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.