On arrival we were ushered to Reception and then guided into one of the meeting rooms,

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with the walls adorned with the various boots offered within the AKU range. After a short wait we were greeted by AKU's Marketing Manager - Vittorio Forato, along with his counterpart. A short discussion ensued, in which we discussed our own credentials and the various reviews we had completed in the past. After this Vittorio informed us that before we go any further, it was important that we continue on a full belly, to which he escorted us to a local eatery with a huge smile on his face. At this point I realised just how deep in Italy we were, not because of the scenery or because I peeked a look on Google Maps, but because the staff at said eatery didn't speak a word of English. Thankfully Vittorio translated the menu for us, and before we knew it we had one of the best lunches I've had put in front of me.

After this we took a five minute stroll back to the factory and got back to business. Our hosts began to give us the history of AKU Footwear as well as their up coming targets, and it began to become apparent how important the AKU factory was to the local area. To cut a long story short for sake of word count, AKU Footwear have been producing footwear for around forty years now, and from the start passion, creativity and experience has shaped the company to what it has grown to and become today. AKU currently own and run two factories - the first being the one I visited in Montebelluna, and the second being a larger facility opened in Cluj Napoca in Romania in 2000, in which they employ over 500 skilled workers.

Vittorio went on to tell us that one of the biggest values for AKU is localism - the act of making use of local materials and staff. This means that all of their materials are traceable and purely sourced from Europe. They were also the first footwear producer to achieve the highly coveted 'Environmental Product Declaration Certificate' and to my knowledge are the only one to date. This is simply due to the fact that AKU go to great lengths as a company to prove how their products are produced - from the raw materials all the way through to the final product. Take the leather for example. They only use leather from Dani Sustainable Leather, a company based in Italy and are renowned for their premium leathers.

Absolutely nothing is left to chance with AKU, and every design is the product of extensive handcrafting experience that the local area is famous for. Coupled with the

I ! S - I GT E T I YN O U MR SO FN R TO EM B EW W L W L .UM NI LA I T AI RT Y A1 SL TY . C O M

companies modern technical ingenuity, the outcome is a range of footwear that not only fits perfectly and has unrivalled comfort, but is also at the top of its technical game. This handcrafting not only adds to the general quality of the boot, but also allows AKU to run stringent quality control as it reduces the chances of faulty pairs slipping through a mechanical system.

After getting through the history and general build process, we were introduced to the Pilgrim GTX Boot. Designed in collaboration with the British Armed Forces after their initial usage of the original Pilgrim Boot, the GTX is a slightly improved variant, with AKU taking on board a number of nuances raised by the British Armed Forces. Without going into too much detail in regards to the boot as we have a full review in the next issue of the magazine,

the Pilgrim GTX is an absolute beaut of a boot, and one I got to grips with the following day having been gifted a pair by AKU on the trip.

However, before we get to that I wanted to talk a little on the evening that followed the first day. Having finished in the AKU factory, we were whisked away to our accommodation and my god was I surprised. Having been away on work in the UK a couple of times and usually finding myself in a cheap and cheerful B&B or Premier Inn, the hotel I found myself in was stunning. Without going into too much detail AKU definitely made sure we were looked after, and the ensuing meal was a delight as well.

Having had a good nights sleep, the following day began with Vittorio meeting us at our hotel to take us to probably one of the best media days I've attended - a hike up the Monte Grappa mountain range to truly put the Pilgrim GTX through their paces.

Having spoke to Paul prior to the trip about media days I definitely wasn't expecting what followed, by bravo AKU because it was a brilliant way to sell the boots to us journalist types. For those of you who aren't aware, Monte Grappa is a mountain in Italy that was of huge strategic importance during WWI. The Battle of Monte Grappa saw the Italians fight and hold the German advances - an advance that would have likely swept through the rest of Italy had it not been for the thousands of Italian troops who gave their lives defending their home land.

As we walked around the historic battlefield and fortifications it was often difficult to remember I was there to test a pair of boots instead of taking in the view, but walk we did, and a lot of it at that. Usually such a hike in new boots would leave you sore to say the least, but the Pilgrim GTX left me feeling like I had long broken them in when in reality they had not long come out of their box and put on my feet for the first time. As we made progress up to the summit of Monte Grappa, we stopped for a quick lunch provided by Vittorio and took in the amazing scenery. Soon after we continued our ascent and not before long found ourselves at the summit of the mountain.

It was at that point that I realised just how proud AKU are not only of their heritage, but also of their surroundings. Here I was, at the top of a mountain that was the resting place for near on 30,000 souls who fought to save Italy, wearing a pair of boots designed a Century on from the events of the Battle of Monte Grappa for current military usage, and all I could think about was the area and the gravitas of the events that occurred here. It dawned on me that AKU were so confident of their product that they could send us on such a trip and know we would take not only a brilliant experience back with us, but also a brilliant pair of boots - a pair that quite simply sell themselves - no aches, no pains, just a real good trip up a mountain.

Following the descent, we returned to our hotels for a freshen up and one final meal in which we were treated to some traditional Italian pizza and what Vittorio claimed to be some of the finest ice-cream you could ever taste - and he wasn't wrong.

Looking back on the trip, I gained a great deal from it. Not only was I treated like royalty by AKU and their staff - from the trip itself to the hotel to the food, but I also had the pleasure of getting some first hand experience with a pair of boots in the environment they were designed for. The Pilgrim GTX are a fine pair of boots, and have hardly left my feet since the trip.

As previously mentioned I don't want to give too much away in regards to the boot as Paul has planned a full review piece on them in an upcoming issue, but my god are they good.

I would like to take this time to thank AKU once again for a brilliant trip, an awesome pair of boots and an all round memorable experience in Italy - one I hope I get to go on again as I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with every member of staff I met.

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TEAM BRIT! VISITS THE DEFENCE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE

A TEAM OF INJURED SERVICEMEN WHO ARE LOOKING TO MAKE MOTORSPORT HISTORY HAVE RETURNED TO DMRC HEADLEY COURT– YEARS AFTER RECEIVING SUPPORT AND TREATMENT FOLLOWING THEIR INJURIES. Team BRIT aims to be the first ever all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour race. It has developed the world’s most advanced hand control technology to allow its injured drivers to compete equally.

The majority of the team’s drivers are injured military troops who spent time at DMRC Headley Court as part of their recovery process. On Wednesday 23rd May, the team visited the centre, taking along its Aston Martin V8 Vantage to speak to service personnel and staff about the team, its target and how it is revolutionising motorsport.

PHOTOS BY DAVID ARCHER, KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Drivers who took part in the visit include Martyn Compton who received burns to 75% of his body following an ambush in Afghanistan, Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE, the country’s most successful military Paralympian who lost an arm following an attack in Iraq and Warren McKinlay, who suffered ‘Cotard’s Syndrome’ as a result of a traumatic brain injury – leading him to believe he was dead.

The team hopes that the visit to DMRC Headley Court will inspire some of those receiving treatment at the centre to consider opportunities such as driving with Team BRIT. Lt Col Tim Clarke said, “ It’s very exciting to welcome our former patients who are part of Team BRIT, and are now leading the way in their attempt to become the first all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

“Team BRITs belong to a truly inspirational cohort of Headley Court patients who have gone on to excel on many fronts including sport , commerce and the arts.

I would like to thank them for visiting us with their impressive car and wish them the best of luck in their future races.”

Nicola Norville, Deputy Charities Coordinator at DMRC Headley Court said “We are delighted to welcome Team BRIT and our former patients to DMRC Headley Court. Their visit demonstrates how valuable the role of intensive rehabilitation is and the incredible outcomes that are achievable.

We value the friendship that we have with Team BRIT and look forward to strengthening our links. With the support of the DMRC Benevolent Fund, we hope to capitalise on the opportunities available to us through such initiatives. Thank you to all involved and for your commitment to our patients”.

CEO and Founder of Team BRIT, Dave Player said, “The team at DMRC Headley Court plays such a significant role in the rehabilitation of military personnel and we’re very proud to be part of the journey of some of the people who have spent time there.

“Through Team BRIT and our linked charity KartForce, we hope to show injured troops and any disabled people, that there are incredible opportunities out there and that disability is not a barrier to achieving amazing things.”

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ABOUT TEAM BRIT Team BRIT is a branch of the charity KartForce, a charity set up to inspire people with disabilities, PTSD and mental health issues by demonstrating what can be achieved through motorsport. It aims to show injured military personnel & disabled people that they can achieve what they never thought possible, that they can compete at the highest level, and to equip them with a wide range of personal and professional skills through understanding the business of motorsport.

Further information is at teambrit.co.uk

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BLACK EAGLE

®

TACTICAL 2.0 T mid / brown

Perfect patrol boot > Light & dynamic > All conditions boot > Full leather tactical boot > Dual density PU midsole

High quality functional footwear for WORK & LEISURE! Available from your dealer and at the HAIX® webshop www.haix.uk

www.haix.com

TOP 'DRAW' HOLSTERS ON TEST

SAFARILAND ARE OFTEN REGARDED AS THE PINNACLE OF SIDEARM HOLSTER MANUFACTURING. SEEN IN USE BY ELITE SPECIAL FORCES UNITS AND REGULAR SOLDIERS THE WORLD ROUND, SAFARILAND HAVE BUILT THEMSELVES A REPUTATION THAT IS HARD TO ARGUE WITH. WITH A HUGE RANGE OF HOLSTERS TO OFFER, THIS MONTH WE TAKE A LOOK AT A RANGE OF THEM, GIVING YOU THE LOW-DOWN ON WHAT WE REGARDS AS THEIR BEST OFFERINGS. Legacy. Tradition. Excellence. To some, these may be mere words, remnants of a time when companies embraced their history and delivered on their promises. But, at The Safariland Group they live those values every day. Safariland live them when they empower over a thousand people to design, engineer, research and deliver their protective equipment products to those that protect us, the general public. Safariland live them as they continuously seek new innovations to add to the premier group of Safariland brands that have been protecting law enforcement, military and security professionals for over 50 years. Safariland live them when they help save lives, with the Safariland Saves Club® chronicling over 1,800 individuals whose lives have been saved in part through using such products. Safariland are very much proud of who they are and what they do.

The Safariland Group's rich heritage didn't become what it is today simply from assimilating many protective product brands into one organisation. The Company has grown from their collective pledge to achieve excellence and our commitment to focus on the customer first. It is a common thread that binds both company and consumer together on their journey. It has gotten Safariland to where we are today. From one brand's small-town beginnings to another born from the love of a son to his father. This is The Safariland Group.

Safariland is just one part of The Safariland Group, offering high-quality and technologically advanced holsters, belts, and accessories to law enforcement, sporting and personal defence customers.

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G R O U P

GROUP TEST The company was founded over 53 years ago in Sierra Madre, California by Neale Perkins, who built a custom holster for his Father and went on to name the company after the African safaris he and his father took together. Within just a few short months, Neale's custom holster was a hit and Neale went from making a few hundred holsters a month and selling them from his home - to more than 5,000.

In 1996, Armor Holdings was founded off of the back of the success of a

£50.00

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company known as American Body Armor. Over an 11-year period, Armor Holdings acquired a range of different companies - with Safariland being one of those.

Fast-forward to 2007 and BAE Systems, the UK-based defence and aerospace company, found themselves in a position in which they acquired Armor Holdings, and in turn Safariland. BAE Systems Product Group soon realised that aligning themselves under a single name would better serve its markets, and began looking for a company name to amalgamate their products under. With Safariland's vast history of quality and innovation it soon became clear which name BAE Systems would use, and Safariland became the umbrella company

SAFARILAND

MODEL 578 GLS PRO-FIT HOLSTER

The Model 578 GLS™ Pro-Fit brings the unique GLS™ (Grip Lock System) and SafariSeven™ together in a holster designed to fit a wide variety of guns. The Pro-Fit™ is customizable and adjusts to securely fit over 225 firearms. Put simply the 578 GLS Pro-Fit Holster is a universal holster, a jack-of-all trades.

The 578 features the GLS™ (Grip Lock System), an innovative technology that automatically secures the weapon when holstered and releases it upon application of the middle finger with a standard shooting grip for a more intuitive and safer release.

The holster body is constructed with SafariSeven™, a lightweight, state-of-the-art nylon blend which is completely non-abrasive to a gun’s finish, tolerant of extreme high and low temperatures, and easy to maintain. This holster includes an injection-molded paddle and an injection-molded belt loop that is adjustable for maximum comfort and allows the holster to be worn cross draw.

Two new sizes have recently been added to the 578 range - Wide Standard and Wide Long, allowing the holster to fit the most popular Beretta, Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory firearms. The Pro-Fit accommodates over 225 pistols with a simple adjustment.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SAFARILAND.COM

£135.00

SAFARILAND

MODEL 7384 SP10 7TS ALS

The Model 6354DO ALS is Safariland's answer to the growing RMR sight usage - designed specifically for a range of Glock pistols totting a range of red dot optics. Like the majority of Safariland holsters the 6345DO makes use of the Automatic Locking System (ALS).

Constructed using Safariland's SafariLaminate - a unique thermal-laminate process that makes the material impervious to moisture and bloodborne pathogens, and doesn't break down like natural materials such as leather. This holster is available with an infrared signature reducing Cordura nylon finish in several US military issue colours and camouflage, including the pictured MultiCam finish.

The holster is also lined in suade, making sure your handgun is fully protected.

The 6354DO incorporates the Safariland 3-hole pattern allowing the user to mount the holster in various configurations. This essentially means you can mount the holster at various angles to suit how you wish your pistol to be drawn. It also makes use of Safariland's Quick Locking System (QLS), which allows for the quick transfer of your holster between attachment points such as a belt loop, leg shroud or other stable platforms.

It also features a double leg strap leg shroud which includes mounting holes for optional accessories, and the straps feature silicon strips to prevent any slipping.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SAFARILAND.COM

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S A F A R I L A N D

that represented the 19 brands in the recently acquired Armor Holdings' catalogue.

It wasn't long though until Safariland changed hands again though, with an affiliate of Kanders & Company purchasing the brand from BAE Systems in 2012.

Today the company manufacturers a whole heap of products in the law enforcement and Military markets under the Safariland Group umbrella, but only a relatively small number are marketed under the Safariland brand name. The Safariland Group stands today on a foundation built from the passion, spirit and values that began almost 50 years ago with founder, Neale Perkins, making a holster for his father in a small California garage.

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£135.00

D R A W !

SAFARILAND

MODEL 6354DO ALS

The Model 6354DO ALS is Safariland's answer to the growing RMR sight usage designed specifically for a range of Glock pistols totting a range of red dot optics.

Like the majority of Safariland holsters the 6345DO makes use of the Automatic Locking System (ALS). Constructed using Safariland's SafariLaminate - a unique thermal-laminate process that makes the material impervious to moisture and bloodborne pathogens, and doesn't break down like natural materials such as leather. This holster is available with an infrared signature reducing Cordura nylon finish in several US military issue colours and camouflage, including the pictured MultiCam finish. The holster is also lined in suade, making sure your handgun is fully protected. The 6354DO incorporates the Safariland 3-hole pattern allowing the user to mount the holster in various configurations.

This essentially means you can mount the holster at various angles to suit how you wish your pistol to be drawn. It also makes use of Safariland's Quick Locking System (QLS), which allows for the quick transfer of your holster between attachment points such as a belt loop, leg shroud or other stable platforms. It also features a double leg strap leg shroud which includes mounting holes for optional accessories.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SAFARILAND.COM

£135.00

SAFARILAND

MODEL 6362RDS ALS/SLS HI-RIDE

The Safariland 6362RDS ALS/SLS Hi-Ride is another of Safariland's answers to the evergrowing want from shooters to house a pistol mounted with a red-dot optic, as well as with a pistol mounted light. The Model 6362RDS makes use of Safariland's Automatic Locking System (ALS), which builds on the foundation of their Self Locking System. With a range of patents in use, the key to the ALS system is an internal locking device that securely holds the weapon in all directions upon re-holstering, providing Level I or Level III Retention, which can be elevated to Level IV Retention with the addition of Safariland's Sentry. Additionally, holsters with this all-new ergonomic design are completely operable with the thumb making training easy, and the straight up draw makes them very instinctive to use, yet difficult for an assailant's attempted takeaway. And finally, once the retention devices are released, the weapon can be drawn straight out of the holster with no twisting or other motion required. The Model 6362RDS is once again made from Safariland's SafariLaminate, and makes use of a suede interior to protect your sidearm's finish whilst holstered. The 6362RDS doesn't come with a leg shroud, instead it makes use of a belt loop mounting option, making it the perfect holster for members of the U.S. Police Department, and has gained glowing reviews from such individuals. It has also found a following in various 3-gun communities, proving it's versatility as a holster.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SAFARILAND.COM

£142.00

SAFARILAND

MODEL 6005 SLS

The Safariland 6005 SLS Tactical holster is a classic from the Safariland range - incorporating a design that has been in Safariland's repitoire for as long as wel remember - in fact it was the very first Safariland design we bought some 15 years ago.

Designed for tactical situations encountered by law enforcement and military personnel. This holster features the SLS (Self Locking System) rotating hood retention, which allows for a smoother single-motion draw and greater protection against attempted weapon takeaways. The hood can only be released by simultaneously pushing it down and rotating the hood forward. When upward force is applied, the retention system becomes even more secure.

The holster is manufactured from Safariland's durable thermoformed SafariLaminate material that resists scrapes, scratches, and dents. To protect the gun’s sights and finish, the interior has a molded sight track and is lined with soft suede. The 6004 features a standard double leg strap, while the 6005 offers a quick-release leg strap. The leg shroud features the Safariland 3-hole mounting pattern for optional accessories, such as the pictured dual pistol mag pouch.

✔ AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SAFARILAND.COM

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MEDIA REPOR T

CHURCHILL’S SPY FILES

MI5’S TOP-SECRET WARTIME REPORTS ‘UNRAVEL THE PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN STORIES OF MI5’S WARTIME SECRET AGENTS’ AT A TIME THE NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WAS CERTAIN OF WHAT MI5 DID IN THE WORLD, THE THEN PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN WAS LET IN ON THE SECRET. THE WARTIME LEADER WAS PROVIDED WITH WEEKLY REPORTS SO CLASSIFIED THAT COPIES WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO BE MADE, NOR WAS HE ALLOWED TO KEEP HOLD OF THEM - HE WAS SIMPLY PROVIDED THEM, AND THEN HAD THEM TAKEN AWAY. Now acclaimed security and espionage expert Nigel West sheds light on the secret history of the MI5, with what is perhaps the last great cache of Second World War documents to be uncovered.

West’s ground-breaking research adds new detail to already known spy missions as well as restoring redacted sections of wartime reports with his expert commentary, revealing brand-new previously unpublished reports about hitherto unknown wartime spy missions and information regarding the spies from Britain and beyond who risked everything to complete them, including GARBO, a Spanish double agent, Richard Wurmann, codenamed HARLEQUIN, who was captured by British forces in North Africa and thereafter supported the Allied efforts, and Anthony Blunt, the senior MI5 officer who confessed to having been a long-term Soviet mole in April 1964.

With a foreword from Jonathan Evans, the former Director-General of the MI5, and a stash of never before seen spy documents, this book is the perfect addition to the library of anyone with an interest in the Second World War or the spy missions that helped contribute to its outcome.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nigel West has written more than 40 books of non-fiction on security and intelligence topics. His highly acclaimed works include Double Cross in Cairo, MI5 in the Great War and Spycraft Secrets. He has spent the past fourteen years at the Counterintelligence Centre in Washington D.C., and recently uncovered an exciting collection of undigested, recently declassified documents that led to the creation of this book.

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SVARTZ

®

SPECIALIST MILITARY FOOTBEDS

GO FURTHER - FEEL BETTER® Absorber Footbed

ALTBERG

®

B O OT M A K E RS

Est. 1989

ENGLAND

For Tabbing & Running

THE

• Absorbs impact • Good arch support • Superb heel cushioning

TABBING BOOT

Anatomix Lite Footbed For Hot Weather & Desert Use

• Hot weather • Lightweight • Good arch support

Memorex Memory Footbed For Marching With Loaded Bergen • • • •

Strong arch support Good heel cushioning Memorex memory cushion underfoot For marching with full bergen

UPGRADE YOUR FOOT COMFORT FOR DETAILS OF STOCKISTS CONTACT ALTBERG 01748 850615 / 824717 / 826922 email: sales@altberg.co.uk

www.altberg.co.uk

THE TABBING BOOT One of Altberg’s most lightweight boots designed specifically for soldiers running on uneven terrain or roads.

The lining is Cambrelle® non-waterproof, breathable and fast drying.

The sole is Vibram® Microlite, excellent traction and shock absorption.

ALTBERG BOOTS FOR OPERATIONAL USE WORLDWIDE www.altberg.co.uk

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E V E R Y

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C H O I C E

P I C K

WATCH YOUR SIX

FINDING A WATCH THAT PROVIDES YOU WITH A PLATFORM CAPABLE OF SURVIVING THE RIGOURS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AS WELL AS LOOKING AT HOME WHILST ON SOCIAL EVENTS CAN BE HARD. IN THE PAST WE’VE OFTEN LEFT OUR WATCHES AT HOME WHEN GOING ON RIGOROUS MEDIA DAYS DUE TO BEING SCARED OF BREAKING OUR ALL IMPORTANT TIMEPIECES THAT SIMPLY AREN’T CUT OUT FOR HIGH OCTANE OCCASIONS. THANKFULLY THAT ISN’T THE CASE WITH ALL WATCHES, AND THIS MONTH WE TAKE A LOOK AT SIX OF THE BEST ALL OCCASION TACTICAL WATCHES ON THE MARKET.

TAC TIC AL TIMEPIECES

£650.00

GARMIN

TACTIX CHARLIE GPS WATCH

The Tactix Charlie GPS Watch from Garmin is a high-performance, military-grade GPS watch designed with state-of-the-art materials and advanced functions ranging from navigation and heart rate monitoring to skydiving and night-vision mode. Made with lightweight, high-strength titanium, polymers and a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, it is designed to perform in the most extreme of situations.

With a display that is easy to view in sunlight, 16GB of built-in memory, preloaded TOPO Active Maps for Europe, internal rechargeable battery, and GPS/GLONASS functionality, you have everything you need in order to maximise your performance. With Wi-Fi capabilities, you can connect the Tactix Charlie to the Garmin Connect mobile fitness app for automatic uploads to the Garmin Connect community for easy reviewing and sharing data from your activities. The Tactix Charlie is a must-have tool for anyone looking to take their workouts to the next level and want to push themselves and find new limits.

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£140.00

SUUNTO

CORE BLACK

The award-winning Suunto Core comes in a range of stylish design options, packing easy to use outdoor functionalities in a robust construction. Brimming with features such as an altimeter, barometer, compass, depth meter, sunrise/sunset timings for over 400 locations and a digital thermometer, the Suunto Core Black gives you all the information you could need at the bargain price of £140.00.

The Suunto Core Black has cemented itself as the go-to staff watch within the AI office, with near enough every wrist donning the stylish all-black watch.

Whilst the Suunto Core is definitely a watch designed for the outdoors, it really doesn’t look out of its depth in a number of social environments, and offers the wearer with a watch for all occasions. So whether you’re just looking for a watch for the skirmish field, or whether you want something that fits in during the after game socialisation, the Suunto Core Black is definitely our pick of the bunch.

£81.95

CASIO

G-SHOCK G 100 1BVMES

CASIO’s shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe’s dream of ‘creating a watch that never breaks’. Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan and began to establish itself as ‘the toughest watch of all time’.

The G-SHOCK G 100 1BVMES encompasses the 7 elements; electric shock resistance, gravity resistance, low temperature resistance, vibration resistance, water resistance, shock resistance and toughness.

The watch is packed with Casio innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. It has a large 4cm resin bezel with the watch face sunken into the bezel for added protection. The strap is structured from the same resin and provides strength with a strong stainless steel buckle.

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LUMINOX

ANU 4220 SERIES

When a watch carries the ‘ANU’ designation, you know it means business. Luminox are one company that has such bragging rights and has done since the early 1990s, where Nick North, who at the time headed up the Navy SEALs Research and Development Centre, found the only time piece to stand up to the rigorous abuse was a Luminox timepiece. Fast forward a quarter of a century and Luminox still proudly wear the ‘ANU’ designation.

The Luminox ANU 4220 Series features a matte black ion plated stainless steel case.

Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective coating, doubling in its purpose to make sure the dial is never obscured by reflections. Inside is a reliable Swiss Quartz movement, offering unbeatable accuracy. The case is water resistant to 200 metres, with a screw down crown and case back, as well as a diver’s unidirectional rotating bezel.

It also boasts a number of gas light tubes making the watch readable in low light, and promises 25 years of glow.

T E S T

Whether you’re a member of the Armed Forces, an adrenalin junky or simply someone who works in the outdoors, having a watch that adheres to your high octane lifestyle is a must. Like a lot of people, we often feel naked without our watches, having previously all owned timepieces that either wouldn’t stand up to the rigours of the outdoors, or we simply being too scared to wear them in case we’d damage them.

Thankfully there are a huge amount of watches on the market that are designed for heavy duty use. We’re talking about watches designed for high octane sports, specific military usage or simply designed and built in a way in which you could throw everything and the kitchen sink at it and it still continue ticking along.

With that in mind we’ve taken our pick of some of the best watches on the market watches built for the outdoors, specifically designed to take a beating and keep on going.

raider recommends! ✪✪✪✪✪ £450.00

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TIMEX

CAMPER

Timex is an iconic American heritage watch brand renowned for its timeless designs.

Founded in 1854, Timex has established a tradition of creating high-quality, innovative watches to suit the needs of every customer. Timex watches have been a part of consumers’ lives for over 160 years and combine high-end Italian designs with cutting edge German engineering to offer customers quality products.

The Timex Camper is the very epitome of ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’. If you’re looking for a range of mods and cons such as a altimeter or barometer, well put simply you’re not going to find them here. Heck, you’re not even going to get a compass with the Timex Camper unless you buy one and attach it to the watch strap. What you are going to get though is a watch that makes sure you always know what time it is, both day and night thanks to it’s Indiglo light-up dial, and at an insanely cheap price point. Lets be honest with ourselves, that’s the main function of a watch, right?

£329.00

APPLE

WATCH 3

Apple well and truly have their fingers in all of the pies in the current technological marketplace, and the Apple Watch is an absolutely brilliant piece of tech that has well and truly put the ‘Smartwatch’ on the map. Originally launched in 2015, Apple have recently launched the third iteration of the Apple Watch - dubbed the ‘Apple Watch 3’ - and there has definitely never been a better time to jump on the train.

With the new Apple Watch 3, everything you can do on your Smartphone, you can do on your Smartwatch - be it making a call, streaming music from Apple Music or monitoring your milage whilst on the skirmish field. Whilst it may not be the most solid product in the world, there are a plethora of accessories available now, meaning you can get yourself a solid case to keep your new investment safe from the environments. If you’re someone who likes to be ahead of the technological curve, and want something that will satisfy your tech urge, then the Apple Watch 3 may just be the watch for you.

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AUSTRALIAN AND U.S. FORCES TEAM UP FOR EXERCISE HAMEL IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

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AUSTRALIAN AND U.S. FORCES TEAM UP FOR EXERCISE HAMEL ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WWI'S BATTLE OF HAMEL, WHEN U.S. AND AUSTRALIAN FORCES FIRST FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE AGAINST GERMAN FORCES IN LE HAMEL, FRANCE, THE LONGTIME PARTNERS ONCE AGAIN JOINED FORCES -- THIS TIME FOR EXERCISE HAMEL AT SHOALWATER BAY MILITARY TRAINING AREA IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, FROM JUNE 18-JULY 1.

Indiana Army National Guardsmen traveled nearly 9,000 miles to join their Australian counterparts for the exercise, which saw U.S. forces integrated into the Australian Battle Group to enhance tactical and sustainment interoperability with allied partners.

"It was truly an honor to be able to integrate into one of our coalition partner's headquarters," said U.S. Army Col. Robert Burke, the commander of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. "We were able to conduct a very challenging and worthwhile command post and field training exercise, outside the United States, and achieve a higher level of readiness than I anticipated while creating great relationships with the Australians during an historic time in our shared military history."

More than 6,000 Australian soldiers and nearly 800 U.S. military personnel participated in the training. Hamel is an Australian army field training exercise that serves as the Army's culminating event in the unit train-up/certification process before transitioning to a ready brigade.

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING

Indiana Army National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment, joined up with Australian soldiers from 7th Brigade at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area and moved through a series of battles and engagements to certify the Australian brigade for deployment and to fulfill the annual training requirement of the Indiana Army National Guard battalion.

Additional U.S. participation included Soldiers from the 10th Regional Support Group, based at Okinawa, Japan; U.S. Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Regiment, also based in Okinawa; U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 5th Marine Regiment, based at Camp Pendleton, California; and exercise support from U.S. Army Pacific and the 25th Infantry Division, both based in Hawaii.

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"We've had a number of great scenarios involved, from non-combatant evacuation operations to an amphibious tactical lodgement [landing], population security operations and also more high-end joint land combat, so on all accounts, it's been a fantastic get-out for our ADF," said Australian Brig. Gen. Ben James, the director general for training and doctrine.

Australian soldiers began operations with an amphibious landing before facing a wide variety of challenges, from complex urban operations to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response and large-scale combined arms battles, with their U.S. counterparts.

URBAN OPERATIONS

U.S. Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, assaulted an enemy-held urban complex in predawn darkness, followed by Australian soldiers from the 6th Royal Australian Regiment and U.S. Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment.

"They needed to clear a village with a mixture of insurgent forces, conventional forces and a significant number of civilians," said Australian Army Capt. Tom Patterson, who served as an observer and trainer for the battle.

The scenario required infantry, tanks, military police and police dogs, engineers, air support, explosive ordinance disposal and other forces and considerations, Patterson said. It challenged soldiers in scenarios learned from real-world battles in urban areas where it is often not clear who is a fighter and who is a civilian, who is a friend and who is a foe.

The 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment Soldiers guarded critical artillery and logistical positions, cleared routes and performed area reconnaissance, secured enemy prisoners of war, and served as the Australian brigade's reserve force as the 7th Brigade pushed westward through the 1,754-square mile training area.

In the final battle of the exercise, as Australian and U.S. forces took on a near-peer adversary played by the 3rd Brigade, Australian army elements captured a critical airfield in a

large-scale combined arms battle with tanks, dismounted infantry, air support, artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles.

"We supported the tango call signs -- the tanks -- as the infantry attachment clearing the route providing blocks and clearances of vulnerable points," said Australian Army Cpl. Daniel Petterson, 6th Royal Australian Regiment.

"We culminated in a large, complex assault and a hybrid attack."

NEW EQUIPMENT

The exercise also allowed Australian military planners to test new equipment and capabilities.

The forces utilized the Australian Air Force's C-27J Spartan, the LAND 121 protected mobility vehicle, three separate digitized logistics common operating picture systems, vehicle camera systems, a fuel distribution and monitoring system, an automated base refueling point, an expeditionary fuel installation system for aviation and a programmable or manual-control precision aerial delivery system.

"Because Hamel simulates a tactical operation it gives us the best test bed to modernize, to refine our tactics, techniques and procedures, and apply the best outcome in our area of operations for the Australian Defense Force," said Australian Army Maj. Samuel Luke, the operations officer for the 9th Force Support Battalion, 17th Brigade.

Exercise Hamel was successful in more than just certifying 7th Brigade for deployment and fulfilling the training requirements of the Indiana Army National Guard, James said.

"We've broken new ground in a whole range of areas," he said. "For the first time, we've had a rotating ground combat element, that is, the land element that's embarked onboard our new Navy amphibious ships, so we've broken new ground there. It's the first time the [Australian] Army's worked alongside the [Australian] Air Force's new C-27J Spartan aircraft, which has been fantastic.

And also, there are a number of trials on our unmanned aerial systems in the training area as well, so in a whole range of areas -- new trials, new capabilities and new doctrine -- it's been really exciting."

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ARMY EXTENDS OSUT FOR INFANTRY SOLDIERS TO BOOST COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS THESE 2019 CHANGES ARE TO INCREASE SOLDIER READINESS IN 2019, THE ARMY WILL EXTEND ONE-STATION UNIT TRAINING FOR INFANTRY SOLDIERS FROM 14 WEEKS TO 22 WEEKS. CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM ARE MEANT TO INCREASE SOLDIER READINESS, MAKING THEM MORE LETHAL AND PROFICIENT BEFORE THEY DEPART FOR THEIR FIRST DUTY ASSIGNMENT, ACCORDING TO THE INFANTRY SCHOOL COMMANDANT, COL. TOWNLEY R. HEDRICK. The new OSUT program will include expanded weapons training, increased vehicle-platform familiarization, extensive combatives training and a 40-hour combat-lifesaver certification course, said Hedrick.

Further, the change will include increased time in the field during both day and night operations and include an increased emphasis on drill and ceremony maneuvers.

A NEEDED CHANGE

For the past 44 years, Infantry Soldiers were trained in a 14-week program of instruction. Ten weeks were allocated to basic military training, and an additional four were reserved for training Infantry-specific skills, Hedrick said. The Infantry career field makes up approximately 15 to 17 percent of the total force.

Discussions about changing OSUT began shortly after Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis identified the need to re-establish readiness and build a more lethal Infantry force, Hedrick said. And the Army Vision, recently published by Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, reinforces the defense secretary’s priority.

“Extending OSUT is about increasing our readiness and preparing for the future,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey said. “This pilot program is the first step toward achieving our vision of the Army of 2028. With more time to train on critical Infantry tasks, we’ll achieve greater lethality.”

In response to the increased focus on readiness, specifically within the Infantry force, leadership within the U.S. Army Infantry School approached the 198th Infantry Brigade, which trains all Army Infantry forces, and asked what could be done to make better Infantry Soldiers.

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“We asked them if they had a longer training pipeline, what could they do with it,” Hedrick said.

In turn, the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and the Infantry School started a combined effort with the 198th Infantry Brigade and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to develop an improved 21-week OSUT program.

After consulting with the Army chief of staff, however, the combined OSUT team was directed to extend the new program to 22 weeks and include combat water survival training, he said.

The preliminary 22-week OSUT pilot program is slated to start this July with a graduation date scheduled for December, the commandant added.

The new 22-week OSUT should begin in 2019, sometime between July and October.

With the upcoming 22-week course, the Infantry School has already identified what new Soldiers will be part of the improved training, Hedrick said.

“U.S. Army Recruiting Command has already gone back to those identified personnel, regenerated their contract, and let them know that they would be part of the first classes to execute a new and improved training program,” Hedrick said.

THE NEW PROGRAM

Under the new OSUT program, Soldiers will get more training with their M4 rifle and increased hands-on experience with the M240 machine gun and the M249 squad automatic weapon.

“So across all the Infantry weapons, they will get more bullets,” Hedrick said. “And they will also shoot more at night, rather than just doing a day familiarization fire.”

In addition to increased weapons training, Soldiers will receive more field training experience, including tactical training repetitions that focus more on squad formations during day and night operations, he said. The goal is to help trainees understand where they fall within a fire team or rifle squad and make them more proficient while operating in the field.

“We looked at land navigation and individual Soldier skills,” Hedrick said. “Under the new course, a Soldier will do an individual day and night land navigation course on their own. They will also do a basic combative certification. That improves the mental and physical toughness of Soldiers coming through the Infantry OSUT.” Additionally, the Infantry School has added six days of vehicle platform training to the new program. Under the 14-week program, Soldiers only received one day of training with their assigned vehicle. During the new course, Soldiers assigned to a Stryker or Bradley unit will learn how to drive and perform maintenance on their assigned vehicle.

Furthermore, a more significant emphasis on drill and ceremony has been built into the new curriculum.

“It is all about conditioning, following commands and working as a unit, so you will see an increasing level of discipline through drill and ceremony,” the commandant said. “We think this gets us to the objective of a more expert and proficient Soldier.”

Changes to the program create an extended and more gradual training process to help decrease injuries caused by lack of nutrition or poor conditioning, Hedrick said...

“We’ve developed a set of metrics, with the U.S. Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Science Solutions to try and evaluate how the Soldiers are doing during the 22-week pilot program versus the 14-week program,” Hedrick said. “We’ve got an evaluation plan to try and look at ourselves and see if the product coming out has an improved proficiency — like we think it will.”

FUTURE OSUT CHANGES

With an increased time of training, the Infantry School must expand from five to eight battalions to ensure the same annual throughput of approximately 17,000 well-trained Soldiers.

Fortunately, resources and facilities are available at Fort Benning to support the new program.

Additionally, the Infantry School has been working with TRADOC to ensure they have enough drill sergeants in place to meet the 2019 launch date for the new 22-week OSUT. Under the current 14-week program, three drill sergeants are responsible for training a platoon of 60 Soldiers. For the 22-week program, the Infantry School is looking to augment OSUT

companies with six additional Infantry instructors.

Overall, the additional instructors provide a better student-to-instructor ratio during certain aspects of the course, the commandant said.

At the conclusion of the 22-week pilot, the OSUT team will review the results and determine what parts of the program need to be re-sequenced.

The pilot will also be used to determine the list of tasks assigned to each instructor, Hedrick said.

In addition to the changes to the Infantry School’s curriculum, the Army is looking at extending other OSUT programs. Currently, the U.S. Army Armor School and U.S. Army Engineer School are performing internal analyses of their curricula to determine what resources will be needed to extend their own programs.

“Extending Infantry OSUT will allow us to allocate more time to honing the necessary skills to provide greater capability to our commanders,” Dailey said.

With our first major change to Infantry training in 40 years, he said, we are investing in future Army readiness, which will ensure we are prepared to deploy, fight and win our Nation’s wars when called upon to do so.

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HISTORIC RAF PICS 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS GET UNDER WAY THE ROYAL AIR FORCE HAS RELEASED A SERIES OF HISTORIC PICTURES SHOWING THE SERVICE’S CONNECTION WITH LONDON, AS THE CITY PREPARES FOR EVENTS TO MARK THE RAF’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY. THE CACHE OF PICTURES – DATING FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR ONWARDS – SHOW THE RAF’S PERSONNEL AND AIRCRAFT ON CEREMONIAL DUTIES IN AND ABOVE LONDON, FROM POST-WAR VICTORY PARADES AND THE CORONATION TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND PRIDE MARCHES – AND INCLUDE PICTURES OF THE SERVICE’S NEW POP-UP MUSEUM ON HORSE GUARDS PARADE. The pictures have been released as the RAF opened the RAF100 Aircraft Tour, which sees nine historic and current aircraft put on show to the public at Horse Guards Parade from 6-9 July. On 10 July a mass parade along the Mall and a flypast of up to 100 aircraft will mark the pinnacle of the RAF’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

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AMONG THE PICTURES ARE:

■ Wartime pictures of a Spitfire tipping the wing of a V1 flying bomb to prevent it from hitting London.

■ The Women’s Royal Air Force leading the RAF’s contingent at the Queen’s Coronation Parade in 1953.

■ RAF aircraft and personnel involved in the funeral procession of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and the Falklands Victory Parade in 1982.

■ A Harrier jump-jet landing outside St Pancras railway station in 1969 following an attempt at the New York to London air speed record.

■ RAF aircraft – including the Tornado GR4, Typhoon FGR4 and the iconic Red Arrows – above prominent London landmarks.

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The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, said: “These pictures remind us just how closely the Royal Air Force’s proud history is linked to that of London. From the RAF’s valiant defence of our capital city during the Battle of Britain, to flypasts over London marking so many of the pivotal events in our national history, to our support in the air and on the ground to the 2012 Olympics.

The pictures also remind us that the RAF’s character and successes are all about the outstanding men and women who serve, defending our nation and protecting our interests around the world, every moment of every day. They constantly add to our rich heritage and they will be proud to fly above and to march through London on 10 July, to mark 100 years of RAF service to the nation.”

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AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM GETS TROOPS BACK ON TRACK IT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME -- SOLDIERS BECOME INJURED AND MUST STOP WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THEIR INITIAL MILITARY TRAINING TO RECUPERATE BY BEING SENT TO THE FITNESS TRAINING UNIT TO TAKE PART IN THE WARRIOR TRAINING AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM. One Soldier, Pvt. Cassy McKnight, came to the FTU Feb. 6 after her senior drill sergeant noticed something was wrong during a run and sent her to the athletic trainer. She admits she had been telling herself it was just a pulled muscle and continued on up until that point.

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"She sat me down and explained it to me.

She said 'You're going to end up breaking your hip, and you'll be chaptered,'" McKnight said.

"I agreed to go see the physical therapist and then I found out that I had Grade-4 stress fractures in my pelvis."

McKnight was given the option to be chaptered out of the Army or to stay in and enter WTRP. She said the choice was an easy one to make.

"It took me a year to enlist. This is all I've ever wanted to do," she said. "Everything in my life that I've ever done, something has always gotten in the way, so me finishing this -- it means more to me than just doing it for my family. This is for myself."

Capt. Edward Williams, FTU commander, said Soldiers are recommended to the program by either a physical therapist or occupational therapist, and the recommendation is based on

an assessment of the trainee's injury, potential for successful rehabilitation and continued service to the nation.

"The WTRP provides a modified BCT and/or OSUT training environment designed to return Soldiers to regular IMT training programs with higher levels of motivation, fitness, training and education than when they entered, while providing them the quality health care they need to rehabilitate their injuries," he said.

He added that the program is outlined in Army Regulation 612-201 and Training and Doctrine Command Regulation 350-6.

McKnight said the program has given her tools, such as personal rehab exercises to help her heal, and since it is still a training environment, the drill sergeants continue to teach those in the program skills pertaining to the training they are missing, in addition to motivating and encouraging them to continue.

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"They try to remind us that we're still Soldiers, we're just injured right now," she said.

The program helps Soldiers become stronger and return to training, but the process can add several weeks or even months to their time spent at the installation, which can be confusing and stressful to loved ones back home.

Williams said he understands the frustration felt by the families but wants them to understand the amount of information they can give out is very limited due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. "In our environment, medical information is limited to the Soldier, the health care provider and to a more limited extent, that Soldier's commander," he said. "If the Soldier wishes to disclose protected information to parents or loved ones, they are free to do so. However, a health care provider or commander can only do so with the written consent of the Soldier."

He explained that the amount of time spent in the program can vary greatly.

"Every Soldier and every situation is different.

For instance, we may have a highly motivated Soldier who pushes himself/herself to pass the APFT and who then exacerbates their initial injury or who develops a new injury."

Williams said. "It is also important to know that we have an awesome responsibility of fostering appropriate rehabilitation and, that at

times, this may include regression as opposed to progression in that Soldier's respective rehabilitation program."

This was the case with McKnight. "(She) overcame her initial injury and, during her Army Physical Fitness Test for graduation from the program, developed a new injury," Williams said. "This injury was a blow to FTU staff and the Soldier in particular, because she had worked so hard to get back to Basic Combat Training. Despite this set-back, she maintained a positive attitude, worked hard, and continued to motivate and challenge her colleagues in this program."

McKnight said it has been hard being away from her husband and son for the extended amount of time, and admitted there were times where she felt like giving up but said, "Failure was not an option."

"It was painful, frustrating and very long, but very well worth it," she said.

After spending more than five months in the program, McKnight graduated June 27 and has since continued with her Initial Military Training.

She said she is pain free and in better physical shape than she was before.

"I still don't believe that I ran as fast as I did during my last PT test. I've never run that fast before," she said, adding that she will carry the knowledge and skills learned in the program with her throughout her military career along

P R O G R A M with a coin presented by her commander.

Williams said it's important to recognize the effort and dedication to the Army that Soldiers like McKnight have clearly demonstrated.

"To me, presentation of a commander's coin is a truly special occasion and is reserved for those achieving excellence," he said. "In the case of our WTRP Soldiers, I present coins to those who have overcome physical and mental adversities, maintained a positive attitude throughout their time here, have motivated and challenged their colleagues, and who successfully graduate from our program. To date, I have presented only three coins to trainees, and each presentation was truly unique, and the trainee met or exceeded the criteria above."

Williams said the WTRP plays an important role in building the Army's fighting force and that getting injured early on doesn't have to mean that Soldiers' careers are finished.

"An injury in Basic Combat Training or Advanced Individual Training is not a game-ender for these young volunteers. If this was the case, programs like the WTRP would not exist, and we would simply cut our losses," he said. "However, the nation has a vested interest in these young Americans, and our goal is to rehabilitate and successfully add these Soldiers to our fighting force. The Army takes care of its people, and we facilitate this, in part, through programs such as WTRP."

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