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Blog
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November 04, 2024
It’s always a good idea to build a survival kit. But it’s especially so during winter. Rough storms can hit at any time, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snow that leave you without power or snowed in for extended periods. Kits are the best way to deal with the unexpected. Don’t get caught off guard when a storm strikes. Learn how to make an emergency kit for your home with a few essentials.
1. First Aid Kit
From basic car emergency kits to winter emergency kits for homes, first aid is always a necessity. Rapid & emergency first aid kits allow you to provide care for minor injuries to prevent them from worsening. They’re especially helpful for times when roads are slick, or you cannot immediately reach professional assistance. You can buy a ready-to-use
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September 30, 2024
Nothing beats spending time in the great outdoors – fresh air, detaching from the bustle of daily life, reconnecting with nature. But you shouldn’t just grab your pack and go. You never know what you might face, from rough weather conditions to lack of a water source. Here’s how to prepare for a camping trip to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, every time.
1. Check the Weather Conditions
Always check the weather forecast for your site. This will help guide your packing. Is cool, rainy weather on the horizon? Pack your bag with essentials like thermal clothes and poncho liners. Facing warmer conditions? Bring lightweight military shirts with features like moisture-wicking capabilities
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September 03, 2024
From extended power outages to rough wilderness conditions, unexpected things happen. Do you know what you would do? Or how to start a fire? While you may have some decent survival knowledge, few things provide peace of mind like a survival kit. It’s an indispensable tool, packed and ready to use in a variety of environments and situations. Be prepared for anything and learn how to build your own military survival kit with our simple tips.
1. Start with a Lightweight Bag
You’re going to need a spacious bag to fit your essentials before you even create an emergency kit. Be sure to opt for a tough yet lightweight military bag that you can comfortably carry. Tactical backpacks and MOLLE
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August 07, 2024
Blending into your environment is critical when you’re hunting or facing a military tactical situation. Enter camouflage patterns. They keep soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts disguised when—and where—it matters most. But certain situations require something more unconventional: ghillie suits. What is a ghillie suit, exactly? Let’s explore the history of ghillie suits!
About Ghillie Suits
Ghillie suits are military clothing designed to help camouflage wearers in their environment. Military ghillie suits are usually made of net or cloth garment, then covered in loose burlap straps, cloth, or synthetic thread to imitate the foliage. The ghillie suit’s design makes it virtually impossible to detect a person in their environment – even at close range.
Like camo patterns, you
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July 25, 2024
U.S. Army soldiers have worn military berets for nearly a century. Several special operations units started wearing berets during World War II. By the 1960s and 1970s, the U.S. Department of the Army authorized commanders to allow soldiers to wear different-colored berets in an attempt to boost morale in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
If you served in the U.S. Army, you likely understand the Army beret colors and meanings. However, so many Army beret colors exist now that it’s difficult to keep up with them all. It has left some Americans asking questions like, “What is a red beret in the Army?” and “What is a black beret?”
Learn more about the Army beret colors and their meanings below.
Black
The black beret was the first beret worn by
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May 08, 2024
Whether you’re a fan of quality military surplus or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, you’re likely no stranger to MOLLE. This type of gear is known for its unmatched ability to attach equipment for quick access and provide additional storage space for missions, wilderness treks, and everything in between. But do you know how to actually utilize MOLLE? Learn how to get the most out of the system with our MOLLE attachment ideas.
A Quick Refresher on MOLLE
The Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying System, better known as MOLLE, is a standardized system of attachment with rows of heavy-duty nylon fabric called PALS (pouch attachment ladder system). This modular system allows you to attach MOLLE pouches and tactical equipment to MOLLE
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April 05, 2024
Most of us are aware that different military ranks are used to identify and define a service member’s authority and responsibilities in the military. But what’s less familiar is where each rank falls in the chain of command, leading to countless questions about rank. Sergeants, majors, colonels – how do they all stand within military rank? What is a corporal in the Marines?
What’s higher: captain or major? Learn more about military rank in our guide!
Pay Grade Classifications
Different military ranks are often attached to letter and number classifications, such as E-1. This refers to pay grade – not rank. These are administrative classifications used to standardize compensation across branches. The “E” stands for enlisted, the “W” stands for warrant officers, and the “O” stands for commissioned officers. The numbers attached (1 to 9) indicate the pay grade for that position.
This shouldn’t
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March 22, 2024
If you’re in a military family, have seen a military ceremony, or just shopped a large variety of military surplus, you may have noticed small metal coins. A long-held American tradition, those coins are actually called military challenge coins. What are challenge coins? Let’s learn more about the history of challenge coins, including what they represent, how they got their name and their current use.
Military Challenge Coins
What are military challenge coins? Challenge coins are small, specially designed coins or medallions that bear the insignia, emblem, or motto of an organization. They’re usually circular, but they can also be found as pentagons or spades.
These coins are given to individuals as a token of membership or belonging to an organization, or to acknowledge and honor their special achievements,
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March 15, 2024
From durability to increased performance, there are plenty of benefits of tactical gear and backpacks. But there’s just one thing standing between you and those benefits: packing. While it’s important to include all of the gear you’ll need, it’s also important to properly pack your backpack so you’re not sacrificing comfort to carry a huge load of gear. This also helps ensure that you’re not going to cause any injuries or back strain. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to pack a tactical backpack and offer you backpack organization ideas that’ll have you packing like a pro for any outdoor adventure.
Your Packing List
Before you learn how to pack a tactical backpack, you need to figure out the outdoor survival gear you’ll bring. Despite the significant
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January 29, 2024
Military clothing is known for its durability, high performance, and functionality – and BDUs are no exception. Even though it was officially retired by the US military in the mid-2000s, BDU clothing is still widely worn by outdoor enthusiasts, law enforcement, and others who work in tactical fields. But why? And what are military fatigues? Keep reading to discover more about what BDUs and fatigues are, their components, and why they’re such an iconic uniform to this day.
What Are BDUs?
What does BDU mean? An acronym for Battle Dress Uniform, the BDU was once worn by the US military for combat and active duty. BDU clothing was first introduced in late 1981, designed as a replacement for the standard OG-107 uniforms that troops had worn in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.
Though the previous uniform had served well during the Korean War and Vietnam War, the military needed a more functional uniform that provided more advanced camouflage. Research