The Friday before 2023’s annual AZ CSN Defending the Flock conference, we did four hour sessions to get deeper into subjects we could only touch upon during an hour and half breakout session. Two of those dealt with movement, and how it’s not always possible to get off the X. This annotated training outline covers aspects of hostage rescue and how proxemics affect use of force.
This article is about some very specific types of movement: specifically, those when contact with an armed adversary is anticipated or likely. While avoiding or breaking contact is preferred, there are times when neither of those are possible. This article is about those times, and how knowing proper movement techniques can keep you alive.
If someone breaks in and is kidnapping your kid, you (and hopefully, your domestic partner) ARE the hostage rescue team. Most of these these tips and tricks were originally published in a password protected AAR for a Firearms Instructor class on 19 Dec 2020.
The Magpul Speed Plate for Glock magazines was a product in need of a raison d’être. I found a legit use for them, but I also found them to be less robust than other Magpul products.
I wish I’d gotten to know him better, while he was still around. But then, the same could be said for so many of “the greatest generation.” What I can tell you is how we met, and what little I …
This post addresses different types of slings, their uses, advantages, and disadvantages. Of particular importance it discusses how to get slung behind you should you need to free your hands.
This was the second part of a free Firearms Safety class for one first-time gun owner, and a Defensive Handgun class for both students.
This in-home session was a free Firearms Safety course for a first-time gun owner and an intro to Defensive Pistol for both students.
In 3 decades as a Glock operator and range master, I’ve seen one Glock-made magazine come apart when dropped. This article gives details, as well as some descriptions of your OEM and aftermarket options.
This primer on cold-related illness lists both how, and how NOT, to treat hypothermia, based on some humorous experiences we had in SERE school.
 The Assumed Medusa Effect We called one of my high school buddies “Wojo,” after a character in the Barney Miller sitcom. Wojo’s dad had been a US Army paratrooper in Europe during WWII. Wojo had a Mossberg shotgun he …
This Intro to Shotgun course exposed the students to various aspects of the shotgun as a defensive tool.
This summarizes findings from an on-site security survey of a medical facility.
Domestic violence, or DV, may not seem like rocket science. An angry drunk gets off on hurting those closest to him. But our lack of understanding of the patterns and nuances of violence, particularly domestic violence, doesn’t make it go away. This article explains several aspects of DV, and legislation used to combat DV, that are little understood by most of us.
This article explains the Double Action to Single Action auto pistol trigger concept. It also gives specifics about a gun that in many ways pioneered concepts adopted by the modern breed of polymer framed pistols.
This article discusses firing techniques, historical data, little-known esoterica, and some few memories of the Smith & Wesson revolvers, particularly those used by US airmen and naval aviators during the Cold War.
If you trade bullets with someone, expect to get hurt in some way. Your tactical training is less than it should be if it does not address how to help the wounded. This is not a comprehensive medical dictionary, but rather a explanations of some terms more or less unique to the “tactical medicine” / rescue taskforce world.
Some terminology is unique to EWs, edged weapons. “Tang” means one thing when we are holding a pistol, and something else when we are dealing with a knife. This glossary has terms useful in the study of the blade.
This article outlines the different types of double action triggers, and how they were developed over the years.
This article explains why the British pattern 1907 bayonet was a virtual clone of the Japanese Arisaka bayonet, and why the US M1917 bayonet is a virtual copy of the P1907. Details about markings and other identifying characteristics are included.
The shovel is actually a more effective APERS (anti-personnel) tool than than a bayonet. What it lacks in elegance and beauty it makes up in effectiveness and panache. Shovels are commonplace tools, but are seldom thought of as a weapon you can use to defend yourself if you’re attacked in your garage or garden shed.
This Yugo blade bayonet has a very distinctive, enlongated ricasso to accommodate the papovka’s permanently affixed grenade launcher.
The Spanish learned, during their half-millenium occupation of the Philippines, how effective bolos are as close combat tools. Some Spanish bayonets were clearly modeled after bolos, intended for chopping as well as stabbing. This article discusses Philippine edged weapons, along with some of the history and identifying characteristics of two Spanish bolo blades and a Spanish Yataghan.
This article may help you identify a bayonet made for the Italian Model 1891 Carcano rifles and their variants.
Many people collect bayonets and other militaria. Would they ever have any practical application for armed citizens? This posting discusses in what contexts you could possibly use one.
This article I originally published on ILIVEDTraining.com explains concepts relating to maximum, max effective, and minimum effective range, as they pertain to assaults in confined areas when we vastly outnumber the assailant.
Part 1 of our Tubular Target Trilogy A tubular target is a long and narrow, tunnel-like space we need to dominate, either to enforce the law, to rescue the helpless, or to just stay alive. Most of our tubular spaces …
Students took the didactic portions of this Pediatric First Aid with all-ages CPR and AED course via computer; this post explains what was taught in the classroom and why.
“Point” and “area” targets are military concepts that are directly applicable to active violence and counterterrorism. You should know more than just the difference between them, which is not rocket science. You should know how to avoid having a target on your back, be it the point or area variety. Some of this article was excerpted from a password protected summary of a site security survey I conducted at a high school in Arizona.
This site security survey was requested by special needs teachers.
This Desert Storm memoir outlines our relationship with our Saudi Amn counterpart, and offers both highlights and lessons learned from that tour.
Angela McQueen wrestled a gun out of a wannabe killer’s hands in her high school cafeteria, most likely saving many lives. On 04 Nov 2022, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Ms. McQueen where the incident took place, at Mattoon High School in Mattoon, IL.
These 2 hour and a half breakout sessions at the annual Defending the Flock conference focused on practicing effective upward off-lines. We also did some stress inoculation while practicing movement off the railroad tracks (the Deadly Diamond) and movement to flank. To a lesser extent we practiced disarms and lateral off-lines to protect a third party.
This security survey took place at a charter school.
This bended learning class for Jr high school students took place on Fridays over the course of the Fall 2022 semester. This resource for the students documents what was taught and why.
This class for new gun owners focused on how to maintain their recently acquired firearms. We also covered trouble shooting and function checks for both auto pistol & revolver. We practiced field stripping a Glock and demonstrated the proper way to remove a Smith & Wesson side plate without warping it.
This was the second of two classes for educators at a pre-K to 8th grade school. In this session we practiced movement in response to stimulus (blanks from an AK), communication, and response to thrown IEDs. This summary adds additional detail regarding IED searches and recognition. We finished by practicing evacuation, researching useful escape routes from that mostly glass-walled school.
This course included initial familiarization fire for new gun owners. However, we didn’t stop there. We practiced using speedloaders and topping off a partially extended cylinder, as well as slide locked and topping off a Glock. Students practiced shooting while moving laterally, as well as decision fire.
This class, the first of two that summer for educators at a pre-K through 8th grade school, covered preliminary defensive concepts. We practiced getting inside minimum effective range, metsubishi, vertically off lining an assailant’s pistol, and inducing long gun stoppages.
This homage to one of the most professional warrior protectors I know also elaborates on concepts and controversies of School Resource Officer (SRO) programs.
In our Vehicle Fighting courses, we train on what to do if you are attacked IN or AROUND YOUR car, truck, or SUV. This three-part series will mainly focus, instead, on what to do if you are attacked BY someone …
Assaults From Vehicles, Part I: Car vs. Pedestrian Read more »
This was an opportunity for people considering purchasing a firearm, or another firearm, or just wanting to practice, to be able to shoot any of several different types of handguns, and some long guns.
If your military or law enforcement qualification is coming up, and you: Don’t always pass on the first try, or Always pass, but want to do better, or You’re always just a few points shy of earning that marksmanship ribbon …
This course is geared towards those who already have a basic foundation in operating a handgun, and want to learn more about how to use one in a fight. The main emphasis of this class is the close range fight, …
Camp Fury is an opportunity for adolescent girls to learn more about public safety careers, by practicing skills they would pick up at a fire or law enforcement academy. This after action report documents CPR training they received during Tucson’s Camp Fury 2022.
Students from a Tucson Junior High school learned principles of patient movement, both hand-carried and via improvised and purpose-built litters. This series of outdoor exercises, conducted over two days, developed teamwork, communication, and personal responsibility. But the main lesson was that we don’t NEED to be helpless in an emergency; we can be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.
Students in this live-fire course practiced moving safely with and around one another in teams. while engaging targets through 360 degrees, while avoiding line of fire issues with bystanders around and behind threats.
This article is about the best moment of my law enforcement career. To understand why it was the best, you also have to know a little about the worst day of my career.
Students in this dynamic course practiced how to safely conduct force-on-force exercises, while learning various concepts of interpersonal confrontation.
Here’s an opportunity to shoot several different handguns, and get qualified instruction, without expensive rental fees.
Threats may choose to take you in the open. Here are some field expedient things you can substitute for cover if you are bushwhacked in a “cover deficit.”
The family who requested this course practiced how to save severely injured persons under less than ideal, extended care conditions.
Our lead instructor is an NRA trained Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, and Law Enforcement Submachine Gun instructor. Several of our adjunct instructors are NRA certified as well. If you request an NRA specific course, such as a Women on Target instructional …
One of the trainers for this in-home class was a World Taekwondo Federation 4th degree Black Belt, but the course was only half about edged weapons. We also covered the advantages and weaknesses of other interpersonal weapons, and numerous other defensive concepts.
A friend recently obtained a Byrna Technologies HD. The Byrna is a less lethal PepperBall launcher. It also launches hard plastic impact munitions similar in concept to bean bag rounds from a shotgun. We shot it a bit at “Robbie” …
This AAR documents two classes: an in-home introduction to defensive concepts in general and firearms in particular, as well as a live fire intro to firearms safety and handling.
This posting, partially from notes I took during the Thunder Ranch Old Rifle course, briefly addresses the development of bayonets, my limited experience with them, the sad demise of bayonet training, and attempts to use the pistol as a substitute close quarters tool.
These are mostly takeaways and observations I made during the Old Rifle course. I’m grateful to have had input from Scott G (seven-time Thunder Ranch student, and Front Sight instructor) and Preston L (nine-time Thunder Ranch grad, former Army and …
Protected: “Not My Problem”–Thunder Ranch Old Rifle, 02 – 04 Dec 2021 Read more »
A small “tactical” flashlight can be a useful force multiplier for personal defense. It’s quicker to use and brighter than a cell phone light. It also hurts more when used for striking. Some flashlights come with crenelated bezels, essentially making them edged weapons. This article explores different use of force options, examining landmark court cases relating to the use of impact tools, and flashlights as impact tools. It also addresses some aspects of race relations as they pertain to the optics of using force.
This article shares lessons I’ve learned about night sights in the field. Do you need them? What are some of your options? Advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds? Read this to learn more.
Iron Sights have been with us since there were firearms. Now, an entire generation has come up using reflex optics as a primary rifle sight. At the same time, police academies that used to require some pistol shooting at 50 …
Students in this pro bono course ranged in age from mid-teens to 80. We covered a wide range of interpersonal confrontation scenarios, and practiced various means of deterring, preventing, and responding to assaults.
This article explains and gives examples of why it’s vitally important to learn tactical skills right from the git-go, rather than starting with marksmanship-based, square flat range training and then trying to make a slow fire bullseye shooter into a fighter. We also tell you how to unlearn bad habits, if it’s too late for you to start the right way.
In this practice session was a series of close quarters, live fire exercises, including pistol as an impact tool, movement off the X, different types of reloads, supine fire, and Detective John Hobbs drills.
This article clarifies a misleading statement by the media, discusses the Fleeing Felon doctrine, and ends with some advice for responsibly armed citizens.
This article explains the whys and wherefores of everyone’s favorite part of the Kalashnikov series: the right side mounted mode-of-fire selector lever.
Not every human problem has a ballistic solution. But some situations, that don’t, still require some level of force application. Heloderm will teach you how to use your pepper spray, walking stick, expandable baton, Taser, bike lock on a chain, …
Intermediate Force: OC, Batons, and Improvised Weapons Read more »
This tribute to my Olympic Arena coach details lessons learned during three 6-month seasons of daily force on force competition, and beyond. It also explains some lesser understood aspects of nuclear deterrence and security, particularly during the second half of the 1980s, the climax of the Cold War.
Here are definitions of some concepts we teach you about in our classes. Sometimes different trainers use different words to mean the same things; this glossary will hopefully help you clarify some of the “tacticool” words that get bandied about …
The tragic shooting of 07 May 2019 has several lessons you should learn, paid for in blood. Here are some of them.
In addition to the HSI Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED course, and the ACS Stop the Bleed 2.0 curriculum, this course included a still water rescue component taught in a pool by certified lifeguards.
This live-fire, day and night course covered a variety of defensive concepts, including close quarters battle drills, safe movement around one another with pistols out, bent elbow fire, shooting while moving, flashlight technique, and decision shooting. Half the students were instructors, learning how to teach these drills and concepts.
This pro bono class at a church young ladies retreat was taught in two age-appropriate sessions: one for young girls and one for adolescents. We practiced a wide range of defensive concepts, including avoidance, deterrence, escape, and use of force.
This class for a young coed en route to college for the first time covered lawful use of force (in the home state as well as at the out of state destination), empty hands control techniques, advantages and drawbacks of different types of OC dispensers, retention, moral and ethical considerations, decontamination, transport, and storage. In addition to various role playing exercises with role players and inert dispensers, our capstone involved shooting real pepper spray and indirect exposure.
This in-home session covered a wide array of defensive concepts and drills, culminating in marksmanship practice with Airsoft pellets vs a photographic bad guy target. These included one handed firing, Center Axis Relock, and supine.
Something like 16 out of 17 times, when an armed citizen draws a gun in self defense, NO shots are fired. But the mere presence of a firearm, without relevant, practical, realistic training, will not ward off evil spirits like some magic talisman. Here are some dos and don’ts of how to tell a crook to go assault someone else.
This live fire session included close order battle drills with partners, as well as force-on-force demonstrations, holster work, challenging a suspect, Tom & Jerry drills, ricochet demos, shooting while moving, V to L, Center Axis Relock, close contact fire, and Wyatt protocols.
Most Americans believe we won the Revolutionary war by sniping at the Redcoats from behind trees and boulders. Not true. We did a lot of that, especially in the opening days of the war, when we were losing. Such so-called …
Baron von Steuben and Well Regulated American Volley Fire Read more »
Butch Rupert was a an expert marksman, an exemplary shooting coach, and a wise mentor. Here are some things I learned from him.
John Fox was ALL IN. He gave what little he had, and everything he was ever going to have, to save the lives of his fellow American GIs, and to liberate not only his own people, but all of Europe and the entire world, from the yoke of Nazi fascism.
Call it what you want. Some call them PDWs, personal defense weapons, after a unique brand of firearms initially considered for downed aircrew survival. Some call them “AR pistols” and “AK pistols.” Those are legal terms for getting around silly …
They Used to be Hard to Get. In the Soviet section of my library, an old wind-up Russian alarm clock and Red Army belt with 5-sided star buckle gather dust on a shelf in front of the books. Both were …
