JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —
A four-year initiative to modernize the day-to-day tools of active-duty Air Pressure safety forces defenders reached its fifth and last section lately with the award of a $39 million contract for state-of-the-art defender gear.
Along with securing the contract award by means of the Air Pressure Set up Contracting Middle’s 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, the Air Pressure Safety Forces Middle labored with Air Pressure Materiel Command logisticians to get the tools into the Logistics Readiness Stock Management System.
“Due to this effort, not solely will or not it’s simpler to account for tools, defenders will now be capable of transfer from one set up to a different with their Mannequin Defender Particular person Tools Equipment below the Gear for Life program,” stated Grasp Sgt. Derek Walton, AFSFC Mannequin Defender and Gear for Life program supervisor. “This implies they are going to now not must have that tools issued at every set up as they progress of their careers.”
On the path of Air Pressure Safety Forces, the Mannequin Defender initiative started in June 2020 with a concentrate on standardizing must-have day by day gear for each defender within the Division of the Air Pressure.
“The institution of the Mannequin Defender Particular person Tools Equipment was essential because it standardized gear throughout the Air Pressure safety forces enterprise enhancing operational effectivity, guaranteeing the security {and professional} look of personnel and fostering modernization inside the Complete Pressure,” stated Dennis Rodriguez, AFSFC particular person protecting tools department chief.
AFSFC began the brand new initiative by growing a standardized tools checklist of 23 objects which was then coordinated, amended and accredited by means of main instructions and safety forces headquarters. This resulted in a last Mannequin Defender Particular person Tools Equipment.
Working with business and Air Pressure contracting companions, the middle then performed section 1 testing of state-of-the-art tools utilizing active-duty, Nationwide Guard Bureau and Air Pressure Reserve Commanddefenders within the San Antonio space.
“This collaborative effort with business companions for section 1 testing additionally streamlined the acquisition course of, guaranteeing that every one safety forces are properly outfitted and prepared for his or her duties,” Rodriguez stated.
Based mostly on testing outcomes, AFSFC continued to section 2 for expanded day-to-day testing at eight installations throughout 4 main instructions, and section 3 the place the middle consolidated and scrutinized collected information earlier than presenting their findings to the Air Pressure Tools and Weapons Configuration Board for validation.
Throughout each of those phases, AFSFC labored with AFICC’s contracting consultants for an acquisition technique that might transfer the acquisition ahead as soon as selections have been made about what tools was finest for the defender power.
“By conducting ongoing testing with the consolidation and evaluation of check outcomes, we have been in a position to swiftly transition by means of the phases,” Rodriguez stated. “This parallel processing allowed for rapid changes and expedited the validation and acquisition processes.”
Consequently, the tools procurement plan was set to go instantly after the staff confirmed the very best tools for the safety forces enterprise, he added.
Section 4, the primary buy of Mannequin Defender package tools came about Might 2023 with Blue Pressure Gear and marked a big milestone within the timeline.
“Blue Pressure Gear developed a package particularly to fulfill the wants of our safety forces enterprise,” Walton stated. “Their laser reduce expertise is innovative and integrates seamlessly with the physique armor resolution that was chosen by the Air Pressure.”
Upon receiving the preliminary small tools buy, the AFSFC staff shifted focus to start collaboration with Headquarters Air Pressure.
“The objective was to combine the Mannequin Defender objects into the provision system by means of the Gear for Life initiative,” Rodriguez stated. “Which was essential for us to make sure the newly acquired tools can be seamlessly integrated into the broader system, enhancing the general readiness and functionality of the SF enterprise.”
“Our collaboration with headquarters was pivotal,” he added. “Integrating the Mannequin Defender tools into the Gear for Life initiative is not only a step, it’s a leap towards equipping defenders with the instruments they should face the longer term head-on.”
The ultimate section award was the profession discipline’s largest buy ever when the complete contract of $39 million was awarded to Blue Pressure Gear in April.
Tools rollout to the sector is anticipated to start in December with full supply to the sector by early 2025.
The finalized Mannequin Defender package consists of:
– M-4 journal pouches
– M-18 journal pouches
– Dump pouches (for simply stowing a wide range of objects like empty magazines)
– Holster adapters
– Mollie belts (a webbed belt that enables gear to be connected in a wide range of configurations)
– Utility and handcuff pouches
– Flashlight and baton pouches
By Debbie Aragon, Air Pressure Set up and Mission Assist Middle Public Affairs
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