Since 9/11, Militec, Inc. has received thousands of emails from American troops requesting more than 500,000 bottles of all sizes of MILITEC-1 weapons lubricant to insure that weapons don't ge clogged with environmental debris and malfunction.
Army bureaucrats, citing "Military Specifications" for weapons lubricants, have in recent years, blocked shipping MILITEC_1 through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). During six months of 2003 and all of 2004, DLA purchased and shipped more than 600,000 bottles to military units. The Army's own product was being bypassed by the troops, in favor of MILITEC-1. For this Militec, Inc. was awarded a gold medal and, and offered a multi-million dollar ID/IQ contract with DLA, to meet demand. Army bureaucrats, however, stopped that process by cancelling MILITEC-1's National Stock Numbers (NSN's), which are used by military units to order supplies through DLA.
MILTEC-1 was rapidly gaining favor with the troops who did not want to use the Governments CLP because of dust clogged weapons. As a result of our success in early 2003, MG N. Ross Thompson (CG TACOM) kicked us out of the supply system to insure the Army's own lubricant would remain as the only authorized lubricant in the DOD system.
Later that same year two senior Army Generals over ruled the TACOM Commanding General's ban on MILITEC-1 and reinstated the product into the supply system. As a result we supplied almost four million dollars worth of product in 18 months. A long term multi-million dollar contract was offered by the DLA to Militec, Inc. early 2005.
Once the two senior Army Generals retired at the end of 2004, the new commander, MG Roger Nadeau's (CG RDECOM) first order of business was to kick us out of the supply system in the spring of 2005. This premature action was done even though the supply system offered us a long term contract and the same supply system could not even keep up with the demand.
This is a tragic example of misuse of authority triggered by the not-invented-here syndrome. This is tragic because MILITEC-1 functions as a dry lubricant enabling weapons to function properly in extreme environments, where wet lubricants, including the Army's own CLP (Cleaner, Lubricant and Preservative) become fouled by collecting dust and sand to the gunmetal.
Some background: Based on Vietnam War experience, the Army issued a requirement for a weapons lubricant, CLP, that functions by leaving a volatile oil on weapons' surfaces. It performs well in controlled laboratory. However in the combat climates of Iraq. and now Afghanistan, the fine "talcum powder" like sand and airborne debris form a paste with the surface oil, so CLP-treated weapons don't fire reliably if at all.
After MILITEC-1 is applied to a weapon, it becomes bonded into the metal surfaces, resulting in lubricated, dry surfaces that do not attract sand or dust. The Army's policy of cleaning weapons up to eight (8) times a day is no longer necessary. This constant cleaning policy confirms that the Army's own lubricant does not work properly. MILITEC-1 conditioned weapons do not require hourly cleanings since there is no oil on the surfaces to collect sand, dust and debris.
Many troop emails state directly that MILITEC-1 saves lives, and that CLP causes jammed weapons. What's frightening is the Army's bureaucrats consider thousands of troop's emails as simply anecdotal and also disregard the after action reports (AARs) where MILITEC-1 is mentioned favorably.
The owner of Militec, Inc. refuse to have our troops denied the advantage of MILITEC-1. Consequently, the company has spent more than $2 million of its own money to provide product, at no cost, directly to any soldier, Marine, airman or sailor who requests it by email, phone or mail. These shipments continue daily. The owner puts the troops welfare above his own, and now the company is in financial trouble.
It is worth noting that the US Coast Guard, not dependent on the Army for lubricants, uses MILITEC-1. Many federal and state and local agencies specify MILITEC-1 for their weapons. Several weapons manufacturers have included a bottle of MILITEC-1 with new weapons delivered to their customers and many recommend MILITEC-1. The Army's product of choice has virtually no commercial endorsements.
Militec, Inc. is seeking to have its NSNs reinstated that were awarded in 1993 along with those authorized in 1995, so that military units that need MILITEC-1 can order it through the supply system once again.
This is a real story. It is local and national. It is current and controversial, since it pits an Army supported product against a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) item. Lots of politics involved. MILITEC-1 literally saves live that are otherwise imperiled and -very-important-MILITEC-1 lets our troops meet the enemy with confidence that their weapons will function properly when called upon.
Soldier of Fortune speaks to the troops and, more importantly, for the troops. We hope that your past good record can continue with a few good words for MILITEC-1. Thank you for your past support and understanding.
Russ Logan