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FORT MONMOUTH, N.J., Aug. 3, 2009 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Debra Tanacea was eager to begin her first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She had been wearing the Army uniform for 16 years, she said, and felt more than ready to accept the challenge of serving in a hostile environment. But after learning the requirements of one particular project, she wasn't sure it was a mission she could accomplish. Her job was to collect personal protective equipment, or PPE, damaged by improvised explosive devices for forensic testing so that it could be improved. But it was the...

COB ADDER — As U.S. forces prepare for one of the biggest logistical challenges since the Vietnam War, military planners continue examining the best ways to move the mountains of equipment accumulated here since 2003. During a recent conference at Joint Base Balad, senior logisticians traveled from around the world to discuss the ongoing drawdown of forces and equipment here and the repositioning of assets to Afghanistan. One of the key issues addressed was the shipping containers scattered around the country, and the thousands more Coalition forces would need for drawdown operations. Enter the 368th Seaport Operations Detachment, which manages...

Michelle Malkin is reporting that the left is mobilizing to get out in front of the Tea Party movement by organizing their own counter-demonstrations on April 11. Sounds like a gas - a counter demonstration of a demonstration that won't happen for a few days. That said, there are a few reasons to be concerned: 1. Media. Demonstrations are effective only to the extent that they get media attention.

Carrying heavy combat loads is taking a quiet but serious toll on troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, contributing to injuries that are sidelining them in growing numbers, according to senior military and defense officials. Rising concern over the muscle and bone injuries -- as well as the hindrance caused by the cumbersome gear as troops maneuver in Afghanistan's mountains -- prompted Army and Marine Corps leaders and commanders to launch initiatives last month that will introduce lighter equipment for some U.S. troops. As the military prepares to significantly increase the number of troops in Afghanistan -- including sending as...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2009 – Soldiers should have full confidence in the quality of a particular series of Army-issued body armor plates that has come under recent scrutiny, Army officials said. Scores of Army tests and an independent evaluation have determined the effectiveness of three types of ceramic plates manufactured by Armor Works of Chandler, Ariz., said Army Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, one of the officers who oversees equipment as part of the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier. “Those plates being worn on the backs and fronts of soldiers all around the world are quality product,” Fuller said in...

This intriguing helmet concept from Canedo Studio and spotted by Yanko Design is said to be inspired by the protective headwear worn by Roman Gladiators and we mention it mainly because, well, it's a very cool design. Although on one hand it may look like an industrial brain slicer, the design is indeed intended to protect one's noggin, with weight being distributed evenly across the arch structure to reduce pressure on the bridge of the nose. According to Yanko Design, the helmet is adjustable via a range of rubber attachments that brace the ribs on the frame. Breathe-ability certainly wouldn't...

BAGHDAD — After stomping around for a few days with the new Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), 4th Infantry Division Soldiers reported both pros and cons about the new tactical gear. The new vest has several design differences and some added features, which keep the Soldiers in mind when they're in times of trouble. The first noticeable difference in the vest design is the way Soldiers don the IOTV. Rather than slipping into it like a jacket, as with the Interceptor Body Armor, they lift it over their head and pull down, which sometimes requires another person to help get...

Army News video: Air Force pilots test new helmet during Army exerciseNELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada — CF-18 fighter pilots participate in Exercise BOLD QUEST

Politicians go native in garb all the time, but because of the muslim-hype surrounding Barack Hussein Obama, the recent picture of him received a lot of unwarranted attention. Sweetness & Light brings us another photo and some analysis:

I am usually quite proud of being a conservative. I know in my heart that the only way to enjoying liberty under the law AND equality of justice is through the application of conservative principles to government and society. And I am usually proud of the rational, reasonable basis on which most conservatives see the world and evaluate people and events. That’s why it embarrasses me to no end to see fellow conservatives who actually believe that Barack Obama is some kind of “Manchurian Candidate” sent by Muslims to undermine American society. Or that Obama is a closet Muslim just...

Gathering of Eagles UpdateHi, there. We are the gear provider for Gathering of Eagles. I have gotten requests for banners and flags, and am trying to work with my vendors to come up with the best product possible, at the best possible pricing - so if we can get everyone that wants product together, we can get the pricing way down. Do you happen the state and regional coordinator email addresses for contact? www.gatheringofeaglesgear.org 888-743-2968

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2006 – About 800 National Guard troops have arrived for duty in four U.S. border states as "Operation Jump Start" gets under way. The Guard members reported to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, to support the U.S. Border Patrol and are expected to begin their missions by next week, Michael Friel, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman, told American Forces Press Service. "They're in various stages of in-processing," Friel said. Some command-and-control elements are already standing up a joint task force, and many of the operators are expected to be working within days, he said....

BAGHDAD, June 15, 2006 – Al Qaeda in Iraq is in disarray and confusion following the death of its terrorist boss, and the Iraqi government is moving forward quickly to provide security for its capital city, coalition officials said today at a news conference. Army Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell, a coalition spokesman, said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death June 7 helped set the conditions for a huge step forward in the security picture of Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the beginning of Operation Together Forward yesterday. Iraqi forces are leading this operation and it is designed to cripple or...

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2006 – The Utah Youth Soccer Association has teamed up with "Operation Give" to collect soccer equipment for needy children in Iraq, UYSA officials said. Operation Give is a nonprofit organization comprising volunteers in six states who collect donations for in-need children overseas. The donations are sent to U.S. servicemembers for distribution. The organization is a member of the Defense Department's America Supports You team. "We are lucky to have the resources our soccer community enjoys, so we jumped at the opportunity to donate," Leisa Vineyard, the group's president, said. "We're proud to team up with...

Armoured suits are 'too goofy' say US troops By Francis Harris, in Washington (Filed: 09/05/2006) American troops have complained that a new armoured body suit designed to be worn in Iraq makes them look "goofy". The water-cooled "alien spacesuits" are being handed out to turret gunners in their notoriously vulnerable Humvee vehicles. The new suit is designed to protect against roadside bombs but has had mixed reviews from soldiers The protective suit, based on those worn by bomb disposal officers, was intended to cut spiralling casualties for one of the most dangerous jobs in modern warfare. But some troops have...

I received some money recently. I have decided to put a portion of it aside to spend on retrofitting the house and packing in some supplies for 6 for a year. I want to be able to rotate the supplies through our regular pantry. I also will be retrofitting our well to pump into a holding tank...and I am looking for a good wood cookstove, I have a big jotol in the living room. Candles, oil lamps whatever. Your input and links would be appreciated.

Faulty gear puts troops at risk THE safety of Australian troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the elite SAS force, has been compromised by defective body armour, combat jackets and helmets, according to damning Defence Department documents. The faults include combat jackets that glow in the dark, giving enemies an easy target, and body armour that cracks easily. The helmets issued to soldiers have harnesses that are "worn, rusted and damaged" and are shaped in a way that makes it "impossible to sight a live claymore (landmine) in the prone position" while wearing them. The documents reveal that the safety...

Texas: A U-S soldier's wife is launching real and virtual bake sales to raise money to buy body armor for troops -- even though the government has promised to rush more protective gear to those on Iraq's front lines. Tammara Rosenleaf's husband deployed from Fort Hood in December. She said the Bake Sales for Body Armor fund-raiser also will provide medical supplies, communications equipment and other needed gear. Rosenleaf hosts the first bake sale tomorrow in Montana. Beatriz Saldivar of Fort Worth -- whose nephew Daniel Torres was killed in Iraq a year ago -- said she plans to help...

(IsraelNN.com) Maariv daily reports that a millionaire businessman from Ra'anana has offered to donate $20,000 to Land of Israel protestors in order to purchase equipment, including helmets, batons and shields for use in defending themselves during the next expulsion attempt. "When I saw what happened at Amona, that the balance of power was unequal, I didn't see police, I saw masked faces with shields and helmets and I want the settlers to have them too," the man told Maariv. "I don't want the settlers to attack the expellers, I want them to be able to defend themselves," he emphasized. The...

Survivors Praise Body, Vehicle Armor to House Subcommittee By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2006 – Three soldiers just back from Iraq -- including two who credit personal and vehicle armor with saving their lives -- traveled to Capitol Hill today to tell Congress that when it comes to protecting troops, more isn't always better. "We're here to say we're pretty happy with what we have," Brig. Gen. Karl Horst, the 3rd Infantry Division's assistant division commander for maneuver, told the American Forces Press Service before appearing at today's House Armed Services Committee's Tactical Air and...

NEW YORK (AP) - 0130dvs-woodruff-update ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, seriously hurt by a roadside bomb in Iraq, has shown signs of improvement and may be airlifted to the United States as soon as Tuesday, the network's news president said Monday. A hospital official said body armor likely saved the journalist's life. Cameraman Doug Vogt, also hurt in the explosion, is in better shape than Woodruff but doctors were pleased with how both handled the transfer to a U.S. military base in Germany, said ABC News President David Westin. "We have a long way to go," Westin said. "But it...

IRAQ(Army News Service, Jan. 24, 2006) -- For many Soldiers, even the new Advanced Combat Helmet is a necessary evil; it can be cumbersome when in the dining facility trying to handle a tray of food and it causes headaches and tension in the neck when worn on lengthy missions. Sgt. Shawn Snyder of 3rd Infantry Division’s 2/7 Scout Platoon is one Soldier who will never complain about wearing his helmet again. With good reason … it saved his life. Snyder’s mission was to serve as a routine escort of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal detail to the forensics building in...

THIS week Senator Hillary Clinton, citing a secret Pentagon report that suggested some marines killed in Iraq might have survived had they been wearing more body armor, became the latest in a long line of politicians to castigate the Pentagon for a supposed failure to adequately protect our fighting men and women. Well-intentioned as the senator might be, the body-armor issue, like so many in war, is just not that simple. From 2000 until 2004, I was an infantry officer in the Army. I deployed with a light-infantry platoon to Afghanistan in 2002, then with a platoon of Army Rangers...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2006 – The Army will continue to improve body armor issued to soldiers, and will begin manufacturing side-panel inserts to the Interceptor ballistic armor, officials said here today. The side panels, which weigh 3 pounds, will be made of the same material as the small-arms protective inserts. Army Col. Thomas Spoehr is in charge of fielding body armor. He said the Interceptor body armor now issued to servicemembers protects against most of the threats they face in Iraq and Afghanistan today. "It's the best body armor in the world," Spoehr said. And the proof is in the...

Jan. 10, 2006 — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called the Bush administration "incompetent" when it came to protecting the troops in combat and called the lack of adequate body armor for soldiers and Marines "unforgivable." So far in Iraq, more than 2,100 American troops have been killed. Critics like Clinton, D-N.Y., say that many of these deaths are the result of inadequate body armor. A secret Pentagon study of 93 Marines who were killed in Iraq found that 74 died after they were hit by a bullet or shrapnel in the torso or shoulders — areas unprotected by the armor...

By Will Dunham Fri Jan 6, 11:19 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Better body armor could have prevented or limited about 80 percent of fatal torso wounds suffered by Marines killed in Iraq, a report by U.S. military medical experts obtained on Friday said. The report, conducted for the Marine Corps by the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner and not released to the public, examined the cases of Marines fatally wounded from the start of the war in March 2003 through June 2005, and found weaknesses in the torso protective gear. Bullets or shrapnel hit the Marines' shoulders,...

U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn Snyder displays the helmet that saved his life from a sniper in downtown Tikrit, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn Snyder Helmet Protects Soldier from Sniper Fire By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment FORWARD OPERATING BASE REMAGEN, TIKRIT, IRAQ, Jan. 6, 2006 — For many soldiers, the new Army combat helmet is a necessary evil. It can be cumbersome when in the dining facility trying to handle a tray of food and it causes headaches and tension in the neck when worn...

American troops in Iraq are discovering, through combat experience, that more changes are needed in the type of weapons they should carry. As the U.S. Army Special Forces have discovered, if you are well trained and know what you are doing, you should carry a pistol, in addition to your rifle. But not the official issue 9mm pistol, but something with a bit more stopping power. The Special Forces prefer a new model .45 caliber (11.43mm) pistol, although 10mm weapons are also popular. The reason for this is that you are most likely to be using the pistol indoors, where...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2006) -- Just like the training they receive, Marines are equipped with the gear they need to accomplish their missions. In addition to the standard issue, however, many Marines seek out and purchase their own gear as a way to make their job easier and gain the edge. With constant rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism, many Marines have come to learn what gear works best, both issued and paid for out of pocket. Marines throughout the Corps recently commented on the gear they rely...

Local TV newsperson wants to favorable story on GIs who are purchasing own specialized quipment for duty in Iraq. Interested primarilly in weapons and weapon accessories (special sights, mags, flashlights, etc.) and self-protection equipment (vests, helmets, etc.) Particularly interested in anyone in Central Florida area who has made such purchases for self, friends, family....

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Dec. 1, 2005) -- Following the Corps’ recall of more than 10,000 protective vests in November, Marine Corps Systems Command officials are defending the decision to initially field them to leathernecks in combat. Headquarters Marine Corps ordered 10,342 Outer Tactical Vests pulled from the operating forces after media reports indicated some samples tested by the manufacturer and by the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland failed to fully comply with ballistics standards. The Outer Tactical Vest, together with Small Arms Protective Inserts, composes the Interceptor Body Armor System, which has been credited with saving numerous...

A forklift carries cargo onto the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, Oct. 31, 2005. Personnel from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) began on loading equipment and supplies pier-side at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in preparation for a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Ordoqui USS Nassau Loads Gear for Deploying Marine Unit When the advance team completes loading the equipment, the ship will head to Camp Lejeune to on load the remaining personnel and gear. By U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Ordoqui Fleet...

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- The 3rd Mobile Assault Platoon took sniper fire all day as they conducted a relief in place with 1st Mobile Assault Platoon. As Lacey Springs, Ala., native Lance Cpl. Bradley A. Snipes, antitank assault man, 3rd MAP, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, sat in the turret of his hummer watching his assigned sector behind his M-2 .50 caliber machine gun, it happened. “We were doing a relief in place with [1st MAP] and had been taking sniper fire across the wadi all day,” Snipes, the 21-year-old, 2002 graduate of Brewer...

10/11/2005 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- The 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s expeditionary theater distribution center here is leading the way in expeditionary mobility gear processing to make life easier for thousands of deploying Airmen. The center is part of an Air Force test where Airmen can deploy from their home stations to the Central Asia theater without their A, B and C mobility bags. When they arrive here to stay, or before heading “downrange,” they are issued everything they will need from the ETDC. Airmen are still required to bring a helmet, gas mask, web belt and...

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait —As Fort Huachuca soldiers wait for their communications equipment to arrive, some are fine-tuning systems that have been in Kuwait for years. A number of tropospheric systems were at Camp Doha were moved to Camp Virginia, where members of the 11th Signal Brigade repaired, checked out and inventoried the four tropos — as called by GIs — that send radio signals into the atmosphere and scatter the signals back to Earth to be used by the Army. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Brown said the systems will eventually head for Iraq, where soldiers of the 40th Signal Battalion will...

Smart jacket, which adapts to the outside temperature, is the newest discovery by a quartet of scientist from Textile-Technology College in Zagreb. Temperature change from 40 C (104F) or bellow 0 (32) is not felt by the wearer. There was some interest from NATO organization, so there is a possibility that NATO members could soon wear this equipment. Russians are also interested, testing is continuing but at the same time patent is being pursued. Even though the jacket will have various partings, it will be much lighter then comparable regular jacket. The jacket will not only maintain internal temperature...

LONDON - British troops combating the heat and dust of Iraq and Afghanistan have a new weapon in their armory — germ-fighting underwear. The antimicrobial underpants have been introduced by the Ministry of Defense as part of a new desert uniform for soldiers. They are the first undergarments issued to British troops, who traditionally have had to supply their own. Military officials said Thursday the unisex trunks were made from artificial fibers for comfort, with silver particles woven into the material to prevent sweating. "It is coated to prevent bacterial infection, and we have tried to arrange the seams so...

By the left or right, Sir? The Army shows off its new commando pants The modern soldier has the best in high-tech weaponry, satellite navigation and lightweight combat clothing, but until now there has been one thing missing from the kit bag: sensible underpants for hot climates. Enter "combat underwear", the first army-issue smalls since the 1960s, designed to look after the - ahem - privates better than their civilian equivalents. Col Silas Suchanek shows off the new pants The Army unveiled its underpants yesterday as part of its new range of desert clothing, the first large-scale redesign of kit...

Defense officials in Britain are briefing the public on a new wrinkle in the fight against the heat and dust of Iraq and Afghanistan -- germ-fighting underwear. The antimicrobial underpants have been introduced by the Ministry of Defense as part of a new desert uniform. They are the first undergarments issued to British troops, who traditionally have supplied their own. A military spokesman said the underwear is not only coated to prevent bacterial infection, developers tried to arrange the seams so they don't chafe. The army's new desert kit also includes boots with rubber soles designed to withstand temperatures of...

WASHINGTON - For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon is replacing body armor for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, citing a need for better protection that can withstand the strongest of attacks from insurgents, a spokesman said Saturday. The effort, which began more than a year ago, would upgrade the protection used by more than 500,000 soldiers as well as civilian employees and news reporters. The first upgrade installed ceramic protective plates in the vests and was completed in early 2004. Defense officials acknowledge the replacement processes have been slowed in part by debates over...

Pentagon Replacing Troops' Body Armor Again Thicker Plates Could Shield Soldiers Against Stronger Attacks By HOPE YEN, AP WASHINGTON (Aug. 14) - For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon is replacing body armor for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, citing a need for better protection that can withstand the strongest of attacks from insurgents, a spokesman said Saturday. AP U.S. Marines wearing body armor load mortar shell into containers as they set up defensive positions in eastern Afghanistan. Talk About It: Post Thoughts The effort, which began more than a year ago, would upgrade the...

Soldiers need helmet liners at $99 apiece?

The London bombings were fueled by oil Friday, July 8, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 AM Froma Harrop / Syndicated columnist It is oil's fault. The London bombings are almost surely al-Qaida's work, which means oil paid for them. Oil keeps the Mideast backward. It funds the madrassas that fill heads with anti-West poison. And it pays the terrorists who plant bombs on European trains and fly airplanes into American buildings. It is time we did something about oil. The United States accounts for 25 percent of the world's oil consumption. We could crush oil's power to hurt us...

I'm thinking of purchasing a pair of combat boots - I want something durable, comfortable, and suitable for extended walking. I'm in Texas, so heat is a greater environmental challenge than cold. In this instance, price is not a concern. Quality, durability, and functionality are critical. Altama seems to have some good products; Magnum has some strong advocates. Corcoran has some proponents - one model is here Danner has an interesting model here So, as I asked earlier...what is your favorite? Which would you never use? And why? Quite possibly I'm not aware of the best brands or models, so...

WASHINGTON, March 9 - The Pentagon has not developed guidelines for allowing soldiers, their families and charities to be reimbursed for the cost of some combat equipment they bought for use in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite a new law that called for such a plan by February. The law permits groups and individuals to make claims for up to $1,100 for certain purchases made from Sept. 11, 2001, to July 31, 2004. It required that the Department of Defense set rules and standards for the reimbursement program by Feb. 25, but that has not been done. Senator Christopher J. Dodd,...

While most coalition troops in Iraq admire American equipment, the British soldiers brought some gear that has become the envy of everyone. One particular item was the sleeping bag British troops used. The Snugpak “Merlin Softie 3” is a lightweight (1.7 pounds) and folds up into a shape smaller than a soccer ball. It’s rated for use down to freezing. While it does get colder than that some nights during Winter, the bag also has a reinforced bottom so that you can sleep in it wearing your boots, and most of of your field uniform. This makes it possible to...

Please donate to “Adopt a Sniper” at http://www.adoptasniper.org/. They are gathering and sending sniper needed items as well as general items for snipers on the front lines. You can read all the details and have your questions answered by going to their link. What you need to do is DONATE. THEY NEED WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE! Both Adopt a Sniper and Snipersonline are 501 c 3 non-profit organizations and all donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE! I spoke to Brian Sain and Keith Deneys. If you have any questions just call either one of them. Based on this conversation what they most...

Our Soldiers' armor troubles are in the headlines these days -- and Pinnacle Armor, Inc. is doing its part to help the armed forces on the individual level, with this innovative body armor that reduces rifle rounds to shrapnel. The future of armor: Pinnacle Armor Inc. SOV-1000 Level III "scalar" body armor shot with multiple 7.62x51mm M80 ball steel-jacketed rounds at 2850-2900 fps, at a distance of 15ft (muzzle to body armor). The rounds were all successfully stopped with minimal backface deformation signature (BDS).By David Crane Editor, DefenseReview.com Looking for the future of armor? Our armed forces certainly are. Protection...

ASADABAD, Afghanistan — The nurse looked at Spc. Adrian Danczyk in disbelief when he finally made it to the aid station after a firefight. Second Lt. John Bradley wears the Army’s Advanced Combat Helmet, which is lighter and stronger than the old helmets, while in Iraq. “The medics were working on the guys who were hurt the worst, and I was just sort of sitting back out of the way,” said Danczyk, Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Lt. Col. Chuck Williams, commander of 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Armored Division, wears...

ASADABAD, Afghanistan — The nurse looked at Spc. Adrian Danczyk in disbelief when he finally made it to the aid station after a firefight. “The medics were working on the guys who were hurt the worst, and I was just sort of sitting back out of the way,” said Danczyk, Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. A nurse finally noticed his face was covered with blood. “She said, ‘What happened to you,’” Danczyk said. “I got shot in the head,” he said. “She looked at me like a ghost.” The date of that firefight just...