Benjamin Russell’s Post

#MatGroupNews 💪 On January 15, the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) Project began Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Durability (RAMD) testing on the Kongsberg Protector RS4 Remote Weapon System (RWS) at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, New Brunswick. Over the three weeks that follow, the RWS will be tested to demonstrate that it meets maintainability and reliability requirements. The RWS will be equipped with a C6A1 7.62mm machine gun that will be tested while stationary and while on the move against targets of varying distances and angles, simulating battle conditions. Each RWS will fire 100,000 rounds to assess the system’s overall durability. The RAMD testing process is important as it evaluates whether vehicle design and system integration meet the expected mission profile under various operational scenarios and environmental conditions.  Deliveries of the ACSV fleet to the Canadian Army have commenced and once all vehicles are delivered, it will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to provide services such as mobile repair, vehicle recovery, engineer support, command and control, and transport for its people and material. It will have eight vehicle variants that are designed from a common platform, including: command post; mobile repair team; maintenance and recovery vehicle; ambulance; electronic warfare; engineer vehicle; troop cargo vehicle; and, fitter cargo vehicle. #WellEquipped

Embrace the suck. That’s what soldiers call doing something you don’t want to do but must do anyway. It’s doing the hard things with the right attitude. As my son, Evan, a former Airborne combat medic says it: “𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.” This weekend’s reflection and journaling exercise isn’t warm and fuzzy, but it can be helpful. ✍ Make a list of the top five things in your life that suck right now. - These are things you must do, but don’t want to do. - Or they are circumstances you have no control over but must endure anyway. ✍ Next, for each of those five things, write down at least one thing you will do to actively embrace it. - How will you grab hold of it? - How will you press into it? - How will you move through it? ✍ Finally, write down a vision of how you will be stronger on the other side. Make it a great weekend!

Today, we kept it simple in getting two reclass 14Hs (Early Warning System Operators) to go over what some may say are the basics. At first, I didn’t even plan on even turning on any systems. But I quickly realized that if the gears are turning, then let’s power up and provide a visual representation. Frankly, the idea of providing some poor soldier with a cutsheet when he or she has no clear understanding of its purpose is one that we must all constantly tackle. I don’t have to give you a firehouse of knowledge, but I should be able to help provide a more concise understanding than whatever it was before you walked through the door.  We had talked about the “why” behind the multitude of data links they are responsible for monitoring, and even ran through three different scenarios for applying a few data links with our two standalone stations and one helpful ethernet cable. The goal isn’t to roll your eyes when working with a former infantryman and cavalry scout who have transitioned into a new military occupational specialty, but to give them an opportunity to put the concepts they have learned into action. 

Where courage meets craftsmanship.🛠️🇺🇸Our Reserve Marines gain invaluable mechanic experience on duty. These skilled CLB-451 mechanics and proud defenders of freedom garner experience and enjoy camaraderie in the maintenance of our tactical vehicle fleet during a drill weekend. Support and follow their new social media accounts: FB, IG, X, and @. 4th MLG employs most of the Marine Corps Reserve motor-transportation mechanics who ensure tactical fleet vehicle readiness by maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting several rolling stock, from tactical vehicles like the ubiquitous HMMWVs and armored personnel carriers to transport vehicles and larger trucks, such as this wrecker. The Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) Wrecker recovers and tows disabled or damaged vehicles, notably in austere terrain conditions. It features a crane, winch, and other recovery equipment necessary for performing vehicle recovery tasks effectively in the field. #MarineMechanics #USMCMaintenance #SemperFix #MechanicLife #USMCmaintenance #GearheadMarines #ServiceAndSkill #WrenchingForFreedom #CLB451 #4thMLG #MARFORRES #USMCR #MarineReservists #USMCReserves

I often get asked what my time in the military has taught me, and how I translate it to a civilian career. The answer is simple - I'm part of a mission far greater than myself. My role has been small, but necessary. Every C-130 you see effortlessly soaring across the sky has a dedicated team of professionals behind it, working tirelessly toward a common goal. Pilots to control it. Flight Engineers to navigate it. Crew Chiefs to maintain it. Loadmasters to secure it. Flight medics to occupy it. Security Forces to protect it. Air Traffic Controllers to get it home safely. Fuelers & Munitions Specialists to make it all possible again. If you think you can do this alone, whatever the task, you will fail. If you can understand your role in a greater mission, you cannot fail.

The British Army’s armoured fighting vehicle, the AJAX, has emerged victorious in a series of rigorous tests conducted in the frigid landscapes of Sweden’s Lapland. The trials, conducted by the British Army Household Cavalry Regiment on February 19, 2024, showcased the AJAX’s exceptional endurance in extreme cold, with temperatures plummeting to a bone-chilling minus 30°C. Beyond demonstrating its resilience in harsh winter conditions, the AJAX underscored its advanced capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) under challenging circumstances. The testing revealed the vehicle’s ability to operate seamlessly in severely cold environments, including efficient on-the-move firing capacities. The success of the overseas trials marked a pivotal moment for the British Army, as it witnessed the first firing of the AJAX by a Field Army crew, both domestically and internationally. Formerly known as the Scout SV, the AJAX faced developmental challenges, but its triumph in the extreme cold tests signifies a significant milestone in its journey. Manufactured and designed by General Dynamics UK and General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas, with Lockheed Martin UK contributing to the turret and fire control system, the AJAX boasts an advanced ISTAR package with automated search, tracking, and detection capabilities, expanding the stand-off range for identifying and tracking targets. Equipped with a 20 Gbit/s Ethernet intelligent open architecture, the AJAX can capture, process, and store large volumes of information gathered by its sensors. This data can be shared in real-time through an integrated Bowman communication system. The vehicle’s power systems, including a silent auxiliary power generator, ensure seamless operations of its advanced features. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/dUdPiW6S

The History of Military Camo Patterns . Discover the evolution of military camo patterns — traditional to modern designs. Explore the warfare history & impact of camouflage patterns. .. #camo #camouflage #camopattern #camopatterns #multicam #multicamblack #military #bdu

The Spanish Army has unveiled plans for a substantial modernization effort targeting its fleet of B1 Centauro 8×8 wheeled tank destroyer. The initiative, backed by contracts totaling 8.8 million euros, signifies a pivotal step in Spain’s ongoing commitment to enhancing military equipment and ensuring its armed forces remain at the forefront of technological advancements and operational efficiency. The foundation for this modernization initiative lies in the acquisition of 84 B1 Centauro , known as Vehículo de Reconocimiento y Combate de Caballería (VRCC-105) in Spanish. The Spanish Army’s commitment to staying technologically competitive is evident in the recent investments of 5.3 and 3.5 million euros for the further enhancement of these armored vehicles. The modernization efforts include crucial updates such as the incorporation of the latest generation thermal sleeve, the ROVIS intercom system, and the rearming of vehicles with two or three Rheinmetall MG3 7.62 mm machine guns. Additionally, Spain has ensured compatibility with other equipment in the Ejército de Tierra by incorporating components like the PR4G radio and Rovis digital intercom equipment. Distinguishing the Spanish version from its Italian counterpart are notable features, including an additional spaced armor plate on the lower frontal hull and the placement of eight smoke launchers on the sides of the turret, covered by 15 mm spaced armor. The choice of Rheinmetall MG3 machine-guns further sets the Spanish VRCC-105 apart, as they replace the Italian Beretta MG 42/59. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/g82zbQ_m

Would love to see the live-fire SOMs, all the T&R standards and the how each COF was codified, qualified, quantified and remediated. Did they repeat everything - again - using the existing materiel solutions (wpns) in a verbatim, real time shoot-off against the latest and greatest? Tell / show me exactly how the new gear is better... cradle to grave... and how it supports movement, maneuver and the needed geometry-of-fire solutions per the applicable doctrine. I hope all this was done. It usually never is and folks end up "winging" things for a few years. Speaking of soup and if the shoe fits; rant to follow... There is historical precedence for some involved in the fielding of new types of weapons to try and engineer the thinking Infantryman out of the equation, I hope none of these capabilities facilitates that particular twisted and moronic mindset down the road. We don't need anymore "faster is better", "more projectiles at once is better", "stupidly expensive ammo is better" and "flechettes are better" silliness vis-a-vis Projects SALVO & NIBLICK. Anytime we field a new capability, people HAVE to be able to train with it PRIOR to combat. That means it would behoove folks to start fielding ALL applicable simulators - just like the Air Folks of each service do - at the same time we introduce and field new capabilities. Additionally for those of you doing so, or so inclined to, please stop advocating that we field ammo that is so smart that it is cost prohibitive to train with and that people will only see it when they cross the LD into combat. This mentality has kicked our ass since the early 70s and we repeated it again and again at the start of - and throughout - IRAQI /ENDURING FREEDOM. Do better. Ensure we have an actual capabilities gap / deficiency before we field a new capability. STOP letting folks "field" hot and cold running materiel solutions looking for a deficiencies to back fill. Also, just because Captain Smith or Colonel Jones fell in love with "X" at a Trade-Show, does NOT mean anyone "just has" to buy it. It also does not matter how many people "love it." Do better. Parting shot. Many people who advocate for Materiel Solution X in a vacuum simply because they like it, are often the same dolts who confuse "deployed time and getting shot with actual MOS proficiency." Don't let these types come to the "requirements" table. They will just breath your air and slow the process.

This is how a military shoulder press works for me.. Everyone is different. They do it their way. I do it this way... 135lbs. Your daily routine is the heart of your life! Military shoulder press (five rounds) 45lbs 95lbs 115lbs 135lbs 155lbs 🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍 Dumbell circuit chest press and lat pull downs with 100lbs Dumbell. #accountabilitypartner #stronger #strengthandconditioning #iam1stphorm #letslift #strengthtraining #liftingweights #muscleafter40 #accountabilitypartner #morereps #muscleafter40 #1stphorm #barbellworkout #bigsets #getstronger