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Aiming a weapon is harder than it looks. Shooters need clear views of a distant object (the target) and a near one (the iron sight at the end of the rifle barrel) at the same time. But the eye can’t quite pull this off, as a simple experiment shows: Point at a faraway house or storefront, then try to bring both your finger and the building into focus. One or the other will be blurry.

Enter the MicroSight…. It allows the shooter to focus on both the target and the front sight.

Full Story – HERE

Or watch this video if you are too lazy to read:

If you ask me, David Crandall (the Engineer who developed this technology) should have quit his job, got his own funding, and started his own company. He basically just threw billions of dollars in the garbage by letting his employer (the Idaho National Laboratory) have the technology.

This summer, more than 600 museums in all 50 states are offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, through Labor Day, September 6, 2010 to show their appreciation for those who are serving this nation.

More Info on Blue Star Museums and museum list – HERE

What a great idea!

I would have liked to see the program extended to anyone that has ever served, but I suppose they they needed to draw the line somewhere or else they would lose too much money.

The DARPA “One Shot” program at the Pentagon was originally aimed to give snipers the power to hit a target from 2000 meters away in winds as high as 40 miles per hour. In the first phases of the 3-year-old program, shooters used prototype rifles dressed with lasers and fancy computer hardware to do damage from 1,100 meters away in 18-mile-an-hour winds. The scope-mounted lasers can “see” wind turbulence in the path of the bullet and feed the data to computers, enabling real-time calculation of — and compensation for — the wind-blown trajectory. The agency is looking for 15 ultra precise sniper scopes to put in shooters’ hands by next year.

Full Story – Wired

More info at DARPA – HERE

I wonder when this will be coming to the consumer market?   On second thought, hitting the target every time with no effort would completely take the fun out of shooting.

The article in Wired mentions the cost at $7 million…. that seems like a steal of a deal if they can actually get this type of system to work for that amount of money.  A lot of lives potentially will be saved.

Yea you read the title correctly… this isn’t a joke either:

Only the government could come up with an official 26 page military document on such a topic.

Full PDF Document MIL-C-44072C – HERE

Talk about sucking the enjoyment out of cooking.

I propose a new entry under Quality Assurance:

4.6 – The brownie and cookies shall make operators operate in operations exceeding their baseline operating ability.  The contractor shall ensure product compliance prior to submitting the product to the USDA for any inspection.

Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders visit soldiers May 20th at Camp Victory in Iraq:

OMG trigger discipline! I guess the girl on the left doesn’t like her fellow cheerleader who is holding the M9

More at the 1st Armored Division’s facebook page – HERE

Hat Tip: Murdoch

If they made this type of infantry experience available to civilians as a weekend camp, I think it would be pretty popular. I’m thinking rich business men would be down for this kind of adrenaline rush.

They should start the training out with an R. Lee Ermey “Full Metal Jacket” style reaming.

Damn good idea to have such realistic training. Better to learn from your mistakes in training then do potentially die or become a liability in real combat.

Strategic Operations website – HERE

Hat Tip: Solomon

On 1 April, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command issued the Maintenance Information Message MI 10-040 “Camouflaging Specific Small Arms” stating that, given command approval, Soldiers are permitted to camouflage the M4/M16 weapon systems with paint.

See the guide in PDF format – HERE

As the guide says at the end, weapons painting has been elevated to a fine art. I don’t know where the awesome examples I saved on my harddrive went, but some of the paint jobs I have seen are breathtaking.  The example the have in the PDF is pretty weak looking as far as artistry goes, although it still would likely look better than black in the right environment.

I’d like to see the military started paying soldiers that are also artists extra money to paint rifles. The talented guys shouldn’t have to work for free just because their whole unit would rather not walk around with the plain old black color scheme.

Heartbreaking to see young men wounded so severely while serving our country.

Angel Barcenas and William Gibson of the Marines wish each other good luck prior to their 1,500 Meter run during the 2010 Warrior Games for wounded soldiers on Friday 05/14/10 at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Full set of photos – HERE

More info on this year’s event – HERE

This was the first year that the games were held, but as the article above says, they are already planning on holding it again next year.

I’m glad to see these guys aren’t letting their injuries ruin their competitive spirit, camaraderie,  and zest for life.

Pretty interesting to see in some of the pictures, how far prosthetic limb technology has come.

U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan could someday be awarded medals for restraint that prevents civilian casualties in combat.

Full Story – HERE

Congratulations, you get a medal for not killing innocent people! Seems like unless your unit caused a total massacre, it would be pretty hard not to give this medal to everyone.  If it will improve morale though, I’m all for it!

My girlfriend and I always joke that I have “Incredible restraint for a human being”, because when something really pisses me off I take a breath and move on rather than over reacting.  To be honest I don’t really want a medal… A Starbucks gift card would be nice though.

Hat Tip: Guns&Coffee

A US Marine convoy from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines steers alongside an inactive gas station in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, on April 9, 2010.

Some new pictures I haven’t seen, some old.

See them all – HERE

The New York Times invites members of the military who are serving, or have served, in Afghanistan to help us document the daily life of this war in photographs, video and writing. Take us on a tour of the forward operating base, introduce us to your friends, describe the hardships and rewards of deployment and the humor that helps you pass the time.

Full Story – HERE

I have a lot of respect for the “At War” section of the NY Times.

During my deployments in Iraq there were often rumors that certain soldiers were taking steroids because of their sudden increase in physical size. When the unit deployed these soldiers looked no different from the average soldier, but upon completion of the deployment they looked Rambo-esque. Some soldiers felt that others were getting away with steroid use because these soldiers were rarely seen in the gym and because drug testing through urinalysis was rarely done by units while deployed.

Full Story – HERE

I don’t know how people can function on drinks like “Rip-it”. I once had a few Red Bulls back to back and felt terribly anxious, and even more thirsty then I was initially.  I suppose you get accustomed to it though.

I’m really surprised they don’t crack down more on steroid use while deployed. Especially considering mismanaged steroid use can quickly lead to heath problems and injuries.  I assume the side effect of aggression would occasionally have its advantages in combat.  It would be nice though if you could just turn it off and on.

YAWN…

On S&W’s website – HERE

Details in the PDF Brochure – HERE

Someone tell me why I should care about these? They look like a Sigma crossed with a M&P.  Interesting how S&W chose not to design these with removable backstraps.

Maybe the “Self Defense Trigger” (SDT) is the selling point?   Who knows … anything would be an improvement on that scratchy mushy M&P trigger.  The design of this “new” trigger looks the same with the joint right in the middle, so I’m not holding my breath in anticipation of it being awesome.  I’ll hold further judgment until I try it out someday though.

The price is predictable … both have an MSRP of $530

Thanks but no thanks… For now I’ll be sticking with Glock to fulfill my polymer pistol needs.

On April 30th, the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam war I posted an article with links to a few picture sets.

Big Picture (one of my favorite photo blogs) came out with their set today (a week late slackers!), here is a sample:

OH NOES trigger discipline.

Full set – HERE

I never would have guessed that someone could make an 8.5 minute video on the uses of a single shovel.

Pretty awesome feat of Engineering.   Seems to work pretty well for them in the video.

Hat Tip: Solomon

What sounds like a chainsaw, walks like it’s drunk, and looks like a headless centaur with backwards rear legs carrying some packs?

This robot that is being developed for the Military:

Seems to work pretty damn well.. a bit rigid but I guess that is to be expected at this point in the game.

If you weren’t creeped out enough by that first one, check out this headless wonder:

I no longer want a segway for sniper practice.  I want a gang of the above robots to run around with bottles of tannerite attempting to dodge my bullets.

The company developing the robots – Boston Dynamics

Hat Tip: Wired

Full set – HERE

More info on the Vietnam war – HERE

Very powerful pictures.  A few in this set because very famous, even won Pulitzer prizes.  I remember when the first Rage Against The Machine album came out in 1992 with the picture of the burning monk on the cover.  Definitely their best album by the way.

I’m sure war hasn’t got any easier, but when I look at those pictures it’s amazing to see how much they did with NO modern technology. Sure makes how I spend my days look insignificant.  I have the utmost respect for anyone that has ever served, or is currently serving in the Military.

UPDATE: Steven S. notified me of lots more pictures just put up at another PLOG – HERE

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LOL “Oil Check”… nasty.

What do you do when you’re bored and in Afghanistan with no girls?  This… and it’s absolutely hilarious:

They have the dance down pretty well!  They are missing out on the shameless product placement though.

The original Lady Gaga and Beyonce one, which is VERY VERY weird:

Hat Tip: Lifealist