Editors note: MACV-SOG was organized and functioned as the first true joint special operations task force (JSOTF). Formed during the Vietnam War, the unit conducted special operations, to include providing intelligence, psychological operations, and personnel recovery, in support of the theater campaign plan. From John’s book Across The Fence: The Secret War In Vietnam, here’s […]
Mission Gear
Whats on the 2019 wishlist for JSOC Special Missions Units?
U.S. Navy SEALs and AFSOC members conduct military jump operations during exercise TRIDENT 18-4 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Corban Lundborg) In the never-ending quest to remain technologically ahead of current and future rivals, the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) has assembled two documents containing lists of capabilities and technologies that […]
Toe Poppers And MiniFrags: The Little Known Toys Of U.S. Special Forces In Vietnam
This article will speak about two vital weapons that served U.S. Special Forces during their service in the Vietnam War. They were the M-14 Anti-Personnel mine, more commonly known as the “Toe Popper,” and the V40 Mini-Fragmentation Grenade. Over the course of the conflict, these miniature terrors drew much blood against the North Vietnamese Army […]
Don’t forget the essentials when setting up your combat loadout
Whether you’re running a chest rig or a plate carrier, there are some key features or additions that are going to remain requirements no matter what. I will readily admit that not everyone has the same needs for their gear but the following serves as a good rule of thumb. Magazines, communication, medical, and all […]
Ronin Tactics Task Force Belt
Whether you are a Military, LEO, security or a competition shooter, your choice for a battle belt is a one to be made with no small consideration. A good belt needs to be versatile, rigid, easy to take on and off and shouldn’t add too much bulk to the other gear you use to get […]
Assault through with the T3 Assault Backpack
Assault: 1. The Climax of an attack, closing with the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting. 2. To make a short, violent, but well-ordered attack against a local objective, such as a gun emplacement, a fort, or a machine gun nest. – (Joint Pub 1-02) There was a time when I was cool. Way back in 2009-2010 […]
Gadsden Dynamics War Belt: Designed for the prepared civilian
A couple of months ago, Gadsden Dynamics sent out a War Belt for review. I put up my initial impressions here, but have now spent enough time at the range and over the hills to deliver a final review. For a quick refresher, the War Belt weighs only 10 oz (with optional AustriAlpin Cobra buckle upgrade) and is 3 MOLLE […]
Kid finds hatchet belonging to fallen SEAL Team 6 operator killed in Yemen
Andrew Moore, a 13-year-old from Houston, Texas, sold a hatchet replica of an ax belonging to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator William Ryan Owens, a SEAL Team 6 operator who was killed during a High-Value Target (HVT) operation in Yemen in 2017. Moore had won the hatchet during a biker rally event that was organized in support […]
CRYE Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier versus the CRYE Jumpable Plate Carrier 2.0
The CRYE Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier (JPC) is a minimalist, lightweight plate carrier. I used the first generation for about a year before it was destroyed by a combat medic and a pair of scissors during an operation. I wore it through a brutal training regimen and a combat deployment. It is the best kit […]
The T3 Gen 2 Kit Bag: A weatherproof kit bag for any operation
A kit bag is what all my gear goes into. I have a contractor bag by LBT that I put all my normal clothes into, but in my kit bag goes my expensive gear and often times its overloaded with gear that is a pain in the ass to carry. The second that I found […]