Gadgets, Colt M1911 NRA Officer Fort Leonard Gear & 100th of the Year Wood: Theyve Games

Anniversary Got Nerve

LEO Rust Sciortino: Prevention The Cost of Service

Patriot Guard Riders

Total Signature Reduction

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 02

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 02

Welcome to the Warrior.

ON THE COVER: Fire Protection Specialists SSgt Tom Ryan

and SSgt Greg Shipley emerge from a jet fuel training fire at the USAF Silver Flag Training Site at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Photo by Michael Ives.
THIS PAGE: Fire Protection Specialist SSgt Greg Shipley,

a Crew Chief and student at the Silver Flag Training Site, Tyndall AFB, Fla. Photo by Michael Ives.

WarriorWare

Gadgets & gear for the modern Warrior.

Virtual Warrior

Music, movies, video, apps and games to battle by.

Colt M1911 100th Anniversary Warrior Stories

P R E S E N T E D BY

What other century-old firearm still kicks this much butt? Meet the NRAs LEO of the Year. WA R R I O R F E AT U R E S

Theyve Got Nerve

Chemical Defense Training at Fort Leonard Wood.

Rust Prevention

How Brownells helps our best cops sharpen the saw.

The Cost of Service

The inspiring story of Officer Charles Sciortino.

The Patriot Guard

When fallen heroes are dishonored, these patriots ride to the rescue.

Dead Giveaway

Learning to become invisible via Total Signature Reduction.

A M E R I C A N WA R R I O R

WA R R I O R WA R E
GUNS, GAMES, GEAR & GADGETS FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

EOD technicians can remotely control robots like the one pictured here from a safe distance.

Youd be grumpy, too, if all you had to look forward to day after day was getting up close and personal with a bunch of makeshift bombs.

WHY, ROBOT?

The explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot may bear little resemblance to a dog, but its quickly becoming mans best friend in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan where improvised explosive devices, roadside bombs and car bombs are increasingly prevalent weapons of war and terror. Watch for our expanded feature coverage of these amazing, life-saving devices in a future update to this issue of NRA American Warrior.

Equipped with video cameras, EOD robots can provide technicians an up-close look at an explosive device while eliminating much of the danger.

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Dr. Lawrence Heiskell and his team at the International School of Tactical Medicine have designed what may well be the ultimate tactical medical kit. The ISTM Casualty Response Kit holds dang near everything you might need to treat gunshot wounds, hemorrhage, tension pneumothorax, sucking chest wounds, eye injuries, burns, lacerations and other injuries that can occur during tactical operation and does so in an amazingly small package. The kit measures 6.5 by 8.5 by 3.5 inches and can be worn using a tactical drop leg configuration, waist belt attachment or the standard military molle system. The drop leg attachments can be removed and replaced in seconds. No need to worry about bringing the right tool for the job. Strap this kit on and youve got it all covered.

W H AT S I N S I D E : The Emergency Bandage: 4-inch military version QuikClot Combat Gauze: 3 inches by 4 yards LAERDAL face mask CPR shield Rusch Asherman Chest Seal Vaseline Petrolatum Gauze: 1 inch by 8 inches Cover sponges: 4 inches by 4 inches (2) Telfa non-adherent dressing: 3 inches by 4 inches Telfa non-adherent pads (2) Sterile Ace wrap bandage: 3 inches Bulkee Lite Bandage: 3 inches by 4.1 yards Rusch Ultra Robertazzi Nasal Airway 28Fr Nasal lubricant: 3-gram packet Eye wash bottle: 15cc (empty) WaterJel Burn Aid Dressing

3M Steri-Strips: inch by 3 inches Bacitracin Zinc Ointment (2) Band-Aids (6) SOF Tourniquet (3rd generation) Benzalkonium Towelette (2) Alcohol prep pads (4) Black EMT shears Nitrile gloves (1 pair) Latex gloves (1 pair) Chest Decompression Needle Catheter 14G: 3 inches Syringe 3cc (for creating flutter valve) Silk tape roll: 1 inch Small white LED light with retractable lanyard Sharpie writing instrument

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Dog Tag 2.0

Why didnt we think of this?

The TAC Drive can hold all your medical information, making it readily available to first responders and physicians in the event of an emergency.

20

TAC Drive Digital Dog Tag After 15 more than a century of military use, dog tags have entered the digital age. The TAC Drive Digital Dog Tag is tailor-made for 10 those serving in the armed forces, law enforcement or other high-risk occupations. 5 With up to 8 gigabytes of storage space, the TAC Drive can hold all your critical personal or medical data such 0 as blood type, allergies or emergency To hold this much info, your contacts, and make it readily available to metal tags would have to be whomever the TAC Drive is handed the size of a Buick. off to. At the same time, more sensitive, eyes-only data can be protected behind military-grade encryption. Should your TAC Drive fall into the wrong hands, failed decryption attempts will be met with the immediate self destruction of your protected data. Essentially a plug-and-play, high-speed USB storage device, the TAC Drive Digital Dog Tag is engineered to survive the harshest handling, worst environmental conditions and most challenging operational extremes. Water resistant to 100 feet for more than 60 minutes, this little device can take the elements like a postman but still deliver. The Tac Drive has integrated anti-virus protection and will operate in temperate extremes from minus 40 to 180 degrees. Whether youre a mud crawler, door kicker, gunslinger or anything in between, you will appreciate the all-weather, almost indestructible protection of your vital documents, photos and critical medical data.

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Book Review

The Only Thing Worth Dying For

ric Blehms The Only Thing Worth Dying For is one of the best nonfiction accounts to come out of the current War on Terror and is destined to become a classic. Blehm takes readers on a fantastic journey that begins with those dark days in September 2001, when the Pentagon and World Trade Center were still smoldering and America was reeling from a brutal attack. Early success by the Central Intelligence Agency and Special Operations Command forces working with the Northern Alliance left President George W. Bush and chief military strategists looking for a way to insert an American presence into dangerous southern Afghanistan. In one of our countrys most courageous and daring covert operations, 11 men from ODA 574 were secretly inserted into southern Afghanistan with an unknown statesman named Hamid Karzai to foment a local uprising of patriots and strike the very heart of the Taliban in its own backyard. Blehm does a masterful job of keeping his readers on the edge of their seats without embellishment, political slant or betrayal. He shares the harrowing story of how a Special Forces team of Green Berets saved a village from slaughter; helped Karzai rise from obscurity to a position of leadership in Afghanistan; and facilitated the surrender of Kandahar. His extremely intense chronicle of the mission is brilliantly laid to paper in ways that force readers to keep turning pages as he builds to the tragic event that left every member of the team either wounded or dead.

Above: Mike McElhiney (center) stands with Afghan guerillas. Below: Members of ODA 574 prepare to convoy toward Kandahar Province.

11 men from ODA 574 were secretly inserted into southern Afghanistan with an unknown statesman named Hamid Karzai ...

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Book Review

MH-53M Pave Low helicopters Knife 03 and Knife 04 flying low level in broad daylight over southern Afghanistan in early December of 2001. Below: ODA 574 Team Members with Bari Guls guerrilla fighters, taken while the team was conducting Battle Damage Assessment on Nov. 18, 2001.

VIDEO: View a trailer for the new book The Only Thing Worth Dying For by award-winning author Eric Blehm.

Published by Harper Perennial, The Only Thing Worth Dying For is available in hardcover, paperback and e-book from most major booksellers.

The Only Thing Worth Dying For

Surviving team members and family of the fallen have all told me that Blehms account is spot on and very accurate. Turning over every rock and opening every heart, Blehm invites his readers into the lives of these men and the families who love them. The Only Thing Worth Dying For is not only the best account I have read from the current conflicts America is engaged in, it might just be one of the best war stories ever written. Rick Stewart Watch for NRA Life Of Duty Televisions multipart documentary on the men of ODA 574, coming in June.

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Maximum Strength Music, Video, Games, Apps ...

What to Watch Between Watches

OK. You remember the basic plot of the original TRON, right? Nope? No big deal. Were not sure it had one. What it did have were light cycles, and SPOILER ALERT! so does the sequel.

TRON: Legacy

American journalist Sebastian Junger and British photojournalist Tim Hetherington, who was recently killed by mortar fire while on assignment in Libya, directed this raw look at a remote 15-man outpost in one of the most dangerous valleys in Afghanistan. The product of Jungers and Hetheringtons year with soldiers earned them a well-earned best documentary award at Sundance and best documentary nomination at the Academy Awards.

Restrepo

s
Eric Balfour followed up his starring role in the intentionally bad (so bad its good) Dinoshark with a starring role in the unintentionally bad (just plain-old bad) Skyline. It was a rough year for Eric. Skyline does have cool-looking aliens, though. So, theres that.

Skyline

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior Music

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Fighters+Cars+Kills:
Recipe for Warrior Mayhem
Foo Fighters: Wasting Light
A big hunk of the seventh Foo Fighters album was reportedly recorded in Dave Grohls garage, which is exactly where rock was meant to be playedin Dave Grohls garage. Might be their best album since 1997s The Colour and the Shape.

The Cars: Move Like This

The Kills: Blood Pressures

The Cars are back, and they sound just like they did in 1978. As far as were concerned, thats a very good thing.

Almost fills the girl-boyraunchy-fuzzy-punk-duo void left by the White Stripes breakup. Doesnt hurt that The Kills Alison Mosshart has been working with Jack White in The Dead Weather the last few years.

Foos:

Keeping America Foo-free since 1994.

Old wave, new wave, its still rock n roll to us.

Cars:

Kills:

1 man + 1 woman= glorious noise.

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Apps

Confirm: I said a giant ape on the Empire State Building.

5-0 Radio Cost: Free
This app gives you access to a huge collection of live police, fire, aircraft, railroad, marine, emergency and ham radios from all over the world. Its like having TVs COPS on your iPhonebut without all the shirtless rednecks.

Demolish HD Cost: $.99

Do you love the physics of Angry Birds, but cant stomach the senseless violence? First of all, whats wrong with you? Second, try out Demolish HD. Its a lot like Angry Birds except with balls instead of birds. Say goodbye to 99 centsand your productivity for the rest of the day.

5-0 Radio:

No. 1 on the cop radio Hit Parade? Tulsa, Okla. Yeah, surprised us, too.

Demolish HD:

All the time-wasting potential of Angry Birds, without all the annoying bird crap to clean off your screen.

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YouTube

Some of our Favorite YouTube Moments

A bombmakers rookie effort narrowly misses the good guys.

Failed IED

Wait for it ... waaaaaaaait for it ...

JDAM With Secondaries

RONI PistolCarbine Conversion

Didnt that toy James Bond secret agent kit have one of these?

Police Stop Gone Wrong

P is for Park.

Border Patrol
That is one spacious minivan.

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior Games

Email the Editor Buy Now

Machowicz; Invite him to a party and youll need to buy all new stuff.

One of the Games We Love: Raves

IGN: Editors Choice Award, An experience unlike any shooter in recent memory, 9.2 out of 10. Yahoo! Games: A must have, 5 out of 5. PSW Magazine: Raises the bar for all war games. 10 out of 10 GameSpy: An absolute blast. 4.5 out of 5, Editors Choice. GamePro: A must own, A thrilling experience, 4.5 out of 5, Editors Choice. FHM: Game of the Year, 5 out of 5. Official Xbox 360 Magazine UK: Breathes new life into World War II. Outstanding multiplayer action, 9 out of 10.

RE

GOO

Homefront
GAME GENRE: First-Person Shooter PLAYERS: 1 to 32 PUBLISHER: THQ

ODBYE

JOIN THE ESISTANCE, OR KISS AMERICA

ou folks living back in 2011 think things are bad now? Just wait until the year 2027. In fact, just wait until next year. Thats really when this whole mess started. You see, in 2012, Kim Jong-il is going to suffer a sudden stroke and shuffle off from this mortal coil, which in and of itself, probably doesnt sound like such a bad deal to you. In fact, youre going to love his successor, son Kim Jong-unat least at first. Old Kim Jong-un has a ton more charisma than his old man, and hes going to reunify North and South Korea into the Greater Korean Republic. Seriously. You watch. Hell, hes even going to win a Nobel Peace Prize for it. Peace. That didnt last long. You see, peace is fleeting and so, as it turns out, were our natural resources. The war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, combined with Russia and the Ukraine cutting off its oil supply to Europe, had us paying $20 a gallon in the great old U.S. of A. Makes your $4 a gallon gas sound like a pretty sweet deal, doesnt it? Wasnt much longer before Kim Jong-un started showing his true colors, taking over

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Homefront
Japan. Things had gone to hell in a handbasket here in the U.S. by that time, and we were under martial law. Didnt seem like things could get much worse until people started coming down with the Knoxville Cough. Killed millions. But the real slap in the face was the newly improved Korea offering to send us aid. Can you imagine? Anyway, it gets real serious in 2025, and I pray that a lot of you arent around to see it. None of us really believed Korea when it said the GPS satellite it shot up into orbit would stabilize the world situation, but we had no idea. The EMP burst came out of nowhere. Had us all in the dark, hustling for candles, but the only thing we saw when we lit em up was the Greater Korean Republic

The EMP burst came out of nowhere. Had us all in the dark, hustling for candles ...

Fire up your PC, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 and join the resistance. From the developers at Kaos Studios and the pen of NRA Board of Directors member and acclaimed writer John Milius (Red Dawn, Apocalypse Now), comes THQs Homefront. Its 2027, and America has fallen to a savage occupation by the Greater Korean Republic. The U.S. is a bleak landscape of walled towns and abandoned suburbs. Join the Resistance, stand united and fight for freedom against an overwhelming military force In Homefronts cinematic singleplayer campaign, or team up with your fellow warriors for epic multiplayer action all set in a terrifyingly plausible near-future world.

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Homefront
forces beginning its takeover. It was like something straight out of a John Milius story. Now here we are, in the year of our Lord, 2027. The Koreans have not only taken control of everything west of the Mississippi, theyve done something to the Mississippi itself, irradiated it, they say. Were completely cut off from the East. Literally, a nation dividedif you can even call us a nation anymore. But well fight. As best we can. With whatever we can. We will protect the homefront.

... theyve done something to the Mississippi itself, irradiated it, they say.

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Celebrating 100 years of the 1911 pistola sidearm that has served Americans from sea to shining sea, as well as here at home.

Colt 191
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ohn Moses Browning was well-established as a brilliant arms designer when the call came from Colt to prepare prototypes for American military consideration in the Army Ordnance Trials of 1907. Unfortunately, the pistols submitted by Colt and challenger Savage both exhibited less than stellar performances, and another set of Ordnance Trials was planned in 1911. The improved Browning design came to be the U.S. Pistol, Model of 1911. The first 40 Colt 1911 pistols were assembled by Dec. 28, 1911, and then sent off to Springfield Armory, each bearing the finest of mirror-polish finish and each fitted with a unique dimple pattern magazine catch retaining button.

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Colt 1911

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Often imitated, rarely duplicated. Serial No. 4 of the Colt 1911 is currently on display at the National Firearms Museum.

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The ubiquitous 1911 remained in issue through two world wars and several smaller conflicts.
While Colt later revised the initial mirror polish requirement and a slotted screw head replaced the dimple, these first pistols all incorporated two-tone lanyard loop magazines, resulting in a semi-automatic handgun with two lanyard attachment points. The ubiquitous 1911 remained in issue through two world wars and several smaller conflicts. The design was quickly adopted by many other nations as well. Following its adoption by the military, the pistol was also placed into commercial production and has been popular for civilian self-defense and competition for most of the last century. Colt has produced well over 3 million pistols, and during World War II the 1911 was built under license by Remington Rand, Ithaca Gun, Union Switch and Signal Co., and in very small numbers by Singer Sewing Machine Co. With the original patents long since expired, a number of American companies produce their own versions of the 1911. And in this centennial celebration year, a number of manufacturers are offering special commemorative editions to mark this memorable milestone. VIDEO: The Colt 1911. The vintage 1911 pistol pictured here, Serial No. 4, is on display, along with thousands of other guns that have served the military, at the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va.

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Warrior Stories

N R A L AW E N F O R C E M E N T O F F I C

ER OF THE YEAR

Michael Neal

n Thursday, May 20, 2010, West Memphis, Ark., police officers responded to an officer down report. Two of their own, Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans, had been brutally shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop. Approximately 90 minutes later, the suspects minivan was spotted in a Walmart parking lot. Crittenden County Arkansas Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Deputy W.A. Wren were first on-scene and used their patrol car to block the van from leaving the area. As the deputies began their approach, the suspects opened fire on them with semi-automatic rifles and handguns, wounding both the sheriff and his chief deputy. Arriving moments after Sheriff Busby, Arkansas Game & Fish Wildlife Officer Michael Neal saw the I TOOK MY TRUCK gunfight and immediately AND I HIT THEM AS sped his agency pickup HARD AS I COULD. truck toward the back of the suspects van to close the distance, aid the deputies and block the van. As he did so the suspects put their van in reverse and began backing up to try to flee the scene. Wildlife Officer Neal knew he needed to take immediate and decisive action to end their chance of escape by ramming their vehicle. I took my truck and I hit them as hard as I could, Neal said. To be honest, I was trying to turn the van over.

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Michael Neal

VIDEO: View security camera footage of the parking lot gunfight.

The Only Thing Worth Dying For

The first thing I saw when I hit the van was the driver pointing a pistol straight at me. Neal came under fire from both suspects in the van, taking more than a dozen rounds through his windshield, dashboard and grill. Placing his patrol rifle on the dash, he returned fire through the windshield, firing a full 30-round magazine from his rifle. His rifle now empty, Neal realized he needed to withdraw from immediate contact, so he backed his truck to a better position, bailed out and with his handgun took a firing position with other officers who had just arrived to engage the shooters. Within minutes, more than 30 officers had the criminals van surrounded, more than 260 rounds were exchanged and the gunfight was over with both criminals dead. With the exception of the first officers shot by the gunmen, no other officers or bystanders were injured. To honor his valorous acts, the National Rifle Association has awarded its 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to Wildlife Officer Neal. His calmness, professionalism and willingness to come to the aid of fellow officers without hesitation is a credit to his department, his fellow law enforcement officers, the State THE FIRST THING I SAW of Arkansas and in keeping WHEN I HIT THE VAN WAS with the highest traditions of law enforcement. THE DRIVER POINTING A Neal says he doesnt PISTOL STRAIGHT AT ME. feel like a hero. He says his instincts simply took over and things worked out for the best. Today, Neal spends time traveling to law enforcement agencies across the country, relaying his experience to other officers and imparting wisdom gained during the few minutes that changed his life forever. Never forget your officer safety, Neal tells other officers. I try to instill in these guys that you go to war every time you put on that badge. Its a new day and time, and its a war on cops today. Never let your guard down. Dont give up. Never quit. And go home at the end of every day.

Wildlife Officer Michael Neal took more than a dozen bullets in his vehicles windshield, grill and dash after first ramming the suspects van to disable it.

N R A L AW E N F O R C E M E N T OFFICER OF THE YEAR

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M1911
or well over a century, those who stand in the line of fire defending our freedoms have done so with Colt firearms at their sides. Whether it was the Colt Walker, the Single Action Army revolver or the famous and now nearly ubiquitous 1911, Colt has played a central role in keeping America safe and prosperous. A longtime friend of the National Rifle Association, Colts support of American warriors has never ceased. And now, Colt Manufacturing steps up once again to provide for those who live the Life of Duty, this time as the sponsor of the feature articles youll enjoy on the following pages and in every issue of NRA American Warrior magazine.

UNITED S

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Nerve
Theyve Got
BY RICK STEWART

At Fort Leonard Wood,

Two hours southeast of Prague by train, tucked deep within the wooded countryside of the Czech Republic, is a former Soviet military installation where scientists, doctors, researchers, allied soldiers and former UNSCOM inspectors willingly expose themselves to some of the deadliest chemical weapons on earth.

The eyes of a student inside the CDTF hot lab are telling. Students give instructors their undivided attention in this stressful environment.

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Commonly used in the CDTF training environment, VX is one of the most toxic substances in existence. A few years back, I went to this facility to provide training on chemical decontamination processing to Czech and NATO military personnel. As the inventor of a processing system in use by the United States Air Force and others, I was adamant that nothing I developed would come from an I think perspective but rather would be deeply grounded in what I knew or could verify. When your life is on the line, you dont want to hear that the rope youre dangling from was developed by a guy who thinks it will hold your weight; you want the assurance that somebody did their homework and paid the price of necessary due diligence. Suited up with other experts in the chemical defense field, I entered a live agent environment containing several thousand times the lethal dose of a weapons-grade nerve agent known as VX. Grossly contaminated, I wanted folks to see that I trusted my own products, that U.S. military members could trust their issued equipment and that my actions spoke as loudly as my words. With monitors and detectors screaming and military detection paper known as M-8 changing to the tell-tale colors of exposure, we moved through the contaminated environment with purposeful intent and methodical attention to detail. I still remember the heart-pounding excitement, nervous tension and unbelievable pucker factor associated with my proximity to chemicals I knew could end my life. That day, and others to follow, would galvanize within me the importance of training, proficiency and product reliability. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a similar facility: the live agent training school at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., known as the Chemical Defense Training Facility or CDTF. At this facility on the edge of the Ozark Mountains, members from all branches of our armed forces come to participate in hands-on experience. The goal of this multiservice, multinational training facility is as clear to its attendees today as it was for me and others back in the Czech Republic. While not suited up with them but well protected behind extremely thick observation windows of the various hot labs, I can still feel the unmistakable tension of those about to enter a live agent environment; it is the recognition that beyond thin layers of butyl rubber or layers of fabric imbedded with absorbent charcoal, there are chemicals present that can kill them with horrific brutality. From the moment you weave your way through Fort Leonard Wood and see the ominous exhaust stack spewing steam into the early morning black fog, you

Nerve

... beyond thin layers of butyl rubber or layers of fabric imbedded with absorbent charcoal, there are chemicals present that can kill them with horrific brutality.

VIDEO: Inside Fort Leonard Woods Chemical Defense Training Facility

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VX is 10 times more toxic than Sarin, and as little as 10 milligrams of the agent can kill a person on contact.
get the sense that this is no ordinary place. Armed guards behind bulletproof glass, high fences and razor wire suggest that the people within this compound are dead serious about what they do. The facility is eerily illuminated, and the warning signs you first encounter on the fence announce that the use of deadly force is authorized. Nothing hammers home the serious nature of the business conducted here as those six no-nonsense words. This $27 million facility is designed to withstand every natural disaster Mother Nature can throw at it. The building is tornado proof and has backup systems to its backup systems. Four redundant emergency power supplies ensure the facility can never be shut down involuntarily. Huge scrubbers clean the air leaving the facility to higher standards than the air its being released into. In more than 23 years of operation, between the two different locations this school has operated from, there has never been a chemical accident, an inadvertent release or injury to a student by exposure. Students who somehow miss the serious nature of their surroundings are quickly reined in by cadre who has little patience for anything but strict adherence to protocol and procedures. There is zero tolerance for grab ass, no variance to established safety guidelines and no allowance for a good enough in their school of thought. This is a serious place, conducting serious business, where mistakes can result in death. Placards and pictograms announce the presence of mankinds most deadly chemical weapons like VX and GB (known as Sarin). The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 outlawed production and stockpiling of VX in quantities for use in war; thus, the agents used at this facility are produced on site and controlled under the strictest guidelines imaginable. VX, the chemical used most often within this training environment, is the most well known of the V-series nerve agents and is one of the most toxic substances in existence. VX is 10 times more toxic than Sarin, and as little as 10 milligrams of the agent can kill a person on contact. To put that in perspective, a single dose tablet of aspirin is often 500 milligrams or more. One drop of VX from an eyedropper on exposed skin would be lethal under most circumstances. This chemical weapon attacks the central nervous system, causing muscles to constrict and spasm. The eventual paralysis of all muscle function, including the diaphragm, results in death by asphyxiation. It is a brutal death equivalent to drowning. The morning students arrive at the CDTF, they are ushered into a holding

Below: Air Force 3E9 Emergency Management Specialist SSgt Heidi Williams wearing a Level A fully encapsulated protective garment and using supplied air from a self-contained breathing apparatus. Right: M8 chemical agent detection paper. Below right: Three small vials of the deadly VX agent.

Nerve

Nerve

They bend over at the waist and wait to be gassed.

VIDEO: Inside Fort Leonard Woods Chemical Defense Training Facility

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Students at Fort Leonard Woods Chemical Defense Training Facility must provide baseline blood samples (left) and undergo a chemical sensitivity test (below) before entering the hot lab. room and required to have blood drawn. This blood serves as a baseline sample and is used later, if necessary, to detect the presence of agents. Should anything go wrong or if there is any indication that there has been unprotected direct contact with an agent, their blood can be tested again and measured against their baseline. For participants squeamish at the sight of needles, this part of the course only heightens their uneasiness and stressful apprehension. Army Sgt. 1st Class William Iker, an instructor at the school, says that the blood draw, is right about the time the students first start showing the signs of anxiety and apprehension. There is something about taking your blood as a baseline, that sends an unmistakable message about events to come. After having blood drawn, students next undergo a sensitivity test. Students form a line while cupping their hands around their noses and mouths. They bend over at the waist and wait to be gassed. Cadre moves down this line with a vapor wand, exposing students to Stannic Chloride while looking for the telltale signs of a reaction. Stannic Chloride is an upper respiratory irritant that makes almost everyone who inhales it cough or sneeze. While most react to this non-harmful agent, a rare few are not affected and must be tested with Amyl Acetate, commonly referred to as Banana Oil. This will be the one and only time a reaction to a chemical here will be seen as a good thing. Later in the program just before participants make their way into the live agent chamber they will stand under a hood with high concentration levels of this irritant present to ensure the zero-leak performance of their protective mask. Individuals inside the hot lab will practice administering antidote injections to a manikin using expired auto-injectors. An individual who has received a known nerve-agent exposure or who exhibits definite signs or symptoms of nerveagent exposure will immediately be given a nerve-agent antidote drug, such as atropine or pralidoxime (2-PAM). Instructors bring the VX into the training chambers in two-man teams over containers filled with Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach). Once inside the room they apply the chemical to a vehicle or other training objects that students can test, detect and decontaminate. Observers watching numerous monitors and evaluating vapor concentration levels from a control center provide added safety to instructor and students in the hot environment. Response teams stand by fully suited in protective gear to evacuate a student who experiences any problem.

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There is zero privacy, and you are as naked as you came into the world.
Once an instructor has delivered the nerve agent and applied it, they announce for all to hear: Weve got the nervea rather fitting statement, applicable to what has been delivered and those who have delivered it. Staff Sgt. Danielle Smith, an instructor and 3E9 Emergency Management Technician with the Air Force, will tell you one of the most difficult adjustments she and other female students have to make is getting over any aspect of self-consciousness about their bodies. As students and instructors depart the hot zone, they make their way into male and female decontamination showers where they will completely disrobe for whats referred to as the hot shower. To the contrary, this shower is ice cold and specifically designed to close up all the bodys pores. There is zero privacy, and you are as naked as you came into the world, she says. This is the first of two showers where everyone in the hot zone will soap and scrub before entering the re-dress facility. Broad smiles, excited talk and even laugher replace nervous tensions and serous expressions now that training is complete and the risk of exposure is behind them. Students are proud of what they have accomplished and rightly so. They have joined a very small handful of people who have crossed the threshold to face their fear and prevail against this deadly enemy. The world has shrunk considerably these last few years, and evils once unthought-of have been inflicted upon the unsuspecting and the innocent. America and those responsible for its defense know we can no longer assume that our enemies will respect the rule of law or restrain from using anything and everything at their disposal. Saddam Hussein used a cocktail of chemical weapons to gas his own citizens. In December 1994 and January 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult synthesized more than 100 grams of VX to attack three people. Two of these victims were injured, and one man died from the attack. This man is believed to be the only person in the world ever killed with VX. During the attack, members sprinkled small amounts of nerve agent on his neck. The man chased them for about 100 yards before collapsing. He died 10 days later. In a world of uncertainty, its nice to know that America has a trained force of ever-vigilant, highly skilled professionals ready to respond to such threats at a moments notice. These warfighters respond to incidents the world over and face chemical, biological and other weapons of war for our protection. Their job is incredibly dangerous at times, but they have trained for moments just like that to save the day.

Nerv

ve

The M42 Chemical Agent Automatic Alarm (left) and M4 Joint Chemical Agent Detector (top) alert personnel of potential hazards. Above: Contaminated vehicles are monitored from Fort Leonard Woods control center.

Retired Lt. Col. Daniel Murphy, who heads the CDTF as its director, is incredibly proud of the men and women who work at his facility. He understands how important the school is to the operational readiness of those who graduate from it. He says, they will continue to push the envelope of threat integration to real-world scenarios, but they will continue to do so with the same focus on safety they now employ. As you enter and leave the front door of the CDTF there is an emblem etched in stone that shows a dragon and a war-scarred tree trunk. It is the Chemical Corps regimental insignia. Around the perimeter of that emblem, written in Latin, are the words Elementis Regamus Proelium, which means, We rule the battle through the elements. After spending time here, I could not agree with those words more.

BROWNELLS TRAINING GRO

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Prevention

BR OWNELLS TR AI N I N G GROU P KE E P S WA R R IOR S S H A R P BY H ON IN G TAC TICS A ND FI RE ARM S S K I L L S.

eed to brush up on your close-quarter carbine skills? Feeling a little rusty in lowlight conditions? Want to stretch your capabilities with a long gun? Law enforcement officers, current/ former military members and qualified citizens from across the nation now have an awesome resource to help them stay one-up on the bad guys: the Brownells Training Group, an organization dedicated to providing instruction in the critical training areas agencies, officers, other armed professionals and citizens need most. The Group is part of the Brownells Law Enforcement Division, can be found on PoliceStore.com, Brownells law enforcement website, and functions as a training resource for anyone looking to enhance their skills all across the country in areas from handgun, carbine, precision rifle and shotgun employment to less lethal munitions, NVG/IR laser employment and aviation integration, along with nearly everything in between. We are building our program based on an adjunct and local staff of current and former military and

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BROWNELLS TRAINING GROU

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OFFERS TRAINING YEAR-ROUND FROM ITS BIG SPRINGS FIREARMS COMPLEX IN IOWA AND ITS AFFILIATED FACILITIES.

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law enforcement professionals with real-world experience in the profession of arms and the proven ability to transfer that knowledge to students, said Duane Liptak Jr., training program manager for the Brownells Training Group. We have a great combination of technical expertise, industry partner support, superb facilities, and an ego-free instructional environment to provide the very best in training and testing of tactics, techniques, equipment, and firearms employment. Liptak comes to Brownells after a varied and intense U.S. Marine Corps career. Starting as an enlisted infantryman, transitioning to commissioned F/A-18 aviator and returning to the ground side to be a plank owner in the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Duane spent a tour in the air in Iraq and two tours on the ground in Afghanistan. He was awarded Training Group Senior Trainer Wes Doss six Air Medals and a Bronze Star with V, among other awards, for his actions while deployed. Managing and conducting intense and integrated training activities in various disciplines is nothing new for the 12-year veteran and NRA certified instructor, and his transition to the Brownells Training Group has been a natural one. The Training Group staff consists of trainers like Senior Trainer Wes Doss, 21-year U.S. Army M.P. and CID Veteran with 17 years in Law Enforcement with Mojave County Sheriffs Dept. and Fort Mojave PD, including time as a SWAT team leader, Firearms Training Unit Leader and serving on the Arizona State SME committee for firearms and tactics. Wes is an NRA LEAD instructor and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table in firearms use, tactics, and performance psychology. Cody Carroll, USMC scout sniper platoon commander and 19th SFG SME for tracking and

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BROWNELLS TRAINING GRO

Rust Prevention THE TRAINING

GROUP TAKES ITS SHOW ON THE ROAD WITH MOBILE TRAINING UNITS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AT ANY SUITABLE HOST FACILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BROWNELLS TRAINING GROUP

long range marksmanship, leads the precision/long range rifle employment courses, and the list of experienced trainers goes on and on. The Brownells Law Enforcement Division Training Group offers top-notch training year-round at its Big Springs Firearms Complex in Iowa and its affiliated facilities. Additionally, the Training Group takes its show on the road with Mobile Training Units capable of providing customized training at any suitable host facility across the country. The Big Springs Firearms Complex is an ideal training location, with two 50-yard bays, a 100-yard bay and a 500-yard bay, with covered firing points on the two longer ranges, and room to expand. The facility also hosts a complete shotgun sports facility, with trap, skeet and 5-stand sporting clays available. Beyond superb training, the Brownells Training Group also treats its students well. Affordable and competitive pricing is made possible by minimizing lodging costs through use of Brownells Linden House Bed and Breakfast in Iowa, as well as negotiated hotel rates for training attendees. The Training Group facilitates ammunition purchases at reduced cost, and the large base of manufacturers and suppliers Brownells p. 541.913.7192 / e. clif f@tacticalimage.com and PoliceStore.com work with ensures plenty of gear is available for students to gain hands-on experience. To learn more about the Training Group, visit the organizations home page at www.policestore.com/.aspx/traininggroup/.

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BY RICK STEWART

Shot repeatedly. Dragged under a van. Killed in

the line of duty.

of Service

Cost
The
Back on the job.

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C H A R L E S S C I O RT I N O

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E

C H A R L E S S C I O RT I N O

very police officer will tell you there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop. This truth has been ingrained in them since their first days in the academy, by R I C K ST EWA RT emphasized by every training officer they rode with as rookies and reinforced thereafter at every level throughout their careers. Many officers will admit, however, that after thousands of uneventful stops, complacency can creep in and invite opportunities that threaten their personal safety.
Charles Sciortino (or Chuck, as his friends call him) can tell you a thing or two about traffic stops gone bad and about the costs associated with letting down your guard. His passion for the subject comes from his own personal experiencesand the night he was killed on the job. Critically wounded On Dec. 30, 1995, Sciortino, a 24-year-old officer with the while working for Riverside (Calif.) Police Department, began his shift like any other. Due the Riverside Police to a shortage of patrol cars that night, Chuck volunteered to take on a Department, Deputy rookie partner, Officer Chris Stevens. Charles Sciortino Around 8 p.m., Sciortino and Stevens stopped at a convenience gave up a medical store to grab something to drink. As Sciortino exited the store, he retirement pension made eye contact with the driver of a rust-colored van whose body to return to duty for language elicited suspicion. Despite being on the force for only three the Spokane County years, Chuck had already developed a sort of sixth sense about such Sheriffs Office. things. He knew something just wasnt right with this driver. When you spend as much time dealing with dirt bags and gangbangers as we did, you quickly pick up on a number of different signals they give off, Sciortino said.

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R L E S S C I O RT I N O

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R L E S

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R L E S S C I O RT I N O

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R L E S

Following the van from the convenience store, the officers watched as the vehicle crossed the centerline several times, indicating that the driver might be impaired. Officer Stevens called in the vehicle plates and learned the van was registered to a known gangbanger and two-time convicted felon who was wanted on a parole violation. When they stopped the vehicle, Stevens noted that he had an uneasy feeling. Sciortino agreed. He hated vans and other vehicles that you couldnt see clearly into and that diminished the tactical advantage of his patrol spotlight. Nothing about the approach to the van that night was normal. Its elevated lift made seeing inside the vehicle difficult, and the two rear windows were covered with reflective film. As Sciortino neared the drivers door, he remembers the seat was so far back that he was literally looking back into the spotlight of his own patrol car just to see the driver. In spite of all the difficulties with the vehicle itself, what Sciortino remembers most about his approach to the vehicle that night was the drivers eyes reflected in the vans side mirror. Again, something about them just wasnt right. Sciortinos partner moved up the passenger side of the vehicle to see if he could peer into the van, but there were no additional windows. He made his way back to the patrol car and positioned himself as he was trained to do. At about the same time, Sciortino asked the driver for his license and vehicle registration. Under California law, the vehicle of a convicted felon or person still under probation can be searched without permission and without a warrant.

The first shot struck Sciortino in the neck just above his protective vest, completely severing his carotid artery, jugular vein and vocal cords on the right side before exiting out his shoulder.
Sciortino has added well-warranted caution to his better safe than sorry approach to patrol work.

S C I O RT I N O

TH E COST OF

The driver, Tyrone Kirksey, was a two-strike felon in a three strikes youre out state. He must have known that if Sciortino searched his vehicle and found the weapons he had with him he would not only be arrested for violating the terms of his probation, hed be heading back to jail for a very long time. That is what Sciortino had seen in the drivers eyes as he approached. It just hadnt quite registered yet. As Sciortino held his flashlight in his left hand and took the drivers license in his right hand, Kirksey drew his weapon. Today, Chuck remembers the numerous alarms that were going off in his head that night: the first eye contact with the suspect leaving the store; the eye contact he made with the driver in the mirror as he walked up to the vehicle. They had only added up when he heard the explosion of the gun and saw the flash jumping from the barrel. The first shot struck Sciortino in the neck just above his protective vest, completely severing his carotid artery, jugular vein and vocal cords on the right side before exiting out his shoulder. As blood spurted from his neck and all over the front of his uniform, a second bullet rang out, striking him in the chest. The shot to the chest and reaction to the gun caused him to turn, and a third bullet struck him in the elbow, severing a nerve and rendering his shooting hand useless. As Sciortino hit the ground, he rolled under the elevated van, instinctively seeking cover. Kirksey leaned out and fired his 9 mm handgun six more

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CHARLES SCIORITINO

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R

times at Sciortino, who could do nothing more than lie and wait for them to strike. Sciortino says the rounds hit so close to his head that he could feel pieces of the road splintering into his face. As Officer Stevens unloaded his weapon into the rear of the van, Kirksey sped away, dragging the already seriously wounded Sciortino about 25 yards up the road. Bleeding out and dazed, Sciortino somehow was able to get to his feet, stagger back to his car and make a desperate plea for help over the radio before collapsing to the ground. His neck felt like it was on fire, but more frightening still was the feeling of suffocation as blood from his neck wound ran down his windpipe, flooding and collapsing one of his lungs. With limited medical training, and experience far below the medical emergency and injuries before him, Sciortinos rookie partner was in way over his head. All I could see was the tremendous amount of blood all over him and thinking that I was watching a man die before my very eyes, Stevens said. From a mile or two away, a California Highway Patrolman heard the distressed radio call and responded. When CHP Rigoberto Morffi saw the blood spurting from Sciortinos neck, his training as an EMT kicked in and he immediately drove two fingers into the wound to apply pressure directly to Sciortinos arteries, a decision that likely saved Sciortinos life. Loaded into an ambulance, Sciortino could only lay there as paramedics called out cross streets and crashing vital signs to the waiting emergency room. This officer, he heard them say, is crashing fast. That night, Sciortino flatlined. He could feel paramedics pumping his chest as he slipped further and further into peace.

VIDEO: Charles Sciortino recalls the night he nearly lost his life.

RLES SCIORITINO

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E C H A R L E S S C I O R I T I N O

TH E COST OF

He saw no white lights or angels, but as his life slipped away he remembers how the agonizing pain began to subside and how a strange calm swept over him. Doctors report that by the time Sciortino made it into the ER he had lost almost 80 percent of his blood. No rational reason for his survival exists beyond sheer willpower and divine intervention. While Sciortino fought for his life in the ER, a swarm of law enforcement officers pursued Tyrone Kirksey into a housing development. After skidding to a stop and slamming his van into a curb, Kirksey ran into a nearby home and fired at the owner but missed. He then threatened to shoot anyone who got in his way. Like a cornered animal, Kirksey could see things were going to end poorly for him. Ultimately, he turned his gun on himself and ended things on his own terms. He had made it clear to family members and friends that he would not go back to prisonand he kept his word. Meanwhile, Sciortino fought for his own life. He technically died on the operating table at least two times, and his survival was considered a miracle by all involved. Days later, Sciortino emerged from a coma in an intensive care room. Confused about where he was, he staggered out of his hospital bed and almost passed out at the sight of himself in the mirror. There before him was an almost fully He technically died on the operating bearded, emaciated version table at least two times ... of himself some 40 pounds lighter and heavily bandaged. Chest tubes came from his collapsed lung, and Gore-Tex repaired his carotid artery. The jugular vein on his right side could not be repaired and was tied off, his severed vocal cords could not be repaired either. Numerous other injuries and a lot of rehabilitative surgery awaited Sciortino as he began the long climb to normalcy and recovery. Dr. Charlton Reeves, who performed the surgery on Sciortino at Riverside General Hospital, some 45 minutes after the shooting occurred, said that Sciortino is one lucky man; that his wounds did not kill him is a tribute to those at the scene and the staff at the hospital With little optimism for Sciortinos complete recovery and return to duty, the Riverside Police Department medically retired him with full benefits. But 14 months later, to everyones astonishment, Sciortino willed himself back to a place where he believed he could return to work. Those he worked for were flabbergasted when Sciortino approached them with the idea of reinstatement. Here before them was an officer so critically

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wounded months earlier that he was medically retired with a full pension for life, asking to forgo these benefits so he could return to the life of duty. Though inspiringeven miraculoushis request was denied. Chuck Sciortino, however, is not a lie in bed, feel sorry for yourself kind of guy. He is not a charity case. For Chuck, it felt unethical to accept a handout especially a pension for lifeif he thought he could still do the job. Still wanting to serve, Sciortino applied for acceptance with another department, surrendered his pension and went back to work making less money than he would have made not working. As inspiring and noteworthy as that may seem, this department, which faced budget cuts and personnel layoffs, would be forced to let him go less than a year later. Not to be deterred, Sciortino would eventually join another department, then make a lateral transfer to the Spokane County Sheriffs Office where he works today as a deputy. I just knew that I would never be content with taking the easy way out, Sciortino said of his decision to forego a disability pension and remain in law enforcement. From the first ride I had in a police car as a law student, I knew that my calling wasnt defending bad guys, but taking them off the street. To me, life isnt about what you make; its more about what you make of it. I have zero regret. CHARLES SCIOR His Patrol Sergeant, Doug Marske, says Sciortino is one of the finest law enforcement officers hes had the privilege to work with. Chuck, he says, has a particular knack for bringing in the bad guys. I have a lot of guys working for me that are fantastic officers Marske said. But arrest reports, search warrants executed, and documented records of his success on the job each night dont lie. This guy is a one-man magnet for dirtbags and lawbreakers. Today, you can see a strict attention to detail and laser-sharp focus as Sciortino approaches each and every vehicle he stops. It is not fear or unreasonable trepidationsimply the result of a well-ingrained lesson learned from his near-death experience. Chuck Sciortino has added vigilance to common sense, and well-warranted caution to his better safe than sorry approach to patrol work. More than 15 years after the tragic shooting in Riverside, Sciortino lives the life he lovesthat of a law enforcement officer charged to protect and serve. His near-death experience, and his scars, not only serve as a reminder of his past, but as an inspiration to others who can see his passion on the job and marvel at his tenacity and spirit.

To me, life isnt about what you make; its more about what you make of it. I have zero regret.

RT I N O

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E

C H A R L E S S C I O RT I N O

T H E C O S T O F S E RV I C E

When fallen servicemen and women are dishonored misguided protestors, this group of patriots comes to

FIGHTING T

in death by arrogant, the rescue.

THE

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T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R

R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R

by MARK CHESNUT

he recent 8-1 Supreme Court ruling in Snyder v. Phelps, upholding the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to picket the funerals of fallen military heroes as a form of free speech, opened the door for many more similarly atrocious displays at future memorial services. Hailed by many, yet derided by many others, the ruling was controversial to say the least. Yet it also highlighted the importance of the solemn duty undertaken by another set of true American heroes. Enter the Patriot Guard Riders.

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You want to go hit them, or do something violent to them, but at the same time you know you cant.

Springing from a group of Kansas American Legion motorcycle enthusiasts who attended a funeral for Sgt. John Doles in Chelsea, Okla., in 2005, the Patriot Guard Riders are now a diverse amalgamation of 186,000 riders from across the nation with two basic objectivesto show sincere respect for Americas fallen heroes, their families and their communities, and to shield mourning families and their friends from interruptions created by protestors. Patriot Guard Riders throughout the country regularly ride their motorcycles to funerals of fallen heroes to protect, guard and shield family and friends of the deceased from the Rev. Frank Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church. That group of misguided zealots travels the nation to demonstrate at the funerals of fallen heroes, chanting and holding signs printed with such atrocities as Pray for More Dead Soldiers, God Killed Your Sons and God is Your Enemy. You want to go hit them, or do something violent to them, but at the same time you know you cant, said Nick Kinler, Vietnam veteran and assistant state captain of the Patriot Guard Riders. Its the antithesis of what youre supposed to do. If they get too loud, we fire up a couple of motorcycles. It shuts them right down. Its a very powerful thing to do to nullify idiots like that. Due to his past post-wartime experiences, Kinler has very little patience with people who dishonor Americas war fighters, whether living or dead. And its easy to understand why. When we came back from Vietnam, we came back as pariahs, Kinler said. This will never happen again, as long as Im alive, as long as Patriot Guard is around. I feel very honored to be a part of this organization.

E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G U

Left: A Westboro Baptist Church member demonstrates at a funeral. Below: Patriot Guard Riders form a buffer between demonstrators and the families of fallen heroes.

If they get too loud, we fire up a couple of motorcycles. It shuts them right down. Its a very powerful thing to do to nullify idiots like that.

R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D |

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To say that families and friends of fallen heroes are appreciative of the organization, its mission and the comfort it gives would be a gross understatement of how they really feel. Linda Gibson, mother of Brennan Gibson, a soldier killed in battle by an IED and buried on his 27th birthday, knows all too well the heartbreak that comes with losing a child to war. She also knows the feeling of having a group of people attend the memorial service with the sole purpose of dishonoring her sonand his ultimate sacrifice. It was really upsetting to know that someone would want to come and disrupt our special time to say goodbye to our son, who was fighting so that they would have the freedom to come and picket, Mrs. Gibson said. It was just absolutely wonderful to see them (the Patriot Guard) ride up on their motorcycles with their flags. Ken Brown, pastor of Hope Chapel, the Gibson familys home church, had similar thoughts. Its already a daunting job to comfort a family who has lost a son in combat. That job gets even bigger when outsiders try to disrupt in a time of dire need. Everything I stood for, they were coming against, Brown said. Everything this young man stood for, and gave his life for, theyve mocked. But that concern was relieved for Brown, and for Brennans family, when the Patriot Guard Riders entered the picture. The ability for family and friends to honor Brennan and his sacrifice had just been returned to them by a group of caring patriots on two wheels each. I could see across the way a few of the people with their signs, Brown said. Just down the street I heard the sound. When I saw them, I was overwhelmed by the fact that the cavalrys here!

UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT

Just down the street I heard the sound. When I saw them, I was overwhelmed by the fact that the cavalrys here!

We feel its the least that we can do for what they paid.

AT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D

T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G UA R D | T H E PAT R I O T G U

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Ive seen a lot of great things. I can tell you this was right up there, because on their faces was the look of, Well take care of you. Weve got this thing covered. And they did. The Snyder v. Phelps court case, mentioned at the beginning of this article, stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Albert Snyder against the Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church after church members demonstrated at the 2006 funeral service of Snyders son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder. At that memorial service, church members dishonored Snyder and his sacrifice by chanting and holding up signs bearing slogans such as Thank God for Dead Soldiers and America is Doomed. While the Supreme Court sympathized with families victimized by the so-called churchs hurtful acts, the court stated that it must comply with the First Amendment right to free speech. In the high courts decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said justices cannot react to that pain [of the families] by punishing the speaker. Justice Samuel Alito Jr. was the lone dissenting voice on the court. Alito argued that Albert Snyder had an elementary right to bury his son in peace, and that our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case. Americas military men and women realize that they fight to protect all freedoms of all Americanseven the freedom to loudly and publicly dishonor them in death. And they do so proudly, many making the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for their country. The Supreme Courts decision in Snyder v. Phelps virtually ensures many more protests in the future. Fortunately, for those whose families live out the aftermath of the ultimate sacrifice, a determined group of patriotic individuals has vowed to never back down in its battle against those who would turn memorial services into cheap publicity stunts. Dennis Reynolds, Northwest Oregon district captain, sums it up best. We feel its the least that we can do for what they paid. Our hats are off to all of Americas fighting men and women, and particularly to those who lose their lives fighting for our freedoms. Families who find themselves needing the Patriot Guards services in the future can take heart from the help and comfort theyve provided in the past. I knew I probably wasnt going to go out there and start busting some heads, but I was going to do everything I could to keep it (a disruption) from happening, John Gibson, Brennans father, said concerning the memorial service protest. To have an organization like this there for families of fallen service people is a godsend.

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S U P P R E S S I OSN U N D O

LIGHT
UNDETECTED
U N K N OW N

The Science of Total Signature Reduction UNSUSPECTED U N S E E NU N H E A R D

Dead Giveaway

Total Signature Reduction

n 1996 two former Navy SEALs, Ken Good and Dave Maynard, began a company called Combative Concepts, which joined forces with SureFire to launch a whole new approach to force-on-force concepts and training techniques. These early pioneers in light, cornering and entry tactics started something that has since matured into something a lot bigger than anyone first imagined. Today, under the banner of the SureFire Institute, students from law enforcement, military, federal agencies and elite warfighters who operate from the shadowy fringe are learning and sharing their firsthand experiences in collaborative ways once unheard of. Now under the direction of LE & SWAT veteran William Murphy, the SureFire Institute provides almost unmatched training and superior field-tested techniques for operational use. Fifteen years ago, SureFire and the SureFire Institute, started a revolution around a concept of signature reduction in relation to the use of light. As the phraseology implies, the goal was to reduce detection vulnerability on the part of police officers, SWAT team members, military VIDEO: Total Signature Reduction personnel and other warriors. To the casual observer that may sound rather simplistic, but when youre projecting a powerful light source, firing a loud weapon, and managing the typical battle rattle of an operational door kicker, every advantage you can beg, borrow or steal to reduce your visual or auditory footprint is crucial. In combat and tactical situations, all senses are on high alert. Warriors know that the slightest movement, noise or deviation from the norm can get you noticed,

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... every advantage you can beg, borrow or steal to reduce your visual or auditory footprint is crucial.

Total Signature Reduction

shot at or worse. As warfighters, door kickers or officers respond to everyday situational events, their primary focus should be on target/suspect amplification and personal signature reduction. Every traffic stop, domestic disturbance, building entry and operational assault should begin with the premeditated thought of seeing everythingwithout being seen.

The Use of Light It might sound strange to those whove never

The technique draws attention and potential fire to where the operator was and not to where the operator has moved.

encountered combat or actual bullets flying in a tactical environment, but things that amplify your presence (like a bright light) can also distract, disarm and discombobulate those opposing you for a split-second tactical advantage. On a routine traffic stop at night, every officer understands the advantage his or her patrol cars spotlight provides. The intense light illuminates the suspect vehicles occupants while eliminating their ability to see approaching officers. Proper use of light includes tactics like light and move, a technique whereby light is used to quickly illuminate a room or area, and then immediately turned off as the operator moves away from that position. The technique draws attention and potential fire to where the operator was and not to where the operator has moved. Improper use of light includes backlighting or silhouetting a fellow operator in front of you. Knowing the who, what, where, when and why of various lighting applications is critical to survivability. The use of night-vision goggles, scopes and other devices has also created the need for multiple color combinations, including infrared lights that are unseen by the naked eye. With lights using IR filters, covers or bulbs, operators can brightly illuminate an area and intensify target acquisition with light unseen by those they are illuminating.

Total Signature Reduction

Use of Suppressors The use of weapon-mounted suppressors
has grown in recent years as operators began to see the significant advantage they provide. The use of light, sound and concussion to distract, disorient and stun an individual has been and remains an effective tool for operators. However, there are times when light, sound and movement are not warranted and are counterproductive to safety and tactical advantage. In these situations, the use of a suppressed weapon can play an important role in reducing your signature and profile.

frequent mislabeling, is not a silencer. Suppressing the sound does minimize the ability of your adversary to locate or pinpoint fire direction at greater distances. A suppressed weapon also significantly reduces potential hearing damage to the operator and team members within enclosed environments or close proximity.

Sound Suppression A weapon suppressor, contrary to

end of the muzzle is virtually eliminated with a quality suppressor. This light or flash elimination prevents opposition forces from locating your position by the flash coming from the end of your weapon at night. An additional benefit is achieved for those wanting to preserve their night vision and prevent washout of their night vision goggles or other optical. An important part of concealment is the elimination of movement or evidentiary signal indicators. An operator in a prone position on the ground with an unsuppressed weapon can kick up a significant amount of dust and dirt around them. This dust cloud can impede the visualization of the target on secondary shots but can also signal to an adversary your location. This same effect can occur with foliage, leaves and other debris depending upon the shooters location or targeting platform.

Light/Flash Suppression The flash at the

Dust/Movement Suppression

VIDEO: The importance of suppression

... the use of a suppressed weapon can play an important role in reducing your signature and profile.

Total Signature Reduction

Leading the Revolution SureFire, which once sat alone atop the tactical
light business, has started yet another revolution and appears to be the loudest voice in the room when it comes to the subject of Total Signature Reduction. For any company, leading the charge is never without risks or critics, but SureFire has never shied away from these risks and always put the need of the warfighter at the forefront of their developmental criteria. Daring to be different and daring to challenge the status quo has come to be standard operating procedure for this renegade and even revolutionary bunch.

SUREFIRE HAS BEEN AT the forefront of weapon-mounted systems and handheld tactical lights, as well as the training, tactics and application for use in tactical operations. SureFire lights are some of the brightest in the business and have the ability to temporarily blind, stun and distract the opposition. One of the greatest technologies developed by SureFire in recent years was the HellFighter crew served weapon light. This bad boy projects 3,000 lumens of blinding light and can illuminate a target over 800 hundred yards away. It has been successfully used to locate IEDs and other threats. Overseas its referred to as the Eye of Allah by those on the receiving end, because when you see it (or it sees you), youre going to see Allah. From the high angle of the gun turret, either handheld or mounted on a .50 BMG or Mini-Gun, the extreme amount of light projected illuminates any disturbances left in the road from planting wires or explosives. The design, weighing in at only 10 pounds, was engineered to withstand the recoil, vibration and rigors of combat. The light itself has no filament to break or burn out. It is constructed from Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized (aerospace) aluminum. A 5 mm multicoated Pyrex window protects the lamp assembly, and the window itself is protected from mud, dust and other particulate impact by either a swing-open amber filter designed to cut through fog, smoke and dust, an infrared lens for NVD applications or an opaque dust cover. The HellFighters high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp is powered by two military BA-5590 batteries or a 12-volt auto battery. In the IR mode, this offers tremendous illumination of opposing forces or threats and cannot be seen with the naked eye, yet (covered or uncovered) provides a tool that can reduce risk to the warfighter.

Tactical L

VIDEO: SureFires HellFighter

Light from Hell

HellFighter Crew Served Weapon Light

Total Signature Reduction

AS ITS NAME IMPLIES, SureFires Fast-Attach suppressor system allows an operator to configure his or her weapon between suppressed and unsuppressed in seconds via a pre-mounted SureFire suppressor adapter. During my evaluation of the SureFire Fast-Attach suppressor mounted to a Ruger 556, I found the device to perform flawlessly. Mounting the suppressor had a very small, yet measurable and consistent effect on the weapons unsuppressed zero. The accuracy achieved actually improved with the suppressor attached. The rifles groups, from unsuppressed to suppressed at 100 yards, had about a 1.75-inch shift in zero, but the groups themselves were tighter than my unsuppressed groups. That said, theres a possibility that my suppressor adapter was mounted slightly less that perfect, therefore causing the shift I experienced. I switched between suppressed and unsuppressed every six rounds to see how much shift would occur from the zero established with the weapon unsuppressed. I also wanted to test the consistency of the shift in point of impact. What I found was that the shift remained consistent from group to group, and that when suppressed the group always returned to the same point about 1.75 inches away. I make zero claims on my own shooting abilities, and fully acknowledge that marksmen with greater skill than I might have even better results. I will say that with two different types of commercial (albeit quality) 5.56 mm ammunition and a significant number of rounds down range, I was very impressed with the suppressors performance and consistency. I would also add that using a new optic that day, with a reticule that covered too much of the target for true precision work, didnt help matters. The Fast-Attach suppressor represents a real evolution in suppressor technology, as older thread-to-the-barrel designs were known for opening up group sizes and significantly shifting bullet point of impact from the unsuppressed zero. This, of course, was impractical for anything more than short-range use, because opportunities to re-zero on the battlefield or in the troughs of engagement are unlikely. Unlike suppressors of days gone by, the SureFire suppressor has been designed to outlast the barrel (or two) of the weapon its mounted to. This rugged design makes it suitable for full-time use on an infantry weapon. SureFire promotes its suppressor as reliable, repeatable, durable, rapidly attachable/ detachable and portable by design, and I cant argue with a single claim after test firing hundreds of rounds under various temperature conditions, weapon reconfigurations and using different types of ammunition. The repeatability of performance and the lack of a need for re-zeroing the weapon after each reconfiguration were impressive.

Suppresse i

VIDEO: SureFires Fast-Attach Suppressor System

ed to Unsuppressed in a Flash

SureFire Fast-Attach Suppressor System

Itching For More Warrior?

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