Late in 2002 I was looking at my first combat deployment in the United States Army. I had already served in a few foreign locales not known for their tourist hotspots, but this would be my first “shootin’ match”… Having no real idea what to expect, I started looking for the necessary gear I would need for this deployment based on feedback I’d seen in online AARs (After Action Reviews) and through military email traffic. (At that point in time, the Army was not known to have the best tactical gear as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of dollars that were spent by young troops to equip themselves with better gear!) I initially had a hard time figuring out what constituted “quality gear” and what did not while shopping online. I learned a few lessons along the way that I hope to impart here.

For those of you who may not have been keeping an eye on the “tactical gear” world, it has literally exploded with innovations over the past five (+) years thanks to the ongoing war on terror! Gear, tool and equipment manufactures / suppliers have sprouted up from every nook and cranny on the internet to sell you the latest and greatest gear “used by SOF forces the world over!!” Easy to say, hard to prove! I had an SF friend in Iraq my first tour that said he planned on marketing the “Special Forces Waterproofing System” on the internet when he got home. I asked what that system might be and he smiled a big Copenhagen-grin and said “Ziploc baggies!! Tack SF onto anything and it will sell online!” He is still dead on with that assessment! There is indeed some very good gear out there that is made by some great people with a lot of experience, but there is also A LOT of junk. There are also just as many forums out there with their share of “experts” on all of the gear they’ve used.

What began was a journey looking for the best gear for my needs. I will tell you up front, I am not a knuckle-draggin’, door-kickin’, ruck-humpin’, operator. I am an Army aviator with almost 17 years of active duty service having spent time in Central America, Korea, and as of now, two tours to Iraq, one on the ground one in the air. I like good, solid gear, tools, weapons and equipment, but I don’t necessarily have the same needs or requirements as that professional operator from one of the SOF units. Over the years my tastes have changed a bit; evolved if you will… Additionally, I have had the opportunity to have some good friends who ARE door-kickers, operators, professional shooters, etc. who have given me feedback. Their opinions and recommendations over the years have been incredibly valuable!

When it comes to most of the gear I buy, I try to only buy “made in the U.S.A.” whenever possible, especially in the tactical nylon department. There are some GREAT “mom & pop” gear shops out there who take excellent care of their military and law enforcement clientele! I will admit I do have quite a bit of gear that was not “made in the U.S.A.” that I purchased early on, and I still use it. This gear has become the exception for me. Keep in mind that you deserve the best. If your life is going to be on the line, buy the very best you can afford, even if it means saving or going without in other areas. What is your life and health worth to you??

It took some encouragement from a good friend to start this site, but I hope it expresses what I think of gear, tools, equipment and weapons that I have purchased, been given by friends, or been issued through the military (that you too can purchase/acquire) to be used for work, personal protection/survival, recreation, etc. Keep in mind, this site is MY OPINION ONLY. If you disagree or had different experiences, more power to you. I welcome responses, but if you cannot provide courteous, respectful responses, don’t bother.

A final note about me: one of the things I struggled with was providing my real name. I loathe monikers/tags as they are too easy to hide behind… However, after 17 years in the military, Operational Security (OPSEC) and Force Protection have become part of my everyday life; it keeps me and my family safe and secure. Maybe once I retire, I’ll start posting my real name. We’ll see…

- D