Kyle Defoor, co-host of TV’s Tactical Impact and Tactical Arms has branched out on his own and is offering several new training courses. Decorated Navy SEAL and long-time Blackwater trainer, Kyle brings a great deal of real-world experience to his courses. For his law enforcement curriculum he is joined by two sworn officers with over 20 years of on-the-job expertise. In addition to firearms and tactics courses, Kyle also offers tactical medical training.
Visit www.kyledefoor.com for more info.
Last week I was offered the chance to join the cast and crew of “Tactical Impact” and “Tactical Arms” on the set at US Training Center in Moyock, North Carolina.
The US Training Center facilities are fantastic and provide the team a variety of backgrounds to accommodate filming. Viewers who have attended training sessions at the Xe campus will recognize the range complex and if it has been awhile since you last visited some of the additions would surprise you. In addition to ranges and various backdrops, US Training Center also features an on-site dining facility and hotel-like accommodations.
While I was there they were filming an intro sequence that will be featured on an episode of “Tactical Impact” focused on Special Forces. As the cast and crews are the same for both shows, segments are shot in overlapping schedules. Very little of the work is conducted indoors so it can lead to some long days in weather extremes from the North Carolina heat to cold rainy days that hover just above freezing. Cold and wet describes my time on set perfectly.
It is on days like this that the material provided by sponsors goes beyond the “This will look great on screen” to “Man, good thing this product performs as advertised”. And perform they do. Early this year as production for this season was ramping up, show co-host Larry Vickers called me and asked if I could recommend some equipment to be used on the show. After speaking with producer Eric Sherertz and soliciting input from co-hosts Jason Falla and Kyle Defoor, I contacted several companies to see if they would be interested in providing products for use on the show. The response from industry was fantastic, so keep your eyes peeled while watching both series for some of the newest products in the tactical market.
EOTAC provided a variety of clothing items from their Operator Grade line including specially embroidered shirts for the cast and crew. Additionally, Propper provided embroidered TAC.U uniforms as well as several items from the Adventure Tech line. Under Armour donated jackets, hats, and gloves. Additionally, several cast members use Vickers Tactical gloves. Arc’teryx LEAF was well represented through their US distributor Uber Group.
Footwear companies who have participated include OTB Boots, Tactical Research, and Salomon. Both Smith Optics and Revision Eyewear provided several styles of eyewear for use during the season and SOG Knives provided their popular SOG tool as well as pocket knives.
Bulldog Equipment also produced variants of their Mirage Camouflage uniforms for the show. As you can see from the photos Mirage does a great job of blending in with the environment used on the set. Additionally, Daniel Defense provides the DDM4 for use in many of the tactical scenarios depicted on the shows.
Despite the inclement weather, it was a great day and both cast and crew were able to get the film in the can thanks to the support of these sponsors.
Not very often you can say you get something for free and even rarer for it to be from SureFire. The ShotTimer is exactly what the name implies. Designed as an iPhone app, it displays elapsed time and split time for every shot fired and even allows you to email results for later analysis. It also offers a start delay mode for training on your own and has a Par Time mode so you can try to beat the clock.
The ShotTimer app is available on iTunes for free (for a short time) and an FAQ is available on at www.SureFire.com.
Tactical Night Vision Company and Magpul Dynamics have teamed up to offer a new Dynamic Night Operators curriculum to be added to the Magpul Dynamics course offerings.
This new Night Operators course will leverage the extensive experience of the training team to provide students with the skills, tactics, and mentality necessary to conduct successful nighttime operations and survive under fire. Victor Di Cosola, President of TNVC, Travis Haley, and Chris Costa, Founders of Magpul Dynamics, approach night vision training by focusing on practical application of real word skills, disciplined mindset, and a thorough understanding of the equipment and tactics needed to survive a no-light gun fight. Very much a hands on course, the instructors encourage students to find their own way by constantly evolving, changing, and improving their skills.
The decision by TNVC and Magpul Dynamics to join forces was made because of the realization that the threats presented to Warfighters, Law Enforcement professionals, and private sector clients often occur at night. The ability to engage threats in low/no light while deploying night vision devices is a critical skill and presents a distinct advantage to the good guys. Victor Di Cosola, Travis Haley, and Chris Costa, along with the Magpul Dynamics Training Team, will give students a thorough introduction to night vision gear; the good, the bad, and the ugly, while presenting a solid and unique system for threat engagement in the dark. By combining the minds of these two innovative companies, a better product can be developed in conjunction with the latest training techniques, tactics, and a firsthand knowledge of the modern battlefield.
Also, be sure to check out TNVC’s newly updated website www.tnvc.com.
A new, expanded edition of “Tactical Pistol Shooting” was just released. Just like the first edition it is a solid work and is filled time tested pistol handling techniques. Written by special operations veterans Erik Lawrence and Mike Pannone, two guys who know their stuff. Major improvements over the first edition include full color photos and an improved section on shooting while wounded. Speaking with the author on the new photographs he said that working with Mike Pannone and the photographer was a joy. Mike knows all of the drills cold allowing Erik to work with the photographer and see each shot from his perspective. They wrapped up the entire book’s worth of photos in two hours! I still find it amazing that “Tactical Pistol Shooting” contains over 350 color photos in a trade paperback for under $25. It is worth the cover price and is an excellent reference.
Order it at BHIgear.com. You can even include an autograph and message.
Mark Edward Campos, a third year architecture student developed a great graphic on a method to defeat a Rotary Dial Master Lock. Of course the intent of all of this was to find out how a Master Lock works and not necessarily how to defeat it. Essentially, you determine the first number by pulling up on the latch while the dial is rotated. Next, a table of all possible first and second number combinations has been calculated for you. Then you tough it out and attempt the one hundred combinations or so left.
Hack A Day had previously published an article on this method but suggested that using a shim made from an aluminum can is preferable. It is a lot faster. I thought our readers might be interested from a security perspective in this video of the shim method.
There were a lot of great products at last week’s Modern Day Marine expo at Quantico, Virginia.
Wilcox Industries showed their new interface for the Ops-Core mount.
Speaking of Ops-Core, they debuted several new products available in early 2010. This eye shield was actually developed a couple of years ago but placed on hold while they refined the FAST technology for a military customer. The lens slides up and down on a track located inside the shell. It will replace the front brow pad inside the helmet as a unit and is ready to go awaiting production of the actual clear shield which will be manufactured by Oakley.
The Smith Optics Elite Division crew was on hand.
Australian firm Global Safety Solutions & Management PTY LTD exhibited their new wet weather laminate material. It is used in the current Australian issue foul weather clothing system.
Inert Products, LLC displayed a wide variety of training aids including the M4 “rubber duck” as well as other inert training aids.
Benchmade Knives showed a set of their HK signature knives packed inside a pistol case. The combo pack includes a 20-Tools-in-One mutli-tool, LED light, and Ally knife.
Time magazine has published a great article on Warrior Mind Training. Steeped in Samurai Bushido mystique, Warrior Mind Training teaches Soldiers and Marines how to use meditation to reduce stress and improve focus.
Check it our here.
To learn more about the actual program visit warriortraining.us.
