Some savvy readers may have noticed that I am in the process of uprading some of my weapon-mounted lights. I recently put a Modlite on my AR. After attending Tim Chandler and Ashton Ray’s Shotgun Skills I decided it was time to bite the bullet and invest in THE pump shotgun light: the Surefire DSF-870 Forend.
SAR Training/Campout Lessons Learned
I recently attended a 60-hour, Search and Rescue (SAR) qualifying course. The class is required by both the SAR team I volunteer on, and as a member of the special operations team at my EMS day job. The class spent a couple days (and one night) in the woods. I though I would share a few training observations and campout lessons learned.
Recce Patrolling Part VII: Patrol Base Ops
At some point your recce patrol will have to halt for an extended period of time. This is when you will establish a patrol base. Understanding patrol base ops is critical for a recce team. This may differ quite a bit from how patrol base operations are conducted by larger infantry units due to the peculiar nature of recce patrols.
Hiking 101: How to Start Hiking
I absolutely love hiking. We live within the boundaries of a National Forest, and a short drive from two federally-designated wilderness areas. Our house is only an hour’s drive to another National Park. We see a lot of people in the woods, many of whom are grossly unprepared, and we’ve taken our fair share of newbies for their first “real” hike. Here is the advice I would give a beginner on how to start hiking.
Recce Patrolling VI: Individual Recce Skills
I my last post I talked about the basics of patrolling for a recce team. In this post I’m going to cover some individual recce skills and attributes that everyone in the team should possess.
Backpack Review: Mystery Ranch Scree 32
I recently transitioned into a new daypack/SAR pack: the Mystery Ranch Scree 32. The Scree 32 is a mid-sized, Goldilocks-size pack. It’s on the large size for a day pack and the small size for all but the skimpiest of overnight trips, but it’s just right for my uses. Let’s take a look!
My Pet Monster: Shotgun Skills with FPF Training
Yesterday I attended Shotgun Skills with FPF Training. Taught by Tim Chandler and Ashton Ray, this is my first formal shotgun class. Bottom line up front: if you’re looking to improve your existing shotgun skills or gain new ones, if you want to tame the monster and turn it into a pet, you should consider this class.
Recce Patrolling V: Basic Patrolling Skills
In our last post we covered recce team insertion. Today we are going to cover some basic patrolling skills. Patrolling is nothing more than moving through the woods, but there is some technique to it. This post will mainly focus on team techniques and SOPs.
WML Review: Streamlight TLR-7 Sub (Sig)
One slight “con” to many modern, subcompact pistols has been a dearth of available weapon-mounted lights (WML). The new(ish) Streamlight TLR-7 Sub is game-changer. It provides a lightweight, durable, and extremely capable capable light for subcompacts like the Sig P365/365 XL and Glock 43X/48, and is the subject of this review.
Recce Patrolling IV: Recce Team Insertion
A recce patrol begins at insert, and insert is a really vulnerable time for a patrol. This post intends to talk through some considerations for recce team insertion. It also discusses how other, seemingly unrelated skills are vital to successful recce operations.