A Word on A-TACS

The A-TACS camo pattern has been in development for a some time, but they are just now starting to gain the momentum and popularity that they deserve. They were testing the A-TACS about the same time as the multicam, and as we all know multicam was chosen. They did this because the multicam will work in a larger array of environments as opposed to the sand washed looking A-TACS. If they are utilized in the right environment, however, the sand pattern can make its wearer almost invisible.

When it was first developed, the A-TACS came in one color pattern, desert. While it worked great in desert environments, if the wearer patrolled into an area with any vegetation, they would be obvious for everyone to see. The solution was to incorporate some green into the pattern. This produced the Foliage Green A-TACS. This pattern is the exact opposite of the Desert A-TACS because it will work wonders in an environment with vegetation, but not in the desert.  

Finding a camo pattern that will work in every environment equally is next to impossible. The A-TACS’s most prevalent weakness is that they are terrain specific. Don’t let this discredit what the A-TACS have to offer. If you are working on a border between a desert and a jungle, wear multicam. If you know the type of terrain you will be dealing with and have no expectations of leaving that environment anytime soon, choose the appropriate A-TACS camo.

As much of a fan as I am of A-TACS, I’ll admit that there is still some development that needs to be done before this type of camo can reach its true potential. It is certainly a step in the right direction and it is exciting to see the avenues that we are beginning to explore in our choice of camouflage.

US Standard Issue

Perhaps one of the greatest hook ups you have if you are active military or employed by a federal officer is your access to US Standard Issue. I have bought many products off of this company, and I have always been happy with my purchase.

For those of you who have not experienced the joy of belonging to US Standard Issue, you are missing out! What they do is offer Oakley products such as sunglasses and boots for a huge discount, most of the items on the website are as much as 50% off. It is a great place to go if you are looking for quality products but don't want to pay the retail price. I have bought a couple pairs of sunglasses from them and they have lasted me 3 years of hard use. If you scratch up your lenses, you can buy a new set to plug into your existing frames. They also offer the Oakley hard knuckle gloves in black and tan. I used these gloves all up until I got a pair of Wiley-X, and I'm thinking now about going back to the Oakley's because the quality is obviously better.

In order to sign up for their program, you have to submit a photo of your military ID or credentials along with a quick application. They will review your submission and if you qualify (anyone with these forms of ID will,) you will be granted access to their site. Until you are approved, you can view their inventory, but not the price of the items. Other rules apply with membership to the program such as not making a purchase to give as a gift.

I give Oakley my respect for giving men and women, who put their lives on the line for this country, a program that offers them quality for such a large discount. This is a great program if your department is not provided with the quality equipment you want or need. If you meet the qualifications for this program, I highly encourage you to check them out and do yourself a major favor by not paying out the rear for equipment you need.