Tactical Tangents

Language warning! In an earlier episode, we had our buddy Isaac on the show who was getting ready to start the police academy. Isaac graduated the academy and is now a sworn officer in the middle of field training, and he's checking in with us to share some lessons learned. He's going to talk to us about active shooter training and a shift in his thinking, away from gadgets and gear towards training and mindset (People, Ideas, Hardware--In that order!) and he'll tell us about some dumb rookie mistakes he's made. What challenges was he not expecting? What wasn't on the brochure? We'll also touch on the importance of being able to write a good report, which Jim talked about in this article. And of course, we still make fun of his mustache. Remember to subscribe for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month. You can find us on Facebook @tactangents, check out the website www.tacticaltangents.com, and if you need to reach us, send an email to info@tacticaltangents.com! Intro music credit bensound.com

Discusses a case of a police officer being fired for not shooting a suicidal person. Explores the importance of critical thinking and considering both sides of the argument. Highlights the challenges of lawsuits and litigation. Explores the concept of the 21-foot roll and alternatives to lethal force. Delves into the decision-making process for using lethal force and the relativity of the enemy. Reflects on gaining moral clarity through experiences in combat hospitals.

The courts make the final judgement on use of force--but they rely heavily on the expert testimony of legends like Massad Ayoob. Mas is a champion shooter and long-time teacher in matters related to self-defense, police doctrine, and use of force. He joined Mike on the podcast to answer some questions from our audience. What are we lacking in training? What should a citizen look for in an self-defense attorney? What should we do about the inconsistencies in our statement compared to video recordings? Are defensive gun uses trending up or down? Check out this episode to hear it from an expert and 45-year veteran in the industry. Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TacTangents or on the web www.tacticaltangents.com Email us info@tacticaltangents.com Subscribe for new episodes on the 1st and 15th! Did you know we are starting a newsletter? Check it out at newsletter.tacticaltangents.com

Annette is a competitive shooter, private firearms instructor, attorney, author, blogger, and she was gracious enough to join Mike on the podcast for an interview. If you are just getting into shooting as a private citizen, listening to her talk about learning a new skill is worth your time. She and I talk about her progression from casual shooting to serious self-defense, and the value of steeping yourself in the competition shooting sports. She tells us what to look for in shooting instructors, some thoughts on carrying a concealed handgun, and ways to practice shooting at home "without the noise and recoil." (Hint: It has something to do with her book, The Dry Fire Primer!) Links related to the show: Annette's book, The Dry Fire Primer Annette's Facebook Page PHLster (Use discount code blastingbeauty10) Annette makes a reference to John and Melody's Class (and the podcast, Ballistic Radio) Annette's video on purse carry (she didn't love this question, thanks for being a good sport Annette!) For more on deliberate practice, check out Talent is Overrated Check out new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents, online at www.tacticaltangents.com, or email info@tacticaltangents.com Don't forget, we're starting a newsletter soon! It will be super short, useful bits of tactical insight that shouldn't take you longer than a couple of minutes to consume. No spam, no nonsense. Just wisdom. Sign up at newsletter.tacticaltangents.com

Communicating during a crisis is its own skill all by itself. We're going to talk about some principles that can help you get it right whether you use radios professionally in public safety, aviation, or the military--or if you are a private citizen trying to get that 911 call out in a hurry. Ideas in here to think about: "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate." Don't be "that guy" on the radio, take one step back from the crisis when you click that button. "Push to talk, not to think." -A friend we know. Finally, think about how communication strategies are also leadership strategies--Clear out some of that fog and friction, and bring calm to the chaos. Intro sound credit: SoundBible.com

The podcast discusses the definition and counter-tactics for ambush situations, using civilian case studies. It explores the advantages of setting up opportunistic ambushes and the importance of varying routes for personal safety. The concept of choke points and ambush tactics are also discussed, highlighting their significance in daily routines. The importance of trusting instincts, situational awareness, and reacting to threats is emphasized, along with the need for overwhelming force in self-defense. Considerations for self-defense and responding to an attack are also explored, including carrying medical supplies and being prepared for different scenarios.

Like many good ideas in the tactical community, "Slow is smooth, Smooth is Fast," is one of those that started out with strong roots and grew into something barely recognizable. We lose IQ points when the adrenaline hits--the emotional response that we experience under stress bypasses our ability to make rational decisions. We think that this phrase is best applied to our cognitive awareness and ability to take control of feeling overwhelmed, get a true sense of the problem at hand, reason with competing priorities, and bring calm to the chaos. It's a useful training tool, but it really doesn't have anything to do with "acting slow," it's about slowing our mind down enough to make sense of what's happening around us. Black Hawk Down Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or email us at info@tacticaltangents.com www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

In the mid-nineties a Fedex employee facing termination attempted to hijack Fedex Flight 705 from Memphis to San Jose. His plan was to take over the plane and crash it into the Fedex headquarters, and he wanted to make it look like an accident. Armed with a hammer and a spear gun, he launched a surprise attack against the crew of three shortly after takeoff. This is one of many chilling examples of how workplace violence can turn really bad really fast. We discuss some of the warning signs and pre-assault indicators, strategies for intervening in a close-quarters attack, and some of the reasons checklists are such a big deal for pilots. Links from the show: Voice Recorder transcript Court Case Checklist Simulator example Example of all the stuff going on in the cockpit during normal takeoff/flight/landing 2015 intentional crash The Gift of Fear Mindhunter Columbine Ted Bundy New shows on the 1st and the 15th! www.tacticaltangents.com facebook.com/tactangents

Boyd used to walk people through a thought experiment in which he wanted people to use their imagination to "create a new reality," to illustate the creative nature of our minds. In a tactical sense, we can take lessons learned from several different places and apply those principles to whatever realm is important to us. At Tactical Tangents, we are always trying to find a balance among law enforcement, military, and concealed-carry topics—but it's important to consider that we can all find value in the lessons learned in each of those fields. In this episode, we discuss two controversial police shootings (Philando Castile and Daniel Shaver) and the binary terms that people tend to use to describe these sorts of incidents: Justified, or not. Murder, or self-defense. Good shoot, or Bad Shoot. Sometimes, it's somewhere in between. Think of it like a critical thinking exercise—understand the complexities of human behavior and decision making. No two tactical encounters look exactly the same—but sometimes they rhyme. Find the similarities and differences, build a snowmobile. Links: Jim's advice for traffic stops: http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/how-to-handle-a-traffic-stop/ Albuquerque LT shoots his own guy: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/albuquerque-police-release-video-showing-officer-shooting-undercover-cop-n549461 C-5 animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeEMiW1vMvU Another example of wrong engine shut-down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSS1hel2z4 Graham vs. Connor full text: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/490/386/ Daniel Shaver (Mesa shooting, with video): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/daniel-shaver-shooting-ex-arizona-police-officer-not-guilty-murder-n827641 Philando Castile (overview with video): http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/philando-castile/ Brian Willis TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwC-RHsC6gw Subscribe to the podcast for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tactangents or check out our website at www.tacticaltangents.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback, please email us at info@tacticaltangents.com! Intro music credit bensound.com

John Boyd was the guy behind the OODA loop, the F-15, the F-16. He and his group of reformers were also largely responsible for the A-10, the Warfighting manual for the USMC, and some of the planning of Desert Storm. Boyd said, "War is ever changing, and men are ever fallible-Teach men to think!" He was also, in a lot of ways, the inspiration for the Tactical Tangents project. Hear about the guerilla reform movement he led against the bureaucracy that is the US Department of Defense and how his work affected tactics, leadership, decision making, and the Art of War. 57:09 New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Please leave us feedback, reviews, like/share/subscribe! Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @TacTangents Links: The Book The Pentagon Wars by James Burton (Book) (Video) Intro Music credit--Bensound.com