No Gear Can Fix It, No Kit Will Stop The Screaming

     We here at Carnage Tactical are supporters of the troops no matter where they go or what they do.  We our selves have served or do currently serve and have a shared perspective on how things look once you've been deployed and come home so please do read the following.

     Today It's not bout the gucci kit or the shiny kit syndrome (SKS) to day we are talking about Operational Stress Injuries (OSI), things like increased anxieties, anger and in some cases Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  These are the issues that effect troops and their families for years after the fight is over.  These are the scares and injuries you can't see in the flesh and bones of those who come home, this is the hurt and pain that lead to families shattering, suicides as well as alcohol and drug problems.  Now this is just a small look at the stereotypical issues you read about in the media or hear from some politician during the voting years.

    When I came home on leave during my last deployment I (with the help of my wife) found this group on Facebook called "Military Minds."  This is a group started by a Canadian Service Member with PTSD who is using his experiences to get those with issues to talk about what is wrong and helping to find ways to support them, not fix, but truly support those who need the help.

     Now we can't make anyone go to the Military Minds site, I can't even tell you I personally suffer from any form(s) of OSI.  What I can say is I have served with some of the best soldiers, sailors and airmen, I have lived with some of my best friends, my brothers and their families through some of the "lesser" forms of OSI right up to PTSD.  We need to make sure the old suck it up buttercup and ruck on ideals don't apply any more and that we get those who need it, the help they deserve and the respect they have earned as well.

     What I do ask right now is that you take that 5 to 10 minuets and actually read some of the Military Minds site and understand that sometimes giving ones life isn't the greatest price a soldier can pay, it could be living with the pain and anger and shame they are unwilling to admit to or can't fight alone.

     Here are some Canadian resources to help you understand OSI and PTSD. If anyone can offer a list of good American and British ones I'll post those as well.

Military Minds
Operational Stress Injuries Social Support 
Vetrans Affairs Canada
The Royal
St Joseph's Health Care London

INOVA 2A Flash Light

     I won't go over my son playing with it in the truck when we left the store and the button falling out because, as we all know children will find ways to destroy things in way no one else can imagine or even come up with.  But after 30 min of looking for a black circle on a black carpet in low light it was fixed.  These are things that just happen.... the button fell out... there should have been alarms going off in the back of my head that equated to a drill instructor saying "DON'T TAKE THIS WITH YOU!"

     INOVA 2A (AKA my battery eater).  I purchased this one having been pretty happy with INOVA products in the past.  Man was this a waist of money.  Right out of the box I went to replace the batteries as you should always do, god knowns how long the thing has been on the shelf being played with by every one and their kids. The first thing I hear as I get the tactical switch/base cap of a "Tink, tink, tink, tink........" as the button it's elf falls out of the base cap and rolls under my couch.  This should have been my point of realization, things are going wrong with this light.  So I drop "two" new batteries into it close it up and throw it in my kit as a backup light.  four days and 24hrs on multiple flights I drop my gear in a dark room my primary kit is stowed so I reach for my pack and pullout "dun, dun, dun!" my backup light which doesn't work?  So I switch out the batteries and grab my jungle bag and pillow I'll worry about the other stuff later.  Next day I'm fine with the light but that night I had to trade out the batteries as it slowly died in my hand after 30 min.  For  the next 4 months this is the routine every 2 to 3 days.  It's a good thing batteries are free for me at this time.  

I actually have to knock it against something now to get it to work.  You spend about $50.00 CAN on something and you expect it to be dependable and work properly.  Especially something made of quality materials by a company that is in the top 5 to 10 of it's competitors.

CONSTRUCTION 1/10:  I'll give it this the machined aircraft aluminum body and the rubber grip make a nice package, but the internal parts lack what is expected from INOVA.  I guess in a bad situation I could throw it at a scary sound in the dark and knock what ever it is out.  But I'll never known where it landed.  Why would you put time and development into one part and hump the bunk on the rest.  Wow it's bright but you can watch the light dim as you use it.

DESIGN 2/10: again feels nice in the hand and I can hit people with it but it's a pocket light not a freaking baton.

DURABILITY 0/10:  Burns out faster then candle held upside down, internal contacts don't hold up to storage of any time longer then two days and I have spent more time treating it like the linchpin in a horror movie then actually using it.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 0/10: I don't normally write about things I don't like, I also think there has to be one redeemable feature to any product that cost more then $10.00.  I gave the INOVA 2A a 0 because the scale we have set up doesn't allow me to give out negatives like - 10 for over all impression.  There is nothing about the 2A that draws me back to INOVA as a customer in fact if anything it makes me want to never purchase any of their products again and I can't even recommend them out of fear someone will die hold one of there products in hand while thinking WTF.

Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault Pack

      There was awhile where I'll admit, I was of the opinion that Mystery Ranch (MR) was one of the companies where you payed for the name and the product came second.  Then I got my hands on one that belonged to a buddy of mine, so I read about the product some more and checked out the specs.  I'll be the first to say sorry guys, was I wrong!  I picked up a new 3 Day Assault Pack (3DAP) tri-zip.  This may be the first time I haven't needed to seal the seams in a pack since I was 14 years old.  I pulled it out of the box re adjusted it and took it for a day trip with the familia and then followed that up with an 8 km hike in the tree line the next day.  Comfort is not an issue with or without the plate pads installed and the more weight I added the better it felt on my back and shoulders.  As far as I'm concerned this is the pack to end all.  It's my replacement for everything, this and my MEC day pack is all I'll need for small runners.

When you open the 3 DAP the first thing you'll notice is the internal molle attachment points with a pocket below it on the back.  On each wing (left and right) are two pockets large enough to carry extra water bladders and two small mesh (heavy quality) pockets on each side.  The top of the pack has two pockets, one big enough for maps and a field message pad while the other has small organization pockets in it for kit and enough room for snacks and fast grabs right on top.

The pack was more then capable of carrying my 45 lbs son and more, I had it up to about 80 lbs and it felt fine on my back.  The padding on the shoulder straps and back were great and the chest strap helped maintain support of weight evenly.  On each side is a pocket big enough for a Camel-bak or Nalgene Bottle on the bottom with molle webbing above it so you can mount external pouches.

Mystery Ranch was nice enough to include a large velcro patch big enough for a flag and pers data patch.  The one shown here is about a 4 inch by 4 inch patch.  Additionally the reversed zippers are great for keeping water out, and since it's been raining for the last 6 days that has been great.

CONSTRUCTION 9/10:  The materials used by Mystery Ranch are great and the quality of work in the assembly is apparent right out of the box.

DESIGN 8/10:  The design of the 3 DAP is something new to the market.  The use of reversed zippers with a tri-zipper design for ease of access in a compact size is the first I've seen in the market, the only thing close is the Camel-bak which is a joint venture with Mystery Ranch.

DURABILITY 9/10:  I haven't had the Mystery Ranch 3 DAP to long now but I can see this pack lasting pretty much until I retire from my current employment. 

OVERALL IMPRESSION 10/10:  WOW, nice work, don't you wish you had one?  I think I'll be sleeping with mine on.  The only thing I have to complain about is the cost.  On average the 3 DAP cost about $100.00 more then most comparable tactical packs starting at $345.00 USD and topping off at $409.00 before you change colours or add upgrades, then the shipping not the fault of the manufacturer, starts at $80.00 so by the time I finished it cost about $450.00 minus the upgraded belt system (next purchase).  I'm expecting this one to out last my field career and be my hiking buddy for sometime after that.  If you want more detail, Gear Whores Anonymous and Imminent Threat Solutions have really good wright ups on the pack or you can always read about it on the Mystery Ranch site.


I'm thinking there mite be a NICE FRAME in my future.

Pictures to follow.

Triple Aught Designs Ranger Hoodie

     I've been looking at the Triple Aught Designs (TAD) Ranger Hoodie (RH) for a while, ITS did a write up on it last year and I was impressed with what they had to say about the RH.  I got home on leave and found a few boxes waiting for me, a Surefire X300, SERPA CQC, Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault Pack and the TAD RH I ordered.  I won't lie, I ripped open the box like it was christmas and pulled out a grey RH with shoulder patches.  I looked at all the stitching, inspected the materials and zipped it up, as it's a bit colder at home then at work.  I fell in love with it and for so many reasons.

The quality of the materials was really good, and all the stitching was doubled up and glued.  The only thing I've had any issue with so far is the zipper, it sticks at the bottom.

pictures to come.