U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, rehearse firing a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle during the blank iteration of a combined arms live fire excercise in support of Swift Response 19 in Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, June 24, 2019. Swift Response 19 is a U.S. Army Europe multinational […]
Army
Gear in the Wild: Getting all dressed up to go for a ride
A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) rescue swimmer hangs of the side of an MH-65 Dolphin off the coast of Tybee Island Coast Guard Station, Georgia, June 21. 2019. The rescue swimmer aided pilots from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, during a search-and-recovery exercise with the USCG. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman […]
Op-Ed: Say it ain’t so, Joe—the Army unveils another unnecessary badge
On Friday, June 14—coincidentally the Army’s 224th birthday—the Army unveiled its newest and most unnecessary badge: the Expert Soldier Badge. If you read this and are rolling your eyes, trust me, you are not alone. According to a press release, the Expert Soldier Badge will recognize those individuals who demonstrate a mastery of physical fitness, […]
MH-6 Little Bird upgrades include a huge increase in operational range
Some sharp eyes over at The Drive recently spotted a modification to the MH-6 Little Bird helicopter in a USASOC-released video. The footage shows the Little Bird configured with external pods designed for ferrying special operations soldiers to their targets, but underneath one can see a rectangular attachment that appears to be an additional fuel […]
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 […]
Will this be the Army’s new submachine gun?
The competition for the Army’s new submachine gun is entering the final stage. The process began back in May when the Army issued through its Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO) a Request for Information (RFI) during the annual National Defense Industrial Association’s Armament Systems forum. Initially, 13 companies responded, and 10 guns were presented. The […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Army has a new physical training test, and these are the fittest soldiers
After a rigorous assessment and selection process that lasted two days, the Army Warrior Fitness Team has filled its ranks with 15 members. The eight men and seven women come from across the Army and ranks. The primary objective of the team will be recruiting, while helping soldiers who are currently serving to improve their physical conditioning […]
Why I prefer a two-point sling and the versatility it offers
Photo courtesy of DVIDS To put it simply: the one-point sling is not versatile enough. It’s really good at a specific role, and that is accommodating a direct action based use of the weapon. It is extremely good in this capacity but because it is such a specialized piece of kit, it lacks the versatility of the […]