Fred Rowlands

Fred Rowlands Fred “Garfield” Rowlands is a 21+ year Navy veteran who spent his career in strange and diverse places like Diego Garcia, Wintering Over in Antarctica, the Southern Border, and Burbank CA. Has spent over 30 years working in Military Physical Security, Law Enforcement, and Private Security, and has “more luck than a cat has lives” supposedly. He now resides in NW Florida with his wife and a Great Dane named Layla.

SHOT Show 2025

SHOT Show is always about new items, updated new models and new ways of doing old jobs. This year was no different and while I took the time to see all the new, there were some old favorites that I got to see and hope to show them here in the future. First and foremost, […]

Pic of the Day, Prepping Is a Year ‘Round Activity

Normally we have one good cold spell here in NW Florida each winter, 5 maybe 6 days where the nights are below freezing and the days are maybe 40deg. They already enjoyed a beautiful white winter in January this year (complete with 9 inches of snow) while I was attending SHOT Show in Las Vegas. […]

Osight X Red Dot Sight: A Hard-Hitting, No-Nonsense Review

Listen up, folks. The Osight X isn’t some run-of-the-mill red dot that you slap onto your gun and hope for the best. This thing is built for serious shooters, the kind that demand reliability, durability, and a no-fuss design that actually works. If you’re in the market for a battle-ready optic that can take a […]

Adept Armor’s Thunder Plates: The Future of Lightweight Protection

When it comes to cutting-edge body armor, Adept Armor is raising the bar with their Thunder Plates. Lightweight, durable, and designed for real-world combat scenarios, these plates are a game-changer for military personnel, law enforcement, and anyone serious about personal protection. Built for the Modern Battlefield The Thunder Plate is engineered with a composite of […]

Shell Shock Technologies: The Lightweight Ammo Revolution You Need to Know About

When it comes to innovation in the ammunition game, few players are making waves quite like Shell Shock Technologies (SST). If you’re not already familiar, let me introduce you to a company that’s rewriting the rules of what’s possible with ammo. Lightweight, cost-effective, and packed with benefits for both troops and everyday shooters, SST’s latest […]

T’was the Night Before Christmas, a Garfield Tale

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru SOFREP, all us mice were scurrying, we had missions to prep. For tis Christmas you see, a grand holiday, and we have friends and family everywhere, even some a world away. So now there are presents to wrap, veggies to chop, ham and turkeys to season, and […]

10mm For Christmas Anyone?

Yes Please Santa! Just beware, you’ll do more than shoot your eye out with this one. The 10mm cartridge was designed in response to the cataclysmic 1986 FBI Miami shootout in which FBI agents using 9mm caliber pistols were seriously outperformed. Regardless if the argument was true or not, the cartridge has endured. Yes, it […]

Last Minute Shopping Ideas for Christmas

The start of the Christmas season here is marked by bringing out the decorations just after Thanksgiving. Which was last week, correct? Ok, so maybe not but there’s still time to get online, get some shopping done, and get your gifts before Christmas. But as they say, “The clock is ticking” so if anyone is […]

First Tactical Sets a New Standard For Women’s Tactical Clothing

When it comes to tactical gear for women, the industry has often fallen short—literally. Ill-fitting apparel designed for men, hastily adapted for women, just doesn’t cut it. But First Tactical has stepped up to the plate, delivering purpose-built gear like the Women’s V2 Pro Performance Short Sleeve Shirt and Women’s V2 EMS Pant. These pieces […]

Laundry In The Field? It’s Possible With A Scrubba Bag!

Being in the Army while in the field can be difficult at times, with bad weather, inhospitable environments, no phone, no light/power, and no motor car (as the song used to say), among many other things. At least your days are planned for you and with enough activities you can forget some things like laundry. […]