M-14, AK-47 seem better than M4

The recent disclosures that the standard issue M4 may not be the best military carbine for US troops in Afghanistan has prompted considerable debate both within and outside the military community.  I recently visited the Fox News Site which currently has 58 comments to an article which compared the AK-47 ...

DoD Waste and Incompetence Cited by IG in sourcing spare parts for M2 Heavy Machine Gun

Thanks to Mother Jones writer Adam Weinstein who brought this item to our attention, SFTT has reviewed a recent DoDIG report  (Department of Defense Inspector General) that documents yet more absolutely blithering incompetence inside the multi-billion dollar DoD Procurement bureaucracy.  The issue in this case is spare parts for the M2 .50-caliber Heavy ...

USMC General Cartwright argues for change in military procurement

In a refreshing but somewhat rambling presentation, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, USMC General Cartwright, suggests diverting money from high-tech military procurement programs to give our troops the proper combat equipment to fight the "low-end wars" that we are in for the "next five to ten years."  In an ...

M-4 Rifle Not Suitable for Afghan Battlefield

In yet another alarming sign that US troops do not have adequate combat gear, the US Stars and Stripes now reports that the US Army standard-isssue M-4 rifle may not be the best weapon of choice for Afghanistan's mountainous terrain.   This disclosure comes on the heels of a new Congressional ...

SFTT featured in Greenwich Newspaper

The Greenwich Post featured a front-page article in this week's edition describing Eilhys England Hackworth's heroic campaign to help insure that our frontline troops have the best body armor, helmets, combat boots, rifles and sidearms available.  In an article entitled "Col. Hackworth: Soldiers' Group Notches Victory," staff writer Chris Davis describes ...

Chairman Towns Opens Inquiry into Quality of Troops’ Body Armor and Vehicle Safety

In an important new development Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY), Chairman of the Committee for Oversight and Government Reform asks  Defense Secretary Robert Gates for explanations about the management of the Department of Defense’s ("DoD") troop armor procurement and testing programs.  What follows is a reprint of the release: The inquiry ...

Body Armor Reports by National Research Council

On November 20, 2009, Secretary John McHugh formally announced that the National Research Council would perform an independent evaluation of the US Army's body armor test procedures.  The announcement by Secretary McHugh followed a month of Pentagon-spin by military wordsmiths intent on undermining the devastating findings of the General Accountability ...

Colonel David Hackworth 5th Anniversary Celebration

SFTT Chair Eilhys England Hackworth Announces 5th Anniversary Celebration Colonel David “Hack” Hackworth, my dear late husband, died in my arms five years ago this month. As of May 1st, to celebrate Hack’s unique life and legacy, Soldiers For The Truth is launching a year-long 5th Anniversary Celebration  to honor his ...

Body Armor: Open Letter to General Conway

April 21, 2009 Commandant of the Marine Corps General James T. Conway Headquarters USMC 2 Navy Annex (CMC) Washington, D.C.  20380-1775 Dear General, I would like to thank for your response to my letter dated 03-28-08, as well, as the time you took out of your demanding schedule. I know ...

Colonel Hackworth Wreath Ceremony and Graveside Memorial

Colonel David H. Hackworth (U.S. Army, Retired) Graveside Memorial and Wreath Ceremony Arlington National Cemetery May 22, 2010 May 4th marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of Colonel David “Hack” Hackworth.  His legacy will be honored at a gravesite memorial, 2:00 p.m., May 22, 2010.  Following the gravesite memorial at 3:15 ...

Body Armor and the NASA Connection

April 29, 2010 President Barack H. Obama II The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 President Barack H. Obama II: Dear Mr. President, I know what you’re thinking, it’s him again! Well, I’d like to say it wasn’t, however. The issue is Body Armor Design or should ...

Iran and the Straits of Hormuz

The following article was published  April 24th on  Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review at www.milmat.net by Fred Edwards.  I have recently "discovered" Mr. Edwards and believe that he supplies much needed context and insightful analysis of military matters.  This recent article by Mr. Edwards focuses on a possible military ...