Author: Jack Bogart

It might sound like heresy to diehards, but nearly all of my favorite ski days of the last decade have been during the spring. Sure, midwinter powder turns are fun, but the spoils — and occasional undernose sunburn — of mid-April and May ski days stick with me much longer. Climbing to the top of a remote peak, waiting for the snow to flip to corn, and making buttery turns back to the car is a borderline religious experience, complete with challenges, thrills, and a lingering sense of accomplishment. Living in Oregon’s Cascades, spring is widely synonymous with volcano season,…

Standing on the edge of a lake with winter winds whipping across it is the kind of birdwatching that gets uncomfortable fast. It can also prove rewarding (and appreciative) when you bring along the right kind of gear. On winter days, this means good gloves and a warm, windproof jacket. The Páramo Halkon jacket was brought to my attention by a GearJunkie editor who noted its start-and-stop insulation and pocket-heavy design could be a perfect fit for birdwatching. And since that’s my niche, I agreed to test it. At first glance, it reminded me of an army field jacket, though…

By Yamil Sued Posted in #Gear Let’s get this out of the way up front. I believe the 1911 pistol is just about the finest handgun ever made. A well-built, custom 1911 represents mechanical elegance, history and performance all rolled into one. In my opinion, a pistol of that caliber deserves to be carried in nothing less than a high-quality leather holster. For years, I’ve been a fan of Galco leather holsters. Two long-time favorites of mine are the Combat Master and the Concealable, both excellent outside-the-waistband (OWB) options. They are well-made, durable, and comfortable. That said,…

FULDA, GERMANY (March 20, 2026) As Mehler Systems continues its international expansion, the role of Human Resources is becoming increasingly important in shaping the organisation behind the group’s growth. In this interview, Britta Weese, Group Director HR at Mehler Systems, discusses how the group approaches talent development, international collaboration, and the people behind its continued development. Q: Mehler Systems has experienced strong international growth in recent years. From an HR perspective, what does this momentum mean for the organisation? A: Mehler Systems’ growth is above all a shared success of our employees. For Human Resources, this momentum means acting even…

Warfighter equipment is always in a constant state of evolution, where the difference between adequate and exceptional can be measured in ounces. For over two decades, Blue Force Gear has not just kept pace with that standard, they have set it. Ever since the early BFG days, making gear as lightweight as possible has always been their design philosophy. BFG is truly meticulous about it; they will go out of their way to design and re-design a product, simply to reduce weight by a few ounces (sometimes even grams). The question is why? Why is this so important? The modern…

The District of Columbia National Guard activated the 260th Special Purpose Brigade at the D.C. Armory, March 7. It is the only brigade in the Army specifically designed to coordinate military support to civil authorities and protect critical infrastructure in the nation’s capital. The brigade was created in response to Executive Order 14339 and a subsequent directive from the secretary of war. These called for the immediate establishment, training and equipping of a dedicated National Guard unit. The goal is to support public safety operations and strengthen coordination between military forces and civilian security partners in the district. Army Brig.…

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION, POINT MUGU, Calif. Welcome to the Invisible War Invisible wars demand visible action. In this arena, coalition electronic warfare, interoperability and spectrum superiority will decide victories in future near-peer conflicts. Whoever owns the electromagnetic spectrum owns the battlefield. That’s why nearly 500 electronic warfare leaders from the United States, Australia and — for the first time — the United Kingdom gathered at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, March 11-13 for the 52nd annual Collaborative Electronic Warfare Symposium. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and the Association of Old Crows jointly host the…

Skydio, the largest U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in flying robots, today announced an order exceeding $52 million for over 2,500 X10D drones from the U.S. Army. The order is the largest small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) procurement from a single manufacturer in the Army’s history and moved from bid to award in less than 72 hours. This order reflects the decisive role small autonomous systems now play in modern conflict and the Army’s commitment to putting those capabilities in soldiers’ hands. It also shows that the United States can deliver world-class drone capability at the scale and speed…

By GunSpot Posted in #Skills When you are faced with a deadly threat, you may only have fractions of a second to respond. Are you prepared? Do you have the right gear and training to respond when you must? Let’s say that you do. What if that response does not work? The most basic of self-defense training is the center-mass shot. Making sure that you can effectively hit in the upper, central portion of a silhouette target is one of the most basic skills you should master. But what if those hits prove ineffective? Shooting an attacker…

FRANKFORT, Ky – The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial (KVVM) in Frankfort recently received a significant upgrade courtesy of local business Polymershapes. The Winchester business designed, fabricated and installed brand-new lenses for the bollards at the Memorial at no cost.  For the past 37 years, the Memorial has been illuminated by a ring of bollards, each topped with a light to honor the 1,110 Kentuckians whose names are etched in granite on the plaza. Over time, many of those lights had grown dim, and several lenses needed replacement. Though electrician Mark Wilson has worked tirelessly to repair them through the years,…