Readers;

Well change is finally here as the country gets a new President tomorrow. There are several items on his agenda that will affect war fighters. Also, lots of news from the front as Allied Forces enjoy more successes against both the Taliban and Al-Qaida.

Lastly, recognition by the Joint Forces Command on the urgency of the situation in Mexico and outgoing HLS Secretary Chertoff’s plan for dealing with the threat facing law enforcement personnel on our southern border.

Stay safe, and keep your powder dry.

John Wrenn
Managing Editor, Tactical Weekly
Director, Corporate Communications

Patrick Henry

Blackwater Worldwide is concerned about the large number of tactical vehicle accidents and associated injuries and deaths, and is offering a solution. Started as a training provider, Blackwater is using armored personnel carriers to train drivers about to be deployed.

General: Winter ops to help cut Afghan violence
January 18, 2009
Army Times
Michelle Tan

Army leadership believes a winter offensive will hasten peace and stability.

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - The Army's top commander for eastern Afghanistan predicts that his winter offensive against insurgents, along with boosted economic aid, will cut the rising violence and put the country on a faster track to stability.

Great news as one of our own, Gen. Eric Shinseki (USA Ret.) pledges to overhaul the VA.

Retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki pledged yesterday to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs into a proactive, "21st-century organization" to meet the needs of a growing population of wounded veterans.

As the new administration takes over the GWOT, VP Cheney believes OBL doesn't have much impact on Al-Qaida anymore.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House said Wednesday that the recent audiotape believed to carry a message from Osama bin Laden reflects the "isolation" of the al-Qaida leader whose influence over the terrorist network has waned.

USJFCOM recently issued a report on worldwide security threats and places Mexico on the same plane as Pakistan as one of two countries that "bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse."

EL PASO -- Mexico is one of two countries that "bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse," according to a report by the U.S. Joint Forces Command on worldwide security threats.

The command's "Joint Operating Environment (JOE 2008)" report, which contains projections of global threats and potential next wars, puts Pakistan on the same level as Mexico. "In terms of worse-case scenarios for the Joint Force and indeed the world, two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico.

Feel good story about the indomitable warrior spirit of Travis Dodson.

The way Travis Dodson sees it, he's a very fortunate guy. He still has a great family and lots of good, caring friends. And he's still driven to live a full and happy life.

In fact, Dodson may harbor dreams and aspirations today that he never would have had if a grenade lobbed through an open window by an Iraqi insurgent hadn't landed in his lap on Valentine's Day 2007, blowing off the Marine's left leg at the hip and his right one below the knee.

Here is a movie that was suggested by one of our readers. It’s an HBO movie called Taking Chance based on a real story, about a Marine Lt. Col. Who escorts a Marine killed in combat back home. Here is a link to the letter and to a site with the trailer. Tough to read with dry eyes.

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/04/taking_chance.html

http://www.hbo.com/events/takingchance/

Become part of the solution, not a statistic.

5 minutes to live. If a cop is going to die, it will be in the first 5 minutes - before help can arrive. Now YOU become the help!

Here is a new course from The Backup, a Blackwater Worldwide company that specializes in digital distance learning courses. Please check out the website or number below for additional information.

To view the latest contract opportunities at Blackwater, visit our Contract Web Page

TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SUBMIT YOUR RESUME CLICK HERE
Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 or email webmaster@ustraining.com

As Chrysler struggles with profitability in the civilian market, it is turning to green vehicles and the military.

WASHINGTON -- The Army on Monday received the first of 4,000 electric vehicles that it plans to lease for use on bases, a deal the military says is the largest acquisition of such vehicles in the U.S. and comes as automakers are touting electric technology.

Industry continues to search for a cheap non-perishable plasma substitute that will save lives on and off the battlefield.

Synthetic blood substitutes have had a bumpy ride. The U.S. military and private biotech companies have spent years - and millions of dollars - trying to develop nonperishable oxygen-carrying solutions that could possibly keep wounded soldiers from bleeding to death on the battlefield.

Here is an easily removable camouflage covering that could prove extremely useful as we move men and equipment from theater to theater and from environment to environment.

The United Kingdom's Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings is fabricating a range of high performance paints for military equipment. Among these offerings is a "peelable" camouflage coating that also can be removed by pressurized water.

If true, this invention could prove extremely hazardous to security organizations along with financial institutions, and could kill the Internet economy.

The Russian security company that caused a stir some months by talking up its cracking tool for recovering Wi-Fi encryption keys, has started selling its software to all-comers in a specially packaged product.

Tactical Equipment Evaluation

Every year when I attend SHOT Show I feel like I'm entering a week of basic training. No, there are no drill instructors yelling at me or checking my hygiene. No, I'm not polishing boots (who does anymore?). I AM handling weapons a LOT; walking a LOT; eating fast and when I can; waking up before the sun and going to bed after it. For all that, it's a lot more fun (for a week) than Basic Training ever was. This week we’re going to take a look at some fast highlights of the law enforcement & military vendor section at SHOT 2009.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

Recreational Equipment Review

Lest we forget, the SHOOTING, HUNTING & OUTDOOR TRADE Show is where SHOT got its name and start. I would be entirely remiss if I focused only on the LE and MIL vendor section, and, truth be told, there is some really cool stuff to look at and play with in the outdoor parts. There are some neat new items available for the camper, hunter, fisherman, etc. Again, I'm going to see if I can't spotlight a few of them in this quick review from the recreational side of things.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.borelliconsulting.com/huntfish/fastrecshot09.htm

Consider these words by John Adams, our second President, who also served as chairman of the American Bible Society... In an address to military leaders, he said, "We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and true religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.ustraining.com/btw2009/article/011909chaplain.htm

Fitness advice for the New Year...

Go ahead-take a deep breath.

If the recent electoral madness and economic meltdown have left your nerves frayed, join the club. If you've anxiously been waiting to turn the page on 2008, you're not alone. But the New Year is dawning and the world has not ended. Sure, you're probably still too scared to take a close look at your stock portfolio, and we'll see how that upheaval on Pennsylvania Avenue turns out.

Companion piece on nutrition...

In 2005, endurance mountain biker Josh Tostado's nutrition plan consisted of lots of mac 'n' cheese and healthy servings of Coors. Back then, the six-foot, 160-pound Tostado was a small-time Colorado legend, having won the Montezuma's Revenge 24-hour race twice. But he was still working at a bar, so he gave up drinking and overhauled his diet.

Here are some links for charitable organizations.

Blackwater does not endorse any organization over another nor encourage charitable contributions, we provide these links as a public service, and take no responsibility for the actual sites. Although we strive to validate the sites before linking we caution you to do your own research, as the internet is ripe with scams.

Welcome Back Veterans

Here is an organization sponsored by Major League Baseball that wants to help returning vets.

Ten thousand young men and women come home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other zones of conflict every month. They've served our country well, and have made sacrifices - of health, of family, of livelihood - that most of us will never have to make.

IT'S OUR TURN

To step up to the plate and GIVE.

The players and owners of Major League Baseball have contributed their time and resources to help returning soldiers and their families through Welcome Back Veterans. Now it's up to us to join the effort and do our part by giving generously.

Keep My Soldier Safe
Packages for Soldiers

Here is a great site that is trying to organize a bill that would allow free postage for letters and packages mailed to our service people overseas. Very relevant during the holidays.

Please go here and sign the petition so that we can help get this bill passed and get more packages sent to your troops for FREE...

We ask you to join us in urging our U.S. Senators and Representatives to support the effort to pass a law that would allow for the free mailing of letters and packages to our military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation.

Full Story

Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary

Here's an organization that cares for dogs of deployed service personnel.

Welcome to Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary & Canine Corps!

We provide a loving "home away from home" for dogs whose owners are deployed overseas in the military, as well as a safe haven for Central Pennsylvania's senior and special needs dogs. To date, nineteen of our guest have been adopted into loving homes, and we are currently caring for seven senior and special needs dogs and sixteen military pets.

Project Healing Waters Flyfishing

Great way to help our wounded brethren.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

Asian Tribal Ministries

Here's an organization that helps folks over in Asia.

Asian Tribal Ministries (ATM) is a non-denominational organization that for the past 30 years has been providing aid and ministry to people in the war-zone areas of Burma, aka Myanmar.

You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.

The Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e-publication.

The BTW provides readers valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical and strategic security issues.

Editor-in-Chief - Gary Jackson (btw@ustraining.com)
Managing Editor - John Wrenn (btw@ustraining.com)
Format Editor - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@ustraining.com)
Frank's Review - Frank Borelli (frank@borelliconsulting.com)
Chaplain's Corner - Chaplain D. R. Staton (chpln1@verizon.net)
Advertising - Jennifer Granoff (JGranoff@ustraining.com)

Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2035

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