Editors note: Some questions were raised as to whether this was a legal AR-15 setup with the vertical foregrip. After doing some research and sifting through ATF documents, the answer is yes. For a full explanation of this, please reference this article. The authors AR-15 seen in this article has an overall length of 28″. Ask 5 people […]
Talos “Iron Man” Was Always A Pie in the Sky Option For SOCOM
Opinion: Coming back to reality was the first order of business for USSOCOM this winter. The command finally admitted that the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit or TALOS project was not even close to being a reality, which we reported after attending the SOFIC Conference in Tampa two years ago. The entire concept was flawed […]
Tailoring my EDC for running
Tailoring your EDC (everyday carry) for each situation doesn’t have to be complicated. It also doesn’t have to be overboard. The truth is, that what you carry to work probably isn’t practical to carry while at school, to the gym, and definitely not while running. To touch on the latter, running, I don’t claim to […]
Meet Special Reconnaissance, a new career field in Air Force Special Operations
Soldiers with 2-20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as well as other members of the special operations community prepare to conduct a mock-nighttime assault on the Grenada Dam in Grenada, Mississippi January 20, 2019. The exercise involved a simultaneous assault from multiple points, with the intent of gaining control over an insurgent-held dam. Southern Strike 2019 […]
Personal Protection: How to be your own bodyguard
As current threats develop and old threats evolve, everyday people are subject to complex issues in which the overwhelming majority are unaware of and/or unprepared to face. Not everyone can afford private protective services, so what can they do to better protect themselves and become their own bodyguard? In this article, we’ll discuss increasing your own survivability […]
Triple Aught Design Intercept PD Pants
The U.S. Department of State created a few publications as guidelines for Americans traveling abroad. A particular paragraph stands out and provides the right approach to our monthly theme of keeping a low profile, “A key single concept, more than any other, should permeate all planning activities, namely keep a low profile. In other words, do […]
Rucking Questions Answered, More Advice, Practice…Less Worry
As always during the winter months, we get a lot of questions about Selection once the cold weather classes begin. And as per usual, the majority of questions pertain to rucking, land navigation (the Hoffman “Dagobah System”) and general preparedness. So, to answer the questions, the best way to answer is to actually go out […]
Photo of the day: Exploring an abandoned town in Hanoi
A minimalist urban exploration tools and gear kit. Triple Aught Design Life Capsule Omega with an entry kit and a Black Scout Survival BSS V3 Flashlight to explore this massive abandoned ghost town in Hanoi. For more on this kit *Photo courtesy of John Cain (Vinjatek)
Learn How To Prepare For Cold Weather Prior to Selection
Because most of our military bases are in the southern United States, one area that can be neglected, especially when preparing for Special Operations training is cold weather training. It is surprising how many young people who enter the military don’t know or understand the basics of cold weather preparation. First some of the basics; […]
Photo of the day: The longest international bus ride in Asia
Waiting to embark on a 24-hour international bus ride from Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos – complete with a land border crossing and walk through no man’s land. Considered one of the hardest and most brutal bus journeys in Asia. Gonna be one of those adventures where it’s gonna be good only after it’s done, […]