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 […]
Rangers
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 […]
Shorts, sandals, salmon and a Toor Knife
It started off as a typical Monday; some PT (Physical Training), a little admin nonsense and a short brief on the day’s planned shenanigans (I didn’t know what shenanigans were in store for that day). My coworker Nick is something of an avid fisherman. Normally, it is more of a casual dalliance but with the majority […]
Honing the demon and channelizing violence of action
“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” – H.L. Mencken Every person has it in them — the demon. I’m not sure what it is exactly, whether it’s some inner spiritual rage or some biological instinct to spur one toward survival […]
Is 6.5 Creedmoor Really Better Than .308?
If anyone tries to tell you that the old battle horse known as .308 Winchester (alternatively, 7.62×51 NATO) is washed up, you’ll know right away they’re either drinking the kool-aid or are drastically ill-informed as to hunting and war history. The effectiveness of the .308 has been shown for many decades in deserts, rice paddies […]
Ranger Special Operations Vehicle | RSOV
Back in the 1990’s, the vehicle of choice for the 75th Ranger Regiment was the RSOV. Produced by Land Rover, the Ranger Special Operations Vehicle met the criteria we needed in a wheeled vehicle. Helping us facilitate airfield seizures, the RSOV offered a team of Rangers rapid mobility. Used primarily for setting up blocking positions on major […]