Q&A MadMax Episode 003
Observations Episode 002
The Enhanced Defense Podcast (Introduction) Episode 001
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Invest In Yourself
Maybe it's just me and how I was brought up as a kid, a young Marine, and how it was working at a Sheriff's Office, but for me to succeed, I had to invest in myself. Too often, I hear guys/gals say, "Well, they didn't pay for it or they won't send me to that training, so F&%K It, that's on them." Many folks say that it is a millennial thing. I disagree because I have heard it my whole career.
I was in the Marine Corps in the early to mid-'90s, and we were still getting issued Vietnam Era gear and equipment. For us to make things practical and work in the environment we worked in, we had to, well, as the old saying goes, "Adapt and Overcome." Back then, we got paid just enough that we couldn't afford to pay attention to it. If we needed certain things, we acquired them, paid for them, and re-engineered gear and equipment to make them practical for fieldwork and combat effectiveness.
I found it was similar while working as a deputy sheriff for 19 years in the LEO arena. Back in the day, if you wanted it, you bought it and used it on duty, or if there was training that I wanted to make myself better, I pulled it out of my pocket. Again, not able to afford to pay attention, I still knew that I had to invest in myself and make myself an asset and not a liability. I was blessed and was sent to many training courses on the company dime, but I was always eager to bring good info back and pass it on. But there were many things that I had to invest time, money, blood, sweat, and tears to better myself and be an asset.
What does investing in yourself mean? Let's break it down:
Physical Fitness
First, invest in your physical fitness levels to ensure you can endure a long day at work and violence if it comes. This doesn't mean you need to be a CrossFit superstar, an Olympic powerlifter, or a cross-country star. It just means keeping yourself healthy and in physical shape to endure what the job or life throws at you. It also means balancing cardio, strength, and endurance.
Knowledge
As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. Research good instructors and authors and read their books. Learn to sift through the trash and take in the good. Listen to Podcasts. Podcasts are a great way to find good information and good books. And there are a ton of them out there. Again, learn to sift through the trash.
Hand Combatives
Next, invest in some hand combat training and blade training. You don't have to be a black belt in anything, but you need to look at a few different disciplines and pick a couple of things that work from each. Then, incorporate them into your personal training sessions. We must be able to protect ourselves, and carrying a gun is only one tool and is not appropriate for everything.
Gear and Equipment
Invest in your gear and equipment. Let's talk about this. Many times, if you work for an organization, they will buy what some POG thinks is cool and flashy, but in all reality, it is junk. Something flashy that you can strap to your gun or body but has no real value or purpose other than just making you feel warm and fuzzy just adds weight. You must ensure what you're using works and is simple under stress and duress. If they don't provide the right shit, it's on you to dig in your pocket, pull out a little coin and produce what works. You don't need a $500 Gucci trigger to help you shoot better, you need training and repetition to help you shoot better. So spend your money, time, and effort on training, not gimmick gear. Check out this video from my friend Reid Henrichs of Valor Ridge about expensive triggers. The thing is to keep it simple and put in the work and practice. This is investing in yourself.
The bottom line is, if you get reliable equipment, notice I didn't say top-shelf expensive equipment or Gucci gear, and then spend your money and time training with that equipment, you will outshine the dude or chick who looks like they just crawled off the front page of a 5.11 catalog and has the $5K tricked out a rifle, and the $1500 Glock 19.
There is a lot of flashy stuff out there that salesmen will sell you. Once you put it to work, you find out it's really just extra weight and a pain in the ass.
Training
This is where we fall short. First, we would rather spend our time and money on gadgets than invest in learning and then put in the time to master those skills. I see police agencies all the time spend money on technical equipment but do not want to spend the time and money on training on how to utilize the equipment or skills efficiently and effectively. It's almost criminal in nature.
First, we need to find a good and reputable instructor with the background, experience, and skills to teach the selected skill or skills. Try to find an instructor who teaches fundamentals and practical/principle-based techniques, skills, and tactics that work on a broad spectrum. One that is humble and will explain why? There are some good ones out there, just as some bad ones. Once we learn the basics, we must invest our time and train those skills. We all have times when we get busy with life, I get it, but we need to make sure we invest a little into ourselves. I promise you, it will reap benefits over time.
Mindset
If we invest in ourselves and work to build and maintain individual skills, we will have the confidence to roam the earth and enjoy life. All of these things are part of the mindset.
As I was writing this, I came across an article written by Bill Rapier of American Tactical Shooting Solutions called "The Modern-Day Minute Man and Other Standards." If you get a chance, check it out. A minuteman is someone who is ready to go in a minute and has the skills to roll when asked. I have always tried to keep my skills up and maintained, so if someone called operationally or recreationally, I could say, "Yep, I'll be ready in a minute."
In the end, it's on us. When bad things happen, don't expect anyone to come to the rescue, at least not right away. We need to invest in ourselves. I know there is a lot out there. We need to balance out all the above areas. I have met guys who are great shooters over the years because they trained A LOT but could not run around the block if a bear was chasing them. Just as guys who were bigger, stronger, and faster but couldn't shoot, move, and communicate for their lives.
The bottom line is that we need balance. If you would like to train check with us, check us out at Enhanced Defense. It would be an honor to train with you. Hope to see you on the range.
Wilkie
OUT
ARE YOU TRAINING OR JUST CHECKING THE BOX?
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”
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SAS Operator saving lives in Kenya..
Over the years the Heraclitus of Ephesus quote has driven home on more than one occasion. I remember once a Deputy yelling for help on the radio as he was pinned down by fire. Due to a lack of or poor training, he ended up shooting his own car with his newly issued patrol rifle (what if that car was a kid during an active shooter event). As I rounded the corner, I observed approximately 15-20 officers and deputies walking down the street. I asked them where he (the pinned down Deputy was) and they said somewhere down there and pointed. Holy shit!!! I ended up running a quarter mile and tactically breaking corner scanning for the threat. Another deputy on the other side of the house placed two solid rounds next to the suspects head into the door jamb (too bad his aim was off slightly) and the bad guy, said ”NOPE!! don’t want none of that shit” and gave up. My point is, what the hell! We all took an oath. But I also believe that confidence in one’s abilities (Mentally, Physically, Technically, and Tactically) is relevant to training, especially when it comes to active threats, which ultimately results in one’s ability to engage or/not to engage in an active threat. I also believe that Heraclitus’ 2000+ year old quote rings just as loud today as it did then.
The above picture is of the British SAS operator in Kenya who bit off a piece meat and applied simple single person tactics and fundamental weapons skills. These skills and tactics are simple to learn and easy to maintain, but must be trained and practiced. He trained in them and understood that bad people walk the earth and because of his chosen profession that one day he may be called to kill the wolf. And he did efficiently with great attention to detail and professionalism. That wasn’t his whole job in life, but he understood that if the time came, he had better be on his game.
No Words to say….
The above picture is of Scot Peterson who should have done in Florida what the SAS operator did in Kenya. If he would of efficiently and aggressively closed with and pressed the fight with the shooter and stabilized the crisis scene this would have allowed other responders to go into medical mode and save additional lives. Even if he didn’t know what he didn’t know, he took and oath to protect those kids, he could have gotten lucky he should have pressed that fight.
My question from the beginning, has been, was he trained in Single Officer response to an active threat? And if so, how often and when was the last time? What was his weapons manipulation abilities and marksmanship skill level? Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to defend him he should have moved toward the sound of gunfire. But I also believe training and accountability is paramount as well. And as a trainer I see a lack of it throughout the country especially in single officer response.
Single Officer/Person response done correctly will save lives and end a threat(s), there is no question. Just ask the SAS dude that the keyboard warriors picked apart and talked shit about his equipment. It just goes to show you that a TRAINED dude/chick with reliable gear no matter the brand or date, with the right mindset and who is in sync with their physical abilities and applies fundamental marksmanship skills and solid tactics can stop multiple threats as well as stabilize and evac innocents.
Training allows responders to be confident in their abilities, technically, and tactically will allow them to focus on the task at hand and solve problems. Taking for granted that you have also trained yourself mentally and physically for the task at hand.
This incident should have been a confidence builder for any School Resource Office (SRO). Single officer tactics and training are lacking in law enforcement. If you’re not training for that type of incident you ARE WRONG. This may mean doing some research on a competent instructor and paying a few bucks out of your own pocket for training and having the discipline to hone your own individual physical and technical skills. Keeping yourself in shape mentally and physically will allow you to move through a critical environment more efficiently. Dry firing and going to the range to practice your firearms skills is your responsibility as a professional.
IF YOU ARE LEADERSHIP/ADMIN in your department and are not supplying and mandating this training, then YOU ARE WRONG, and it is criminal in nature. If ADMINs are not mandating that their SROs are fully trained as well as continually trained in their combative gun fighting skills and single officer active shooter response tactics up to and including scene stabilization, communication, and linkup not to mention advanced trauma care for mass casualty and self-aid, YOU ARE WRONG!! If you are using SRO positions as retirement gigs and not vetting your SROs for this responsibly of keeping our kids, our future safe, YOU ARE WRONG!! If you are not supplying your SROs and Patrol Officers with extra trauma kits to bring on site, YOU ARE WRONG!!! If someone doesn’t bring it, it’s not going to get there and people die, KIDS DIE.
Firearms training, NOT qualification, should be mandatory multiple times a year up to and including target discrimination and surgical shooting skills. Scenario-based force on force/inoculation training with SIMS should come next in order to validate weapons and tactic skills under stress. This should be scheduled training that is documented and maintained.
Are you just checking boxes or are you ready for when the wolf comes? Will your SROs be ready? Leadership/Admin are you training your officers/Deputies to EFFICIENTLY respond and ACCURATELY ENGAGE active threats? If not you are WRONG.
