Newsletter | Law Enforcement Training by Strike Tactical Solutions

Newsletter 10/2007

WELCOME TO FIGHT SCHOOL! With the war raging on in Iraq and Afganistan, we would like to wish our friends that spent time with STRIKE, a safe journey over there. We pray for your safe return and thank each and every one of you sincerely for your dedication, hard work and sacrifice. Our thoughts are with you and your families during these trying times. Marines ... KICK THEIR ASSES! God bless you all!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wiley X Eyewear is now an official sponsor of STRIKE Tactical Solutions. Wiley X provides our troops and Law Enforcement Officers with state of the art eye protection.

Wiley X Eyewear® recently received an Innovation Award presented by Cygnus Public Safety Group - made up of Law Enforcement Technology, Law Enforcement Product News, Officer.com and Enforcement Expo. The Livermore, California-based manufacturer of protective eyewear systems was among a group of companies singled out for their innovative products at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Meeting and Expo in Boston. Congratulations!

We are honored to be associated with Wiley X and will provide a platform for testing and evaluating of their wide range of products.

Several other companies have approached us offering sponsorships. We strongly believe in our ethics and will only endorse equipment and gear that stands the test of time and real world abuse. More announcements about products will be made soon.

STRIKE TACTICAL EMPLOYS MORE STAFF!

STRIKE Tactical is proud to announce that we have added several new members to our staff. Each and every one of these instructors have passed a rigorous selection program. First criteria was that these members must be trained and state certified instructors.

Next, all members had to successfully complete the STRIKE Tactical Pistol Levels 1 through 6 (NOT an easy task!). Members then had to successfully complete the STRIKE Level 1 Patrol Rifle school. Several of our instructors have advanced way beyond these requirements and have excelled in the instruction field. We expect a lot from our staff and we feel we have selected the very best!

Our new instructors are Chuck Soltys, Rob Donaldson and Rob Briggs. The next step is STRIKE's 80 hour Instructor Enhancement Program. After successfully completing this instructor school and a 6 months probation period, these instructors will be qualified to teach the STRIKE curriculums under their own steam.

CURRENT STAFF

Henk Iverson - Training Director / Lead Instructor
Jim Harritos - Senior Tactical Firearms Instructor
Chuck Soltys - Tactical Firearms / TacMed Instructor
Rob Donaldson - Tactical Firearms / SWAT Instructor
Rob Briggs - Tactical Firearms / TacMed Instructor

Our website will soon sport full resumes and photos of these staff members.

IN MEMORIAM

It saddens us to have heard of the tragic loss of one of Law Enforcements top trainers - Jim Cirillo. Jim

Cirillo was world famous for the gunfights he partook in. Stationed with the New York Stake Out Squad, Jim became a prominant member as violence seemed to follow him where-ever he went! Cirillo died in a vehicle accident a few weeks ago.

Jim authored several books and articles on the subject of gunfighting and training. He also taught classes all over the US. Jim Cirillo was known for his calm demeanor during and after armed confrontation.

Cirillo also designed bullets and was an innovator of shooting techniques. He was a mentor to many and will be sincerely missed by most.

Our sincere condolances to the family and friends of Jimmy Cirillo. Rest in peace warrior!

CONGRATULATIONS!

1. First we would like to congratulate Brian Melvin of the FIAT SWAT Team on being promoted to the rank of Seargent.

2. Another hearty congratulations to Brian Melvin, Rob Donaldson, Jimmy Haritos, Chuck Soltys and Matt Bendicsen on successfully completing the STRIKE Tactical Pistol Levels 1 through 6! These guys are the FIRST to make the grade in the two years we have been offering them. We have a second and third group on the way to the top. Well done again warriors!

3. Lastly, we would like to congratulate Jason Cates and the FIAT SWAT Team for winning a multi team SWAT competition in Memphis Tennessee! The guys not only won ... they beat the opposition bad! Well done lads!

STRIKE Launches Tactical Kydex Gear Line!

STRIKE Tactical Solutions will be offering a FULL line of Kydex gear soon. We are aiming to launch our products at the ITOA Conference in Chicago, November 2007. We have the most innovative designs going. Included will be an inside the waistband holster, belt holster, modular magazine holders, knife sheaths, deep concealment gear and a magazine holder that clips onto the stock of an AR15. All the designs are by Henk Iverson in association with Raven Concealment Systems.

As we continue our work in the training arena, we find that most gear that is available is designed by people who never use it for real. We started designing equipment a while ago and the "Urban Defender Sling" is the result. Out great friend and brother trainer, John Farnam has bestowed the ultimate compliment to us when he labelled our sling as the leader of the pack in single point slings.

STRIKE has teamed up with Raven Concealment Systems and our designs are perfected by these pros and then manufactured to our high standards.

Pictured here is our deep concealment back-up pistol holster. The holster is fitted directly BEHIND the mag holders (the holster is PART of the mag holders). If you now struggle with an assaillant and you are in the process of losing your primary gun, you now have the option to INSTANTLY draw your back-up pistol with your other hand and defend yourself!

Also, in teaching high stress gunfighting we see a LOT of Simunition strikes in the hands of the operators. If your gunhand is severely wounded and you have dropped your primary gun, how long does it take you to deploy your back-up pistol? With this system it is easy ... MOVE off the line of force as you draw your back-up with you non wounded hand and engage - INSTANTLY.

Also See: http://www.themalabarfront.com/product_info.php?products_id=1463&osCsid=e1a0115e2d6d0eb3e0fbe82d61a2e846

MORE SOON!

BAD YEAR FOR POLICE OFFICERS

The news of the Miami-Dade shooting in which an offender murdered one officer and shot three others has prompted me to craft this missive.

I'll put the take-away info first: We are in the midst of a very bad year where the murder of police officers goes.

The data I'll report out below is a bit messy because the two sources (the FBI and the Officer Down Memorial Page [OPMP]) use somewhat different methodologies for counting officer murders and because 2007 is not yet over. I believe, however, that cops all over the nation need to be aware of the data and what it tells us about whats going on.

First point is that according to the ODMP we have already lost 52 officers to criminal gunfire this year. The ODMP reported 49 officers murdered with guns in all of 2006 (official FBI figures have not yet been reported, but the FBI count will be very close to that of the ODMP). For the decade from1996 to 2005, the FBI reported an average of 53 officers murdered by suspects with firearms, so we are essentially at the yearly average for the last full decade for which we have official FBI data. (If we plug the ODMP count of 49 into the mix and take away the 57 firearm murders in 1996, we an average of 52 for the decade of 1997-2006, which means weve already matched the yearly average for the last decade).

Second point is that the largest number of officers murdered by firearms in any single year in the last decade was 68, which happened in 1997; the next highest number was 61, which happened in 2001.

We have three and one half months left in 2007. I sure as hell hope I am wrong about this, but with 52 lost already, it is almost certain that we will exceed the second highest body count and it is quite likely that 2007 will prove to an even bloodier year than 1997.

Third point is that the ODMP reports that already in 2007 there have been 6 incidents in which two or more officers were murdered (the worst was the three Odessa, Texas officers shot dead earlier this month). They reported 0 multiple-officer murders in 2006, 2 in 2005, 6 in 2004, and 3 in 2003. News reports hint that one of the Miami-Dade officers would likely have died if not for being rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, which has one of the nations finest trauma facilities. Whatever the case, we have had as many multi-murder incidents already this year as weve had in any years in the previous half-decade.

I am not sure what is going on, nor why, but I believe that cops everywhere should be aware of the increased threat out there and be reminded to be alert and prepared to take appropriate action to defend their lives if it comes their way.

David Klinger
Associate Professor
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Boulevard
St. Louis MO 63121-4499
314-516-7012
www.killzonevoices.com

THE LIBRARY - MUST READ!

If you only read ONE book this year, this is it! I could not put this book down after the first page. The book makes you think about the sacrifice the men and women in uniform make on a daily basis. This book will rock your "safe" enviroment and TV driven world. After reading "Lone Survivor", I dedicated a page to each of the Navy SEALS - author Luttrell's teammates - that died in Afganistan. This is a small token of appreciation for the sacrifice of each of these brave SEALS and their families.

PLEASE SEE: http://www.striketactical.com/memoriam/?type=m

BOOK DESCRIPTION: "On a clear night in late June 2005, four U.S. Navy SEALs left their base in northern Afghanistan for the mountainous Pakistani border. Their mission was to capture or kill a notorious al Qaeda leader known to be hiding in a Taliban stronghold surrounded by a small but heavily armed force. Less then twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs remained alive.

This is the story of SEAL team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing, and the desperate battle in the mountains that led, ultimately, to the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL

history. But it is also, more than anything, the story of his fellow teammates, who put up a ferocious fight beside him until he was the last one left. Unconscious by a RPG blast, blown over a cliff, but still armed and still breathing, Luttrell discovers he is the LONE SURVIVOR is this desparate fight.

Over the next four days, badly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell fought off six al Qaeda operatives who were sent to finish him, then crawled for seven miles through the mountains before he was taken in by a Pashtun tribe, who risked everything to protect him from the encircling Taliban fighters.

A huge Texan, Petty Officer Luttrell writes his experiences, blow-by-blow, through the brutal training of America's warrior elite and the relentless rites of passage required by the Navy SEALs. He then describes the monstrous battle fought in the desolate peaks of Afghanistan, where the American team plummeted headlong a thousand feet down a mountain as they fought back through flying shale and rocks. In this chronicle of courage, honor, and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers one of the most powerful narratives ever written about modern warfare-and a tribute to his teammates, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country."

Where can I find a copy of this book?: http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7426002-5770412?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189101368&sr=8-1

REFLECTIONS ON A BYGONE ERA – PART 3
By Henk Iverson

A BIT OF HISTORY

The patrol was the basic formation in counter terror operations in the northern part of South West Africa during the South African bush war. Military camps were set up all over the operational area and troops were posted at these camps. Patrol duty was the order of the day. Groups of infantry soldiers were sent out on foot to patrol areas around these military bases, communicating with locals, looking for enemy spoor or sign and to set up ambushes. These patrols could last anywhere between one and eight days (sometimes longer) depending on the mission.

When a patrol made contact with the enemy, or came across spoor, a follow-up operation was launched to track down these terrorists and engage them. The follow-up was launched as soon as possible when the tracks were still “fresh”. A Reaction Force was immediately launched from the nearest base. These Reaction Forces consisted of fresh troops (sometimes Parabats – South African paratroopers) and trackers that could read sign. Time was always of the essence. The colder the spoor, the harder it was to track.

The Bushman visual trackers were phenomenal. They grew up in this wild country, could see tracks

or sign where nobody else could and run for miles without stopping. They drank very little water, carried very little gear and when you were teamed up with a Reaction Group with a Bushman tracker … you had better be fit!

Hot Pursuits of the Enemy

In 1977, the South African Defense Force created the South West Africa Specialist Unit or SWASPES. This unit was unique amongst the other fighting units in that SWASPES specialized in quick response or follow-up operations. If there were a terrorist attack, SWASPES unit members were brought to the incident and a follow-up operation was launched.

Follow-up operations were exciting. The air was usually filled with anticipation of the chase. The operations were hard. You had to follow the sign, and then try and make up time to engage the enemy. In the dry season, water was scarce. The dog handlers carried 6 water bottles for the dogs and two for the handlers. This is 8 liters of fluid which translates to 8 kilograms of weight! Try running with 8 water bottles, attached to your combat belt with a full combat load of eight magazines, grenades, a heavy rifle, in soft sand, trying to keep up with an eager tracking dog!

The terrain changed constantly. Sometimes the ground was open with sparse growth, then thick bush where we made a lot of noise to try and make up time! During the rainy season, the ground turned into a mud mess! Tracking was very difficult and the enemy ambushed patrols eagerly.

At selected bases in the operational area, SWASPES troops were stationed specifically for these follow-up operations. These forces consisted of mounted troops (horses), motorized troops (500 CC off-road motorcycles), dog handlers (patrol, tracking & explosive detection dogs) as well as visual trackers. The sole purpose of these forces, were to hunt down terrorists after attacks, landmine incidents and ambushes.

During the Bush War, landmines were always a threat to the follow-up teams. The terrorists would place and arm anti-personnel mines and then cover them with sand. Very carefully and cleverly, they would place a boot mark over the mine. The trackers ran on the spoor or tracking was done from horseback or from motorcycles (Hard to believe, but true!). If the pursuers were not careful, a soldier (or horse / motorcycle) would detonate a mine, maiming or killing. Ambushes were a constant threat.

If the Reaction Force caught up with the terrorists, the group split up. We called this “bomb shelling”. The best tracks were then selected and followed. The terrorists would sometimes inject themselves with all kinds of drugs so they could keep on running. If a Reaction Force caught up with terrorists, a firefight ensued. If the terrorists did not surrender, they were shot down. On several occasions I witnessed terrorists discard all their gear, even clothing to avoid capture.

Other times terrorists entered “kraals” (residence) of the local population, replenished water and food and off they went again. We followed the tracks to the “kraal” and took valuable time to question the head man for information. In one instance, we entered the “kraal” just as the terrorists were exiting the other side of the security fence! A short while later both were shot and killed.

MORE NEXT TIME!

PRODUCT REVIEW: WILEY X TAG-1 GLOVES

WILEY X ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF THE TAG-1 FOR THE U.S. MARINE CORPS BREACHER KIT

The Wiley X Tactical Assault Glove (TAG-1) has been selected as the protective glove for the U.S. Marine Corps Breacher kit.

Wiley X has been supplying the United States finest fighting forces for over 19 years. We have worked closely with military and federal law enforcement agencies designing ballistic goggles, spectacles, and protective gloves for all types of operations conducted. Wiley X has devoted a specific department to the development and creation of new and innovative designs based on feedback from warfighters and officers in the field. HVP™ - High Velocity Protection, is the theory behind all Wiley X designs.

Wiley X prides itself on designing protection that can be worn for multiple applications whether its general safety or close quarters combat. Due to the ever changing combat environment and the

needs of armed forces worldwide, Wiley X has developed the Tactical Assault Glove (TAG-1). The TAG-1 is the Cadillac of Protective Gauntlet Gloves. Using the same "protection first" philosophy that has made us so well known, we have stopped at no expense with this glove. Its main fabric is a Nomex / Kevlar bi-weave, which allows the glove to be both thermal resistant and cut resistant. Featuring a Thermal Plastic knuckle guard, this enables the user unparalleled knuckle protection and comfort that is second to none.

The palm is made of Sheepskin leather with Armortan™, which allows maximum palm protection without compromise in finger and palm dexterity. There is extra leather reinforcement on the palm and thumb for increased durability in high wear areas. The TAG-1 has extended forearm protection that incorporates an elastic cuff which wraps around the wrist for a custom fit.

Depending on the job at hand, and level of hand protection needed, Wiley X has the solution, the TAG-1.

DTI QUIPS
By John Farnam

Field use of Federal 12ga Flight-Control Buckshot, from a range officer with a large Midwestern PD:

"Last week, one of our patrol officers confronted a single, armed, robbery suspect at a range of ten meters. When the suspect made threatening verbalizations and gestures, the officer fired a single shot from his department-issued Remington 870.

The round was Federal Flight-Control 00 Buckshot. The tight cluster of 00 pellets struck the suspect in the right side of his hip. He went right down, offering no further resistance. At the hospital, attending sturgeons asked if the suspect had been hit with a slug. We assured them that it was a single, buckshot round.

X-rays revealed that several pellets were still in the suspects's body, but that most had transverse-penetrated and subsequently exited. Tissue destruction was copious, so much so that the suspect's right leg had to be amputated at the hip. He is expected to survive, but has obviously sustained permanent, disabling/disfiguring injury.

We are most pleased with this round's fight-stopping ability. This suspect went from dangerous/threatening to meek/crippled, all in less than a second!"

Comment: It is difficult to imagine a better fight-stopping effect than described in the foregoing. Federal's new wad technology represents a pivotal improvement in shotshell performance, breathing new life into the "old-standby" police shotgun.

Something we all need to look at seriously!

Till next time!

John

INSTRUCTOR OF THE MONTH: NED CHRISTIANSEN -METALMASTER!

Ned Christiansen is in my opinion the best gunsmith I have EVER dealt with. Holding one of his custom 1911 type pistols in your hand will have you thinking of selling everything you own to make a purchase! This is the very reason that my friend and esteemed trainer Jeff Chudwin calls Ned - METALMASTER!

Ned has been an instructor with NEMRT for seven years. He is a regular part of the training staff for the three and five day Patrol Rifle classes as well as for the Advanced Patrol Rifle Tactics and Tactical Handgun classes. His duties include some classroom lecturing on the operational theory of the AR15-type weapons, keeping the guns up and running on the range, and helping on the line as an assistant instructor and safety officer.

Ned has also been a part of the NEMRT 1911 Armorer's Course, which has not been held in the last couple years, but he offers a 1-day class privately. Ned's regular job is as a custom gunsmith, specializing in the 1911 pistol and the AR15 rifle.

He has quite a bit of firearms competition under his belt, including IDPA, IPSC, NRA Rifle Silhouette, and NRA High Power. Between training and work, his competition schedule has been reduced, but he still competes on occasion on a national or state level.

Ned is a bit of an inventor as well, with several patents and patents pending. Naturally, most of his ideas tend to be firearms related; for example, his MOACKS (Mother Of All Carrier Key Stakers) tool for staking AR15 carrier key screws, his special reamer for altering .223 commercial-spec chambers to true 5.56 NATO dimensions, and his ILM light mount that places the light above the bore but below the front sight, so that shooting over or around a barricade does not present a lighting problem.

Ned maintains that being a part of the NEMRT classes has been a major learning experience. One

guy owning two or even ten AR15's for a lifetime can't learn the same things he does when exposed to upward of 200 students a year, each firing 1,000-plus rounds, from every brand and configuration of AR15 available.

Ned has authored several articles for SWAT magazine and the ITOA magazine amongst others. His picture drawing ability to illustrate the parts of firearms are legendary!

Ned had the following comments on the NEMRT carbine schools: "I have seen some unique and bizarre failures, and become intimately acquainted with the system, its advantages and shortcomings, such as I never would have on my own. And I have enjoyed the officers that come to our classes, the vast majority are fit and determined to improve their skills, and serious about being good cops. They want to catch bad guys real bad, but to a man they have a sincere concern about respecting citizens and their rights. It's a real pleasure working with people like that."

STRIKE Tactical plans to host several of Ned's 1911 armorer's classes in 2008. Watch this space!

ALSO SEE: http://www.m-guns.com/ for more info.

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
By Louis P. Hayes

Part VI: Competition and Games

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

Heart pumping. Hands getting sweaty. Butterflies in the belly. The lump in the throat. Tunnel vision. Heavy breathing. Nervousness. Excitement. Anxiety. I remember riding to my first warrant service. But I’m not talking about that right now. I’m referring to the feelings I get before a firearm or SWAT competition. Yeah, I know….just a game.

Firearm and SWAT competitions are just that….athletic contests. They bear minimal likeness to realistic scenarios. On their face, the only resemblance to reality is in the equipment used to complete the contest. They are not judged on tactics, or decision-making, or preparedness. Do not confuse them with reality! Then why do I put so much stock in them?

These competitions give me an opportunity to test my character, my fitness, my skills, and my equipment…with the only real cost being the possibility of embarrassment from failure. My success (or failure) hinges on maintaining (or neglecting) high standards in Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Begin with the physical aspects of a SWAT competition. Events frequently consist of running, dummy rescues, obstacle courses, ropes work and rappelling, climbing walls, and shooting firearms. Regardless if you know the course of events ahead of time, you must perform on demand.

You cannot fake performance. You might get lucky, but you cannot fake it. You also cannot fake endurance. You either have it, or you don’t. Preparing yourself for these events requires you reach your maximum potential in physical fitness, rehearse traversing technical obstacles, be skilled and proficient in rope work, and a top firearm marksman. And you need the “required” equipment. Notice I make no mention about tactics or team movements. Like I said earlier, this is just an athletic contest. Simple enough, right?

There are rules, and procedures. And there are frequently little tricks that give the competitor an edge. It’s called “gaming” when a competitor finds one of these shortcuts to gain an advantage. But even when “gaming” it, the contender must still execute the task…maybe not to the level of reality, but nonetheless do it. Another mental aspect of competition is visualization…imagining performing even the simplest of tasks over and over again to gain an upper hand. With this imagery, a contestant can gain advantage by “experiencing” the event in the mind, before ever doing for real.

But aside from the need to physically perform on demand and think through the event, the spiritual and emotional obstacles need conquering. First look at individual events. You get one chance to perform. And everyone will know if you failed or succeeded. This is the chance. You must prevail. And the emotional stress begins to deteriorate everything else. The elevated heart rate affects the once-steady sight picture on your firearm. Those intrusive thoughts wear at your perfect plan to complete the course. Failure could mean complete embarrassment. Yet so many Officers I know will not participate in these games because of this anxiety. If you’re not good enough to partake in a silly game, do you really think you’re good enough for the real thing??

Now team events like SWAT competitions. The pressures reach new heights. Now besides yourself to embarrass, the reputations of your teammates and the team revolves on your performance. The added peer pressure is heavy. Your team is counting on you. You better perform up to your abilities. “They won’t let you down, so don’t let them down.” The stress is beginning to mount. The belly butterflies are fluttering. Your body’s physiology is being affected by the emotional stresses. The tunnel vision is narrowing. The pulse is racing. And the event begins….

If there’s physical activity during the course, the heart rate is soaring….not only because of the

anxiety, but because of the physical exertion. And this exertion may cause lapses in mental judgment and analysis…specifically failure to follow strict rules and procedures, and difficulty doing simple tasks. And if you do screw up, you must remain calm enough to finish with success.

There is so much going on. You must remember the rules, the procedures, and the course. You must perform perfectly. You cannot let yourself or your teammates down. You must do your best. But you must still keep things in perspective. It’s only a game.

Through it all, you must keep it real. Do you “game” so much that you are losing sight of reality? I’m sure we all know a police or military shooting competitor who shoots a competition gun that he would never carry on his hip. Is he using the race gun to achieve success at the cost of losing valuable training time with his carry gun? Teammates of mine question their own preparation or readiness to step into the competition arena. They are fearful of failure and rejection. But what they’re failing at is the reluctance to put it on the line, and giving themselves the opportunity to WIN.

I have used these competitions to drive segments of my personal training. Firearm competitions have encouraged me to maintain a high level of marksmanship and proficiency. Team obstacle courses have kept me exercising and reaching new heights with agility and power. And pre-planning for team SWAT competition events has allowed members of my team to practice planning, leadership, and teamwork. Those benefits are hard to argue against. Yet one of the most important lessons I learned from competing is visualization. Learning how to properly visualize can carry this critical mental skill into reality….when preparing a serious emergency response.

I live by this quote by Teddy Roosevelt. “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

I refuse to live the life of the critic. I am a competitor, and no one will keep me from the arena. I will win. I will continue to prepare, to believe, to plan, to practice, to visualize, and to train…outside of my comfort zone.

Next month: Adventure Racing.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"If a real defense of the lines was intended,
the number was too few; if the fort only, the
garrison was too numerous ... This kept
the General's mind in a state of suspense ...
Oh! General - an indicisive mind is one of
the greatest misfortunes that can befall an
army."

Joseph Reed to Charles Lee
November 21, 1776