A U.S. Air Force pararescueman, assigned to the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, field packs his parachute at the drop zone after a high altitude, high opening military free fall jump working with a C-130J Super Hercules flown by the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 4, 2018. Guardian Angel Team […]
Night Stalkers
Gear in the Wild: US Special Operations troops train with Serbians
U.S. and Serbian Special Operations Forces train during a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) at the SAJ headquarters complex, Serbia, Mar. 6, 2018. A JCET is a combined training event in which SOF units train with foreign nations to develop skills and increase effectiveness in future operations. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Nassirian, […]
Gear in the Wild: Food for the .50 Cal
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Gear in the Wild: The M1911 in the hands of a Force Recon Marine
A Force Reconnaissance Marine with Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, loads an M1911 .45 caliber pistol in Guam, January 29, 2018, during Visit Board Search and Seizure training. VBSS teaches Marines how to take over ships for searches and counter-piracy operations. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, the 31st MEU provides […]