the offensive spirit

Image by Amin Tabrizi via Flickr

This section of the Budoshoshinshu talks about the mindset required of one who follows the profession of arms. As I read it, I can clearly see the topic of off-duty carry and off-duty mindset.

It is most important that one who is a samurai should never neglect the offensive spirit at any time and in all matters. For our country is different from other lands in that even the least of the people, farmers, merchants, and artisans, should all cherish some rusty blade, wherein is revealed the warrior spirit of this Empire of Nippon. These three classes are not, however, soldiers by profession, but it is the custom in the military families for even the very least of the servants of the samurai never to be without a short sword for a moment. Much more must the higher samurai always wear their girdle. And some very punctilious ones wear a blunt sword or a wooden one even when they go to the bath. And if this is so in the house how much more so is it necessary when one leaves it to go somewhere else, since on the way you may well meet some drunkard or other fool who may suddenly start a quarrel. There is an old saying, ‘When you leave your gate, act as though an enemy was in sight.’ So since he a samurai and wears a sword in his girdle he must never forget this spirit of the offensive. And when this is so the mind is fixed firmly on death. But the samurai who does not maintain this aggressive spirit, even though he does wear a sword at his side, is nothing but a farmer or tradesman in a warrior’s skin.

 

mma conditioning circuit

I’ve been looking for a new workout for the spring/summer season. I’m thinking about doing some barbell complexes again.

 

gettin ready for spring

 

New magazines? Check.

New Chest Rig? Check.

1000 rds 55gr JHP ordered? Check.

Time to knock some of the rust off of all the training the gvt. and my employer have so graciously provided me over the years. The further up the promotion ladder I climb the more anxious I become that I am turning into a desk jockey.

Should probably get to teaching the eldest daughter the difference between the front and back of a gun too.

 

the things worth believing in

 I like to resurrect this post every now and then to remind me why I titled this blog the way I did.

 

you only get one chance to make a first impression

Image by Σταύρος via Flickr

Scott has put up another great post over at Spartan Cops; it’s called “Why Police Use Locks: Reinforcing Internal Barriers For Officer Safety”. It discusses the various cues that bad guy’s look for when they are contemplating fighting with, or fleeing from, the police.

Many bad guys have similar internal barriers about attacking officers. They are willing to hit most people but not a cop or they are willing to hit a cop but only if they have an opportunity to get away.

Scott’s article then goes on to point out what exactly the bad guy is looking for while he is seeking that opportunity. Well worth a read.

 

Heroes

Image by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton via Flickr

For you who love heroic things
In summer dream or winter tale,
I tell of warriors, saints, and kings,
In scarlet, sackcloth, glittering mail,
And helmets peaked with iron wings.

They beat down Wrong; they strove for Right.
In ringing fields, on grappled ships,
Singing, they flung into the fight.
They fell with triumph on their lips,
And in their eyes a glorious light.

That light still gleams. From far away
Their brave song greets us like a cheer.
We fight the same great fight as they,
Right against Wrong; we, now and here;
They, in their fashion, yesterday.

-William Canton

Text copyright © 1997 by William J. Bennett

 

tactical preschool 45: what’s your hurry?

Something that unfortunately tends to fly out the window when stress enters the equation is clear thinking. 

It seems like everybody studies, practices and sometimes even downright fantasizes about “dynamic entry” and building clearing when often the best thing to do is slow the F@#K down and think about the necessity of it. 

Going into a building after an armed and barricaded man or clearing your home in the middle of the night is probably the most dangerous thing you could ever do. You need to seriously consider the necessity of attempting it before you do it. Ask yourself, is there really a need to “go in”? Is someone in danger? 

If you know someone is inside a building, armed, alone, and not ready to surrender, what is the hurry? Why would you need to “go dynamic” and risk getting shot? Perhaps there IS a reason, but you really need to figure out what that reason is first and be able to articulate it. If you go in and get yourself or someone else killed, what will your explanation be for your decision? If you and your wife are in your bedroom and you hear someone in the house (you KNOW someone is in the house and there is nobody else living in the house with you), what possible reason is there to go out looking? Arm yourself, call 911 and bunker down. It may even be a good idea to announce what you have done quite loudly. ..the fact that you are armed and have called the cops that is. 

In lone gunman barricades there is typically an attempt made to make contact with the bad guy and negotiate. If that works than you are golden. If the bad guy decides to not respond then an option is to knock in the front door and wait outside. 

 

This approach allows you to continue (if necessary) with what is called a “limited entry”. You don’t necessarily have to breach and clear every room in the structure. You simply have to figure out where the subject is. 

If the bad guy manages to wound, or even worse kill one of you, will “going dynamic” to get him be a good solution if it results in more of the good guys getting injured or killed? I don’t think so. Evacuate and deal with the new situation. 

 

And while it is a fact that you want to minimize the noise you make so that the subject can’t track your movement or location, that does not mean that you cannot call out commands or instructions. I have seen officers trying to “stealth clear” in situations where the better option would have been to stand outside and call the bad guy out. Even if you get a “F$%K YOU!!” in reply you at least can get an idea of where the bad guy is. 

It is vital to remember that all situations differ, you need to be flexible and decide what the best tactical response for your particular incident is. 

 

what is warriorship?

Image via Wikipedia

I recently asked SSgt Daniel Shaw (USMC) of Gunfightercast.com if he would be willing to guest author a post for this blog. After discussing what the topic should be we decided that a revisitation of the definition of Warriorship  would be an appropriate choice.

Warriorship is contagious or it isn’t Warriorship

Tom had asked me a while back to contribute to his site on the topic of “Warriorship” I really couldn’t get started writing until I sat back and thought hard about what Warriorship means to me.

Talking about myself isn’t my strong suit especially when there are so many that do more than I but I couldn’t think of any other way to convey my thoughts.

Like some of you, I grew up with a somewhat martial culture. Disagreements between my older brother and I normally were settled with boxing gloves in the living room. After school my friends and I would get our favorite sticks and stick fight on a neighbors trampoline or find someway to hone our elementary fighting skills. I don’t believe this made me a better physical fighter today but what it did was instil a warriors spirit at an early age. I would get banged up all day and be right back the next to give and receive more punishment.

When I was old enough to drive and had a vehicle I pursued organized martial arts but never stuck with it for its lack of realism until much later in life when I discovered Brazilian jiu jitsu and combat submission wrestling. I knew at the age of 15 that I wanted to be a US Marine infantryman and nothing else. I read every Vietnam book I could get my hands on and found old Marine publications at the surplus store to study. None of this in my opinion made any difference in my “quest” so to speak to become a Warrior.

The thing that made the largest impact on me was the warriors that I was placed with and made an effort to be around. I was very fortunate to not have to beg or press for information but all I had to do was be there and they would give it out at the cyclic rate. I still have the grandest respect for those Marines and most I still see from time to time around the Corps and I make it a point to tell them how they have impacted me.

From those Marines, I not only learned valuable physical skills but I also gained an appreciation for people who not only had the skills and knowledge but also made a deliberate effort to share it with others to keep the spirit alive.

“The only thing better than putting a bullet in a Jihadist brain at 500 yards is teaching 10 Marines to do it and have them execute” - Daniel Shaw

As a CPL with a little over 4 years in I was working as a Primary Marksmanship Instructor and MCRD Parris Island it was there that I was taught how to teach and began to see the rewards of teaching on duty and off as a volunteer firefighter with the unofficial title of “volunteer who teaches the other volunteers”. After my duty at PI I deployed to Iraq for the initial strike and then later went back for another trip. I saw clearly that there was a need of not only good teachers but we needed the type that inspired thinking and a motivation to learn.

Since then I have tried to get back to the fight through the Fleet Anti Terrorism Security teams out of Norfolk VA but after completing the Security Forces school I was kept on as an Instructor. This was a blessing in disguise because Marines with a wealth of knowledge and a will to share it were a dime a dozen and we were able to impact hundreds of Marines that will soon be in the fight.

I am now stationed in Okinawa Japan but as I type this I am sitting in northern Thailand as the only Infantryman assigned to advise and conduct predeployment training for a Battalion of logistics Marines. Even though my wife would loose her mind if she reads this, I truly would love to be in Afghanistan right now doing my thing but I wholeheartedly feel that my teachings and training here will make a difference in not only saving Marines lives but also ending some of the bad guys lives and that helps me sleep at night.

In short, what Warriorship means to me is having the skills, knowledge, mindset and an unselfish desire to instill those traits on the next generation.

So don’t be a stuck up, overbearing, macho range commando. Instead share what you know with others each and every time you see the opportunity.

-Daniel Shaw

Host of Gunfighter Cast

 

Combat Leadership: Sgt John Basilone

Image via Wikipedia

Sergeant John Basilone
U.S. Marine Corps
Guadalcanal, 1942

In August, 1942, the 1st Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal, encountering stiff resistance from the Japanese defenders. Sgt John Basilone served as a machine gun platoon sergeant in support of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.

On the night of 24 October, Sgt Basilone’s platoon occupied a key position in the battalion’s defensive perimeter on a jungle ridge. Just past 2130, the Japanese began a ferocious attack. In the dark rainy night, intense fighting followed, and soon the machine gun unit on Basilone’s right was overrun by screaming Japanese soldiers hurling grenades and firing rifles. At the same time, Basilone’s machine guns started running low on ammunition. Basilone knew that the enemy that had broken through on his right were between him and the ammunition dump, but he decided that if his gun teams were not resupplied, the positions would fall.

Sgt Basilone took off his heavy mud caked boots, stripped himself of all unnecessary gear, and sprinted down the trail. After returning with several belts of ammunition, he set out for the unmanned gun pits to his right, knowing that those heavy weapons were vital tools in the defense of the ridge.

When he got to the gun positions, he found the two unoccupied machine guns jammed, and ran back to get one of his own. He ordered a team to follow him. After Basilone’s gun crew reached their destination, he immediately put them into action. Basilone lay on the ground and began repairing one of the damaged weapons. Once the gun was repaired and loaded, he got behind the gun and began engaging targets. The fight raged on, and Japanese bodies began to pile up in front of the machine guns. At one point, Sgt Basilone had to direct his Marines to push back the piles of bodies to maintain clear fields of fire.

Several more times during the night, Sgt Basilone made trips back to the command area for desperately needed ammunition. Eight separate attacks were sent against the Marines that night, and Basilone’s platoon fired over 25,000 rounds. They were credited with killing an estimated 300 enemy soldiers, playing a major role in thwarting the Japanese attack. This successful defense reestablished the perimeter of the 1st Marine Division, protected the vital airfield, and led to the conquest of Guadalcanal, the first island taken from the Japanese. For his initiative,resourcefulness and leadership in defense of the ridge, Sgt Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Lessons:

• Tactically, Sgt Basilone understood his role in the defense of the ridge and the intent of the company and battalion commanders. His machine guns served a pivotal role in the company and battalion defense plan. He took numerous actions necessary to ensure his battalion’s success. This included making the decision to weaken one position in order to fortify an adjacent unit’s position to his right.
• Sgt Basilone exhibited great leadership during the defense. He went to great lengths to provide his unit with whatever tools were necessary to maintain the defense of the ridge. His courage in braving enemy fire to deliver ammunition set an example for his Marines.

Source:

Lieutenant M.M. Obalde and Lieutenant A.M. Otero. “The Squad Leader Makes the Difference: Readings on Combat at the Squad Level. Volume I”

Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, 1998

 

spy podcasts

Image via Wikipedia

I just made a neat find. The International Spy Museum Podcast has a number of interesting casts on various topics given by experienced intelligence agents and analysts. Good stuff if you are interested in the topic.