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From the monthly archives:

July 2010

Post image for DEF CON Initial Report: Predicting the Cypocalypse

DEF CON 18 is in full swing at the Riviera hotel at the end of the Las Vegas strip. If you haven’t heard of DEF CON before, it’s ok; the conference is focused at the über geeks among us.

Attendees at DEF CON include computer security professionals, journalists, lawyers, federal government employees, crackers, and hackers with a general interest in computer code and computer architecture.

From demonstrations of turning Pringles cans into directional antennas, through interactive discussion on hacking ATMs, physical penetration (e.g. lock picking), Internet routers, and building your own UAV to map WiFi and capture videos of your neighbors skinny dipping in their pool, DEF CON pretty much covers it all in gory technical detail. [Read More…]

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Post image for Real Combat Life: Helping Soldiers and Veterans Share their Stories

If you haven’t heard about Real Combat Life yet, built to provide an outlet to share combat experiences, you definitely need to head over and check it out.

Not long ago they won a $25k grant through the Pepsi Refresh Project to help out their organization, and move them closer to becoming their own non-profit organization.

We think their idea is fantastic, as writing down experiences is often a good way to make a transition to civilian life easier to handle. Real Combat Life is a great way to support our troops and allow the public a glimpse of what life in combat is like.

Head on over and contribute if you have a story to share!

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Post image for Learn how to Gather Intel with SCG International: The Graduate School of Tactical Training

The graduate school of tactical training you say? really? I was a bit skeptical myself when I first saw the sign upon entering SCG International in Holly Springs, Mississippi, but that skepticism soon faded as I came to understand the level of detail in which the crew from SCG operated.

Rather than focusing on a single class from SCG, I’m going to give you the overall picture of what my experience has been like training with them for a total of 109 grueling hours. This includes, but is not limited to getting rolled up by Law Enforcement, collecting intelligence, operating on little to no sleep, and yes, even being required to get a woman’s phone number. [Read More…]

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Post image for Social Networks and Your Digital Identity

The web has forever changed the way we socialize. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Blogs, and other less popular sites all represent you in the digital realm.

The bottom line is this: when the 1’s and 0’s start flowing across the ether, you are exposing yourself to all of the web’s vagrants. Paradoxically, if you decide not to participate in all these sites, you are exposing yourself.

[Read More…]

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Post image for New A-TACS Urban Environment Images Released

The crew from A-TACS recently linked up with some folks at the Government Training Institute’s JOC (Joint Operations Center) in South Carolina for an LE scenario photo shoot.

While we know you’re foaming at the mouth to see how A-TACS did on our latest Camo Comparison, these are some great images of the pattern in an urban environment.

A-TACS LE Photo Shoot 01A-TACS LE Photo Shoot 02A-TACS LE Photo Shoot 03A-TACS LE Photo Shoot 04A-TACS LE Photo Shoot 05

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Post image for The Appleseed Project: Putting “I” Back in Patriot

Two years ago, after going through CERT and a bunch of Red Cross Training, I decided it was time to really up my firearms training.

I started with the basics of renewing my Texas CHL (Concealed Handgun License), took some private tactical handgun and rifle lessons with a USSS (United States Secret Service) firearms instructor, took a more intensive 16 Hour tactical handgun course, and did some tactical shotgun training.

Eventually I realized that while I had tactical rifle training, I did not have more traditional rifle skills. Sure I could now clear a building, I could “run & gun”, but could I take down food or a threat at a meaningful distance with a rifle? [Read More…]

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Post image for Carry Everything and the Kitchen Sink with the Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack

There are a lot of packs on the market today, some good, some bad, and some great. The pack that I’d like to review today is in the “great” category.

My review of the Eberlestock Skycrane II is based on actual use while in Afghanistan, where I currently still use this as my only pack and will for the next year plus that I am deployed.

Perhaps a little background on me to qualify my use case and ability to review of the Eberlestock Skycrane II: I am a Private Military Contractor attached to the U.S. Marine Corps where I have spent nearly the past year on the front lines in both the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan. Wherever the Marines are in Afghanistan, so am I at some point. [Read More…]

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Post image for Lash on an Angle with Diagonal Lashings

Today we continue our KOTW Lashing series with the Diagonal Lashing.

The Diagonal Lashing is “diagonal” because it’s used to bind poles that cross each other at a 45° to 90° angle. Binding poles together in this way will prevent racking and add stability, thus preventing them from moving apart.

A Diagonal Lashing can replace a Square Lashing (which is stronger), but not vice-versa. [Read More…]

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Post image for A Simple Way to Retain Your Weapon

Have you ever needed the ability to retain your weapon when climbing, running, sitting in a vehicle, handling a prisoner, fast roping or even breaching?

The fact is that there’s always a reason to sling your primary weapon out of the way to not only free up your hands, but to prevent your weapon from moving back around and getting in the way.

Enter the 215 Gear Multi-Mission Weapon’s Retention. The MMWR provides a low-profile, simply designed retention that virtually disappears on your gear and is ready to use when you need it. [Read More…]

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