Saw this. All I could think was why would anyone take his pregnant wife backpacking deep into Afghanistan? Then there’s the whole busuness of his wife’s family ties with Omar Khadr, which somewhere in one article I read is described as a ‘horrible coincidence’.
I dunno. The whole story triggers my bs detector.
Agree. There is another layer here that I cannot go into on an open forum. A lot of stink here.
Motivational Monday: Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.” General George S. Patton, WW2
Motivation
The core “tactical” virtues of life are (from The Way of Men by Jack Donovan):
STRENGTH: Physical prowess and power; ability to dominate an opponent (of the natural or human variety) instead of being dominated, and to stand fast and immovable when pushed.
COURAGE: The spirit /will/discipline to engage and employ one’s strength when inwardly tempted to shrink/run/hide. There are “higher” forms of courage, but at its most fundamental, it represents an outwardly demonstrated indifference to risk, pain, and physical danger.
MASTERY: Skill and adeptness in using the techniques and technology employed in hunting and fighting; a deft understanding of knowledge that saves lives and furthers the interests of your group.
HONOR: Traditional honor is not the same as integrity — living up to your own, personal standards. Traditional honor is a reputation for strength, courage, and mastery — as judged by other men. Honorable men care about being manly, knowing that each individual member’s prowess in the tactical virtues bolsters the strength and reputation of the gang as a whole and thus deters attack from rival gangs. Dishonorable men, on the other hand, evince indifference or hostility to the standards, weakening the group and leaving it more vulnerable.
Do you want motivation? Well, guess what? A reason to act is not a zing you get from a stimulant packed pre-workout drink. It’s not something that makes you overly emotional because emotionality is a liability. Man’s primary motivation, the reason to take action, is life itself, to first survive, then to thrive. Thriving is a heightened state or quality of being; it is to grow or develop successfully; to flourish or succeed. As a human, especially a man, you must embody the tactical virtues and live the quest of constant and never-ending improvement (kaizen), especially in truth and morality as well as health and tactical skill. Shut out all distractions, abandon relationships that hold you back, and as my good friend Mike Mahler advises, “LIVE LIFE AGGRESSIVELY!” To live life aggressively you need a plan; YOUR plan, and you need to execute that plan for your own success, not others. Execute aggressively!
The answer is simple. Do the best you know how while seeking truth and wisdom from those who obviously have it. The very least you can do is eat better, live on a rational schedule, reduce personal stress, walk a lot, move and climb a lot, lift some weights, meditate, and get back to nature. Start there and the rest will come to you. Do those things no matter how inhibited you feel or how many reasons you have not to right now. The great secret is that movement is life. If you are not moving you are dying. But let your movement by no purely physical. The true purpose of life, aside from propagation of the species is personal improvement and mastery. We are meant to improve our minds with knowledge, our bodies with movement, and our spirit with truth.
“From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
-William Shakespeare’s, Henry V, in Act IV Scene iii 18–67.
Brother, this doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Thought for the day:
Train hard, train smart and be ready. One never knows the time and place they’ll be tested.
If you have dedicated yourself to the martial way of life, then you know that just learning to shoot , executing that perfect nage waza or building tactical strength is simply just laying the foundation. This is a never ending process of learning, mastering, and finally executing our skills. One area that I feel is neglected in our training is combat casualty care. It is far easier to take a life than save one.
I find it amazing that so many civilians lack any basic training in simple first aid and it would be ironic that members of the Combat Forum should be negligence in their training. If you are, give some serious thought on taking a basic course. In this age of active shooters, terrorists, and natural disasters, the life you save may be your own child. Give it some thought.
Another view:
TCCC or Tactical Combat Casualty Care
TCCC or Tactical Combat Casualty Care was developed in the mid 90’s as a way to effectively deal with combat wounds while still allowing a unit to compete its mission and provide the best possible care for the injured. It was originally developed for special operations but is now the standard of care for all DOD personnel as well as many of our NATO allies. TCCC is broken into three phases of patient care: Care under fire, Tactical field care, and Tactical evacuation. Each of these phases looks to decrease preventable combat death and focusing on addressing the most common causes of combat related death. At this time those causes are:
1. Uncontrolled hemorrhage
2. Tension Pneumothorax
3. Airway obstruction
TCCC’s success is well documented and has proven to be effective in all arenas it has been implemented. The secret to TCCC’s success is its simplicity! It is no longer the responsibility of the medic to be the sole provider of care during combat. The skills and knowledge preached from the TCCC pulpit are those of straightforward, evidence –based, easily taught, and easily practiced medicine. And to prove that point and to drive it’s success, the DOD began teaching the curriculum to everyone being deployed to a combat zone, not just the medical providers.
As a result, preventable combat death has dropped from almost 16% during Viet Nam to 9% overall in OEF/OIF. In some units the rate dropped to below 3%. 75th Ranger Regiment hasn’t had a preventable combat death since 2001. This can be attributed to an aggressive effort to push effective trauma medicine down to the individual soldier.
why is that a big deal to you? We know TCCC and its brother TECC (Tactical Emergency Casualty Care) are effective in dealing with combat and combat-like injuries. But, our chances of being in a combat-like environment are slim…very slim. But, the neat-o thing about TCCC is the principles don’t change based on how you get hurt. So the same way I stop bleeding from a gunshot wound is the same way I stop bleeding from a car accident, or a construction accident. It doesn’t matter if I stop breathing because of cardiac arrest or from being unresponsive after a bomb blast, managing an airway is, essentially, the same.
Today, the average time it takes for a first responder to get to you after you call 911 is 9 minutes. 9 mins on a sunny, not busy, fully staffed government agency day. The time it takes for you to bleed to death from an arterial bleed is about 3 mins. From the time you stop breathing until your brain dies is about 4 mins. So you’re dead and help is still 5 minutes away! Small, decisive, simple things can be done at the time of injury to sustain life until better equipped and higher trained rescuers arrive.
Tourniquet application, airway management, chest seals, hypothermia prevention, etc are easy to learn and easy to do. These are small investment that pays big dividends.
If your mindset is bent towards preparedness or you care to be an asset versus a liability then we know that training is the key. Owning a guitar does not make you Eric Clapton. If you own a trauma kit the first thing that needs to go in it is training! Seek out the training in your area, vet your instructors, and dedicate some time to learning the skills that can make a difference.
In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to deal with these types of problems, in a slightly less perfect world everyone would be trained to deal with medical emergencies. We don’t live in either of those places. It’s up to you. Make a difference. Get training
Wednesday’s Weapon: The classic Browning HI-Power
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic and recognizable handguns in the world. I am fortunate to own two, both made by FN and have always appreciated their superior handling qualities. They appaear to be a dying breed, as most militaries are adopting the Glock and SIG. During my time in Iraq, they were a common issue to many nations, including the Arab countries. Now, I only usually see them being carried by the Australians and some Brits. A shame, it really is a fine weapon of war.
Some History:
The Hi-Power is really history’s first high-capacity pistol and you can thank the French Army for the idea. During the early 1920’s, the French army sought a new pistol that would have a high-capacity magazine of least 10 rounds and chamber 9mm Parabellum ammunition. Impressed with the power and reliability of the M1911 .45-caliber pistol designed by John Browning, the French generals in charge of new ordnance established a standard they called grande puissance, literally “high power” that this new pistol would have to meet.
In 1923, Browning filed a patent for a prototype pistol that was the forerunner of the Hi-Power. However, he died in 1926 before he refined the design.
Dieudonné Saive of the Belgian weapons company Fabrique Nationale Herstal took up the project and completed the pistol’s design. By 1934, FN began production of the Hi-Power in earnest. It was too late though for the fickle French, who decided to adopt another pistol.
However, the Belgian Army seized the opportunity and adopted the gun. The pistol’s magazine capacity set it apart; holding 13 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition, 14 rounds if using a Canadian-made Inglis magazine.
After occupying Belgium in 1940, German forces took over the FN plant. German airborne and SS troops often used the Hi-Power pistols manufactured under German control. Those weapons have the designation Pistole 640(b) (“b” for belgisch, “Belgian”) and are highly-desired collector’s items today.
A number of FN designers and engineers escaped Belgium ahead of the Nazi invasion with the plans for the Hi-Power. Canadian manufacturer John Inglis and Co. in Toronto re-tooled their factory and began production of the pistols, which were issued to a variety of British imperial forces.
However there were also large batches of Inglis-produced Hi-Powers made for a special purpose, as so-called “sterile weapons.” Made without serial numbers or other markings, they were issued to covert operators as one more ruse that could protect the cover of the agent or commando who carried the pistol as a sidearm.
The weapon remains the standard sidearm of the Canadian Armed Forces, Belgian Army, Indian Army, Indonesian Armed Forces, Australian Defense Force, Argentine Army, Luxembourg Army, Israel Police and Venezuelan Army. In other words, go into a military armory almost anywhere in the world and it’s the pistol mostly likely to be issued. ( I dont know if this is still accurate information, but, during my brief stint in Africa, it was the most common handgun I saw.)
That is fucking fantastic brother. I’m 11 hours into a night shift, after court after night shift. This is exactly what I needed.
Dude that’s so true in a “situation” and life in general. Love it! Thx so much for all the good stuff u post 
Flashback Friday (1): The many sides of war:
Sgt. Frank Praytot feeding a two-week kitten after its mother was killed. .
Flashback Friday (2):
LT.Col. John Dean “Jeff” Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006). The father of the "modern handgun technique".
John Dean “Jeff” Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006) was a United States Marine, the creator of the “modern technique” of handgun shooting, and an expert on the use and history of small arms.
Cooper graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He received a regular commission in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in September 1941. During World War II he served in the Pacific theatre on the USS Pennsylvania. By the end of the war he had been promoted to major.
He resigned his commission in 1949, but returned to active duty during the Korean War, where he was involved in irregular warfare, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After the Korean War, the Marine Corps declined his application to remain on active duty. In the mid-1960s, he received a master’s degree in history from the University of California, Riverside. From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, he was a part-time high school and community college history teacher.
In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute (API) in Paulden, Arizona (later the Gunsite Academy). Cooper began teaching shotgun and rifle classes to both law enforcement and military personnel, as well as civilians, and did on-site training for individuals and groups from around the world. He sold the firm in 1992, but continued living on the Paulden ranch. He was known for his advocacy of large caliber handguns, especially the Colt 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge.
Cooper is best known for his work in pistol training, but he favored the rifle for tactical shooting. He often described the handgun as a convenient-to-carry stopgap weapon, allowing someone the opportunity to get to a rifle.
Quotes:
“Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons.”
“The rifle is a weapon. Let there be no mistake about that. It is a tool of power, and thus dependent completely upon the moral stature of its user. It is equally useful in securing meat for the table, destroying group enemies on the battlefield, and resisting tyranny. In fact, it is the only means of resisting tyranny, since a citizenry armed with rifles simply cannot be tyrannized.”
“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”
— Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle
Personal Note:
If you ever get the chance, attend the Gunsite academy. The academy does not seek out students and they are not in the “instagram group of tact-cool”. When I went they just offered superior training with either the handgun or rifle. I have always wanted a “Cooper Scout Rifle” and hope to get one in the future.
Of note is his advocacy of handgun as a stopgap to get to a rifle, and I’d suspect Col Cooper, if alive now, would advocate for a properly set up AR15 with things like a vertical forearm grip and red dot sight. as the best home defense weapon. After all, it’s preferred by most breachers and they work under similar conditions as citizens dealing with home invasions and burglaries.
And naturally he gets a big ooh rah from me on the 1911 in 45ACP !
I’d like to do Gunsite - looks fun, but more importantly the training is realistic. One day maybe…
I’ve been reading up on the Cooper Scout Rifle recently, and according to internet sources (not Cooper’s own writings, which I hope to get into soon) he didn’t like the .223/5.56mm. He may have liked the AR-10 for being lightweight and relatively simple.
I’m very interested in the scout rifle, have only been able to fondle the Ruger version in the 16" barrel. Very lightweight and handy, the safety works the same as the Winchester model 70, which I like. Takes the AICS mag. Want to see the 18" version. Not as interested in the Savage since it has a muzzle break.
Anyway, got married and bought a house last month so won’t be able to try one this hunting season. But if anyone has shot or owns any of the various scout rifles I’d love to hear about them.
I signed up for my EMT class this past week pretty much for this right here, always been a doer, and I hate the thought that if something tragic were to happen that I would be unable to do anything to help others, and as a healthy, able bodied individual, I find it more and more unacceptable (for me personally) as I age.
You nailed it, brother. Respect.
Thought for the day:
Slight change of topic, any thoughts on concealed carry recommendations? Looking to get my CCW in a few months here (Turning 21), and have my eyes on a few different pieces.
Anyone got some experience with the Kimber Micro 9? I haven’t heard too much about it, but it is certainly a beautiful piece. Also looking at the Sig P938, Ruger LC9s, and maybe springfield XDs?
Preferred carry systems? I was thinking APEX carry but I have no experience with concealed, only time I’ve carried a gun is open carry, either in the military or when working on the ranch, so this fields a bit new to me.
Thanks Gents
It is certainly not off topic, and , a very good question. That being said, there is no easy answer. First a little advice:
Individual carry options should be based on what your needs are, what is your body type is, what your skill level is, is this a life changing decision or something you only do when you are in a “bad area”?
Remember your criminal and civil survival starts after a shooting, so, give serious thought to even carrying a gun everyday.
Get training, I don’t know what state you are in, some don’t require any, some do, but regardless, if you decide to carry an gun, its on you to know how to use it . Know your states self defense laws, know your rights and most of all join the NRA for their legal protection.
That said, I dont have any experience with the Kimber 9, since, Kimbers are outside my pay grade. I have shot the others and ( remember everyone has different opinions) but, I don’t like small handguns, because they are extremely hard to grip and shoot with any type of accuracy. If your situations are expected to be less than 5 feet, maybe, and yes, they are much easier to conceal, but much harder to deploy with any accuracy. The smallest I would ever carry would be in the Glock 19 range.
My personal carry guns in the states are chosen on what the days activities are going to be. I carry a Colt Lightweight Commander, a Springfield Range Officers Champion model, a CZ model 9, a rebuilt Colt 1911, a Charter Arms 44 Special with a 2.5 inch barrel ( ankle holster/backup only) and when on the river doing some fishing or bowfishing a Glock model 41. That said the LC Colt is my primary carry. I have owned these guns long enough and trained with them long enough, that switching them out is not a problem. Dont do this unless you have had several years of training. Go to a indoor shooting range that has rentals and shoot a variety of handguns. Make a decison and learn that gun only, for at least a year.
Some advise on holsters:
A good holster protects the firearm, prevents discharge, provides quick access, and prevents theft.
When you holster your gun, you need to pay special attention to what is by the trigger, to make sure nothing snags on it causing a discharge. (seen this happen twice, both with striker fired weapons)
Learn how to, and practice, holstering your gun so you get good at it, so, good that you will not have to look at the holster.
When you pick out a holster, make sure it has the following:
Total trigger coverage
Sturdy material
Good retention
Good concealability
Handgun protection
Skin/body protection
Positive grip
Try not to make the same mistakes in the past that I have and buy a new holster every month. I firmly believe that one holster will not do the job, but, I have enough now to open a retail store. Going to a ball game is much different than wearing a chest rig while on a canoe. Decide where you are going to carry, then buy a holster to cover that need.
As far as a good bang for the buck, its hard to find anything better than Alien Gear. Good Luck.
A couple things.
First, remember that concealed carry is a lifestyle thing and it requires constant responsibility on your part. Aside from your equipment, which boils down to you having “tools in your box,” you will need to learn how to use those tools in a safe and effective manner, so yes get as much training as possible regardless of state requirements.
There’s a difference between being a concealed carrier and a responsibly armed citizen. Damn near anyone without a felony record can carry concealed if they don’t live in a state that’s got the absurd laws to prevent it. But strapping on a firearm doesn’t mean you can effectively protect yoursef or others if it needs to be deployed.
Yes the firearm, holster, ammunition, etc. makes a difference, but it boils down to personal preference based on your mssion requirements. Let’s say you chose to carry a Ruger Super Redhawk 44 magnum in a shoulder holster under a long dress coat walking outdoors downtown and are assaulted. The odds of you being able to deploy the thing quickly and effective are drastically lower than if you were packing a large or medium frame semi-auto (I don’t recommend compacts or sub-compacts except as Backup Guns (BUG’s) for an ankle holster.
@idaho says something that made me think of something:
If you wouldn’t go to an area unless you are carrying, then you probably shouldn’t go to the area at all.
Of course I carry everywhere, but some only holster up when they’re going somewhere with a high crime rate. I try to avoid such areas is the point, regardless of being armed. I could be sitting in a nice restaurant in Beverly Hills and have an active shooter situation for crying out loud. It’s just more likely that it would happen somewhere else, and we typically know which areas those are.
As for the Kimber 9, ok Kimber makes fine fireamrs, but I use their 45’s. If you’re going to spring for a Kimber, at least try the 45 and the 9 first before deciding, and try to err on the side of a larger pistol because, as @Idaho says, they’re easier to deploy with accuracy and hold on to.
Agree that “bang for your buck” with AlienGear is hard to beat, but ClingerHolsters are pretty dang good as well. Aliengear, as I think I’ve mentioned here, has recently come out with a “shape shifter” system that allows detachment and reattachment via a modular system from, for example, belt to vehicle, to drop leg rig, to pack, etc… I’ve not come off with the cash to try these out, but at some point probably will.
Another thing about the hybrid holsters - they use screws to attach Kydex shells to a leather backing. Put blue loctite on the threads when you get it or you will find yourself in need of replacement hardware and clips with any of them, whether AG, Clinger, CrossBreed, whatever.
You have started out in the right way by asking questions before making purchases, and I agree that an indoor range with weapon rentals is a good way to go with pistols as well since those purchases can be much more espensive than holsters and ammo.
Oh, one last “I concur” about holsters - yes make sure reholstering can be done without having to even look or without fumbling. There are “holsters” out there that are flimsy as hell for $10-15, and there’s a reason they’re so cheap - they ARE cheap. Fumbling around trying to reholster your loaded weapon is an accident waiting to happen…
Best of luck!
Can’t speak to CCW as I live in Canada, but in terms of firearms in general, I would echo idaho, particularly in terms of getting training and keeping current with that training, understanding the law in your area and disliking really small handguns. I have big mitts and find I can’t shoot worth a damn with compacts.
I would also add that the vast majority of violence related problems can’t legally be solved with a firearm. If you’re not fit, get fit. If you don’t know how to fight umarmed, learn. If you haven’t started developing a situational awareness based mindset, start. These soft, overweight, mall-ninja guys who have never been punched in the face but fancy themselves gunfighters because they carry a pistol and dress up in all their tacticool kit and go to the range from time to time make me cringe.
