Get an Authentic GEN 3 PVS-14 for only $2,395!!

Everyone has a Black Friday sale these days... This year Morovision decided to join in with the festivities! In giving thanks to YOU, we are offering GEN 3 PVS-14s for only $2,395! Plus, if you use the coupon code MORO12 at checkout, we'll give you a fifty dollar Combat Carrying case, for FREE! This offer is valid from Friday, November 23 - Sunday, November 25.

So, you can stand in line all night to get some free socks and a sweater you'll never wear, or you can shop online and get an AUTHENTIC GEN 3 PVS-14 NIGHT VISION MONOCULAR!! Its a no-brainer.

Check it out HERE!

5 Easy Steps for Getting Grant Money

In today’s tough economic time, it’s hard getting the right tools and materials for your Law Enforcement agency. And with budgets being continuously cut, a hard job is progressively getting tougher. Financial issues leave many departments under-equipped, under-staffed, and over-exerted.

Grants can help provide mission-critical tools and resources for your agency. The money received from grants can be used to hire new officers, pay overtime, or even purchase new equipment like night vision devices.

Here are 5 steps to help you not only finding grant money, but get it.

1. Plan and Decide

When it comes to grants, the first step for you to make is to identify your needs and/or wants. What will benefit your agency? What will benefit your city? What will keep your officers safe? Thinking through questions like these will allow you to pinpoint what your agency is lacking and begin formulating your “case” for the grant proposal.

2. Find a Grant

There are billions of dollars of grant money up for grabs every year – all you have to do is find it. Remember that grants come in all shapes and sizes and can be offered not only by the government, but by private companies too. At the bottom of this post, check out the list of resources that provide grants to Law Enforcement agencies for various items.

3. Write the Grant

Writing the grant is one of the hardest parts of the process. Be sure that you are effectively expressing a NEED based on a PROBLEM that can be FIXED or SOLVED with the grant. It is also important to keep in mind that you are being clear and concise. A decoratively embellished, ‘pretty’ sounding grant proposal may seem more professional and formal, but statistics, evidence, and showing a need carry more merit than an ornamental vocabulary. Regardless if you are awarded the grant or not, save the proposal for reference in the future; you may be able to tweak it and resubmit next year.

4. Spend the Money

Spending grant money can feel like a shopping spree, but it’s important to follow the regulations and restrictions of the grant – don’t spend training funds on a new patrol car. Also, make sure you spend ALL of the money to ensure you will get more in the future. This doesn’t mean waste the grant money; it means that your agency should be resourceful with what you’ve been given by putting it to good use. While you spend the money, document everything.

5. Grant Report

Depending on which grant you have been awarded, you may need to report your expenditures. This will provide the funder with information on how and when you allocated the resources. Be detailed and include how the funding has helped your agency.

Morovision will work with you to help you get grant money for night vision equipment. If you have any questions, please call or email us.

Resources

Listed below are some of the MANY resources to use to find grant money. Leave us a comment or tweet at us if you find another great resource!

Grants.gov

www.grants.gov

Fundsnet Services

www.fundsnetservices.com

Grants and Funding

www.grantsandfunding.com

Federal Register

www.archives.gov

Community Foundation

www.cof.org

US Department of Justice

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm

Walmart

http://foundation.walmart.com

PoliceOne.com

www.policeone.com/grants

Foundation Center

www.foundationcenter.org

How to Buy Night Vision

When looking into purchasing a night vision device for yourself or for your agency, it is essential that you are properly informed. The last thing you or your fellow officers/agents want is an outdated or faulty device for obvious reasons. Ensuring you have the proper tools can ultimately increase your operational capabilities, situational awareness, and survivability. Before making any decisions regarding night vision keep in mind the following points:

Night vision devices are made up of two key parts:

       -   The image intensifier tube (and its technology)
 -   The housing unit

Tubes:

Image intensifier tubes are like diamonds or fingerprints – no two tubes are exactly the same. Creating tubes is a long, complicated process that involves using a gallium arsenide photocathode. The photocathode causes negative electron affinity which allows it to create photoelectrons out of photons resulting in a clearer, brighter image. The only US manufacturers of image intensification tubes are ITT Exelis (the #1 supplier of night vision equipment for the US Military) and L3. Photonis and ATN are examples of foreign manufacturers but predominantly produce Gen 2/Gen2+ tubes. The latest generation of tube technology is called GEN III + (or Gen 3 Plus). For a complete rundown on tube generations, refer to this post. For the most thorough and extensive comparison of images from the different generations of NVDs, refer to this comparison done by TNVC, an authorized dealer of Morovision products.

Because the process that image intensifier tubes go through is so complex, there are some blemishes and characteristics that can be expected such as spotting or honeycombing. “Clean” tubes are called “hand-select” and are available through some companies.

Housing:

The second most important piece of a night vision device is its housing unit. Housing units follow the trend of all manufactured products today: There are the durable, solid housing kits manufactured in the US, and there are cheap imitation knock-offs manufactured elsewhere. Even though they may look the same, housing units CAN have an effect on tube performance and quality.

What to look for before you buy:

Demand only US name brand, factory warranted systems direct from the primary US manufacturer and/or its authorized dealer. Also, make sure that the company you’re buying from is reputable and can be easily reached by phone or email. Name brand systems include ITT Exelis Night Enforcer NEPVS-14, and Morovision Night Vision systems including the MV-14P PINNACLE Monocular and PVS-7 Goggle Gen 3 PINNACLE. All of these U.S. Military battle proven systems utilize factory new, Generation 3, 64 lp/mm resolution (Typical) SELECT Exelis image tubes, full Mil-Spec nitrogen purged housings and optics and include a comprehensive manufacturer's warranty.

If you have any questions regarding night vision, feel free to contact Morovision by phone or email.

How ARMY RANGERS use the PVS-14 in CQB (Close Quarters Battle)

While reviewing topics to discuss in future posts, I came across the following article written for Morovision in early 2011. Written by a combat veteran who recently got out of serving in one of the U.S. Army Ranger Battalions, it was too good to pass up, so I decided to post it. For security, the author of the article remains anonymous, however I can tell you that this soldier has completed six special operations overseas combat deployments (Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa) and was active in more than 200 combined missions, including with units from U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD), the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) and Britain's Special Air Service (SAS). He is currently assigned to another U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) unit.

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The PVS-14 night vision monocular is something that can give any law enforcement or military unit an extreme advantage in any tactical situation.  The one caveat to that is that YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO USE THE PVS-14 PROPERLY. In this article I will talk about how I applied close quarters battle (CQB) techniques, in combat operations, with my Ranger unit during room clearing operations in low/no light conditions. If you don’t already use these techniques in your unit I recommend you give them a try during your next training exercise.

As military or law enforcement personnel we carry firearms, whether it is a sidearm, or a carbine.  The use of the PVS-14 night vision monocular system gives us the advantage of not only seeing at night but being able to use our firearm at night responsibly.

The first main rule is that how you shoot, meaning with which hand, and using what dominant eye, stays the same, with or without the use of night vision equipment.  If, for example, you are a right-handed firer and right eye dominant, then that is how you will shoot at night using the PVS-14.  Remember, as shooters, we do everything the same to build muscle memory.

What this means, as it relates to your PVS-14 monocular, is that whether it is mounted on your helmet or a skull-crusher (that would be your head harness) the PVS-14 must be mounted over your non-dominant eye.  For example, if you are a right-handed shooter with your pistol and are right eye dominant, then the PVS-14 is mounted over your left eye or the other way around, if you are a left-handed shooter with your pistol and are left eye dominant, then the PVS-14 is mounted over your right eye.

As it relates to using the PVS-14 monocular in a room clearing operation, if you have a day optic, IT IS ONLY FOR DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS.  You do not look through the PVS-14 into your day optic. This changes your sight picture and how you bring your weapon to your face.

The PVS-14 can be combined with a laser system such as the PEQ-2, to take advantage of using the infrared (IR) spectrum of light at night, which is invisible to the naked eye.  This is most effective.  If you do not have a laser, do not change the configuration of your PVS-14 and continue using the night vision over your non-dominant eye.  Simply bring the weapon system up to its normal firing position in front of your face and shoot.  If you are competent with your weapon, you know where your rounds are going, regardless of being able to use your optic or not, because of limited visibility.  Remember, although you may be in limited visibility at one moment in time, you may enter a situation where you may want to use your tactical flashlight, or all the lights may come on, at which point, because your optic is free from your PVS-14 monocular, you can quickly transition back to using your optic as if it were daytime.

In conjunction with your PVS-14 night vision monocular it is recommended you use a tactical flashlight with your weapon.  At any point inside a building or room, or even near an unnatural light source, it may become bright again.  That is why you do not cover up your firing eye with the night vision, so you can quickly transition from the InfraRed (IR) spectrum to the full spectrum.

Although the PVS-14 can filter out “white light” there is a split-second delay and it still obscures part of your view.  With your “tac” light, upon entering a room, you switch on the “tac” light and sweep the room using your firing eye, which is not covered, and when “room clear” is called, switch off your “tac” light and go back to the IR spectrum. In the dark, this quick blast of light boasts the additional advantage of blinding the enemy/suspect momentarily.

The one change to this would be if you were in a support by fire situation, you may choose to mount the PVS-14 to the Picatinny rail system on your carbine and hunker down behind your weapon and look through both the night vision and optic, although this is not optimal.

An additional tip is that you may wish to field craft a counter weight for your helmet to keep your helmet sitting on your head correctly.  Anyone who has had to move tactically with a helmet mounted PVS-14 can remember constantly adjusting his helmet after each bound or movement.  This can be done by taping a few batteries together and Velcroing them to the back of your helmet.  It’s cheap, keeps spare batteries handy and works. Getting a good chinstrap and making sure it fits properly also helps quite a bit. I recommend something similar to a MSA combat chinstrap. Speaking of quality equipment, it is important to use only the best equipment when your life is on the line and that is why my Ranger unit exclusively used the PVS-14 made by ITT Exelis because of its performance and reliability. We all want to get home to our families alive and in one piece!

Above everything else, remember the most important tip is to train as you fight and fight as you train. Using the PVS-14 night vision monocular is not a magical “see-in-the-dark” fix but a tool to be used and as with any tool, you must constantly train with it to become proficient in its use so it becomes second nature to you.

If you find this article useful you may also want to read his first article “2 Important PVS-14 Training Tips from a Combat Veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers”.

Gen 4 Night Vision - Fact or Fiction?

There has been a lot of buzz regarding Generation 4 (GEN IV) Night Vision lately. Some people claim that Gen 4 is the latest and greatest in night vision technology while others claim that it does not exist. This post will clarify the claims made about the “Fourth Generation” of night vision optics.

View from a GEN I Starlight Scope

To start off, it is essential to know the history of image intensification and how the generations are classified.

Night vision systems were first introduced during World War II by the German Army, but because of their size, weight, and cost, they didn’t become main-stream until the Vietnam War. The Generation 0 and Generation 1 (GEN I) classifications are used to describe the night vision used in WWII and Vietnam.

Utilizing a micro-channel plate with an S-25 photocathode, second generation (GEN II) devices provided a much brighter image in comparison to the first generation. The PVS-4 would be an example of a Gen II device.

With third generation systems, the image intensification tubes use a photocathode made with gallium arsenide, greatly improving image brightness and clarity. GEN III night vision tubes also use an ion barrier film on the micro-channel plate. This film increases tube life but also results in the “halo” effect around bright spots.

And here is where things get tricky.

Numerically, 4 comes after 3 – so it only makes sense to label the newest image intensification tubes as the fourth generation. These so-called “GEN IV” NVDs boast the impressive auto-gating feature: the function that automatically adjusts the power supply to adapt to any changes in light. In addition to the auto-gating feature, the ion barrier has been removed, allowing for a more dynamic image with less noise. Unfortunately, these improvements are NOT granted the Gen 4 label. This is due to the US Military’s standards of classification noting that the improvements, while extremely advanced and clearly noticeable, are merely a stepping stone for what is yet to come…

In conclusion, it has been determined that there is NO such thing as a GEN IV Night Vision Device – They are referred to as GEN III+ or Gen 3 Pinnacle. As ENVGs (Enhanced Night Vision Devices) and the COTI (Clip-On Thermal Imager) are allowing a thermal image overlaid onto the classic Night Vision image, we see the opportunity for night vision to head in a different, more functional and advanced direction.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.

The Art of Using Night Vision

I can remember the days when night vision was scarce. Training for night vision was closing your eyes for up to 45 minutes before a patrol took place so that your eyes were adjusted to the darkness when the squad stepped out on patrol. If the patrol were to encounter lights, they would do everything they could to protect at least one eye that was adjusted to the darkness.

Times have changed drastically in the sense that the need for night vision is so paramount that every service member deployed that leaves the wire has a form of night vision, typically a PVS-14 monocular. In an attempt to level the playing field against the permanence of "Home Court Advantage", technology provides tools limited only by the imagination of the user, that instill uncertainty, fear, and dish out cans of “Whoop Ass” from the “Super-Sized” menu to the bad guys.

From my experience, the biggest problem with night vision tools is that they are not used until units get into their theater of operation. This is potentially dangerous and can lead to fatalities. I understand the need to preserve items that cost thousands of dollars each but how will the item benefit the user if he/she does not train with it? How can the user become skilled in operating the optic without sufficient time using it during the trial and error phase of a training cycle?

While conducting the many different infantry type jobs in the US Marine Corps, I have learned that everything used needs to be an extension of the user; from the boots to the body armor; the vehicle to the crew-served weapon. Weapon manipulation should be as if the bullet fired was under the same control as the finger that pulled the trigger. The shooter should instinctively know where the round impacted and what the factors involved that caused it to impact at its destination. Walking around with a night vision device mounted on a helmet should give the user comfort and not uncertainty. The only way to reach this point of efficiency is to perfectly practice regularly and realize that when a life-threatening crisis hits you it is unlikely that you will rise to the occasion but you will sink to the level of your training.

Night vision devices should enhance stealth. If you have to sprint or move rapidly, there probably is no reason to use night vision. If, as a shooter, I can hear you running towards me, I still have a target to shoot. The proper use of night vision should aid in eliminating visual and audible indicators that could give your position away and make you a target. The shooter should only move as fast as he can shoot accurately. Night vision will slow down your movement because of diminished peripheral vision and depth perception. As a shooter, who relied on stealth, it benefits me to take advantage of the night and move slower with more deliberation. This will increase accuracy while shooting on the move, increase stealth, and drastically limit fratricide.

I have used night vision as a secondary means of communication. Whether from a hide or in a CQB situation, infrared beams allow friendly forces to know my position. I have been in situations while out on patrol and have lost communication with an adjacent element. I know, no matter how thick it may get, I cannot return fire at certain ranges because of the lack of awareness of the position of that unknown unit. I would check for aircraft, and then throw a IR flood beam in the air. I have never seen a Marine miss an opportunity to participate in a Jedi Light Saber battle (cross their IR laser beams in the air), and therefore can effectively locate known and unknown adjacent units in the area.

From a hide, there is no need for the breach force to break radio silence when they see a laser coming through a window. I reveal to them my position, and the position of my muzzle and focus. There is no need to talk about it because if I can see their lasers, I know their general position. They can safely assume that I am focused on a potential threat, so either my shot eliminates the threat, or I shift my laser and they can assume the area is clear. If time is a factor for the breach force and they cannot wait anymore, then they can signal with rapid vertical movements of the lasers and my muzzle will shift to provide surveillance or precision fire in a different sector.

I understand these methods will not work for everyone in every situation, but the bottom line is that none of the techniques can be developed safely unless the guys coming back from missions are using these tools to reign in and refine their skills and increase their abilities with proper and constant training.

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL WOLFSEN.

About the Author:
Currently, Michael Wolfsen focuses on Law Enforcement and Military consultation and sales at Morovision, Night Vision, Inc. This past spring 2012 he was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps after serving over 8 years in various missions throughout 5 combat deployments.

Michael’s first deployment was the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, where he participated in the clearing phases and transitioned to the security phase that took place to enable the first democratic elections in Iraq. He returned to Iraq to serve as a Squad Leader in 2007 where he led over 500 patrols to deny the enemy the freedom of movement and to provide the locals with a stronger sense of security.

Michael’s first Afghanistan deployment moved him up to lead a team as part of a Distributed Operations Platoon that was trained to operate as a large unit with individually operating elements. His 3-man team spent time tracking and engaging the Taliban by direct or indirect fire in the mountains of the Korengal Valley. Follow up missions were to provide surveillance on main supply routes to deny the Taliban the ability to interfere with coalition troops’ access to those roads. He quickly discovered that clandestine skills during those times required quality optics and the proper training to use them, to remain undetected and to observe the enemy during the times they were most likely to operate, at night.

Michael was then transferred to Virginia for additional training and graduated from the Marine Basic Security Guard Course, the Advanced Urban Combat Course, a Non-Lethal Weapons and Tactics Course and the Green Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Course. He then deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct a surveillance and security mission along the Naval Base Perimeter. Michael was then transferred to Camp Pendleton, CA and redeployed to Afghanistan. He completed his career as a Sergeant and a Marine Scout Sniper Assistant Team Leader.

Mr. Wolfsen has vast knowledge in both day and night time operations pertaining to weapons and tactics, surveillance and effective use of tools that improve a shooter’s efficiency.

Michael’s combat experience has taught him that there is fine line to walk around with the highest lethality, yet at the same time maintain credibility and legitimacy providing security to all citizens in a particular area, all without causing harm or damage to innocent people. Urban deployments gave him a deeper respect for Law Enforcement Officers and their ability to remain holstered in a situation that could escalate in a blink of an eye, yet remain resolute in their physical and mental posture for the sake of the citizens, all while putting their lives at risk.
If you are a Law Enforcement Officer and your job is tactical and/or surveillance in nature, Michael and the Morovision Team are able and ready to assist. Morovision’s mission is to increase your operational capabilities, situational awareness and survivability.

New Morovision Blog!

Welcome to the NEW Morovision Night Vision Blog! Be sure to check back frequently for updates on the latest and greatest in  night vision technology, news, events, and reviews!