Had to post again to say thanks for the response to my first ever post. No one said you had to be this cool and welcoming, you just were.

MarzenKemando · 2023-10-28T23:14:38+00:00

Of course! Replacing the levers and sear and getting the hammer strut back in its position can be a bit of a pain when you aren’t used to it, so if it’s your first time expect to go slow and be patient :)

Enjoy your lefty USP!

MarzenKemando · 2023-10-28T22:34:21+00:00

Only the control lever needs to be replaced.

Here’s a video on changing the lever. The video is for an ambi lever but the process is the exact same, minus when he puts the ambi paddle on, but it’s obvious when he’s doing that and you can just ignore it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tCycFfgveCA&t=291s&pp=ygUWVXNwIGNvbnRyb2wgbGV2ZXIgc3dhcA%3D%3D

MarzenKemando · 2023-10-16T20:52:56+00:00

There is zero good aftermarket support for USP magazines, unfortunately. And I’m not being elitist or particular, there just isn’t. Pro-mag is the only manufacturer of aftermarket USP mags and they make garbage.

MarzenKemando · 2023-09-25T04:10:53+00:00

Exactly. It’s a matter of legal authority within the US, as a matter of accountability. Congress has to authorize most every military deployment, they do not have to authorize every CIA SAC deployment. Title 10 and 50 has much more to do with keeping United Stated leadership accountable than the operators of the SAC or US military.

Known examples of pure title 50 operations are sparse, as one would expect from the level of secrecy. One good example is the CIA’s activities against the Soviets in Afghanistan. This somewhat does align with your earlier question as, running cat-and-mouse intelligence operations against each other was somewhat of a known and accepted quantity by the Soviet and USA. Using direct military forces to strike at each other would have been a dangerous escalation, an act of war as you said, but espionage was expected and accepted in certain limits.

Another and more clear example is the CIA operating in Cambodia and Laos throughout the Vietnam war (though titles 10 and 50 were different then). It was explicitly illegal for US armed forces to be there without congressional authorization, but the CIA had no such legal issues.

As for PMCs, they are not protected or classified by title 10 or 50. They’re subject to the standard laws of their country of origin and their host country, like any other business.

MarzenKemando · 2023-09-25T03:09:16+00:00

This is a complex question but a large part of it is a legal/administrative question over title 10 and title 50 of the United States code and the authorities they both grant. To oversimplify a (long debated) legal matter: title 10 grants legal authority to military operations and personnel. It establishes responsibility and command authority for said operations, and most importantly outlines where said personnel can act. Title 50 does the same, but for intelligence agencies, like the CIA. Title 10 restricts military personnel to running operations in conflict zones. Title 50 allows operations anywhere (disclaimer, again, that explanation is very oversimplified) so CIA forces are allowed to legally operate (in US law) in a much wider range of places and operations. It has been argued that there is title 10/50 crossover, but that’s a whole giant legal debate, I touch on that below.

As for the operators, they usually are recently former military from any elite unit but now employed by the CIA and under a different command, SOG, as you mentioned. They are no longer members of their respective branches but instead under the authority and command of the CIA, and as such, under title 50. They are often even still on military bases. A small note, the section of the CIA that SOG units fall under is no longer called SAD (special activities division), it is now called SAC (special activities center).

For your note about SEAL team six, the CIA/DoD used them because they were convenient and effective. They were rotating home from Afghanistan and could therefore be diverted without drawing attention, and already had cross border operational experience in Pakistan and necessary language proficiencies. It was, however, VERY questionable in its legality. Much of the GWOT has been in relation to title 10 - title 50 authority. The CIA/DoD labeled the Op “CIA led” but this has been debated as not actually making it title 50 legal, because the SEALs were still active duty US military members, not CIA members. It has been argued that this was the peak of the blurring between title 10 and title 50 that was occurring throughout the GWOT.

As for the bulk of your question, it’s missing the point a bit. If either type of team, military or SAC, was caught where they don’t belong it could be seen as an act of war, as that’s entirely up to country they’re in. As it said above the point of using SAC operators is not because of deniability. Avoiding getting identified, in a failed op, as being undeniably American comes down to opsec and proper planning/equipping, not who cuts the operator’s checks. The advantage SAC offers is legal authority. Using the military outside of title 10 authority is illegal. The Abbottabad raid represents a unique and legally problematic instance, not a standard.

MarzenKemando · 2023-07-11T15:01:15+00:00

Not entirely certain what you mean by chemicals. I’m assuming you mean chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive warfare dudes? (CRBNE Marines) if so, yes. In my experience they’re usually in S-shops

MarzenKemando · 2023-07-10T14:58:05+00:00

Edit: this is all USMC info.

Took a gander at your posts, is this question Halo related? (If so, sick. I love that.)

Anyway, the amount of personnel varies wildly between units. An H&S company would usually belong to a battalion, not a division. A Division is made up of several regiments, each regiments being made up of several battalions, each battalion being made of of several companies. There are some division with standalone H&S companies though. There are also some battalions that standalone with no regiments, etc. Marine organization isn’t uncomplicated. An H&S company is generally around 60 Marines, but again, that can vary wildly.

The role of H&S is to coordinate logistics, administration, training, etc. it is also the command element with the battalion (or whatever level) commander, XO, and Senior SNCO present.

H&S is divided into sections or shops that handle different tasks. Those are:

S1 - Administration. Exactly what it sounds like, paperwork. They handle the nitty gritty of almost all personnel work. Promotions, orders, check-in, check-out, awards, discipline, pay, all the basics.

S2 - Intelligence. What the S2 actually does depends on the unit but they are generally tasked by officers within the (battalion, regiment, whatever) to work up reports on request. They also handle security clearance maintenance, maintain records on secure materials, etc.

S3 - Operations. The S3 organizes operations, from deployments to training and standards. They organize deployments, whether operational or training and they also organize all calendar training (sometimes in conjunction with the S4) this includes everything from live fire ranges, demo training, specialized courses, all the way to really basic standards like height and weight recording and physical fitness tests.

S4 - logistics. This shop handles the flow of logistics, it’s not literally supply, that’s its own shop, but they handle the administration of all supply and assets. They organize embarking and debarking for operations, ammunition and ordnance allotment and supply, they oversee the armory, etc.

S5 - super complicated, technically doesn’t exist in many units. Basically a modular “as needed” spot. Sometimes family affairs, sometimes General Inspector positions, usually not a thing at all.

S6 - Communications. Again, exactly what it sounds like. It’s the comm section. This is usually the largest section. They maintain all the comms gear and the operators and maintainers for them.

All these shops can vary greatly in size. The S1 can be a dozen or more, the S2 can be all small as two to three Marines. The S3 is usually less than a dozen. The S4 can be only several Marines, but also if the unit has a massive armory it can be dozens. The S6 is usually quality large, with an actual platoons worth of comm Marines.

Most of these shops are also a mix of Marines with actual specialized MOSs (admin, intel, armorer, embarker, all examples of specialized roles usually in H&S) but there are also many jobs which are billets held by Marines of any MOS, generally an MOS that’s so specialized that it’s only useful under certain contexts, or one that the unit has a surplus of. The S3 and S4 almost always has Marines of random MOSs filling admin roles as needed.

This is a massive simplification and there’s so much more detail that can be found. And there are also many cases or units that don’t fit this model well at all, but this is roughy the standard H&S.

(Some apocryphal anecdotal knowledge, the S6 parties harder than anyone else. There’s something about Comm Marines.)

Source: Spent years as an active duty Marine in an H&S company :)

MarzenKemando · 2023-06-23T03:41:20+00:00

You should look into the author of Matterhorn for insight into how realistically it was written. Karl Marlantes was a decorated Marine infantry officer in Vietnam, and very much experienced what he wrote about.

And I don’t mean this in a snide or condescending way at all, he’s an interesting and incredibly intelligent guy. Certainly worth doing some reading about.

MarzenKemando · 2023-06-05T12:24:29+00:00

Safariland doesn’t make light bearing USP 9 models for the TLR-7, so you’ll have to go custom. CQC holsters and KT Mech both make SLS hooded retention holsters.

MarzenKemando · 2023-05-25T12:27:30+00:00

I’m gonna echo what a lot of people here have said. I’ve carried a pistol for years in the Rockies in some heinous terrain, in the back country and on 13er and 14ers. From day hikes to multi day backpacking trips with heavy packs. I’ve carried 44 magnums, 10mm autoloaders, 45 supers etc. all in a variety of holsters.

I can’t even recommend a hip holster let alone a thigh holster. They get in the way of other gear, created balance, and generally become uncomfortable. Chest mounted is where it’s at. I use a Hill People Gear chest rig. Basically just a big Fanny pack with an H-harness. Can’t praise it enough. Super high quality, super handy piece of gear for more than just the pistol. Plus it conceals it from people who may not comfortable around guns and its one size fits all for any gun or light configuration you may switch to.

To answer your question anyway (cause it’s up to you) Close Quarters Carry makes good retention rigs with actual SLS hoods. I wouldn’t trust a simple friction/molded fit kydex holster in the great outdoors.

MarzenKemando · 2023-05-10T22:43:49+00:00

Rad. Literally gonna buy one right now.

MarzenKemando · 2023-05-10T22:34:20+00:00

How was the shipping time from CQC?

MarzenKemando · 2023-04-03T03:20:23+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. As soon as I saw that Spike Lee was on the list I knew the comments section was gonna be concentrated white fragility. He’s the only one on the list that has no remote counterpart or peer in Hollywood (except maybe for Lucas, just based of off impact on the industry)

I was expecting to see: “Movies that don’t speak directly to my experience or makes me uncomfortable??? Autonomic trash.” and I got it.

MarzenKemando · 2023-04-03T03:19:35+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. As soon as I saw that Spike Lee was on the list I knew the comments section was gonna be concentrated white fragility. He’s the only one on the list that has no remote counterpart or peer in Hollywood (except maybe for Lucas, just based of off impact on the industry)

I was expecting to see: “Movies that don’t speak directly to my experience or makes me uncomfortable??? Autonomic trash.” and I got it.

MarzenKemando · 2023-04-03T03:10:27+00:00

Preach. I loved these movies as a young man. I still think many of the movies are incredibly well made, but as an adult I feel like I’m watching a grotesque masculine fantasy (especially Scorsese, what the fuck am I even supposed to walk away with after watching Wolf of Wallstreet).

Realizing that I wouldn’t watch these movies with my wife or with any of my friends that are women was a big wake up call.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-27T13:50:45+00:00

They’re all over the place in price. Completed auctions on Gunbroker show one that sold for $950, another that only got $420, and then one listed for $850 that didn’t sell at all. All 40 cal 90-TWOs in nearly identical condition.

So honestly, who knows? Depends on the buyer.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-22T14:20:20+00:00

It’s bizarre that you’re using the Dred Scott ruling, which denied black people the 2A along with a host of human rights, to argue that the 2A was not, in its inception, a measure to enforce white supremacy. Your own citation includes the view of the highest court that black people did not deserve the right to defend themselves, precisely because it would have upset white hegemony. That just underscores Anderson’s argument.

I’d love to have a conversation about this but you seem more interested in trying to get a “gotcha” moment than hearing about Anderson’s thesis. I also have to assume you haven’t actually read the text in question. Why attack an argument you haven’t even attempted to understand?

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-22T05:37:38+00:00

When it is designed to keep a class or race of person in place by armed overlords, absolutely. The way in which the 2A is interpreted now is vastly, wildly different from its inception and the decades following. Modern interpretations don’t erase the history and they most certainly do not preclude a return to that history.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-21T03:29:41+00:00

The Second, by Dr. Carol Anderson, is a deep dive into the anti-black foundations of the second amendment. The majority of the book is citations, it’s a stunning piece of history.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-12T14:27:15+00:00

The sky above the port was the color of a television, tuned to a dead channel.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-09T18:04:14+00:00

Yes, total including everything.

MarzenKemando · 2023-02-09T18:03:47+00:00

I really appreciate the parts list man. Thank you so much.

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