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This Memorial Day we’re honored to share the story of Major Jason E. George through the eyes of his close friend and military brother, Kyle Carone.

Kyle, a former Captain who now serves as Director of External Supply at Emergent Biosolutions, met Jason in January 2009 at Camp McCrady. Both were involuntarily reactivated from their Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) status to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, assigned to the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team based in North Carolina.

Kyle remembered how Jason stood out immediately not just as an exceptional soldier, but as someone whose very presence raised the bar. Graduating from West Point in 1994 as an undefeated boxer, Jason embodied excellence in all aspects of life, duty, and brotherhood. After commissioning into active duty, he completed Army Ranger School and steadily rose to the rank of Major. 

After stepping away from active duty to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan, Jason built a promising career in healthcare consulting while remaining committed to service in the IRR.

In 2009, when duty called again, Jason didn’t hesitate. Assigned to the critical Civil Affairs mission with the 1-252nd Combined Arms Battalion in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jason applied his intellect and experience to rebuilding communities in southern Baghdad. That’s when things took a turn.

On May 21st, 2009, during a meeting aimed at revitalizing local businesses, Jason and two fellow soldiers were attacked by a suicide bomber as they exited the meeting.  Kyle vividly remembers the night before Jason’s passing as they just finished a grueling gym session shared with a tight-knit group known affectionately as the “IRR Mafia.” 

Jason was older than most of the group and always led by example pushing everyone to their limits leading to fit mental, physical, and social excellence. But that didn’t mean he lacked personality.  The next morning Jason sent an email that detailed the aftermath of their intense workout, jokingly lamenting about the challenges he encountered digesting the dining facility food and commenting on the extreme soreness he endured. From intense physical demands to non-stop laughs, these candid moments are also treasured memories that Kyle Carone keeps as one of Jason’s many legacies.

Jason’s spirit and unwavering determination continue to inspire Kyle daily. Jason taught him to seize every opportunity, no matter how challenging, because each situation offers a chance to make a lasting impact.

If Kyle had one final message for Jason, it would be to reassure him that his profound admiration and love for his stepfather, Hugh, were clearly communicated. Knowing that Hugh understood the depth of Jason’s gratitude and affection would surely bring him peace.

Today, we honor Major Jason E. George whose dedication to excellence, service, and friendship continues to touch lives and inspire those who knew him.  Thank you Kyle for sharing both your and his story.

Today’s memorial comes from Dean Ditto who served Active Duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992, finishing up as a Corporal after deployments to Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  

I lost my good friend and brother-in-arms, Cpl Khaldun Everage. Everyone called him Savage, and it fit. He was 6’2″, built like a linebacker, and Chicago tough. Savage and I couldn’t have come from more different places as he was from inner-city Chicago, and I was a suburban kid from Michigan. But we both joined the Marines eager to become the best versions of ourselves. That common goal bonded us quickly and deeply.

Our first deployment together was to the Philippines. Our patrols were mostly quiet, long nights filled with conversation and laughs. But when things got serious with attempted infiltrations or suspicious activity, we had each other’s backs without hesitation.

We moved as one, acting on pure instinct and trust built through our relentless training and brotherhood. It wasn’t until those moments that I truly understood the depth of trust you could have with another human being. Savage was more than just a fellow Marine, he was and is my family.

After our service ended, Savage headed home to Chicago to start a family and build a life dedicated to helping others. He became a respected leader, mentoring troubled youth and serving as an example of hope and strength in his community. Every time someone asked him how he was doing, Savage would flash that unforgettable smile and say loudly and sincerely, “LIVING THE DREAM!” followed by a big hug and his favorite goodbye, “See you at the top!” He was the guy everyone turned to for motivation.

We stayed connected over the years, through letters, phone calls, emails, and eventually social media. Whenever I visited Chicago or he came to Detroit, we always tried to get together, though our lives sometimes got in the way. Savage had his picture taken with presidents and governors. He was a rock who seemed unbreakable.

That’s why it hit me so hard when I got the call that Savage had taken his own life. I was stunned and heartbroken. The guy we all admired, who taught us all so much about positivity and resilience, had fought a hidden battle none of us knew about. It showed me that even the strongest among us can face struggles that go unseen, and reminded me just how crucial it is to stay connected and supportive of one another.

I think back to a night in Okinawa before we shipped out to the Gulf. Savage, myself, and a few Marines had spent the evening drinking, laughing, and bonding over stories and fears. In a moment of questionable judgment, we decided it would be a great idea to wake up our Platoon Commander and offer him a beer.

As expected, he wasn’t thrilled. Just as he was about to tear into us, Savage, without missing a beat, calmly popped the tops off two beer bottles and offered them to our officers with a completely straight face. It diffused the tension instantly and somehow kept us out of trouble. That was Savage, always finding the positive spin even in the worst situations.

If I had one more chance to talk to him, I’d simply tell him, “See you at the top, brother!” Savage taught me a lesson I’ll carry for life: positivity is always the best approach, no matter the circumstances. To honor him, whenever someone asks me how I’m doing, I proudly and sincerely reply, “LIVING THE DREAM!”

Rest easy, brother. You’re never forgotten.

As part of our remembrance weekend for our fallen heroes, one of our team members would like to share his story.  Today is in memory of Staff Sgt. Dwayne Lewis is remembered by his former squad member, Master Sergeant B.G..

Master Sergeant B.G. is an E-6 veteran who now serves as a Sales Associate at SecureIt Storage. He remembers meeting Staff Sgt. Lewis or “Lew” immediately after joining their unit. “Lew was impossible to miss because of his sheer size,” but it wasn’t just his physical presence; Lew had a magnetic personality and the kind of spirit that naturally draws others in.

If you’ve ever felt someone’s presence and gravitated towards them, this was Lew.  He was magnetic and that made it easier for the unit to bond and get inline.  You just knew you could always count on and trust Lew.

Lew immigrated to the United States from the Caribbean island of Grenada at age nine and always aspired to serve this great country. He tragically lost his life on February 27, 2006 in a fierce firefight near Baghdad, Iraq. Known among his peers as someone who consistently placed the needs of others above his own, Lew’s loss deeply impacted everyone who knew him.  This included his wife Sgt. April Foster Lewis who is also an Iraqi war veteran.

Reflecting on the lasting influence Lew had on him, Master Sergeant B.G. emphasizes the importance of expressing love and appreciation to those closest to us. “Lew taught me to always let your loved ones know exactly how you feel. Life can change in an instant, and you might never get another chance,” Master Sergeant B.G. shared.

If Master Sergeant B.G. could deliver one final message to Lew, it would be brief but powerful: “We’ll take it from here.”

Lew is the embodiment of an American hero.  He may not have been born here, but he loved the USA enough to give his life for his adopted country and to protect his fellow Americans.  For his sacrifice and his love of America, we recognize him this Memorial Day weekend.

Today’s tribute comes from Master Sergeant B.G. in honor of Sergeant First Class Mike Goble.  

Every year, Memorial Day hits differently for those of us who’ve lost someone we served beside. For me, it’s a time to remember my friend, my teammate, and my brother-in-arms, Sergeant First Class Michael J. Goble.

Mike was killed in action in December 2019 in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. He was only 33. We were on the same team for a few years before he transferred over to Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA or the A-team) 7132. Even after that, we still ended up working together including the same fights and the same missions. There was always some good-natured trash talking between us, but underneath it all, he was my mentor from day one.

We even went through Military Freefall Jumpmaster and ATIC together. Those courses weren’t easy, but having Mike there made them more bearable as we pushed each other, laughed when we probably shouldn’t have, and had each other’s backs like always.

There’s one day I’ll never forget. Christmas Day, 2019. That was the day I escorted Mike’s body home to his family at Dover Air Force Base. I can’t put into words how hard that was. Watching his loved ones greet the casket, feeling the weight of everything we’d done and lost.  It was the worst day of my life.

But there’s a memory that stands out even more, our last conversation. Our teams had been operating in different provinces for a couple of months.  The day before he was killed we moved to their FOB to prepare for a joint op. While we were getting our gear ready, Mike and I sat down and talked.  Not just a regular conversation, we really talked. We laughed a lot, shared future plans, and joked about the ridiculous stuff we’d been through together. It was the best conversation I ever had with him.

A few hours later, we got the call.  A MASCAL (massive casualty event) had occurred and Mike was critically wounded.  Myself and others waited outside the TMC (troop medical center) while the medics worked on him, holding onto any hope we could. Then the doctor came out and told us he was gone.

If I had one more chance to say something to him, I’d probably call him a “Dink” as that’s how he always greeted me. Then I’d just say, Thanks for being my friend.  Where friends normally provide guidance and advice, I didn’t get any specific learnings from my time with him in the traditional sense.

I learned by watching his actions.  Mike showed me what it meant to work harder than anyone else, to stay longer, train harder, and push past excuses. Whether it was building the most squared-away intel products or sharpening skills on the range, Mike gave everything he had. He didn’t do it for praise, he did it so we could be the best and bring our guys home.

This Memorial Day, I’m thinking of Mike. Not just the soldier, but the man who could make you laugh in the worst conditions, who never stopped grinding, and who never let you forget how much you mattered.

Here’s to you, brother.

MSG B.G.

Magazines and clips are not the same when it comes to firearms as clips feed magazines which feed firearms, and magazines feed the firearm directly eliminating a step in the firing process.  Although both hold and load ammo into the chamber, and both can be attached to the firearm, they serve different purposes and have different uses.  

The term clip comes from the ammunition being fastened or “clipped” to the holder and loading to the firearm as needed, where a magazine loads based on the shooting action of the firearm.  Clips can be used to load ammo into a magazine, but magazines cannot load ammo into a clip, and that is the main difference between the two.

Clips tend to load cartridges more accurately and in some cases faster than a magazine because they hold the ammo together in storage, while magazines feed the ammo in more of a real time situation.  But even though magazines can be better in a live fire situation, clips may be able to change in and out faster giving you more shots which come in handy for security and self-defense situations.

The last main difference between a clip and a magazine is that clips are older technology and more common in revolvers and single-shot firearms.  Magazines are newer technology and can be used with modern firearms.  And with the differences there are similarities.

For example both magazines and clips have three types.  Magazines come in internal meaning they’re attached to the firearm and are an older technology, detachable which are able to be removed and replaced, and tubular which is similar to the internal but used for more modern firearms.  

Clips come in half-moon or circular which describes the shape of the storage chamber, stripper clips which reference the side strip where the ammo loads to the chamber, and en bloc which like internal magazines are nestled inside the gun.  Both clips and magazines can also be stored the same way in your gun safe.

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Having manufactured military grade gun safes and gun lockers, many customers over the years have asked about the differences.  They main question is if one is better than the other, and how to choose between the two if they’re stuck. 

Good news, this guide will answer these questions, and we’ll keep it up-to-date as new customer inquiries come in.

We cover the:

• Appearance
• Locking mechanism
• Size and Capacity
• Usage
• When to choose which over the other

Appearance

Visually we naturally associate a storage unit with open holes in the metal doors or some form of pattern that allows you to see through it a locker, and a gun safe when the walls are solid.  It makes sense visually, but a gun locker can have solid walls just like a gun safe, and the locking mechanism is the same as a locker. So the visual differences aren’t the only telltale sign of what the unit is.

And some storage units appear to be safes, but when you see them in person you’d likely consider it a locker because it’s just a key with a little latch that flips over and keeps the door locked.  Or the metal could be thinner or seem less secure than what we’d imagine with a safe. 

Bonus tip: The thickness of the metal does not always mean more security.

Locking Mechanism

This is the best way to differentiate a gun safe from a gun locker.  Gun safes have bolts that penetrate into the metal walls for added locking whereas gun lockers may be a moveable piece of metal that simply rests behind the wall and turns with a key to lock and unlock the storage unit.  

The locking mechanism on a gun safe can be a key, keypad, or biometric, while a gun locker is likely going to be a lock and key, or a keypad.  It’s mostly the bolts that go into the wall that creates the difference between a gun safe and a gun locker.

Size and Capacity

Both gun safes and gun lockers come in all sizes, but gun safes tend to have smaller storage capacity than lockers because they’re more about protecting the firearm and being hidden from plain sight when there is an intruder.  But the size and capacity do not matter when comparing the two, both can be large and small, so this one isn’t a qualifier, but it a common question.

Usage

Both are meant to provide secure storage for your firearms, but they serve very different purposes.  Gun lockers are better than gun safes if you need something with easy access and multiple people need access.  This includes gun clubs, ranges, storage for your hunting room, etc….  

The purpose of the gun locker is storage and enabling the people that need access to have access whereas gun safes are for securing and storing your firearms and being accessible to you and not a potential threat when you need your firearms for protection.  That’s where these play very different roles.

Burglars may enter through your garage, and a gun safe with thick metal doors may be more intimidating for them to try and open than a gun locker where they can see the firearms.   The threat may think that picking the lock could give them an advantage over you.  But that is speculation and may not hold true for your situation.

When to Choose Which

Both gun safes and gun lockers make sense for multiple situations, but there are a few in particular where one makes more sense than the other.  It is better to go with a gun safe than a gun locker when it will be in the path of an intruder as a gun safe can be hidden and give you the element of surprise.  And this applies to houses with kids too.

Your kids might be aware that the gun locker is no place for them, but if they have friends that sleep over or you have family for the holidays, a gun locker may seem like something the other kids may try to break into so they can play with the guns.  A safe blocks their eyesight of the firearms and may seem more intimidating, so they’ll leave your firearms alone when comparing the physical design of a gun locker to a gun safe.  But don’t count lockers out.

If you have a firing range, a gun club, or a secured gun room you hang out with your buddies in, gun lockers make accessing them and counting to make sure all guns are secured and inventory is accounted for is easier than a gun safe as you can see through.  The same goes for police stations and security firms.  Gun lockers provide ample secure storage while letting your teams access their firearms quickly and efficiently.  

There’s benefits to both gun safes and gun lockers, and when you have to choose between them, consider where it will be located, how much visibility you want for your firearms, and the level of security you want in a locking system.  Did you find this guide helpful?  Subscribe to our blog for more just like it.

There is no shortage of dangers in the wilderness.  To make remembering them easy people have created rhymes (mnemonics) about everything from plants to animals, and even the weather.  If you need a refresher on the rhymes because you’re teaching your kids, or are curious about their history, this post is for you.

Below you’ll find a few of our favorites.

If red touches black venom they lack, if red touches yellow kill a fellow

This rhyme was created to help people in the USA determine if a snake is the venomous coral snake or the harmless milk or kingsnake.  We emphasize USA here because this does not apply outside of the US or to all US species.  

People import snakes from all over the world and sometimes they get loose.  If you remember this survival rhyme, also remember that it was meant to identify coral vs. milk and kingsnakes, and never engage when you come across one.

This mnemonic doesn’t have a guaranteed origin, but it may have come from a man in the 1860’s named “Fat” Jack Loticus who is not the modern day singer.

Pink sky at night sailors delight, pink sky at morn, sailors be warned

This mnemonic saying has been used for predicting sailing conditions for about as long as we’ve been sailing.  In fact it was referenced in the bible as a note to shepherds in the Book of Matthew (you can read each variation here).  Although the English version didn’t come around until years later, the rhyme is a reference to atmospheric conditions.

When the sky is red at sunset it is a sign that high pressure is rolling in from the west and the next day will be clear.  The reverse would mean storms are potentially coming if you see it in the morning.  

The red skies are light being reflected through air particles and moisture which can also change the clouds to red.  As the air cleans up there may be less of a chance of a storm which is why it would be “smooth sailing” if the saying is true. 

The origin is unknown, and it exists in multiple languages.  The first studies and recording of meteorology date back to 3,000BC, so the saying could have started more than 5,000 years ago.

If it’s brown lay down, if it’s black fight back, if its white say goodnight

This rhyme originated to help people know what to do when a bear attacks.  If it’s a black bear the rhyme would indicate you want to fight back.  When a grizzly bear is heading towards you, you’d lie down and play dead.  Is a polar bear coming at you?  According to the mnemonic you’re about to die.

Although this may sound like good advice, WebMD makes an important point that you first need to identify why the bear is coming at you and the situation around you.  And then take the proper action which you can learn by attending a quality survival class taught by certified professionals that manage and work at the parks where bears live.

Leaves of three let them be, leaves of four eat some more

Leaves of three is a reference to remind you to leave poison ivy alone, and the hit TV show the Simpsons added their own flare when Homer included “leaves of four eat some more”.  Although the saying is funny, it is not safe to eat any plant unless you can positively identify it and that it is not treated with hazardous chemicals.

There is a related saying here regarding the vine of the poison ivy plant that goes “hairy vine no friend of mine.”

If the Berry is White Take Flight

This rhyme has a dual meaning.  For some people it means you’ll die if you eat white berries and the “take flight” part is your soul leaving while for others it means you should leave the plant alone.  This is because many white berries (around 90%) are toxic, and SmokeyBear.com has some other advice when eating berries in the wild here.

There’s no shortage of ways to remember how to survive in the wild, including using tools like a compass and “Never Eat Shredded Wheat” which refers to north, south, east, and west, or “being humble around an umble” as numerous types of umble plants like the poison hemlock.  Kids tend to laugh when they hear “nope rope” which is a reference to venomous snakes, and the laughter may help them to remember not to go near it.  If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments section below.

Recapping SHOT Show 2019

The NSSF SHOT Show took place this past week in Las Vegas, NV. We set up shop in a new booth location to show off more product and to talk about what customers can expect in the future from SecureIt.

Enough is Enough. Get The Answer.

In recent years, our booth focused on our custom Gun Walls and the modularity of our storage system. This year, we brought everything out for display. As we walked people through the booth, they got to see everything from our Fast Box hidden gun storage systems to the Answer cabinet line to the weapon racks used in our military armory installations (along with a few new prototype brackets).

Also on display in our booth was a gun safe that we cut through in a demonstration to highlight what you’re actually getting when you purchase a traditional “gun safe” (actually an RSC).

Many were shocked and surprised to hear that it only took 1 minute and 29 seconds to cut all the way around the top. This is why we displayed our collection of smaller, modular, discrete and easily hidden product lines. Why bother with a big and bulky RSC that does not provide true storage capacity when you can get something with a smaller footprint but still provide a great level of storage capacity?

The People Who Get It

In raising these points with visitors, one common reaction people had was that their “gun safe” does not store the number of guns they said they could. In fact, when walking through the show, NO OTHER GUN SAFE COMPANY had firearms displayed in their products. Why? Because they know they can’t store the number of guns they say they can. Visitors seeing our products in person for the first time also expressed interest in the ability to start with a smaller storage unit while having the ability to expand over time with the Agile Quad Kit.

Tour Our Booth

Get a walkthrough of our booth to see what we had on display:

Touring the Show

We work with a number of industry leaders to provide the best storage for their firearms and products. Check out a few displays from companies that were using SecureIt’s CradleGrid Technology:

Palmetto State Armory

Falkor Defense

Horizon/Iota Firearms

Davidson’s

How a technology storage expert, turned military weapon storage guru, is revolutionizing the way military armories store their weapons

Tom Kubiniec got involved in military weapon storage in 2001 while running a technology storage company. He received a call from a client who asked if his storage company could store MP5s in one of its high-security laptop storage cabinets. He was intrigued, and as he looked further into military weapon storage, he found that there were serious concerns and difficulties with the existing systems. The military was moving to modular weapon systems which leveraged a wide variety of attachable optics and electronics (ACOGs, PEQs, etc.). Weapon storage systems, designed for traditional battle rifles (M16, M14, M4), simply were not up to the task of storing these modern weapon systems with their modular components and parts.

Weapon storage systems on the market became very complex, non-adjustable and very difficult to use

It seemed that the companies supplying these weapon storage solutions did not fully understand the challenges and requirements of the modern armory. Most manufacturers were reacting to military weapon system changes by simply adding new components and pieces to their existing rack systems. The net result was that most of the weapon storage systems on the market became very complex, non-adjustable and very difficult to use.

“We took a different approach”

Tom took a different approach. His storage company was fortunate to be located in southern California, with proximity to many military installations. Tom and his associates took every opportunity to visit these facilities to talk with the armorers in command about the challenges faced in a military going through a modernization initiative. They rapidly gained a great deal of experience in military armories. SecureIt was created as a business to address the challenges associated with storage and organization of modern modular weapon systems.

SecureIt® wins the USASFC armory assessment contract

In October 2006, USASFC (U.S. Army Special Forces Command) was facing several big issues in their armories. “Space-saving” storage systems that had been recently purchased were simply not working. The weapon storage systems were too complex and despite the name, took up way too much space. A solicitation was put out for an armory assessment program. SecureIt won the contract. Over the next seven months, SecureIt traveled to all CONUS Army Special Forces locations, surveyed the armories, interviewed the armorers and observed the workflow. This level of access to our most elite fighting forces was normally impossible. The time spent in the armories and the frank discussions with team members gave SecureIt an incredible amount of information and experience.

In their brief to USASFC (US Army Special Forces Command), SecureIt outlined the need to move away from component-based weapon racks – systems where you have a “universal rack” and different brackets for each type of gun. These types of systems may work when installed but fail when there are changes to the units equipment list. They also require specially trained factory technicians to install and reconfigure.

The simplest solutions are the ones that withstand the test of time

SecureIt set out to develop a simple solution that would address the needs of a modern armory and easily adapt to changes. All things being equal, the simplest solutions are the ones that withstand the test of time. “CradleGrid” was the solution. SecureIt’s easy to understand, no training is required weapon storage platform. SecureIt weapon racks adapt to changes without the need to purchase new or additional brackets and do not require factory technicians to install or change. The new system was a big hit and quickly adopted into SOCOM armories. Since then, SecureIt has designed and installed weapon storage solutions for all branches of the military as well and foreign fighting forces all over the world. SecureIt is now the largest supplier of weapon storage systems in the world and Tom is respected and the leading authority on weapon storage and armory design.

Looking for a way to see the Agile Model 52 in action? Check out what customers across the web have been saying about their SecureIt products.

Gun Digest

See the full review at gundigest.com

HuntingLife.com

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Kat Haas Outdoors

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AP2020 Outdoors Adventures

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Wranglerstar

[Note: This is an overview of the gen-1 Agile Model 52]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkT8VBBTYeQ

13C Gun Reviews

HandleBandle

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On Target

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The Truth About Guns

Check out Dan’s Gear Report review over at thetruthaboutguns.com

Bonus Clip

Looking to create your own custom storage solution? We can help with that! Check out what the Old Fart Restorations YouTube channel was able to do with a vintage candy machine and a Retrofit Kit.

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