For the almost 40% of the US military with real jobs. 

We talk business, news, and culture for the PART⚡TIME warrior.

This week:

• Gray Manning in the Era of Loud Professionals

• Maduro Snatch-and-Grab: Your Politically Aligned Talking Points

• SCRA 101

• USERRA Problems at Work? Hit up Brian Lawler

• News Roundup: What Happened Last Week?

Interested in becoming a featured newsletter sponsor? Want to be highlighted or contribute? Reach out to [email protected]

“Gray Manning” in the Era of Loud Professionals

In intelligence and defense, a "gray man" is someone who blends seamlessly into any environment, becoming unremarkable and unmemorable to avoid detection or threats, effectively hiding in plain sight by appearing as normal background noise.

The art and science of “Gray Manning” has been lost in recent years with the advent of after-market military gear and SOF influencers.  As reservists, we should be natural Gray Men (and women), not standing out as lethal weapons, but ready to punch out and go to work if needed.

To that end, our team likes to avoid known military and other flashy, loud brands, opting for simple, classy looks.

Our model above is running a British Navy style commando sweater that works just as well at the office party as it does infiltrating a cargo ship to take down narco-terrorists.

He’s also running a warm, highly versatile, black wool cap from Black Wool Cap. A basic, high quality product that can be used both taking the kiddos sledding or channeling your inner Soap MacTavish. Not fancy, just functional (and stylish).

We came across Black Wool Cap and love it because it offers one product, done extremely well, hence the name. It’s also veteran owned, American made, and just cool.

Cop one for 15% off if you use the discount code: GRAYMAN

Maduro Snatch-and-Grab: Your Politically Aligned Talking Points

By now, you know that the US conducted a fairly large operation using SOF to arrest and extradite Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

You want to sound informed on the subject, but also toe your party line like a good little sheep. So, here are your talking points:

If you’re a conservative:

1. Rule of law: If he’s indicted, indictments should mean something.

2. Disrupt the pipeline: Hit narco networks at the top, not the street level.

3. Deterrence: Message to other bad actors: “distance ≠ immunity.”

4. Regional stability: If the regime’s a driver of chaos, removing it could reduce spillover.

5. Credibility: Allies want the U.S. to act like it means what it says.

If you’re a liberal:

1. Not Authorized: This was a clear act of war not authorized by Congress as required by the Constitution

2. Sovereignty blowback: Looks like a violation of international norms—easy propaganda win for Caracas (and Moscow/Beijing). Why shouldn’t China just take Taiwan now?

3. Power vacuum: Taking the head off doesn’t guarantee what grows back is better or controllable. Remember that little thing called the GWOT or any number of times the US tried to do “regime change”?

4. Alliance fracture: A lot of regional partners may quietly want Maduro gone but publicly reject a U.S. raid. Cooperation takes a hit.

5. Second-order effects: Retaliation against U.S. personnel, diplomats, or hostages; cyber or proxy responses; destabilization that spikes migration.

6. Distraction from Epstein: The date of the raid, January 3^rd, was the statutory date for the DOJ to explain its redactions in the Epstein files.

Now go forth and contribute to the cesspool that is American political discourse.

SCRA 101

If you are currently or soon will be on Active Duty orders, you should know about the SCRA and how to leverage it. Basically, it provides certain protections, saves you money, and helps you terminate leases early if necessary.

But, it’s not automatic. You have to take proactive action (like most things).

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a federal law that gives service members—including Guard and Reservists on qualifying active duty—legal and financial protections so military service doesn’t wreck your civilian life. It exists for a simple reason: when the government orders you to serve, you shouldn’t lose your home, get buried by interest, or get steamrolled in court because you can’t show up or keep up.

The SCRA is one of the few laws that can directly lower your bills when you go on qualifying active duty.

Major SCRA benefits (high impact):

• 6% interest rate cap on many pre-service debts (credit cards, auto loans, some mortgages). Any interest above 6% must be forgiven—not “paused”—during the covered period. Many large financial institutions will actually even surpass this and lower your credit card interest rate to like 3% or 4% and it usually lasts for a year from when initiated.

• Lease termination for certain residential and auto leases if you receive qualifying orders and meet notice rules.

• Foreclosure protections and court safeguards that can slow certain actions while you’re on covered duty.

• Default judgment protections if you’re sued while serving.

How to use it (do this before you ship):

1. Pull your orders and your LES.

2. Email or mail each lender/landlord a short SCRA request with a copy of orders. You will normally have to find or be directed to a military affairs team who handles this.

3. Ask specifically for SCRA protections and refund of excess interest already charged since your start date.

4. Keep everything in writing.

Resources:

1. DoD SCRA Website (DMDC)

2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) - SCRA Guide

3. Department of Justice (DOJ) - Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative

4. Military OneSource - SCRA Overview

5. Armed Forces Legal Assistance Locator

Your Job. Your Service. Your Attorney.

Boss giving you grief about your military commitments? Call Brian Lawler.

If you’re running into problems with your employer due to your military service, contact Brian Lawler.

Brian’s a former Marine pilot, reservist, and one of the top USERRA attorneys in the country. He knows the law better than your HR department, and he’s made a career out of holding employers accountable.

Free consult. No win, no fee.
If your job’s on the line, Brian’s the guy you want in the fight.

Set up a meeting here.

Merch Up with The Fratty Guard

Rep the P⚡T Culture or Design Your Own Custom Unit Gear

If you want to make baller ass unit gear repping our logo suite, check out The Fratty Guard Unit Collab Store.

Or for the GOAT classics, head over to The Fratty Guard.

PART⚡TIME News: What Happened Last week

• Map of Greenland Under US Flag Sparks Danish Ambassador Response

• Schumer Says Senate Vote on Venezuela Still Unclear

• Trump, Maduro and Venezuela’s Presidential Palace: What We Know

• Trump Pressures Mexico’s Sheinbaum Over Venezuela

• Army Creating New AI Career Field

• Army Considers New Height and Weight Standards

• Trump Says He’s Dropping Push to Nationalize the Guard in Chicago, LA, and Portland

• Pacifist Japan Moves From Exclusive Self-Defense Toward Military Buildup

Support the Fight

If you support the work that Friendly Forces does, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help keep the lights on. Every bit helps. Turns out stuff is expensive and we put countless man hours into the work.

That’s it for this week.

Absolutely massive things coming.