index

HESCO: putting earth between you and bad guys

Jamie Goldstein

This tiny little spit of land no bigger than a football field was remote, isolated, and protected only by guard towers. The entirety of the perimeter was constructed out of a massive wall of HESCO barriers.

If you deployed to a forward area, you’ve probably seen and relied on HESCO barriers to keep bad guys from reaching out and touching you where you ate and slept. You might have even filled a few using an e-tool or your helmet, depending on how resourceful your command was or wasn’t.

My first tour in Iraq started in 2005. My Company utilized a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the middle of nowhere called the Lions Den. This tiny little spit of land no bigger than a football field was remote, isolated, and protected only by guard towers. The entirety of the perimeter was constructed out of a massive wall of HESCO barriers.

When I was moving around the FOB, I felt safe having seen these wire baskets of dirt stop blasts from rockets, small arm fire, and 120mm mortar rounds. So yeah, I have kind of a biased affinity for HESCOs.

Well us young guns weren’t the first generation of the warrior blood line to utilize these things. Actually, HESCO barriers were first used as means to protect families and properties from destruction as they faced incoming storms of the fiercest nature.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeps blast out, keeps blast in. Video Courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/BritishArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BritishArmy</a>, 11 EOD Regiment RLC assisted Kent Police with a WW2 German bomb at the former RAF Malling site near Maidstone, making the device safe for the site’s redevelopment. <a href="https://t.co/AUY946hi5R">pic.twitter.com/AUY946hi5R</a></p>&mdash; HESCO (@HESCOGroup) <a href="https://twitter.com/HESCOGroup/status/1262356056778342400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

M18 Enamel Pin – For When It’s Time to Bounce

M18 Enamel Pin – For When It’s Time to Bounce

Inspired by the iconic M18 smoke grenade, this Pop Smoke enamel pin is for those who know...

“From this need, the innovative wire-mesh gabion system, with geotextile lining and rapid deployment features was created. This innovation became the HESCO Concertainer Unit, later acknowledged as the most significant development in field fortification since WWII.”

Nowadays, HESCO’s portfolio includes border security solutions, hostile vehicle mitigation, environmental and security barriers, and ballistic resistant armor plates.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The city of Kamloops, BC are protecting critical infrastructure from floodwaters using Hesco barriers. Story credit to <a href="https://twitter.com/KamThisWeek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamThisWeek</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BritishColumbia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BritishColumbia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kamloops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kamloops</a> <a href="https://t.co/1l0qzwrfHF">https://t.co/1l0qzwrfHF</a> <a href="https://t.co/j0vaZceDI1">pic.twitter.com/j0vaZceDI1</a></p>&mdash; HESCO (@HESCOGroup) <a href="https://twitter.com/HESCOGroup/status/1260537428437282817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

HESCO continues to innovate earth-filled barriers with one thing in mind: Their legacy was borne from one need to protect critical assets from harm using “rapid, reliable and robust solution[s].”

You may so like

Blog

0 comments
Two airmen at a Wyoming Air Force base pleaded guilty to lying about a fatal shooting that led to a temporary suspension of Sig Sauer M18 pistols at U.S. nuclear sites.
0 comments
The Rapid Support Forces’ takeover of El-Fasher after an 18-month siege has triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region. Leaving thousands trapped, displaced, and in urgent need of aid.
0 comments
Sudanese paramilitary forces allegedly executed fleeing men and civilians after capturing Al-Fashir. Deepening the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Darfur.
0 comments
A fighter jet and helicopter from the USS Nimitz crashed into the South China Sea. With all five crew members rescued safely as investigations into the incidents continue.
0 comments
The Pentagon confirmed receiving an anonymous $130 million donation to help pay troops during the ongoing government shutdown. Though the amount covers only a fraction of military payroll costs.