This article was originally published on odjournal.com (Olive Drab: the journal of tactics) and has been transferred here with permission.
Read MoreElusiveness: Force protection means being hard-to-kill
As with any other aspect of warfare, force protection includes various measures and concerns, with situational awareness, simply knowing what’s coming next, being preeminent. Too, it’s always a good idea to establish 360 degree security around us; an umbrella of protected space above us; and a networked bubble below us.…
Read MoreGunfighting: The Force-on-Force Quantum Leap
The best way to win a gunfight is to train for it. The training regimen is straightforward and follows a banal sequence – firearm safety, basic marksmanship, combative shooting, and finally gunfighting against actual human opponents. That’s force-on-force training. Force-on-Force (FoF) training is the critical element of gunfighting. No experienced…
Read MoreReconnaissance: Masterful Use by Small Unit Leaders
Most warriors understand reconnaissance – the need for it, it’s objectives, and how to conduct various reconnaissance techniques. Yet when tasked with an Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) asset, few small unit leaders are comfortable with this asset. In fact, it is commonly viewed as a burden. And so now it’s…
Read MoreWorst Case Scenario: Outnumbered Assault!
We’re bound to be outnumbered sometimes. That is unless the MILSIM scenario planners intentionally set the opposing forces at exactly an equal number of troops – and that almost never happens! The natural instinct under such conditions is to bunker-down tight and form the team into a small defensive perimeter.…
Read MoreViolence of Action: Forward Momentum on the Battlefield
What is the objective of armed conflict? The answer, in its purist form is to impose will. This means to impose our will upon our opponent, both for brief moments of time and for a lasting duration. Imposing will for a lasting duration is decidedly not a military objective –…
Read MoreWorst Case Scenario: Weapon Jam!
It happens. Weapons jam no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Even a club can break. Frankly, the more moving parts in a weapon system, the greater the chance that something will fail—particularly in the rugged demands of the battlefield. Let’s be clear here. A weapon may fail for many reasons.…
Read MoreHand and Arm Signals
This article was originally published on odjournal.com (Olive Drab: the journal of tactics) and has been transferred here with permission.
Read MoreVocal Commands: Building Situational Awareness
Paintballers and airsofters in general spend a disproportionate amount of time honing stealth techniques for tactical gaming, and rightfully so. Noise and light discipline are essential to remaining elusive. Yet some of the most successful teams employ a great deal of noise and yelling to seemingly fantastic results. So which…
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