Happy New Year

Somewhere soldiers, sailors, airmen or marines are deployed tonight;
Hoist a Pint in their honour.
Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas, especially to our deployed troops

Merry Christmas
May God bless you
and keep you safe.

Lest We Forget

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We shall remember them.

OSTS Demo Day, June 2013

Simply sharing a  couple videos put together by the talented LAB ZERO PRODUCTIONS. This video was shot during the One Shot Tactical Supply Demo Day last June. This year LAV was in attendance as well as many suppliers and distributors. Enjoy!!

NFNF

NEVER FORGET, NEVER FORGIVE

Caracal Model C Pistol Product Safety Warning and Recall Notice

"Bad luck comes in threes" Supposedly, this saying originated during the Boer war when thrifty British soldier would try to light three cigarettes off the same match. The third soldier was taking his chances with accuracy of Boer snipers.

Picture courtesy Slick Guns

Springfield Armory 3.3 XD-S SAFETY RECALL

Picture supplied by Shotgun News

M&P Shield Safety Alert announced by S&W

Smith and Wesson has issued  M&P Shield Safety Alert on August 22, 2013. As the M&P is a very effective handgun platform, the M&P Shield became immediately popular with LEOs, civilian CCW and other armed professionals. The Whiskey Delta Gulf blog considered it important to share this information in the interest of safety.  This consumer safety alert applies to ALL M&P Shield firearms manufactured before August 19, 2013.

Photo by Smith & Wesson Corporation

Knight's Armament SR-15E3 with Jamie B

A few weekends ago, we shot a video of Jamie B using his KAC SR-15E3. It was provided by One Shot Tactical Supply, the Canadian source for anything KAC.

Photo provided by 2 Cent Tactical

Weekend at Rockcut Shooting Club

The Rockcut Shooting Club is located south of Powassan, Ontario, Canada. They have an excellent range facility that promotes traditional shooting sports as well as action oriented sports. The club itself has a forward thinking executive and an active membership. Regularly hosting action shooting matches and club level skills and drills nights, this a very active range for tactical/practical shooters.

Photo provided by 2 Cent Tactical

Good News and Bad News

I am a good news kinda guy so we will cover that first.

MagPul SGA for the Remington 870

Last year at SHOT show, MagPul Industries unveiled their SGA line for the venerable Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun. Releasing the SGA line (ShotGun Accessories) for the 870 was a wise move. On April 13, 2009, Remington Arms had produced ten million Model 870s and holds the record for best-selling shotgun in history. It is used by numerous LEO and military units internationally. Since then the SGA line has expanded to include the Mossberg 500/590, another prolific shotgun.

INFORCE 6vx

With the speed of modern operations, lightweight, compact, robust equipment that packs lots of punch is the rule, not the exception. Advanced technology and weapons have made allied forces highly mobile and more lethal. Between carrying those advanced technologies, the batteries required for it and modern ammunition loads, weight and space are at a premium. It is a game of ounces. Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. Handheld lights are no exception. Modern handheld tactical lights must be compact, lightweight  robust and longer lasting with a blinding output.

Happy Independence Day

Proud to have served
 beside you.
Happy Independence Day

Phase Line Green Tactical One Day Tactical Shotgun Course AAR

I do not particularly like shotguns in a tactical role. Shotguns are heavy, have a very short range and have limited ammunition capacity for a long fight. Even a properly configured combat shotgun, albeit more useful than a hunting piece, is a poor choice headed into a serious fight. Admittedly, I have had little shotgun training within the military and no formal training outside the work. I learned that Phase Line Green Tactical was hosting a one day tactical shotgun course at Grenville Fish and Game near Prescott, Ontario on the 2nd of June, 2013. Using the website form, I enrolled in an attempt to expand my understanding and skill level with the shotgun platform.

Happy Canada Day

Enjoy your Canada Day 2013

and take moment to remember those

who have served in name of

Canada

NDūR’s One Litre Pull Top Canteen (38 oz)

“If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk water from a hoofprint, I think I'll... I'll shake their hand or buy 'em a Daniel Webster cigar.” Rooster Cogburn, True Grit, 1969

They say you can live three days without water. Whether deployed, travelling or in an emergency survival situation, safe drinking water is key to survive and thrive. Consuming water saturated with microorganisms or industrial contaminants will simply make you sick and reduce your survival window. I have spent a good deal of time in SW and SE Asia working and travelling. On many trips or deployments, I would take a water filtration system and water purifying treatments. This was especially handy when in the Golden Triangle between Thailand and Burma, where there is ample water but little of it is consumable without filtration or treatment. These bulkier systems took up precious space within my loadout.That was until I stumbled upon the NDūR’s Pull Top Canteen.

Canada Targets: First video blog...

As you know from previous blogs, I believe that targetry is an important point of tactical training. A poor target can create training scars. Canada Targets is home grown company that produces a number of high quality targets for tactical shooters. Canada Target also produces a line of 'zombie' targets, if that is your thing. They can be contacted through their website here

Hardcore Hardware Australia LFT-01

A Method of Entry Tool/Close Quarter Battle Tool.

Targetry

"Speed is Fine but Accuracy is Final," Larry Vickers

For armed professionals, accurate hits on enemy combatants or adversaries are a training goal, operational requirement and moral imperative. The LEO wants to stop the aggressor without injuring (or worse) innocent bystanders. The soldier wants to complete his mission with his team intact and no collateral damage. The PSO wants to deliver accurate defensive fire while extricating his principle.

Click on to Enlarge.

Save and Print for Personal Use

Counterfeit Tourniquets

Coming to a Major Police Force near you....

Use only CoTCCC or CCCWG approved gear.
Beware of counterfeit medical gear

CTOMS FrontLine with 3 Magazine Shingle

No more leg bags...

Last deployment, I used a CTOMS FrontLine with 3 Magazine Shingle as my first line treatment pouch. A vest mounted low profile combination magazine and first line medical pouch.

Traditionally, Medics and Tactical First Responders have used a leg bag as their first line medical treatment pouch. Defence RD Canada released a study stating that any gear strapped to the legs of a provider increase fatigue and increase energy expended by a whopping 15%. Per Leg! That is a significant percentage of increase that needs to be addressed. Tactical operations and tactical medical incidents are exhausting enough without fighting your gear. Besides, I have never really like subloads or strapping on my legs. 

Homemade Targetry

US PALM: AK Attack Rack V2

Disappointing...

 I own a VZ-58. In Canada, we cannot own AK variants other than the Czech version. This is unfortunate but the VZ-58 is an accurate, reliable, workhorse that provides some transferable skills to the AK platform. The Afghan Uniform Police are issued VZ-58 along with the Hungarian AMD-65. So, when deployed as an Afghan Police mentor a few years ago, the skills were quite handy.

Make Ready with John Chapman: CQB Shooting Fundamentals

“Evil confronts us when we least expect it; often at very close distances” Chappy

Panteao Productions and John Chapman have very recently released: Make Ready with John Chapman: CQB Shooting Fundamentals in DVD format. Panteao Production produces both documentary and instructional videos. The instructional video series is named “Make Ready”. They provide one-on-one instruction, rather than the sometimes distracting filming of a course that some companies use. Purchasing a ‘Make Ready” video is like owning the didactic/theory portion of a course for you to review at any time. The videos are available in DVD and internet streaming format; soon to be released in iOS and Android platforms.

UpLULA and LULA Magazine Loader and Unloader

Well, I was wrong. When it came to devices used to load or unload weapon magazines, I thought the thumb was king. I had done multiple deployments with no fancy tool. Initial loading of magazines was simple. They were loaded from ten round stripper clips facilitated with the issue magazine charger. Weekly, I would perform magazine maintenance when I did my routine weapon maintenance. This entailed unloading three hundred plus 5.56mm and fifty six 9mm rounds, inspecting and cleaning all magazines and reloading the magazines.

Emergency Preparedness Week

May 5-11, 2013 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. It is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May organized by Public Safety Canada.

1. KNOW THE RISKS
2. MAKE A PLAN
3. GET A KIT

For more information click here:  Emergency Preparedness in Canada or download Your Emergency Preparedness Guide.

Take care out there.

Phase Line Green Tactical Low Light Course AAR

PLGT Low Light Course was conducted at the Rock Cut Range, outside Powassan, Ontario Canada on 20-21 April 2013. The Primary Training Audience (PTA) for this course is the proficient shooter with the need to operate tactically in adverse lighting conditions. While concentrating on consistency of platform and proven tactics, techniques and procedure (TTPs), the course covered daylight and low-light firearms operation, dry-fire and live fire drills. Earl Green, the owner and chief instructor for Phase Line Green Tactical, has over 18 years of instructing tactical operators for multiple police forces and private teams. He draws on his experience in provincial policing and nuclear security teams which included “uniform patrol, uniform supervision, use of force and firearms training, tactical training, tactical operations, specialized training development and delivery, executive protection and criminal investigations.”

Magpul Dynamics Aerial Platform Operations DVD

Everyone knows about Magpul Dynamics DVDs and their “Art of the Dynamic .....”.Travis Haley and Chris Costa kicked off the series with their Art of the Dynamic Carbine and it has grown from there; encompassing carbine, pistol, shotgun and precision rifle. The knowledge and skills passed on in any video will never replace a proper training syllabus directed by a professional instructor. It cannot be denied that Magpul Dynamics has significantly raised the standard of the firearms training film and driving the firearms’ training market into the mainstream. Since then both instructors have struck out on their own: Travis Haley with Haley Strategic and Chris Costa with Costa Ludus.

One of the most unique DVDs produced by Magpul Dynamics has been Aerial Platform Operations.   Normally information only available to specialized military or law enforcement units, this DVD provides the basic structure of helicopter operations. This is video is not just about shooting from a helicopter.

Kühl Pants, tactical crossover...

Kühl Revolvr Pants

Passing through the Dubai International Airport (DXB)in 2006 to 2012 was a parade of 5.11 Tactical models all vying for attention as the various sizes and shapes of contractors made their way to O’Brien’s for their first pint. This lack of discretion extends to other locales as well. I was in an establishment in Bangkok, Thailand having a quiet iced Singha with an expatriate friend. When in walks a ‘farang’ (that is Thai slang for foreigner) with a Thai bar girl under each arm still wearing his 5.11 pants, rigger belt, desert boots and his company’s polo shirt. This kind of dress and deportment does little to maintain a low profile while travelling, whether insertion or exfiltration  from your operational environment. I have not worked the civilian side of the house, yet. Though, in my current employment, I have had to make international movement in civilian attire while moving through areas of known support for our adversaries and in medium to high threat countries. I attempt to keep a lower profile wearing non standard apparel; in an effort to be less of a target for who wish us harm and to distance myself from those who do not.

NEO Adventurers

'Over Shoe and Gaitor rolled into one'

Living in a northern climate, we have to content with not only winter but the slush and melt of spring and the wet, cold of the late fall before the snow really piles up. This weather is too warm for insulated boots and too wet for normal gortex footwear.  Another reality of operational life is limited space to pack gear for every situation. NEO Adventurers solve a lot of those issues.

Eleven 10 Tourniquet Case

A Kydex TQ holster

One of the medical doctrines that we promote on Whiskey Delta Gulf is the placement of a primary tourniquet (TQ) stored in a pouch within the Diver’s Triangle. The Diver’s Triangle is an inverted triangle with the base between the shoulders and the point at the belt buckle. Every operator must keep their tourniquet in an easy access pouch to protect it from UV and dirt that could degrade or foul the tourniquet when needed. This keeps a viable TQ in a position that can be accessed for self application regardless of body positioning. Rapid application of tourniquets to extremity wounds has been proven to drastically reduce combat deaths.

Handgun Training: Resources and Targets

‘It is in most shooter’s best interest to become as proficient as possible with a handgun. The reasons are very simple; because of amount of concealed carry permits issued around the country most people are most likely to use a handgun in a lethal encounter. In addition, sight alignment and trigger control are most difficult to master with a handgun so this causes a trickle down effect; the better you become with a handgun you are automatically becoming a better shooter with virtually every other small arm.’

-Larry Vickers, MSG, US Army (Ret)

Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm VTAC
The object of this year's training concentration

Ladies Only: She Wee

“Why squat, when you can stand?”

As a female medical operator working in many different environments, I can honestly say that women are at a disadvantage,anatomy wise, when “Nature” calls. Being out in the middle of an open plain with no bushes or any kind of concealment with your crew of male counter parts, it is very discouraging as well as inconvenient when you have to urinate.

A great solution to this problem that I have purchased is the “She Wee”. It essentially is a funnel designed to fit the female anatomy so that you are able to stand up to urinate without the hassle of taking down your pants. This apparatus can  accommodate multi layers of clothing simply by adding an extension to the end of the funnel.

Make Ready with John Chapman: NVG/IR Skill Builder

Recently Panteao Productions and John Chapman have released: Make Ready with John Chapman: NVG / IR Skill Builder in DVD format. Panteao Productions produces instructional videos taught by proven leaders and instructors within the tactical industry. While video training will never replace a professional applied curriculum under the watchful eye of an instructor, training time and funds are always at a premium. The name of their instructional video series is “Make Ready”; produced in a one-on-one training layout. The videos are available in DVD, Blue Ray and internet streaming format. Panteao is currently planning release of their ‘Make Ready” series for iOS and Android platforms.

BUIS: Back Up Iron Sights

Photo from CF Combat Camera

I have noticed a disturbing  trend; soldiers deploying to hostile areas with only a primary sight on their weapon. Those little rubber nubs, that get worn off within a week, on the C79 optical sight are not enough. The Canadian Forces issues a plastic fixed sight with a flip apertures which is more than adequate.  There is much higher quality back up iron sights on the market as well. In some cases, the Quarter Master may be out of the issue back up sights. However, most of these soldiers are dripping with personal purchased equipment but not a decent set of BUIS. I will assume it has never been impressed upon them the importance of a redundant sighting system.

Interview with Earl Green, Phase Line Green Tactical

While I was travelling in Ontario, Whiskey Delta Gulf introduced me to a long time friend, Earl Green, from Phase Line Green Tactical. I had heard of Earl Green from other tactical operators prior to meeting with him. This was a great opportunity to pick his brain and to share on the blog.

The Gunfighter’s Guide to Medical Kit, Part 2

In The Gunfighter’s Guide to Medical Kit, Part 1, we looked at the personal tourniquet and its storage plus requirements for a rescue hook. In Part 2, we will discuss the IFAK, its placement , marking and requirements, some possible loadouts and other equipment required for the individual tactical operator in the field. 

Where ever you deploy, Whatever the gig,
you will need a basic level of medical kit

The Gunfighter’s Guide to Medical Kit, Part One

With some consistency, I am proffered with well-meaning advice from gunfighters on how to set up my fighting rig. This advice would be right on the money, if my primary role is kicking in doors and making friends. Not to say, I haven’t picked a few tidbits on efficiency.  I am a tactical medic. Like the sapper or signaler,  my gear setup bears some resemblance to the gunfighter but with specific differences based on our primary role. Nevertheless, there is a basic minimum of medical gear common to all; whether gunfighter, medic, sapper or signaler.  

This is the first of two part article on the basic minimum medical gear we should all be carrying into harm’s way. This doctrine has been complied from my experiences as a medic and infanteer from deployments and training venues, as an operator, student and instructor.This information should be of particular interest to LEO tactical officers for both their daily carry and active shooter/raid kit.

Interview with Darren Cole, One Shot Tactical Supply

Darren Cole of OSTS filling a customer's
order from the online store

I was travelling to Ontario for the first time in many years and took the opportunity to visit an old friend; Darren Cole. As the president of One Shot Tactical Supply, he has brought his company from the basement of a farm house to an online store to a large retail outlet servicing civilian shooters, military units, and police agencies in Canada.

5.11 Pistol Training 1.5 with Kyle E. Lamb

Mulligan: verb, a Mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action; usually due to lack of skill or bitter luck. A "Do-Over" in Canadian street hockey.

“There are no mulligans in the street” SGM (Ret.) Kyle E. Lamb

Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault Pack

Geocaching in Cyprus

On my last deployment, taking advantage of the USA APO, I ordered a Mystery Ranch 3Day Assault Pack BVS in Foliage. The choice of Foliage or, as I call it, Feld Grun was specific; it can pass for a civilian style day bag with a cursory glance.  Many European bags are made in a similar moss grey green colour. The purchase was well researched through contact with various end users who had used the bag on combat operations. Immediately, upon opening the packaging, I was impressed with the construction and attention to detail. This is a bag for all seasons, full spectrum operations and multiple roles from signaler to medic to gunfighter.

Pelican 1910 Flashlight

As a tactical medic, I like to have lots of lights available to me. Tactically, I prescribed to the Tactical Trinity of Lights; a dedicated weaponlight, a vest/belt kit handheld and a uniform pocket backup light. For medical work, I have both a helmet light and a vest mounted light. As part of my Every Day Carry or EDC, I always have, at least, a light capable of navigating by. For the last year that light has been the Pelican 1910. It is small, unobtrusive and can be carried, even in business attire, without drawing attention. Is it a primary tactical light? NO! It is more of a tertiary tactical light or light duty EDC flashlight.