Over the past six months, we have been ramping up our hiring! A big part of our growth as a team has been our approach to training. This is especially the case for our Machine Operators. Each new operator gets to train with our Lead Supervisors to understand the machines they will be operating and the culture of our company including the gravity of safety and quality in all we do. After a few days, our new operators work with our more seasoned operators to dig even deeper into the use and care of the machines.  

One of our first Machine Operators, Jake Hohenstern, remarked when asked about training, “I look forward to coming in everyday, because I enjoy the challenge of training the next group of expert technicians.” I share Jake’s excitement. I’m continuously impressed by the conviction he brings to training up our team in professionalism and precision. And I, personally, am thankful that our company values training so highly. 

Beyond that, there’s an entirely separate element outside the business in how we view each other simply as people. We are a family here at First Breach. I am a better Lead Supervisor because of the relationships we foster, the traditions we create, and the stories we share.  

One of my favorite traditions is sharing stories about our lives and experiences before joining First Breach. It helps us understand where we came from and where we see ourselves fitting into First Breach.  

I enjoyed getting to know the team on this deeper level. We talk about many things, like machines we’ve operated, our families, faiths, and hobbies. And, of course, we bonded over ammunition and firearms, the Second Amendment, and politics.  

I am sincerely grateful for the richness of our corporate culture; it informs everything we do. 

While I did not serve in the military nor did I come from a military family, I recently experienced a brief glimpse of what it means to be from that world. The moment I knew that I was attending the A.U.S.A (Association of the United States Army) show this October, I was instantly curious and excited! It was my first time attending a conference within our industry, and I had it all planned out in my mind. I anticipated learning as much as possible about the products and organizations I came across. My mission was to explain First Breach’s products, values, and capabilities to prospective industry partners. As I departed Boston for Washington DC, our nation’s capital, a subconscious rush of patriotism overcame me, and I was ready.  

On the show’s first day, I entered the convention floor with two friends, one of whom was a coworker at First Breach. Both of these individuals are proud veterans of the U.S Army. Within the first 100 feet, we had encountered half a dozen Army veterans that my friends knew from their military careers. Each interaction was a microcosm of what it truly means to be a veteran and the connections made therein. When their eyes made contact, they embraced each other with smiles, hugs, and genuine excitement. They spoke about their current jobs and positions and all about their families. The sincerity and care between the members of this group were apparent, particularly when showing visible concern when speaking about their mutual “Brothers” who were currently suffering. Each interaction reflected these amazing humans’ emotions and passion for life. I knew then that the experience that I was about to have would trump any academic learning. For the next three days, I was fortunate to encounter some of the world’s most skilled warriors and advanced technology. Every person I met from the U.S Armed Services branches treated me with the utmost respect.  

My recent experience has influenced and re-shaped my view of what it means to respect those who have served our great country. I urge everyone to engage with military veterans and thank them for their service. I assure you, thanking our servicepeople never gets old. Our thanks show well-earned humanity and kindness to these heroes who personally risked and sacrificed for our country. I am blessed to work for First Breach with some of the best people in our industry, and the new friendships I’ve formed have given me an incredible new perspective on why we do what we do and who we do it for.  

A very big thank you to all of the service people of the armed forces of the United States of America! We at First Breach salute you!                       

World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT) is an annual report by the US State Department. The WMEAT was a required annual report of Military and Arms transfers worldwide. This requirement was instituted in a 1994 Statutory Provision that required publishing this information directly on their website.  

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 repealed this. For those of you that do not know, Congress passes the budget for the Department of Defense (DOD). This budget determines how money is allocated for all government entities under the DOD. This budget includes gear, ammunition, weapons, explosives, aircraft, ships, contracting, food, and more. Interestingly, that Statutory Provision was removed during the last budgeting cycle.  

The WMEAT report has been published since 1974, with little explanation why it has been discontinued. These reports remain available and publicly accessible as Adobe PDFs or Excel spreadsheets on their website, and you can access them from https://www.state.gov/world-military-expenditures-and-arms-transfers/. If you genuinely want to see the global arms trade, I would absolutely recommend researching these numbers. It is interesting to see how many products are manufactured, exported, or imported by other countries. The data is fascinating, particularly when compared to the timeline of significant world events over the years.  

At First Breach, we are constantly following the defense industry’s data and trends to do our best in staying ahead of the curve.  

Since the pandemic, companies have struggled to maintain their supply chain lines and produce “bread and butter” products such as 9mm ammunition. Today, they’re finally making a coming back (albeit slowly), with many dishonest brokers looking to exploit the vacuum in the market. First Breach is here to help reliably fill that void with our component manufacturing.   

At First Breach, we have secured a substantial amount of raw materials that will keep us in production for a significant amount of time. Our prices will not change because of the availability of components in the market. Pricing changes would only be in response to our Cost of Goods (raw materials) adjustments and the required shipping. We want all ammunition loaders to have a fair shot, and we will provide reliable match-grade components to ensure the opportunity is available. 

Standing in my friendly local FFL, I saw what all of us have seen over the past few years: empty ammo shelves. I went to the range to buy what I could get my hands on, and after using several brands I wasn’t previously familiar with, it didn’t take long to see some ammunition is simply better than others.  

The quality of the ammo my groups used varied significantly, resulting in vastly different outcomes each time I changed brands. I’m not one to blame my tools, but the lack of consistency was ridiculous. I count on my firearms and the ammunition I put in them to protect myself and those around me. I never want to jeopardize my family, friends, or community with unreliable ammunition – and I know I’m not alone. Everyone wants a product they can rely on when it counts! 

At the start of 2022, I grabbed hold of the opportunity to be a part of First Breach. I knew I could raise the bar on reliable ammunition in my own small way, and I am so proud to provide precision components for American gun owners and their families. First Breach’s commitment to quality and safety is unmatched in the industry, and I believe that other folks like myself will feel much more confident with our products at their side.