Readers;

Welcome to the beginning of February and another BTW issue.

Some interesting stories about new developments on the anti-piracy and counter-narcotics fronts, along with some balanced reporting on contractors and the real capabilities of Russian forces. Of course you'll see latest analysis of events in the GWOT campaigns. Also check out the report on military roles and missions and defense purchasing as they could have significant affect on warfighters.

Lastly check out the video on the new Army sniper rifle and the back up battle sight from Troy industries.

Enjoy, and please continue to let me know what you'd like to see.

John Wrenn
Managing Editor, Tactical Weekly
Director, Corporate Communications

Gerald Ford

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. Blackwater has developed a course to train military personnel to maneuver heavy patrol vehicles that are prone to rollovers in the chaos of war zones. Thousands of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their hard shell and design protect occupants, as the trucks sit high on a raised chassis and have V-shaped bottoms shielding their underbellies. The military has warned troops to be careful behind the wheel after five deaths were directly connected to vehicle rollovers. The military has also logged dozens of other accidents with numerous injuries. With a surplus of heavily-armored vehicles Blackwater Worldwide plans to teach MRAP driving skills to improve safety on the rollover-prone vehicles.

Captain Extraordinary
February 9, 2009
National Review
Jay Nordingler

Great story about a true American Hero.

Capt. Ivan Castro will tell you he is an ordinary man, basically. You may wish to disagree. He is an officer in the U.S. Special Forces, stationed at Ft. Bragg, and blind. He lost his sight in a mortar blast in Iraq but did not leave the military after his recovery. He persevered, to an astonishing degree. He has attracted interest all over the country, as well he might.

Full Story

Interesting security test.

A U.S. Department of Justice e-mail that phished for sensitive information from federal workers was a hoax that the agency sent out to test its own security awareness, according to a report.

The e-mail, sent two weeks ago to Justice Department employees, directed recipients to a Web site that prompted them to supply account information related to the federal retirement savings program, the Associated Press reported.

Full Story

Interesting story on a different type of U.S. involvement on GWOT.

COLOMBO - As Sri Lanka's security forces make massive inroads against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a top United States constitutional lawyer may prove to be an impediment against the military's accomplishments if he triumphs in getting indictments against two of the island's very high-profile military officials, both US citizens who are spearheading the offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

If constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein, a former associate deputy attorney general, is successful in what could be termed as anything but a mundane task, Sri Lanka's controversial Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and army commander Sarath Fonseka will be the first US citizens to be tried for genocide.

Interesting analysis of Russia's capabilities, especially in light of recent relationship with Venezuela.

Russia may be flexing its military muscle once again, sending warships into international waters and dispatching long-range bombers on reconnaissance trips, but the former superpower remains a paper tiger, according to a respected London think-tank.

The recent naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean and Latin America were symbolic gestures-the onetime maritime giant was able to deploy only a small number of ships, while the rest of the fleet was anchored at home without enough money to keep it at sea, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.

This case could ultimately have serious consequences for U.S. - European relations and put a strain on NATO.

KARLSRUHE, Germany -- Germany has been very good to Spec. André L. Shepherd since he deserted the U.S. Army.

The 31-year-old former mechanic of the 601st Aviation Support Battalion is enjoying perks that eluded him back home in Ohio: a bed, a bank account, a cellphone and friends.

Best of all from his standpoint, he isn't back in Iraq.

"I'm having the time of my life," says Mr. Shepherd, the only American bunking at a refugee-processing center in southern Germany.

The U.S. deserter enters uncharted legal territory on Wednesday, when Germany begins weighing his request for political asylum. The case will put to the test a 2004 European Union directive requiring member countries to grant asylum to soldiers protesting unlawful wars.

Good analysis of contracting, providing a balance to the constant negative drumbeat.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Is it possible that a private security contractor can actually do a good job -- do what it contracted to do without waste, fraud or abuse? Of course, the answer is yes. And the vast majority of security contractors do just that. Yet to read and watch much of the media coverage of their work, it would be easy to get a different impression.

In a response to a weakening economy, and continued funding for the campaigns in the GWOT, the new administration is taking a hard look at weapons, equipment and maintenance funding.

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. defense budget cuts may target spending on weapons as the Obama administration juggles paying for personnel and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

"The most expensive part of our budget is our people," Admiral Michael Mullen said in an interview yesterday. "There's not a lot of flexibility with respect to people, unless you start" reducing forces.

Interesting opinion piece on disconnect between DoD operating philosophy and technological developments.

The Defense Department is working toward developing alternative fuels and propulsion technologies to decrease its energy dependency, and increase its energy security. The Pentagon's environmentalism, however, does not align much with reality

New review of DoD mission in relation to other federal agencies. This is important as the new President prepares his new National Security Strategy, which defines the country's engagement policies.

Defense Department officials released a report to Congress today detailing its core competencies and missions and establishing a framework for similar reviews every four years.

The 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review Report also reviews recent efforts across the force to improve joint operations in several evolving mission areas, officials said.

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

You've seen the ad on the right, now read about a very secure portable storage device.

This Thumb Drive will self-destruct in 10 seconds...

Thumb drives are a convenient and cool way to carry around your data, and with drive sizes in the gigabytes, you can store a ton of photos, files, music, and video in a very tiny space. Unfortunately, due to their small sizes, they are targets for information thieves.

Nice simple design could be a potential lifesaver for the tactical warrior during night operations.

TRITIUM is a form of hydrogen that emits a continuous light source where using batteries or electricity is not possible. Troy's new rear folding Tritium battelsights provide operators with the ability to establish target acquisition in low or no light conditions.

Nice adaptation of proven technology to enhance maritime and homeland security.

The first Customs and Border Protection Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle arrived in December at Grand Forks, N.D., where it will conduct regular patrols of the northern border.

Meanwhile, work continues at its manufacturer, General Atomics, to develop a maritime version of the UAV that will patrol the Caribbean, Gulf Coast and other seas surrounding the United States.

Great video overview of Army's new M-110 sniper rifle.

I know most of you have already seen the Knight's Armament sniper application for the iPhone. I ran across it at SHOT Show just like everyone else but since the MSM latched onto it, I decided against posting it for fear my beloved readers would skewer me for being so late.

But our friends at Milspecmonkey went one step further, posting a video from the Knight's Armament booth with a company official describing new features to their popular Mk-11/SR-25/M-110 sniper rifle lineup.

Full Story

Tactical Equipment Evaluation

In today's world of tactical flashlights, a company doesn't have to lead the way to be successful; they just have to make a decent product. The demand for quality high-performance tactical lights has grown as two circumstances have been recognized: 1) Law enforcement works in the dark a LOT and it's typically our most dangerous environment, and 2) our military does more work in cities now than it does in the open field. Both circumstances have lead to an increased need for a durable light that's versatile. Welcome the ATN J68 to that group. Here's why...

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

Recreational Equipment Review

Every now and then we find pieces of equipment that perform in unexpected ways. Previously I've done reviews on the 511 Tactical Aggressor Parka and figured it would work well for cold weather situations. I haven't yet done a full review of the Desert Ops boots from BLACKHAWK! Warrior Wear, but it was on my "to do" list. As Maryland finally had an appreciable amount of snow this past week, I had an opportunity to verify my thoughts on the parka and use the boots in an environment they certainly weren't designed for. They performed well anyway. Here's the story.

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/apparel/parkaandboots.htm

This news was about active duty troops. Suicide attempt problems have also recently surfaced at West Point.
I watched a film recently about the care in VA hospitals. I have read several articles about the treatment or lack thereof that is available to returning military personnel returning from the battle fields. We had the big scandal last year involving Walter Reid Army Hospital...

Full Story Can Be Viewed At:

http://www.ustraining.com/tw2009/article/020209chaplain.htm

An interesting article for the tactical warrior where strength without bulk is a premium.

If you've resolved to get stronger this year, there are certain things you should be doing in the gym to maximize your results. However, you may need to adjust what you're doing based on the kind of muscle you're aiming to build. If you want to get strong but have no desire to get overly bulky, the tips in this article are for you.

Full Story

Great article on how to make your own cheaper, easier, healthier protein bars, which are also a great field food.

There are times when it's next to impossible to get in a freshly prepared, well-balanced meal that's going to accommodate your muscle-building or fat-loss goals. Turning to fast or convenient food is often a very unwise decision, nutritionally speaking, which leaves many guys opting to choose a protein bar.

Unfortunately, most guys think they're doing themselves a favor when they opt for a protein bar since now they have protein in combination with carbohydrates, which is much better than the rush of pure carbs attained with a cereal or energy bar. The truth is, however, that manufactured protein bars are often nothing more than glorified candy bars and are going to do nothing in terms of enhancing your physique.

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.

Déjà Moo - The feeling that we've heard this bull before.

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

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

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