Strike Tactical Solutions

Newsletter 12/2007

Another year has past. The year 2007 will go down in history as one of the most violent for Law Enforcement Officers. Scores of good men and women were slain, MURDERED, by guiltless criminals, who prey on the innocent. Yet our brothers in blue stand ready to defend, ready to engage anybody who threatens the freedoms that this country offers it's citizens. To all of you, our sincere thanks. Without your service, the streets of America will be a blood bath. Where others fear to tread, police officers work on a daily basis. You are in our thoughts and prayers - ALWAYS.

DEDICATION

This issue of our newsletter is dedicated to a select group of individuals. These men and women, serve the United States as Special Operations Forces or better known as Special Forces. I recently had the honor to meet and work with some of these warriors and I can assure you that the deeds which we regard as heroic, is what Special Forces soldiers do for a living. We take NOTHING away from ANY other soldier in the US Armed Forces. Your fighting ability, heroism and actions are duly noted and we celebrate your victories and mourn your losses.

A close Special Forces friend and I were talking about the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. I commented that I keep all soldiers in my prayers asking for their safe return. My friend looked at me, smiled and thanked me for the prayers. He then went on to say something which I will never forget. He asked me - ALL OF US - to pray that they WIN THE WAR. These soldiers are willing to give their LIVES in order to WIN this war. We need to support our troops so they WIN THE WAR. They want NOTHING else! They will fight, eat, sleep in the mountains, in the mud and blood so they can WIN. So next time you pray for our troops, please support these warriors by praying for VICTORY!

Special Forces soldiers are a different breed. They are called the "quiet professionals" and they live up to this expectation. They have a brotherhood between them second to none in the world. Highly skilled, highly trained, highly motivated soldiers that NEVER leave their brothers behind.
 
Comments by Billy Waugh in his book "Hunting the Jackal" says it all:

"There’s a code in Special Forces that I need to make clear:  If you die, we’re going to get you out.  We do not leave wounded or dead men behind for the enemy to gloat over, stake out, or other such bullshit.  We leave no man behind.  It’s as simple as that.  If it costs the lives of fifty men in an attempt to get you out, we’re still going to send the 51^st in there to retrieve all or part of your body."

I also had the honor of meeting a LEGEND. Maj General John K. Singlaub was an OSS operative behind enemy lines in WW2, fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars and he worked with the Contras in Nicaragua. General Singlaub was a foot soldier, para-trooper, CIA agent, OSS operative and a leader of men in combat. What an EXTRODINARY life!

You can read all about Major General Singlaub's exploits in his auto biography "Hazardous Duty", the featured book in our "must read" section!

General William Westmoreland said the following of John Singlaub: "It is said that a true military professional marches toward the sound of gunfire. Indeed that describes John Singlaub - a man of honest patriotic conviction and courage." Caren found a signed, first edition of General Singlaub's memoir and Santa delivered on time! What a woman I married!

STRIKE Tactical NEWS

We have added several new personnel to the Strike Tactical team.  The new STRIKE team consist of the following trainers and personnel:

Billy Caplan - President
Henk Iverson - Director of Training/Lead Instructor Military & Law Enforcement
Caren Iverson - Staff Instructor/STRIKE Admin
Rob Donaldson - Staff Instructor
Jim Haritos - Staff Instructor
Rob Briggs - Staff Instructor
Chuck Soltys - Staff Instructor
Devin Crinklaw - Staff Instructor
RJ Meehan - Staff Instructor
Gina Caplan - Chief Financial Officer
Louis P. Hayes - Editor - STRIKE Tactical Newsletter

Each one of these individuals are dedicated to teach the very best techniques and tactics available today. STRIKE has built a reputation for EXELLENCE. We will NOT lower the standards set, we WILL encourage students to be the very BEST they can be. We want you to CHALLENGE yourself, push yourself and your abilities to new hights. We will be with you every step of the way.

We are growing and to ensure the very best training available, we have added several new training programs to our schedule:

* Tactical Emergency Wound Care under Fire

* Low Light Gunfighting (Airsoft & Simunitions)

* Off Duty Concealed Carry

* Speciality Training with John Farnam - Vehicle Defense

* Speciality Training with Ben Mangels - Empty Hands Self Defense

* Speciality Training with Kelly Worden - Combatives

Please watch our schedule for training dates in 2008!

STRIKE TACTICAL OPENS OFFICE IN NEBRASKA!

Strike Tactical has opened an off-site training base in Omaha Nebraska. Heading up the office is a bright young star on the training horizon, Devin Crinklaw. STRIKE will present several training programs in Nebraska in 2008.

Contact details for the office is:
Devin Crinklaw
Email: ctss69@aol.com

THANK YOU!

We would like to thank our friend Chief Jeff Chudwin for the article on STRIKE Tactical in the November issue of "Law Officer Magazine". Also a hearty thanks to Patrick Sweeney for mentioning us in his article published in the Guns & Ammo Magazine "The Complete Book of the Model 1911". We also had an article published in the latest ITOA News.

DEHYDRATION, HEAT EXHAUSTION, FATIGUE OR NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY?

By Caren Mangels-Iverson

Why can students not keep up in tough physical classes?  Is it really dehydration?  Or is it heat exhaustion?  What about fatigue (mental and/or physical) – from being just plain undertrained and unfit?!  Has anyone thought of nutritional deficiency, where the cells do not have enough energy to function properly, and eventually die?!

Hyponatremia / Hydration / Heat Exhaustion

Dehydration, heat exhaustion, or an unhealthy rise in body temperature, and electrolyte loss from over-drinking water, or hyponatremia, can all lead to fatigue, cloudy thinking, poor performance and errors in judgment that may put all at jeopardy. 

I agree with Dr. Tim Noakes from South Africa (leader in the field of Sport Science and author of the book, Lore of Running), that too much emphasis is being placed on rehydration, and too little on the other conditions. My experience on the shooting ranges is that guys suffer more from heat exhaustion than from dehydration … and, of cause fatigue from not being used to so much physical and mental input at one time.

Heat exhaustion happens when the body cannot get rid of excess heat.  Drinking cold water can help up to a point, but if the body temperature stays above normal for a long period (caused by intense heat from the outside), NO amount of fluids will bring it down!  GET OUT OF THE SUN!!  KEEP THE SUN OFF THE NECK!   Hats keep the sun off, but body heat in, so find a hat with some netting or grommets that let air flow, or just remove and replace your hat as needed.  Pouring water OVER the head or neck will also help, rather than just drinking it!

For rehydrating, plain water is more than efficient, unless you’re a marathon runner!  Only THEN do you need drinks with the correct amount of electrolytes for the body to function properly.  If a marathon runner takes ONLY water, their sodium levels drop.  Too much salt and too little water causes dehydration that leads to poor stamina and disorientation.  No salt and lots of water causes hyponatremia that also leads to poor stamina and disorientation.  So find YOUR balance.  Every person differs in their electrolyte and water consumption.  Find out what works for YOU.  DRINK WHEN YOU’RE THIRSTY, unless you’ve been involved in intense physical activity and have been sweating profusely.

When in doubt, it is recommended to drink one bottle of electrolyte type drink for every two bottles of water.  Drinks too high in sodium causes the kidneys to want to flush out more water than we’ve gulped down, resulting in a state of dehydration.  However, unlike marathon runners, we can snack our way through the day.  Eating snacks or foods that provide electrolytes include peanuts, sunflower seeds, tomato juice, yoghurt, raisins and crackers.  For the purist, almonds, walnuts, oranges, bananas, grapes or carrot sticks in a zip lock bag work wonders!

Sugary drinks are NOT recommended.  Drinks such as Gatorade contain high fructose corn syrup which is poison to the body!  Drinks high in sugar only works for short bursts of speed, because sugar lifts you up, only to drop you lower than before.  For energy throughout the day, slow release sugars are recommended (like having starchy carbohydrates the day before!)  Sodas interfere with calcium absorption and have no electrolyte value.  Coke and coffee are caffeinated, which is a diuretic, causing dehydration.

Nutritional Deficiency

 The other problem I see is nutritional deficiency.  When you eat a balanced meal, the chances of getting dehydrated, is slimmer.  ALL natural foods that is been consumed, contains water – some more than others!  Fruit and vegetables are high in water, as well as all the vitamins and minerals the body needs.  Fast foods are far too high in salt and/or sugar.  Too much salt causes dehydration!  The body extracts water from the cells to neutralize the salt and the kidneys get taxed.  Vegetables give the body all the salt that it needs as well as all the other minerals, like calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc.

Cramps, spasms and jerks can all be caused by a lack of magnesium.  Magnesium and calcium work together to control muscle action; an imbalance of either will cause tension and cramps.  As I have said before, carbonated drinks block calcium absorption.  If you eat fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds and fish and yoghurt regularly, you’ll get in enough calcium and magnesium.  Milk is not a good source of calcium, UNLESS it is unprocessed, raw milk! 

Remember, taking only supplements do not work!  Supplements do not get absorbed without real food!  You are also wasting your money (and your body) if the supplements are of inferior quality.  If you do not get high quality supplements, it can do more harm than good, with all the chemicals that certain companies use in their products. Only buy at health stores or vitamin specialty stores.  Yes, they are more expensive, because the correct process of getting most of the goodness in a supplement form is costly.  It’ll save you a trip to the doctor.  Far better, get your nutrients from fresh food such as vegetables and healthy meat products, not supplements!  Try to go for organic foods, otherwise you will need supplements. 

Sugar is poison to the body. It kills the cells, causing aging and eventually death.  There are enough poison in the air (pollutants) and in the food (chemicals, hormones, pesticides, coloring, etc), why harm the body even MORE by consuming sugar!  Sugar comes in different forms, of which high fructose corn syrup is the worst!  READ THE LABELS ON FOODSTUFF!

Washing hands has NOTHING to do with NOT getting sick!  The body has a natural immune system. Build your immune system by eating fruit and vegetables, and STAY AWAY from sugar and refined food (poison)!  How can you let your kids have donuts for breakfast?  Don’t you love your kids?  Foods with high sugar content are killing them slowly.  Anyone who has ever had sugar or refined food in their life has some deficiency disease!  Having a disease is NOT normal!  The body should be disease-free and pain-free. 

There is no such thing a genetics. If you eat like your parents eat, and they like their parents used to eat, like their parents used to eat, you WILL have a greater chance of inheriting the same diseases they suffer from. If you are not willing to change your eating habits, you will pass it on to your unborn baby,  your children, if you feed them the same way!  BREAK THE CYCLE!  Start with your own kids.  Let’s see if you have some discipline.  Once we get control of our bodies, we get control of our life!  Your health and your destiny are in your hands.

Science is not better than nature!  The medical industry presents itself as the only source of truth when it comes to health, illness and disease.  They use words like “credible scientific evidence, scientifically tested, scientifically proven”, etc.  What they really are presenting is theories, and these theories constantly change.  Medical doctors also don’t know much about nutrition.  They are trained to do only two things:  prescribe drugs or to do surgery.  They are NOT trained at preventing disease and they have little to no training in/or exposure to any treatment other than drugs or surgery.  In their 7 years of studying to become a doctor, only one term is spent on nutrition!  And anyone who believes the FDA, also believes in the tooth fairy!

I saw on the news lately that obesity causes cancer.  NONSENCE!  What caused the OBESITY causes cancer!  The government does not recognize that the increase in the amount of sugar goes hand in hand with the increase in the incidence of obesity and diabetes.

People who do not want to take responsibility to take care of their bodies, usually say:  “We have to die sometime, why not enjoy life while it lasts?”  How can anyone enjoy life when you are riddled with some form of disease? THAT is not quality living!!  That is prolonging the suffering!

If you’re not sure WHAT is healthy and what not, think of what the cave people ate.  Did they have any sugar, refined or processed foods? Remember, they did manual labor.  There you go:  fit and healthy! 

ANY fats/oils that are heated, cause cancer – even the healthy oils!  ALL forms of sugar causes cancer:  sucrose, fructose, lactose, etc.  Your body derives its own sugar (glucose) from the starchy carbohydrates that you eat, i.e. potatoes, brown rice, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, etc.    I could not believe when I came to America, even the bread over here is sweetened!  No wonder obesity and diabetes is so common in the USA!

The time to change and make a difference in your life is NOW. Have the guts to say NO to unhealthy food and drink. Exercise at least three times a week, drink enough WATER and change your life … for a LIFETIME of health and happiness.





DTI QUIPS
By John Farnam

Comments on the 6.8X43SPC

In the late 1940s, the British Military started experimenting with an "intermediate”  rifle/MG cartridge," which ultimately became known as the 280 British. This project was a direct result of their keen interest in the high-capacity, auto-loading (gas-piston) German MP44 rifle and its 7.92X33Kurz cartridge ("Kurz" translates to "short").

The MP44 ("MP" stands for aschinenpistole) came along too late in the War to have a major impact, but it represented a critical departure from conventional military rifles, with its light weight, reduced length, pistol grip, and large-capacity, box magazine, and it was, of course, an autoloader. Employed mostly on the Eastern Front (which is why it largely escaped American and British notice), the MP44 acquired a excellent reputation and was highly regarded by Germans and Russians alike.

The MP44 was actually developed in secrecy, as Hitler himself had already nixed the project. Development and even deployment went forward regardless, with Hitler deliberately kept in the dark and only finding out about it well after the fact. Indeed, when Hitler briefed troops returning from the Eastern Front, he asked them what they needed. With a single voice, they all told him what was needed most was more copies of the "new rifle!" Hitler, of course, didn't know what they were talking about, but, as the truth gradually came out, he was happy to belatedly take personal credit for the project!

After the War, the 280British cartridge worked well in tests, but it never saw the light of day, as Americans insisted on the 308 cartridge (slightly shortened from the 30-06) becoming the standard, and all of NATO dutifully went along. Meanwhile, Kalashnikov in Russia was designing his new rifle around the 7.62X39 (30Soviet) cartridge. The 30Soviet has since earned the reputation of the most widely used "intermediate cartridge" in history!

John Garand himself, as he was designing what would ultimately become the vaunted M1 Rifle, also considered an "intermediate" cartridge, as a short cartridge will work in a rifle with a short bolt-throw. The whole rifle can be relatively short and light! However, Doug MacArthur would have none of it!
Doug insisted that the M1 be chambered for the standard of the time, the American 30-06 cartridge. The M1 was ultimately produced in that caliber, and thus claimed the title of the biggest, heaviest, and most powerful infantry weapon ever issued, before of since!

None the less, as the War progressed, the Americans developed a two-level system, probably by accident. M1 Garands could not be produced fast enough as the War rapidly ramped up. So, the M1 Carbine, chambered for the " intermediate" 30M1 cartridge filled the gap. M1 Carbines could be produced much faster than M1 Garands, and, owing to their compactness and light weight, they were originally designed for rear-area defense and vehicle crews. Of course, the distinction quickly blurred, and they ended up serving everywhere.

After the dust settled, Garands (M1s and M-14s), FALs, G3s, and others, all now chambered for 308, continued to serve around the Free World well after the end of the War.

During the 1960s, General Curtis LeMay persuaded his friend, Robert MacNamara, then Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, that infantry rifles and machine guns needed to be shortened and lightened for the new style of war that was on the horizon. That meant less-powerful calibers, which meant less range and penetration (the two characteristics upon which MacArthur had always insisted). MacNamara, and his team of whiz-kids (none of whom had ever fired a shot in anger in their pampered lives) thus became convinced that the 308 cartridge needed to be abandoned for a shorter, less powerful one. The American standard became the 5.56X45 (223), and has been ever since. The 5.56X45 is at the extreme low end of the "intermediate cartridge" spectrum. It is a 150 meter cartridge with poor penetration.

Between the late 1960s and now, blatant deficiencies associated with the 5.56X45, particularly inadequate range and woefully inadequate penetration, have become widely acknowledged throughout the military community, and the push is currently on to:

(1) return to the 308 and the M-14 system, or

(2) move on to a more satisfactory "intermediate cartridge."

There are plenty of "intermediate cartridges" to choose from, and many have been around for a long time! The 6.5X50 Japanese Arisaka, 6.5X52 Carcano, 6.5X55 Swedish, 30Soviet, to name few. All these cartridges are still currently produced and can be found in any large gunshop.

However, the one currently getting all the attention is the relatively new 6.8X43SPC ("Special Purpose Cartridge). The 6.8mm (26.7 caliber) shows every sign of representing an ideal compromise. It still functions in short, light rifles, but range and penetration are significantly improved over the 223. It features a 115gr bullet at 2700 f/s, so it is a legitimate 300m rifle.

Barrett and Robinson Arms, weary of waiting on the Pentagon, have boldly stepped forward and produced military rifles in this new caliber. I have a copy of Robinson Arms XCR in 6.8mm, and I'll be testing it shortly. Cor-Bon is now making 6.8mm DPX rifle ammunition.

I can see a three-level system developing, with the 6.8mm being the " main-battle" rifle, the M-14 being relegated to long-distance, designated-marksman duties, and the 223 still being in the system for rear-area defense.

Whatever happens, we, as a nation and as a civilization, had better be preparing for the fight of our lives!

John

This month’s trainer is my father-in law, Ben Mangels. Ben Mangels is a former South African that has been living in the United States for more than 20 years. He has trained just about everybody in the “who’s who” category. If there is ONE word to describe Ben, it is the word PAIN! Ben Mangels doesn’t fight for sport.  He fights dirty.  He teaches people to fight as viciously dirty as possible purely for self-defense and not as a brawling tactic.  He’ll teach you how to gouge out eyes, groin-kick, head-butt, solar plexus-jab and a few bone-breaking strangle-holds because…well, one day, they might just save your life.

The career of Ben Mangels started in 1954 as a young police officer doing duty in Durban, South Africa’s international dockyards. He soon learned that the rough-and-ready sailors were a force to be reckoned with and promptly enrolled for tuition in jiu-jitsu at the local YMCA. He also discovered that what was taught using controlled techniques in the dojo and what actually happened in real life were entirely different situations. Most techniques were simply not effective when dealing with street-wise sailors.

 It was then that he started analyzing and modifying techniques to suit real world combat.  Soon after obtaining his black belt in Kodokwan Ju-Jitsu, Ben progressed to judo and became a South African middleweight champion.

 Tiring of judo, Ben’s quest into the fighting arts led him to karate, soon to be disillusioned (AGAIN!) as the karateka had no answer to a grappler and a competent ju-jitsu/judo exponent. With this in mind, Ben started putting together his own fighting system. Taking the very best tactics and techniques from all Martial Art styles, Ben devised a fighting form that could be used in real life confrontations.

Atemi-Jitsu, which is not that well-known in South Africa but is very popular in Japan, means, basically, the “technique of striking the vital parts of the body”.  Perhaps a better description would be “street karate” because in no way can it be regarded as fighting as sport:  indeed, if any Karateka used an Atemi-Jitsu hold in a fight he would be disqualified on the spot.

He has never been into anything but realistic training. His view is simple: you can’t practice to fight with a knife unless you use a real knife.  He has had his share of serious injuries over the years from his “full on” training, but that’s Ben Mangels by nature, committed to realistic training and always ready to do the hard yards and go the distance.

Ben teaches that unarmed combat does not make anyone unbeatable, he compares it to learning to swim, it might not save you from drowning if your boat goes down but your odds of winning are a lot higher than a non swimmer.

The course is purely practical self-defense.  We show pupils the most effective ways of delivering a kick to the groin, eye-gouging, chopping the Adam’s Apple or just a stunning head-but.  Some may think the methods are barbaric – but if your life is at stake you have to resort to vicious means to protect yourself. 

Ben has been actively involved in martial arts for over 50 years and holds black belts in Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and Karate. Ben has always kept up with the martial arts, unarmed combat and law enforcement training, he has taken the path of the practical warrior and is a master of mayhem and rightfully known as “The Mangler”.  He also is an expert in Atemi-Jitsu and Nin-jitsu.

The World British Federation of Martial Arts recently promoted Captain Ben Mangels, to 10^th Dan in Jiu-Jitsu. Ben has also been inducted into the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Ben has also been appointed National Director of the International Combat Military Advisors Group (ICMAG) which is an international body of ex-specialist servicemen (such as the famed SAS) that trains military and police anti-terrorist units and is a member of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.

STRIKE Tactical Solutions will host Ben Mangels for a two day seminar in 2008. Please see our schedule for details. http://www.striketactical.com/training/details.asp?id=51

In late 2003, a small group of US police snipers formed a support network to address the operational equipment needs of US military snipers deployed abroad in the war on terror.

Formerly known as The Adopt A Sniper program, the effort began as a simple request for assistance among deployed friends, who were also peace officers serving in the National Guard and Reserve. These peace officers were employed as SWAT team snipers at home in the US and were also assigned as snipers within the United States military.

As the war in Afghanistan stabilized and the war in Iraq progressed, the urban mission profiles of US police snipers and US military snipers were found to overlap somewhat and the gear and supplies needed to accomplish the two missions were found to be virtually identical. Once deployed, these military snipers requested assistance from their SWAT sniper friends in procuring the specialized gear, which was better suited for their missions and which was unable to be supplied by their parent military entity for a variety of reasons.

Due to the enormity of the commitment in Iraq and Afghanistan and the differences between the various units and staff personnel; many American snipers and designated marksmen were, and still are, having to spend their own funds and enlist their families and friends in procuring gear and getting it to them in the middle of a war zone. Consequently, these servicemen often go without gear they desperately need, due to the expense associated with procuring it.

The police snipers were all too aware of the expense associated with the specialized gear needs of their military brethern, due to their own experiences commonly associated with police department budgetary constraints. They were also acutely aware of the necessary, albeit seemingly endless red tape and agonizing wait times associated with the procurement process of any government entity.

So the police officers decided to radically broaden the scope of their efforts and committed to aid as many snipers in the military as possible, no matter the theater of operations, for as long as the officers could sustain the program.

Using contacts developed throughout the US police and military sniper communities, the police snipers were able to network with military snipers deployed abroad, obtain their overseas addresses and began sending desperately needed gear and supplies that are specifically tailored to the sniper mission, currently at the forefront of the war on terror. Due to the immediate unity and lifelong bonds formed between the two groups of professional American snipers (most of whom had never met), the name of the organization was officially changed to AmericanSnipers.org.

Three years in existence, the AmericanSnipers.org effort makes no distinction between the full fledged sniper teams who are often fully trained and equipped, to the designated marksmen of the mechanized, mortar and cavalry units who, like their full fledged sniper brethern, are also assigned the daunting task of denying the emplacement of IEDs. These designated marksmen are often doing what is normally a sniper's job, without the training and ancillary gear normally associated with the infantry sniper MOS. They are often assigned to a Stryker or other non-infantry unit and equipped with an M14 rifle that is often older than the sniper's parents. Due to their unit type, sniper related gear is not on their Modified Table of Equipment and these men often must literally do something with nothing. Amazingly, as they have always done, they are doing the job regardless of the obstacles presented them.

AmericanSnipers.org has made it their mission to assist these specialized troops and what began as a few police snipers sending gear right out of their own gear bags, has grown into a full time program currently supporting snipers and designated marksmen in over 150 sniper platoons of the US military.

The snipers and designated marksmen are encouraged to work through their own supply systems and to make their needs known to their superiors to maintain continuity and flow of information. However, that failing, AmericanSnipers.org has the ability to provide gear that goes directly from an AmericanSnipers.org shipping point, to the exact military address of the sniper himself. When the sniper's deployment ends, he either gives the equipment to his replacement (if it is serviceable) or keeps it if he re-enlists and plans to return to overseas duty in a sniper billet.

The AmericanSnipers program is entirely funded by civic donations and staffed entirely by 12 operational US police and military snipers from across the United States. Every penny, and all gear donated goes directly towards purchasing gear, shipping charges and or fund raisers for a US military sniper platoon deployed abroad. Receipts for donations are sent upon request, no person receives a salary or kickback in any form whatsoever and the entire effort is conducted on the staff's own time.

As we enter 2007, AmericanSnipers.org has supported snipers and designated marksmen in over 425 different platoons of the United States military and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds and gear for US snipers in all branches of the armed forces. The program has received positive mention in major newspapers in the US and abroad, on several national television news networks and on countless radio broadcasts and internet blog sites. The National Defense Industrial Association recently awarded AmericanSnipers.org the Carlos N. Hathcock II Award for 2007.

www.AmericanSnipers.org operates as a project under the 501C3 non-profit status of the organization Snipersonline UA.

Anyone wishing to assist the program with monetary or gear donations or for further information is invited to visit the website at www.AmericanSnipers.org

Custom 1911 and Accessories To Be Raffled For americansnipers.org

By Ned Christiansen

Anybody who likes high-end custom guns and wants to support our troops, especially our deployed snipers, will want a piece of this action. For $10 you can get a chance at a high-end custom 1911, a collaboration between some of the country's most respected custom smiths, plus a couple armloads of great gear and accessories. And whether you win it or not, you're helping americansnipers.org maintain the flow of sniper-related gear to our guys in the war zones. Military snipers are not always able to get the specialized things they really need to do their job well and safely, so americansnipers.org-- snipers themselves-- find it and send it-- free, of course.

LTW is a consortium of pistol smiths of note from around the country who all specialize in the 1911 pistol. They get together on a couple custom guns a year, which are raffled for the benefit of a selected charity. In the past three years they have given over $60,000 to Ted Nugent's Kamp For Kidz and
Cops 4 Kids. This year they decided they wanted to help the guys in the fight get 'er done and come home safe.

The pistol is built, and the accessory package assembled, along a sniper theme, as though they were going to the mean streets of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan, to be used by one of americansnipers.org's fold.
 
The pistol is the kind of work that normally would cost thousands of dollars, after a several year wait on one of these guys' waiting lists. The accessory package includes everything and anything the winner migh want or need to go along with the pistol - including ammo, classes, duty rig, custom
concealment rig, hard and soft cases - all contributed by companies who want to help the effort, and who deserve a look when you are shopping:

http://www.springfield-armory.com
http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/dpx.htm
http://www.vzgrips.com
http://www.trippresearch.com
http://www.centermassinc.com
http://www.safariland.com/index2.asp
http://www.egw-guns.com/
http://www.black-hills.com
http://www.starlightcases.com
http://www.wilsoncombat.com
http://www.nossargunleather.com
http://www.barsto.com
http://www.striketactical.com
http://www.brownells.com
http://www.chrisreeve.com/greenberet.htm
http://www.leupold.com/tactical/products/binoculars/
http://www.fnhusa.com/
http://www.dawsonprecision.com
http://www.nra.org/
http://www.uspsa.org/
http://idpa.com/
http://www.safedirection.com/
http://www.trijicon.com
http://swatmag.com/
http://www.originalmetaloy.com

This is part of the Mind-Body-Spirit series that began in the January 2007 edition. Click on those links to access previous columns.

In recent years, marathoners and triathletes alike have been following a trend into adventure racing.  I’m sure those athletes chased the same attraction I did when I began adventure racing…the adventure.  And if adventure racing is new to you, maybe you’ll see the same lure.  It doesn’t take long to realize racing does not build character. It reveals it.  And the fabric of Mind, Body, and Spirit shall be exposed for all to see.  Even as a weekend hobby, the lessons along the way may help you in your tactical career as well.

Adventure racing falls into the category of “multi-sporting.”  Teams of two to four racers take on challenges of mountain biking, trail running, orienteering or navigation through dense forest, a ropes course, paddling, and a laundry list of obstacles and tasks. The race lengths range from Sprint (under 6 hours), 12-hour, 24-hour, to Expedition (72-hour).  All members do the entire course, with many races requiring teams keep members within 100 yards of each other.  Lastly, teams must carry all the required equipment like packs, first aid kits, water, navigation tools, dry bags, and the sort. 

Some typical 12-hour races include 20-30 miles of mountain biking, 10-15 miles of running, a couple miles of canoeing or kayaking, and completing mystery events along the way. Some of the unorthodox events I have done include carrying a 40-pound sandbag for two miles, zip-lines, human wheelbarrow races, shooting archery, and agility courses.  Teams are issued “passports” which are punched at various stations to ensure the team passed through all the checkpoints.  And oh yeah, most of the racecourses aren’t even marked! You need to pre-plot checkpoints on the supplied maps and find your way with a compass.  Sound like fun yet?

There’s a huge spirit among fellow racing teams.  One rule in most races is this: you can only accept help from other teams, not outsiders.  You wouldn’t believe the help another team will offer you when you’re in need. Whether you need assistance fixing a bike or begging for food or water, teams express an unparalleled sense of sympathy.  Everyone realizes the tables can turn, maybe in the next race or in as little as five or ten miles up the trail. What goes around comes around.

Physical training for these races is obviously critical.  The human body must be ready for a grueling day(s).  Workouts must include combinations of running and biking, or running and paddling (mirroring triathlon brick sessions).  You need not be a master of all disciplines, but you better be a jack-of-all-trades. Some races will only announce approximate distances and give no order to events, leading the participants to prepare for anything in any order.  The adventure begins sooner than you think, sometimes months before!  While endurance is the name of the game, peak physical conditioning is only one segment of preparation.

Logistical readiness sets teams apart.  What foods and nutritional supplements do I eat during the race?  What changes of clothes or shoes should I have?  Do I have all the tools and material to fix broken equipment along the way?  How will I patch up my injuries along the course? How many fresh batteries for the headlamps? Planning for these contingencies proves valuable.  Rolling the dice on whether to bring along a spare bicycle tube is the sure path to failure.  An old military saying is, “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”  Rhodesian Tracker Combat Unit member and author David Scott-Donelan adds, “If you take it, you have to carry it.”  Some equipment is mandatory.  For the other stuff, team members must find that balance between preparation and wasted bulk.  It’s not always an easy compromise.  I’d rather run ten miles with a light pack, than a heavy one….but I also need to make sure I have all the right stuff along the way.

A frequent misunderstanding is that adventure racing is done by individuals next to each other. Wrong. It is done by TEAMS. There is a difference. Teams win together. Teams get lost, and passed by faster teams together. Teams get bogged down by a leg cramp together. Teams argue about their position on a map together. Teams share food and water, and treat cuts and scrapes, and tackle obstacle courses together.  When racers are fatigued and malnourished (AKA “bonked”), and then get lost, stressed, and panicked, conflict rises and arguments happen.  Teammates must be sympathetic and work through disagreement to get back on track, both literally and figuratively.  Leaders must take charge. Staying focused and mitigating disagreements among the team is absolutely necessary to complete the course.   I once saw a husband-wife team get disqualified after the wife was arrested mid-race for domestic battery at a gear staging area!  Tempers must be controlled for a team to be successful. Racers must stay calm amidst confusion, and remain positive and encouraging with struggling teammates.

Some racers find the biggest challenge in the navigation and orienteering.  The more members on your team that firmly grasp the principles of topography, dead-reckoning, UTM grid coordinates, azimuths, pace, and resection…the better.  A team full of Olympic-caliber endurance athletes might be in peak physical fitness, but they’ll fail if they can’t navigate through the course, locate the checkpoints, and stay motivated.  The mental side of using a compass, a map, and navigation techniques must not be overlooked. During training, do not sacrifice orienteering practice for the sake of physical conditioning.  I remember pointing a lost team in the right direction, and receiving thanks from crying team members.  But not as vividly as I recall the disappointment I felt in myself for yelling at my partner one race when we found ourselves completely lost in the woods.  Navigation can make or break teams, as it’s usually the most frequent reason for quitting or disqualification.

Maybe you have found yourself a bit bored with some of the monotonous running or biking races you’ve been doing.  I have learned many lessons from adventure racing.  The navigational skills alone have been extremely helpful when drilling with my SWAT team in rural and wooded searches.  I now have a much better understanding of my body’s nutritional needs during both shorter and longer endurance races.  At work, I can better prepare myself for the hunger and thirst that comes with extended SWAT missions.  Through racing, I have experienced the pitfalls of allowing fatigue, stress, and panic to seep into disagreements with teammates.  My appreciation of a positive attitude and encouragement hopefully helps me to grow in my leadership position within SWAT.  Logistical planning (such as supply, equipment-staging, and problem foresight) has helped me identify potential obstacles during tactical missions. Lastly, I have experienced increases in physical fitness, endurance, strength, coordination, and agility by training for adventure races.  Those are tough benefits to argue against!

Mind: Know your equipment, how to troubleshoot it, and fix it.  Understand how to orienteer and navigate through tough terrain.  Plan accordingly.

Body:  Attain peak physical fitness. Experiment with various combinations of food and liquids.  Know your body’s limits. Avoid injury, and learn how to treat them.

Spirit:  Stay calm. There’s more honor in helping one in need than winning the race.  When the morale is low, and the discouragement is high, remind yourselves how the finish line feels.

During the last ten minutes of a recent grueling eleven-hour-plus race, I recall saying to my teammates, “Nothing can stop me right now. If scientists could bottle up the natural chemicals flowing through my bloodstream this minute, I’d be unstoppable forever!”  It wasn’t the first nor the last time I’d felt that invincibility in my veins.  The reality is that those chemicals are waiting in reserve for the right times to come out.  For those of you who have experienced it, it’s unbelievable, isn’t it?  I’m not sure how long that burst of energy would have lasted, but I ran faster in those ten minutes than probably ever! But to get me to that point just ten minutes from the finish line took a lot…a lot of teamwork, preparation, prayer, know-how, Gatorade, physical endurance, belief, leadership.  And in the months before the race, I trained and trained. 

I’m always looking for new racing teammates. Look me up. I’m up for a new challenge. But I’m warning you: I race outside my comfort zone.

Next month: Police Use of Force Training.

THE LIBRARY - MUST READ!

By Henk Iverson

I read as much as I possibly can. Just when I think that there can't be much better to read out there, a book like this pops up! I had the destinct honor of meeting Major General John Singlaub a short while ago. The aura around this American hero cannot be put into words. I have heard of General Singlaub through the years but never in my wildest dreams could I imagine meeting and talking tactics with him! 

My Christmas gift from my bride is an autographed first edition copy of Major General Jack K. Singlaub's memoir, "HAZARDOUS DUTY". This book was first printed in 1991 and describes the life of a true warrior.

Tom Clancy says: "Major General Singlaub's book is the odessy of an American Patriot."

The book is a fast paced narritive that mixes revealing anecdotes with meticulously researched history. "HAZARDOUS DUTY" is the epic autobiography of one of America's most respected soldiers. As an OSS officer in Nazi-occupied France, General Singlaub was one of the founding members of the CIA. He fought behind enemy lines in Europe and Asia, headed CIA operations in postwar Manchuria, led troops in Korea, managed the secret war along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and worked with theContras in Nicaragua.

Major General John K. Singlaub saw combat in three wars and recieved numerous decorations. NEED I SAY ANYTHING MORE?? Get a copy of this book TODAY!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"If he wants to box, then I'll wrestle .... and if he wants to wrestle, I'll use Judo ... but if he uses Judo, I'll pull a knife on him ... and if he pulls a knife on me, I'll shoot the son-of-a-bitch!"
Lt. Col Samual S. Yeaton USMC - WW2