On a nice sunny day, I decided to take Loki (my Wirehair Pointing Griffon) for a trip to the beach. The family and I decided on the Sequalitchew (try to say it out loud) Creek Trail. The trailhead starts at the Depont city hall (WA) and descends towards the ocean for about 1.5 miles (3-mile […]
Downtime
Worst War Movies Ever | Don’t Waste Your Time on These Stinkers
Back in May around Memorial Day, we listed some of our favorite War Films that are guaranteed to entertain and keep your interest. We could have easily added a couple of more as the genre always has some worthy additions by Hollywood’s filmmakers. This year’s blockbuster “Dunkirk” could easily make its way into that list. But today’s […]
Special Operations reading list: A few of my favorite hidden gems
I love reading about Special Operations history. It’s amazing what information can be found in published sources if you’re prepared to dig around. There’s a whole hidden history that can only be compiled by doing some deep research and really looking for sources. Thankfully, some former operators penned books that are well worth tracking down. […]
Keep your brews cool on the move with the Yeti Hopper Two 30
Yeti has become synonymous with over engineering in the rugged cooler segment. And that’s a good thing. From the bear resistant Tundra coolers to the latest in soft sided coolers, Yeti is at the cutting edge of cool. The Loadout Room has done reviews on the Tundra, Hopper 20, Hopper Flip 12, Ramblers and even […]
Half Face Blades Chef Blade – A Refined Tool
As a newly single man, I’ve been continually surprised by the fact women are incredibly impressed by my ability to cook. I thought it was an old joke, something from a cheesy rom-com, but the truth remains I’ve found the ability to cook directly relates to your attractiveness level. When cooking for a young lady […]
‘True Believer’ has been cleared hot by the Department of Defense
I am pleased to announce that the Department of Defense has finished their review of my second novel, True Believer, slated for release on July 30th, 2019. It is now “cleared as amended” which means the DoD Office of Prepublication and Security Review redacted certain sentences and paragraphs for security reasons. For True Believer, the DoD redacted […]
Unbeatable Mind by Mark Devine
A few years back I found myself at a challenging point in my life, I have lost my drive, focus, and direction. The reason doesn’t really matter but what did was that I wasn’t getting things done that needed to be done, relationships, my professional goals, personal goals, fitness, and overall health. I was in […]
Battle Grounds Coffee Company – Grinding It
Reviewing coffee seemed like an interesting concept. Its something I’ve never done before but I sure do enjoy drinking coffee. Who doesn’t start their day with heart racing levels of caffeine? I know I can’t. Battle Grounds Coffee Company was kind enough to send me three different blends in bean form. I never tried grinding my […]
Photo of the day: Recon Marines prepare for extreme hike in South Korea
I remember going through the South Korean ROK Marine Mountain Warfare training center. Those ROK Marines were damn machines during the entire training course. I remember going up into the mountains one day, probably covering a few thousand feet in elevation, and they smoked us. Obviously, this is their backyard and they better be good […]
Photo of the day: Small unit insertion in the Diyala province of Iraq
Small unit insertion in the Diyala province of Iraq sometime in ’06-’07. This was my first unit. Named Task Force 300 because the Squadron had roughly 300 shooters and a gigantic Greek commander. Of those 300: 22 would die, 1 in 3 would earn a purple heart, and all would collectively earn a Presidential Unit […]