Feral Jundi

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Training: Shipboard Security Officer Operations, Sig Sauer Academy

     That is great that Sig Sauer Academy is putting on this kind of training, and I had no idea they entered into this market. I would be curious if any of the readers have gone through this course, or if they have recommendations for other schools out there?  I will try to post other schools in the future, and for the record, I do not work for Sig Sauer Academy and this is not an endorsement.  All I am doing is just putting this stuff out there for guys and gals that are interested in seeking training for work in the maritime security industry. –Matt

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Sig Sauer Academy

Comprehensive firearm, tactical and self-defense training.

SIG SAUER® has a course for every type of student, from first-time firearm training to cutting-edge military and law enforcement training. And since we place as much emphasis on the classroom as we do the firing range, you’ll not only know how, but also when to use the skills we teach. We can even customize a curriculum to meet your particular needs.

At SIG SAUER Academy, you will get the advanced tactical and law enforcement training you need for the job.

Whether you want to learn the basics or advanced firearms training, there is no better place to receive expert training than SIG SAUER Academy.

*****

Shipboard Security Officer Operations

Duration: 6 days

Abstract

Designed for officers of private or commercial vessels, this 6 day class takes the captain, master, or designated officer through a blended mix of classroom and range training exercises

Overview

Trust and Leadership

Incorporating security response into scheduled crew drills

Low-light / night time training

Pre-planning

The risk matrix

Environmental considerations

Exterior tactics

Interior tactics

Incident aftermath and reporting

Developing a vessel specific action plan and training plan

Go to Sig Suaer Academy Here.

Pakistan: U.S. Embassy Security and The Continued Backstabbing By Pakistan

Filed under: Afghanistan,Pakistan — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 11:09 AM

U.S. Embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire said the U.S. contract with Inter-Risk to provide security at the embassy and consulates took effect this year. It is believed to be the first U.S. contract for the firm, said Snelsire, who did not have a figure for its amount.

“Our understanding is they obtained licenses with whatever they brought into the country to meet the contractual needs,” he said. “We told the government that we had a contract with Inter-Risk.”

Akram said he had no idea about any U.S. links to Inter-Risk.

*****

    Oh really?  Akram, or the police chief, had no clue about this contract?  So you are saying that the government, intelligence services, police and your hyperactive media and blogosphere had ‘no idea’ that the US was contracted with Inter-Risk to provide security at the embassy?  Pffft.  I sincerely doubt that claim Mr Akram, and this stinks.  This smells of politics and more of the same Pakistani back stabbing crap that we have all become so used too. Are you folks not aware of the fact that your country is at war, and in your backyard is a ‘rabid pit bull’ that has killed and continues to kill in your country and in Afghanistan?  Wake up and smell the tea.

    Bottom line, we have given billions of dollars to Pakistan in this war, and Pakistan could care less about our security there.  We have an embassy there, and because there is an active war going on in Pakistan, our folks require security.  That is a basic fundamental right of any human being on this planet, and yet this is how we are treated?

   I look at these latest actions against the Pakistani owned security company called Inter-risk, and the views of a few in regards to the embassy, and it pisses me off.  Pakistan takes our money to fight this war against extremists, and for the most part, funnels that money into military hardware to defend against India.  Yet this is how you treat us? And Inter-risk is Pakistani owned, so our money is going into the pockets of a Pakistani for the security of our embassy there? Talk about a slap in the face?

   Furthermore, Pakistan is not doing enough to eliminate the Taliban and Islamic extremists in their country. That is painfully obvious, regardless of what anyone thinks about the latest actions in the Swat Valley.  The Taliban and company are much stronger elsewhere.  I posted that photo below, because to me, that symbolizes the complete worthlessness of Pakistan in this war. I would say that our blood loss in Afghanistan is another prime example of Pakistan’s pathetic action in this war.

     The enemy is in your backyard, and you are just allowing him to hang out. Meanwhile, that enemy is killing our troops and Afghan civilians, selling opium to fund their war and extorting  villages for security–Mafioso style, all with the idea of spreading some twisted and archaic version of Islam throughout the region. And why do we continue to give Pakistan all this money? Oh, that’s right, Pakistan has nukes……(shaking my head)   –Matt

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Taliban and a Hummer

Taliban Posing with a Captured Humvee in Pakistan. 

Pakistan police raid US-contracted security firm

By MUNIR AHMAD and NAHAL TOOSI

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police raided a local security firm that helps protect the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, seizing dozens of allegedly unlicensed weapons at a time when unusually intense media scrutiny of America’s use of private contractors has deepened anti-U.S. sentiment.

(more…)

Friday, September 18, 2009

Industry Talk: Interview With AGNA Whistleblower John Gorman and How Congress Did Nothing About This in 2007!

   This is crap.  How is it that all of these politicians, to include key politicians currently on the wartime commission, knew exactly what happened in Kabul with this contract, and are now showing shock and dismay about it–two years later! This little tidbit of info, made the hearings that were on CSPAN the other day seem like a joke now.

   That is great you guys are trying to get down to the bottom of it now, but where was your outrage when this was first going on? Are you saying that it took pictures of a frat-style party, to awaken your inner responsibilities as leaders? And what committee is going to put these politicians on a stand, and ask them why they didn’t do anything about this in 2007?  Especially Shays. (I am still shaking my head on that one, as I remember watching Shays go off on Samuel during the hearing)

    Here at FJ, we have put blame on AGNA and State, but when Congress knew about this as well and did nothing about it at the time, then they are just as bad in my book.  The buck stops in DC, and this is certainly a prime example of poor leadership.

   Also check out the story below this interview.  Samuel Brinkley, VP of Wackenhut and in charge of this contract, could be in some trouble.  He swore up and down during the hearings that he just found out about this stuff in August of this year, and according to Gorman, he knew about it in July of 2008.  Interesting.

    Semper Fi John and Marie Anne, and good job! –Matt

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Interview with ArmorGroup Whistleblower John Gorman

John Gorman — Marine, Patriot, Whistleblower

By Marie Anne St. Jean

John Gorman, retired U.S. Marine, was hired by ArmorGroup (AGNA) in 2007 to support security at the American Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Numerous reports of AGNA activities are available elsewhere in the media, as well as my own articles here and here. John has previously provided a written press release as well as televised interviews with major networks, as seen here. With this interview, I’m allowing John Gorman to tell his story, what he believes needs to be said.

John, you and I go back several years. I remember how excited you were when hired by ArmorGroup to be the Camp Commandant in Kabul, to have this opportunity to once again serve your country. We never really hang up our uniforms, do we?

When you first reported AGNA’s shortfalls in 2007, what was your expected outcome? What do you think should have happened that didn’t?

(more…)

Weapons: The Amerikansky RPG-7 and Pump-action 40mm Grenade Launcher by Airtronic USA

     Talk about some interesting weapon systems? If the company needs a tester to shoot these things, I am available. (lol) Seriously though, the concern I have with the grenade launcher, is if there are any primer detonation issues with being set up in this configuration.  If the 40 mm rounds were flat, like shotgun shells, then I could see this not being a problem. Is this a valid concern? I don’t know enough about the weapon systems or the round used to make a valid assessment, so maybe an Airtronics representative can explain how this works?- Matt

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The Airtronic 40mm pump-action grenade launcher.

Review at Defense Review here.

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The Airtronic ‘Amerikansky’ RPG-7 (made in America!-hee hee)

Review of weapon here at Defense Review.

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Airtronic USA, Inc. website here.

Military News: Natick Camo Study and a Review By Soldier Systems Blog

    Interesting news and we will see how this goes.  I have personally thought that UCP was a terrible pattern for the areas of operation we are in right now. It works great for sage brush country though, and I highly recommend it for coyote hunting here in Boise, Idaho. It is also great for hiding on sofas. lol  But for Iraq or Afghanistan, I just don’t see it.

     Overall, my favorite pattern is the Desert MARPAT uniform for desert stuff. It looks like that is one of the top uniforms according to the Natick study as well. I own a combat jacket that is Desert MARPAT and it is great for work.  Although I would probably suggest getting a jacket with the quick dry shirts built in the main body of the shirt.  Those work great for body armor, and it looks like there are some fire resistant models coming out that will make that uniform even more sensible. (check out the Propper story below this one at the SS blog)

   If I was to match a pattern to our AO’s, I would say Desert MARPAT for Iraq and maybe Multicam for Afghanistan. But having one pattern for the troops, for all environments we fight in is just stupid.  Bravo to the Marines for at least recognizing the need for regional camo patterns for their troops and that is taking care of your people.

   One thing I would be interested in, is if Natick studies patterns that have been washed out over time?  Soldiers and Marines wear their uniforms for awhile out there, and the color contrasts change and get lighter on the uniforms.  Combat and field use tends to do that to a uniform.  So a study on what uniform works best when aged would be very cool. I know UCP gets really light blue looking when it gets old.

    I highly suggest putting Soldier Systems blog on your RSS reader, or whatever you use to track blogs and websites.  They are definitely equipment mavens and thanks to Matt for giving me the heads up. –Matt

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Soldier Systems

From Soldier Systems Blog

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or failing to read Soldier Systems Daily, you know that in response to Congressional calls for a new camo pattern for operations in Afghanistan, the Army announced that they would test two patterns in October. The Army Times obtained a Natick test report for a camouflage study conducted from 2007 – 2009 of 18 different patterns. This report has now been released by the Army to the press and Soldier Systems Daily has extracted some of the major points from this test report. This is the first in a series of reports that attempt to make some sense of the report and cut through much of the conjecture and hyperbole found on the internet.

Check out the blog and story here.

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