A belt of M2 .50 caliber machine gun ammunition is ready for use during the 50th Chemical Company, New Jersey Army National Guard’s annual training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 1, 2019. New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen See the .50 cal in action below:
Gear
Gear in the Wild: The many uses of a good multi-tool
An Airman utilizes a pocket knife to adjust the sight on a M4 carbine, April 4, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Airmen must demonstrate quality safety standards while handling and shooting their weapons proficiently in order to be eligible to deploy. Throughout CATM the instructors emphasized: weapon handling techniques, proper sight usage and […]
US Special Operations Command reveals new helmet for operators
American commandos will soon be going into combat protected by a new, high-tech helmet. According to a statement by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Gentex Corporation has been awarded a contract worth $95 million to supply SOCOM with its Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut Helmet. Gentex manufactures a number of different models of […]
Gear in the Wild: Don’t forget your mouth guard
When training in hand to hand combat, a mouth guard can save your grill. Photo caption: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Cpl. Matthew Teutsch (left), a combat videographer with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), performs a choke hold on Lance Cpl. Jason Monty, a combat mass communicator with the 11th MEU, during […]
Gear in the Wild: The Glock 17 in the hands of a British Royal Marine
A Royal Marine at the Commando Training Center, fires down range with a Glock 17 pistol during the Royal Marine Operational Shooting Competiton (RMOSC) at Altcar Training Camp, Hightown, United Kingdom, May 15, 2018. The U.S. Marine Corps travels to the United Kingdom annually to compete in the (RMOSC) with the opportunity to exchange operational […]
Gear in the Wild: A room with a view during Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercises
A scout team member keeps watch over a nearby town while the main force prepares for movement during the Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise. The EDRE is an exercise designed to test a unit’s ability to alert, recall and deploy under emergency conditions. The Army routinely conducts deployment readiness exercises to assess their ability to provide […]
The 5 unusual things that’ll help keep your car running in an emergency
In any prolonged survival situation involving a vehicle, the most important things to look for aren’t speed or even ground clearance — the first things you should consider are reliability and ease of repair and maintenance. After all, even the most badass of vehicles tend to lose their appeal when you can’t change a flat […]
Gear in the Wild: ‘Sharkies’ are a knife trainer’s best friend
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit participate in combat knife sparring using “sharkies” during martial arts training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 2, 2018. The sparring exercise allow the Marines to work on close quarters combat knife techniques. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Robert […]
Gear in the Wild: Glock’s 19X on display at the Marine South Exposition
A Glock 19 pistol is displayed during the Marine South Exposition at the Geottege Memorial Field House on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Apr. 11, 2018. The Marine South Exposition is sponsored by the Marine Corps League and is a forum for defense contractors to display, inform, and promote the latest defense equipment and […]
Jack Murphy’s new book, “Murphy’s Law” is on sale now – Here’s a look at his Special Forces loadout
Jack Murphy’s incredible career has spanned years and continents. From his time as an Army Ranger and Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, to his his post-military career as an investigative journalist, Jack has demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest levels in the most daunting of circumstances–and now, you can read about his experiences all […]