Episodes

  • Mike and Jim discuss how to handle CBRN- Chem, Bio, Rad, Nuke threats and how to set your preparedness to the current threat landscape with synthetic bio-terror weapons on the rise.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • A lot of training exercises and drills can be a waste of time. Mike and Jim explore ways to improve military readiness, disaster preparedness, and school safety by making better training events.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

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  • We take it out to the woods with how to build a fire, 7-step Checklist for Land Navigation, knots, PACE planning, forging resilience and a positive mental attitude, and more in this disaster prep, end-of-the-world, stuck-on-a-deserted-island overview of basic field craft and considerations for packing and planning.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • “Help!” “Help!” “Help!” “I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead.” “One of my teachers is still alive but shot.” “Officer!” “Officer!” “Are they [officers] in the building?” “There is a lot of dead bodies.”

    These were the words of nine- and ten-year-old children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, during a call with 911. We try to take a balanced approach between the real challenges first responders take and the tragic reality of this event. We hope you learn from it.

    Show links:

    DOJ Report: https://bit.ly/3zDqtOK
    ALERRT Report: https://bit.ly/4gGGAf9
    TX State Report: https://bit.ly/3XJJ7wj

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Car accidents are something that are likely to touch all of us in some way or another, whether we are involved in one or manage them professionally as first responders. Not only are they exceptionally common, sometimes they are also challenging to manage well. We talk about some of the competing priorities and offer some ideas to get the emergency response to a traffic collision off to a good start.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Back in the 1960s a former Marine took the high ground in one of the first and deadliest school shootings in American history. This watershed event was part of the discussion that brought the idea of a SWAT team to the national stage and arguably brought momentum to what some now consider to be the militarization of the police. We talk about counter-ambush tactics, cover or suppressive fire in law enforcement, tactical medicine, and more.

    https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/university-of-texas-tower-shooting-1966

    https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2016/09/03/ut-tower-shooting-claims-one-more-life/10008498007/

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • No one should die over a false report. Internet gamers, celebrities and public figures, and maybe even one of your neighbors have been the victim of this sort of prank. These hoax emergency calls that can lead to an exaggerated police response are becoming more common, so we discuss strategies to make sure we tailor our response appropriately and keep everyone safe.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Downs v. United States was a benchmark case for domestic law enforcement that establishes our requirement to attempt negotiations for a peaceful resolution. We define a hostage situation and talk about strategies to manage them in contrast to active killer and barricaded criminals.

    Downs v US (6th Circuit Court of Appeals) - https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/382/713/2596989/

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Your Recipe for Success looks something like equal parts of three things. Motivation, the spark and desire. Discipline, your habits and structure. And Grit, your capacity to overcome challenges, adjust, and perservere. Mike shares some of the research that’s been done on these topics and ways you can integrate them to get your closer to where ever you want to be.

    Links:
    Randy Pausch "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" https://youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo
    Atomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/3LmLPSD (Excerpt here: https://jamesclear.com/marginal-gainshttps://jamesclear.com/marginal-gains)
    Carol Dweck TED Talk - https://youtu.be/_X0mgOOSpLU
    Grit by Angela Duckworth - https://amzn.to/4bHxtY2
    Angela Duckworth TED Talk - https://youtu.be/H14bBuluwB8
    Mindset by Carol Dweck - https://amzn.to/3LlWZHg
    The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin - https://amzn.to/466p5Qy
    Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin - https://amzn.to/4667I2r

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Over 100 people were killed, more than 2,000 structures destroyed, and over $5 billion in damage were left behind after wind and fire tore through the historic Lahaina district and adjacent areas in Maui, Hawaii. We dive into some of the public safety and disaster planning takeaways from this event including evacuations, notifications, misinformation, planning, and risk.

    FEMA After Action Report: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/preliminary-after-action-report-2023-maui-wildfire/

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

    Photo credit: FEMA

  • Is “strategic” the size of the bomb you drop, the scale of the map you use, or way you play Monopoly? In this episode, Mike and Jim turn Sun Tzu’s fortune cookie sayings into operational reality. We work through how we can win fights all over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam and still lose. We also cover strategies for winning against Active Shooters and the Chinese Communist Party.

    New Rules of War by Sean McFate - https://amzn.to/4bYaGrT
    Little Book on Big Strategy - https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/723/
    Amatuers Study Tactics - https://www.strategynotes.co/p/the-nonsense-of-amateurs-study-tactics
    How to Win in Anbar by CPT Travis Patriquin - https://abcnews.go.com/images/US/how_to_win_in_anbar_v4.pdf
    The Strategic Corporal by Gen Krulak - https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/1999-Jan-The-strategic-corporal-Leadership-in-the-three-block-war.pdf
    On Strategy: A Primer by Nathan Finney - https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/on-strategy-a-primer.pdf
    Strategy: Context and Adaptation from Archidamus to Airpower (Transforming War) - https://amzn.to/3KOdprC

    Adaptive Leadership Handbook - Law Enforcement & Security: Innovative Ways to Teach and Develop Your People by Lt Fred Leland - https://amzn.to/3z2vzDx

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Is the American military prepared for the sacrifices that we can expect in a World War? Mike and Jim discuss whether commanders can lead and whether the troops will follow when it comes time to storm the beaches knowing many will not return.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Situational awareness demands focus and selective attention. Sometimes playing on your phone can help, and sometimes it can kill you. Most people can’t multitask as well as they think, but Mike and Jim will give you strategies to outmatch your enemy and avoid becoming a LUMP.

    FAA Task Management White Paper: https://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/tc17-16.pdf
    Aviation Week article on Compartmentalization: https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/safety-ops-regulation/compartmentalization-focus-flight-part-1
    Wiki Page Eastern Flight 401: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Air_Lines_Flight_401
    The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons: https://amzn.to/3WK6maK
    The Invisible Gorilla video: https://youtu.be/vJG698U2Mvo

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangent. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Just because it's not aliens doesn't mean we can ignore it. Let's develop a comprehensive air defense and counter drone plan in the wake of Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza. We investigate Unidentified Flying Objects, UAVs, aliens, killer drones, spy satellites, Chinese balloons, and Foo Fighters.

    UAP Task Force : https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2314065/establishment-of-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-task-force/

    Intelligence Community Report : https://www.intelligence.gov/index.php/publics-daily-brief/public-s-daily-brief-articles/1077-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-preliminary-intelligence-assessment

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangent. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Green Berets have to work with a different rule book than the troops guarding nuclear weapons—and for good reasons. We explore the balance between strict adherence to rules and the often necessary flexibility to go off-script in tactical operations and your organization’s culture.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents
    You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • In October 2002, a 17 and 41 year old carried out a series of serial murders, killing 10 and wounding 3 others in what were described as random attacks against people doing every day tasks like pumping gas and mowing their lawn. We cover lessons from this large scale, multi-agency investigation with takeaways for individual cops and police leaders related to public relations, investigative rigor, and interagency cooperation.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents
    You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • There are over 18,000 police Chiefs and Sheriffs in the United States, and every one of them has their own version of what right and wrong looks like. But unless they plan on showing up at every traffic stop, they are going to have to trust that their Officers and Deputies on the front lines are doing the best they can.

    Empowering law enforcement officers with discretion to use their best judgment is a necessary part of policing, but there are some serious gotchas that we have to watch out for to maintain that responsibility and the trust of the people we serve.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents
    You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Erica is the founder of TacMobility, a wellness training company and online resource with a ton of free material for public safety. TacMobility is implementing a blend of mobility training and mental health support by working its way past the tough “sheepdog” exterior.

    Through eye-opening surveys, TacMobility highlights the not-so-funny truths about depression and the dusty corners where wellness programs sit unused. Advocating for a mix of low-effort, big-impact wellness habits, TacMobility proves you can indeed teach old dogs new tricks and balance the badge with a bit of brain and body harmony.

    Check out more from Erica at https://tacmobility.org.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • Here’s the thing about plane crashes: We all die at the same time. Inefficient and ambiguous communication has serious tactical implications when managing a crisis as a team. Sometimes, we water down what we need to say because we don’t want to step on toes or piss anyone off, especially when talking to authority figures. This is called mitigated speech, and it is something leaders and team members need to be aware of when it comes to problem solving and decision making in groups.

    Episode 48: https://www.tacticaltangents.com/podcast/piloterror/

    Outliers by Malcom Gladwell: https://amzn.to/3OGjY20

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com

  • For some reason there are a lot of people out there who still feel like putting an optic on your pistol isn’t reliable or practical, and our handsome hand model in the photo John Correia calls those people the Gun Amish. We agree with that title, because it’s 2024 and pistol mounted optics are a game changer. Mike and Jim talk about some of the challenges switching to a red dot sight on a handgun and some tips on how to overcome them.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents
    You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com