My attraction to the Rex Zero 1S started years ago when it first came out. YouTube channels were fawning over the new gun and were anticipating a swift rise to popularity for this Slovenian pistol. I reluctantly followed the updates about this pistol, and finally got the opportunity to handle it at SHOT show back in 2018. I found it to be borderline too awkward for me to handle effectively. I figured my first exposure was going to be the last I was going to give to the pistol, but fate had other ideas. Recently, Arex had released the Rex Zero 2S with the hope to answer consumer desires. Unfortunately, there are few places that sell the new design, and the classic Rex Zero 1S has been collecting dust on shelves. Yeah, leave it to me to buy a gun that has next to no consumer interest just to review it. SPOILER ALERT, I have been so pleased with the pistol that I got the compact version for concealed carry and I am looking at getting another so I can have one to put into service and one to beat up on the range.

I know how attractive it is to concentrate all our training time on the hard skills like shooting and tactics. I have been guilty of spending a good amount of time doing it myself in the past. However, I now spend a good bit of time practicing other skills needed for sustainment. There are more skills needed in the bush or when the grid goes down than just shooting. In this article, I am going to talk about a few things that are high priorities for you to learn.

The M16 has a special place in my heart. My military career revolved around two versions of the rifle. In bootcamp, I became familiar with the aging but rugged M16A2, becoming intimately familiar with its handling characteristics. In SOI and the fleet (Marine Corp infantry) I spent 99% of my time with an M16A4. The only difference between the A2 and A4, that I saw, was the A4 had a rail instead of a built-in carry handle that housed the rear sight. Other than that, there were no real functional differences.
About a year ago, I got myself a PSA16 which is pretty much like the M16A4, but without the metal rail system. It has rekindled my love for the M16 system, but is tempting me to buy a Harrington and Richardson M16A2 reproduction just so I can benefit from the battle proven iron sight/carrying handle setup. Anyways, this is what sparked this article.

​Having a record of your training and practice in self defense can help you in many aspects. It is a low possibility that you will have to use the training, but it is cheap insurance to keep a training record or log. In this article, I am going to provide some reasons why you should keep a training log and then discuss some options for how to format your training logs. This may be a dry topic compared to talking about ballistics or being John Wick, but this is just as necessary if you are going to reach a level of proficiency to be on par with John Wick…Just saying.

Recently I had a short conversation with some guys about how I stay fit and capable of hauling a 30 pound plus combat load up and down hills all day without much need for recovery time. As is normal, I get asked how I got to where I am in fitness and how one might get to the same point. I always say the same thing…. stay away from the gym. I will explain more later in this article, but the core message is that in order to get good at something, do that ‘something’ a lot, and then do it more with little food and rest. Sounds simple, right? It is so simple that people have a hard time believing it. 

​In order to be best prepared to perform as an asset in combat, you must first master the conventional positions and movement techniques on an individual level. Failure to change positions rapidly or cover ground quickly can result in you becoming a casualty, and thus becoming a liability to your team. For this reason, the individual is obligated to master their IMT or Individual Movement Techniques. Quick position changes and controlled movement is ideal. This demands a level of fitness that you cannot attain by going to the gym. The best way to reach IMT mastery is to practice these techniques through a sensible progression.

​After recently participating in both HEAT 1 & 2, I feel like I am qualified enough to give Max Velocity Tactical a semi-thorough look-through to inform you on the training opportunities they offer. They currently have 6 regularly scheduled class subjects, to include an Alumni get together in Texas each year, which I will attend, if able.

​During the middle of April, I attended a four-day tactical training course run by Max Velocity Tactical. The class was Hostile Environment Advanced Tactics 1 (HEAT1). In a nutshell, the class is an introduction to team fire and movement techniques and procedures. Nearly all the skills you learn are published in the tactical manual, seen above. During my four days, I camped on-site in the parking lot, in the back of my RAM and I insisted on walking/jogging with all my gear to & from the ranges. The four-day course of instruction cost $1200. You will not find a better environment to learn and practice real light infantry TTPs under the supervision of highly skilled cadre (Max and Scott). In this review, I am not going to talk about the play-by-play of the HEAT 1 class, but rather discuss the big-ticket subjects that you should be taking away from this class.

​The CCE camouflage pattern was introduced by the French Army in the early 90’s and has survived the test of time as a venerable camouflage pattern. Despite its’ good service record, the pattern is rumored to be replaced by the Scorpion pattern starting in 2024. The good news is that this means there will be a huge amount of CCE gear and uniforms coming to the surplus market. Will it be right for you?

​Self-defense is a broad subject that many of my fellow gun geeks have distilled down to the act of shooting an attacker. Based on my training and experience, there is a whole lot more to defense than pulling a trigger. In fact, defense goes well beyond learning ‘Gun-Fu’. There are stages leading up to the attack that you can see, countermeasures that can be taken, contingencies you can/should train for, and even methods in which you should conduct yourself before/after the critical incident, in the eyes of the law. The greatest flaw in mainstream firearms training is they are only preparing you for pulling the trigger, even in “self-defense” classes. This merely reinforces the myopic ideology that defense revolves around the trigger. I get that instructors will pander to the mainstream to keep their business alive, but I feel that classes can at least be enhanced or modified to include the reality of defense. But in the meantime, let me fill you in on a few things to munch on in your mind.