Happy New Year

For those deployed away from their families,
you are in our thoughts and prayers tonight

Christmas Greetings to our deployed troops

MERRY CHRISTMAS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Returned from deployment, Looking forward into 2013

Afghan Sunrise

This will be my last formal blog post for 2012. There will be a few posts to mark special occasions. I have recently returned from another deployment from Afghanistan and will spend some time with my loved ones and the new gear that have piled up while I was away.  Looking forward to next year, expect the same quality content but a new style for the blog. Just to keep things fresh.

Spotting a Concealed Weapon

Eyes up on a swivel; Cues pertaining to concealed carry:

Welcome to our guest blogger:  Earl Green, former Ontario Provincial Police officer, current firearms and tactical trainer

From a Canadian law enforcement perspective, I have only seized a couple of handguns directly off of criminals on the street. Most of the guns that I have found were hidden in vehicles, luggage, etc. in relatively close proximity to the subject.  The very first gun I ever seized was during an early morning check of a hitch-hiker for warrants. As I spoke with him, I foolishly remained seated in the driver’s seat of the cruiser and he kept reaching inside his coat (it was a cold February morning). I finally made him stand in front of the cruiser so I could watch him as I checked his ID. It turned out that he had pulled an armed robbery with a handgun the day before and a warrant existed for his arrest. I took him down at gunpoint and, upon searching him; I found that he had a .25 Auto in his front, left, inside coat pocket. He told me he didn’t pull it because he thought he couldn’t beat me on the draw. Note that I was seated in the car with a .38 in a thumb-break holster, my hand was on the gun because I usually rested it there however, I would have had issues drawing and presenting to him. Essentially, I would have been trapped behind the wheel.  Obviously, I have since practiced drawing from being seated in a vehicle and working around the steering wheel. And, of course, I have since never stayed seated in the car when speaking to a “client”. I find that I should note that this was in 1992 and there was very little “tactical” instruction or training available or offered by our service at that time.

Plate Placement

I have seen, with some regularity, many soldiers and LEOs wearing plate carriers too low. The hard armour plate protecting more of the abdominal cavity, rather than the truly vital areas within the thoracic cavity. Note the top portion of the plate just covers the sternal notch for proper placement.

Click on to Enlarge

Take care out there.

Action Shooting Competitions

Where does competition fit into tactical training regimen?

In the article ‘The Five Finger’s of Tactical Proficiency’, I laid out what I considered as the principles in developing tactical skill sets. The fundamental building blocks discussed in that article are safety, weapon manipulation, accuracy, speed and tactics. I am a proponent of using ‘practical’ shooting competitions for development of skills. However, they are some positives and negatives with participating in the action shooting sports for the armed professional.

IPSC is a sport. Most competitors use sports equipment,
not tactical gear...

Physiological Stress vs Physical Stress

Physiological Stress versus Physical Stress in Tactical Training

There are many videos of courses of fire and range drills post on the internet that combine physical activity and shooting. Many of the ‘experts’ post these segments claiming that it will “simulate a body alarm response” or ‘how your body will react in combat”. Unfortunately, the science does support those statements. There is a difference between Physiological Stress and Physical Stress.

Tactical Belt Review: CTOMS QR 1.5"

The CTOMS QR 1.5” Belt

A climbing rated quick release Cobra buckle
Click on to Enlarge

The CTOMS QR (Quick Release) 1.5” Belt was designed by the talented staff at CTOMS for specific government client intended for tactical work in a foreign theatre.  It is a different take on the traditional 'riggers' style belt with increased rigidity for bearing equipment and the added capability to be an extraction belt, if required. A climbing rated quick release Cobra buckle replaces the old style webbing friction buckle. The Cobra buckle allows for faster donning and doffing of the belt and prolongs service life preventing wear on the running end of the webbing. 

Cool Guy Tool: Leatherman MUT

I walked into my unit kit shop one day a year or so ago. Perusing the shelves for new stock, I saw much of the same as I saw every time: quick dry field towels, plastic mess kits, single point rifle slings (ewww!), and cool guy tools. I saw a new box on the shelf, a Leatherman MUT.  Having heard about this tool, I purchased it immediately.

Tactical Rescue Planning

Tactical Rescue: Making the Plan

After the decision has been made to perform a tactical rescue, a tactically sound and medically appropriate plan must be made. These considerations must be balanced. No sense in performing a rescue and creating more casualties because of a poor plan and best intentions. Additionally, it will not be a successful tactical rescue if you cause further injury to the casualty. Remember, the principles of tactical medicine. All aspects of tactical medicine are guided by these fundamentals.

Click on to Enlarge