U.S. Department of Defense photo For the past few years, select members of the U.S. Marine Corps travel to the U.K. to participate in Royal Marines Commando training. True to the U.S. Marines’ institutional mentality to always adapt and improve, this provides them an opportunity to observe what works and how it can be implemented […]
Vertx EDC Transit Sling: Built for low profile missions
I hadn’t owned a backpack for about 15 years when I came across Vertx. That time frame probably makes me seem a lot older than I am(I’m 27), but long story short, I didn’t carry one a day past the end of 5th grade. I can’t remember thinking “I want a backpack!” at any point […]
US Marine drops some knowledge on holsters
Holsters are a necessary part of owning a pistol. A holster allows safe carry of a firearm for both duty and range time. I personally, if carrying a duty pistol at all, am relegated to using either the SERPA design or the old school USGI green Cordura holster. Both are terrible options in my opinion […]
What the Army does with its surplus M1911 pistols and M1 Garands
Image Courtesy of George Hand Have you ever wondered what happens to the Army’s surplus firearms? They’re made available for civilian purchase through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The transferring of surplus rifles and handguns from the Army’s arsenal to the CMP began in 1996. Since then, more than 700,000 guns have been offered to the CMP […]
The Glock 17: A pistol for fighting
As always, I am a huge proponent of carrying and using whatever you have at your disposal. However depending on how you’re trained or how your brain works, because we are all different, certain firearms can be more conducive to your shooting skills than others. That being said I have my own personal standards for […]
The power of your playlist in the gym
The workout mix: a time-honored tradition of fitness enthusiasts in gyms all across the world. Few things can inspire an athlete to push harder, to work longer … or to start a fist fight with other gym goers better than a carefully selected list of songs intended to get the heart pumping. At some point, […]
ASP T60 Baton: Simple and Robust
The ASP T60 baton is the ultimate tactical duty item I have used on patrol. The ASP T60 Batonhas great durability and strength and when the baton is extended it is ideal for window breaks, jabs, and strikes. The ASP T60 can also be extended by pulling the tip with your hand, unlike the older models. The […]
How to throw a punch like a Marine
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has been the basic hand-to-hand combat system employed by the United States Marine Corps since 2002, and as I’ve written about in the past, it tends to get dragged through the mud by young guys with limited experience and a lot of bravado. In order to complete recruit training, you need […]
Lifesaver: Army tests new body armor in search of lightness and better protection for soldiers
An Army infantryman moves toward a mock enemy trench during a live-fire exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, February 9, 2019. (Department of Defense) The Army is edging closer to fielding its updated body protection system. The Soldier Protection System (SPS) has been in the works for years, and it promises to better protect soldiers. The best way […]