Monday motivation 2: Grace under pressure.

Who's the handsome chap in the uniform some of you may be asking. Well that's Ernest Hemingway. The greatest literary mind of the 20th century. 

If you haven't read any hemmingway,I suggest you should. It will expand your mind and any girl who doesn't like a guy who reads the classics is lying! 

Hemmingway was rejected by the U.S. Army on medical grounds. Did he let stop him from getting in the war? Fuck no! Hemmingway joined the Italian Red Cross and tended to the wounded and was himself wounded by a Austrian mortar. All of this is delved into with greater detail in "a farewell to arms". From his time in WW1 hemmingway got a taste for war. He reported on the Greco -Turkish war as well as the spanish civil war. 

After years of hard drinking and a tumultuous marriage or two he set his sight on reporting on the liberation of Europe. Teaming up with the forth infantry division hemmingway stayed on the frontline until this journalist did something crazy. Hemmingway created and led his own unit of the French resistance. 

This is just the story of one man. A journalist. Think about who you are! Hemmingway saw more action than most men in their life time. Just because you were born a man doesn't make you one. Your actions on your time in this world dictate how you will have your life spent. Will you be a hemmingway? Or will you be joe crowbag on the street with nothing to offer? The choice is yours. Better yourself physically at the gym. Better yourself mentally by reading the right books. Train yourself hard and surround yourself with like minded individuals and not anchors around your neck you have rescue at every tiny drama in their lives. Be who you have always wanted to be. Me? I'll be a hemmingway. Who you are is your choice. 

Until next time. Better yourself. And conduct yourself with grace under pressure. 

Gladius actual out. 

Monday motivation 1.

General James 'mad dog' Mattis is a example for all leaders. Throughout his forty year career he was a tenacious combat leader and always took care of his men. He also gained the nickname 'the warrior monk' as he has never married and owns a breathtaking amount of military books. He was one of the first officers who created a required reading list for his men. If you are a leader in anyway shape or form military,civil,sports or other. Learn from mad dog, be the best leader you can be. 

Keep reading and keep thinking. 

Gladius actual out. 

Review: Agilite tactical RnR tee shirt. Part 1.

Some of you may be thinking how can you review a tee shirt? It's pretty basic? Well I ordered this shirt for something to wear under my combats at work and do a bit of PT in. Well for a tee shirt this seems to be made by angels! When I first put the tee shirt on to do my daily gym session I was amazed by the softness of the material. At first I thought this might be due to it being fresh out he pack, but when I wore it a few days later under my combats at work it felt as good as it did when I first pulled it on. The material wicks moisture away from the main points on your torso where ou sweat and still retain its dryness, if you get a tee in your size I promise you that if you use this for gym, combat or everyday attire you'll end up buying more. The RnR series of tee shirts come not just in the military olive green but a variety of civilian attire appropriate colours. If these aren't in your wardrobe or being under your uniform ask yourself why? Take it from me I never thought something so basic could be made so bloody well. On a personal level I would like to see a military brown one made because some units have specific dress policy regarding what you wear under your PCS shirt / jacket. If your looking for a decent tour tee shirt to commemorate you tour,excercise or course get in touch with the guys at Agilite in sure they can square you away.

This has now been changed into a two part review so I can review this tee shirt some more, plus it'll be a good excuse to get back into the gym. And I can get a few more pics of it in action.

For more from Agilite check out www.agilitegear.com

The Instagram account that this blog is linked to is continuing to grow but I can't bring more reviews to you without your help. Spread the word help make Gladius tactical the go to place for tactical reviews for the man on he ground. When I started this is was to sift through all the crazy expensive gear and pick the kit that any service member in the lower ranks can afford. This is the main mission and with your help it can continue. 

Thank you for all your continued support.

Gladius actual out.

Review coming soon: Warrior 901 Elite 4 MultiCam chest rig.

The tax man gave me a little gift the other day. So I thought I'd put some off it to good use. 

Picked up this chest rig from UK tactical this morning during their sale. Review will be coming hopefully by Thursday so stay tuned in for it then. 

Gladius actual out. 

Ferreday Rhodesian assault vest.

Ferreday and sons of Sailsbury in the former Rhodesia was the premier maker of tactical equipment to the Rhodesian security forces during the bush war.

Due to the short comings with the standard issue webbing the Rhodesian forces began tailoring their own belts as well as taking the better constructed Warsaw Pact chest rigs of dead terrorists. Or buying from ferreday and sons in Sailsbury Rhodesia.

The Rhodesian forces had a lot of freedom when it came to equipment and clothing in the bush. Hence the bush shorts and gym shoes. 

The load usually carried on a fire force mission was generally suited to carrying ammunition and water for short fire fights with quick supporter from aviation assents. 

For the collector these vests are hard to source but can be found in online retailers in Zimbabwe or if your looking for a decent reproduction some ferreday kit can be found in eBay. 

Thought I'd bring it back in time for a bit as I see a lot of similarities between the fighting load carried by a Rhodesian soldier on fire force and the new fight light policy being pushed by the infantry battle school at brecon. Tell me what you think, leave a comment on the Instagram. 

Remember to read the history of those who fought well. 

Gladius actual out. 

You can tacticool anything....

Whilst watching the discovery show there was a gun show where the gunsmith made something truly beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen something like this but Christ on a crutch it's a amazing thing! 

Well there it is! For those not in the know that's a Thompson sub machine gun from the pre war era. That has been tacticooled to a whole new level. 

Hope you enjoyed this Friday night post. There will be more to come in the week. 

Don't forget to enter the "Tactical coffee club" competition. You could win a guns and coffee patch from Ukmc pro solutions. 

Gladius actual out.  

The Allyness checklist.

This post by the online comic "contact, wait out" is bloody spot on. And I'm guilty of pretty much all of these kit purchases. Especially the beret shaping has got me bagged by the hierarchy a few times. 

Gladius actual out.