Situational Awareness: Personal Security

When deployed we say “complacency kills”, while that may be a little extreme of a statement for our civilian lives it can still apply.  What I mean is, never lose sight that there are creeps and bad guys out there willing to do you and/or your family harm. 

Even on deployment, depending on where you are, there’s the simple criminal threat and not just the terrorist threat.  You must stay cognizant of what’s going on around you and how you’re conducting your business.  This is just one facet of the much broader topic that is “Situational Awareness”.

Since I recently just saw the picture above posted about stickers on vehicles, I’ll start there.  As you can see in the picture, every little detail you give out can be exploited.  I’ll take it further than that, even supporting your favorite team can be exploited.  I’ve done exercises where I was able to get information out of people easily just by doing a little research and pretending to be a big fan of their favorite team they proudly display on their vehicle.  This doesn’t mean go rip your stickers off, it just means you need to be aware.  Magnets fall under the same rules.  If you’ve been around a military post very long you’ve probably seen a “half my heart is in ….” magnet or sticker.  So it would be too easy for you to be followed home and know where there’s a house that’s possibly vulnerable. 

What do you gain from advertising this?

Facebook is another great tool for criminals.  If you don’t have your page protected I can see where you “check in” and that way I know you’re not home, therefore it’s free game on your stuff.  Even worse are some of the exercising apps that will track you as you run and let others see where you’re running live.  You’re basically laying out a road map for a criminal to come nab you. 

Remember, I’m writing the “worst-case” scenarios here.  It doesn’t mean you need to change your entire lifestyle, but just be aware.  What’s the risk versus reward of your actions?  If you check in at your favorite steak house on Facebook, who really cares and why does it really matter?  What does it matter that you have little stick figures of your family stuck to your back glass?  What’s the point?  Is it worth someone now knowing how many kids you have?

Below are some pictures I've taken around the base I'm stationed at and present when I teach a class on Force Protection.  I've blacked out pertinent information to protect these individuals even though they didn't protect themselves.  In each of these I talked to these people or their Chain of Command since I had plenty of info to easily find them to ask that they think about better safeguarding their information.  

Here are some medical documents left in plain view in a vehicle.  

Plenty here to exploit.

ID card left right on the dash as if displayed on purpose.  Not only do I have his full name and rank, 

but I know what team he likes and where he's from.  Easy in to exploit him.  

What's shown here is a unit's (unnecessary) form to fill out in addition to a 

leave form.  Now I know this guy's home address, the address he's going on leave

and when he'll be there.  Left displayed right on his car seat.  Oh yea...and his full social. 

I could have loans and credit cards in a heartbeat, not to mention the knowledge of 

when would be best to rob his house.  

I could go on and on and write a book on this topic, but I'll keep this short for the sake of the blog.  Just be aware of what you're leaving laying around.  Don't take for granted that you're on a military base or wherever it may be and you think it should be "safe" there.  Trust no one.  Especially with identity theft being so popular, you need to safeguard your information.  Identity theft could be your best case scenario if you compromise yourself.  Worst case could be death.  

Concealed Carry: Belts

I was compelled to write this post after working a gun show in Charlotte a couple weeks ago.  What I noticed were several folks open carrying and their handguns were bouncing around with what I can only call "belt flop".  Now we all know that the majority of the gun show crowd is a "special breed", but I'm sure this is going on more often than I see.  You can't expect to have a good, clean draw stroke if you have a holster that flops due to insufficient support from your belt.

The bottom line is that if you're going to carry a handgun in a holster you need an appropriate belt for carrying.  An appropriate belt is one that is stiff enough and wide enough to support the holster  you're using.  There are belts out there in the "normal" marketplace that will work, but I would suggest going with a purpose built one.  There are several manufacturers out there of belts that will do the trick, but I will share with you a couple that I like.

First off, you're going to need at least a couple of belts that will fit what you're wearing.  Make sure you take a look at all the different styles out there before you choose.  I'm not fashion expert as my wife would tell you, so I won't be giving any advice on that.  What I'll tell you is that I keep a black one and a brown one handy.  Choose wisely as most belts are build robust enough that buckle change outs won't be an option.

Let me start with Ares Gear.  Ares Gear gained popularity with their Ranger Belt.  It and all their belts are made with scuba webbing sewn together to provide an extreme stiffness.  The Ranger Belt has a cobra buckle that needs to be taken off for the belt to get through most belt loops.  It's a quick and easy process.  It doesn't get much stiffer than these belts and they are top notch when it comes to quality.  While the Range Belt is great, the cobra buckle is somewhat of a giveaway if you're trying to remain low-vis and if you're tucked in.  Enter the Aegis Belt.  This belt is built basically the same as the Ranger Belt, but has a "normal" looking buckle.  Either belt will serve you well and each come in a few different color options.  The only issue I have with these belts is the extreme stiffness.  As a slim guy with bony hips, these can be a bit rough when you first get them.  There is a definite break in period that can be sped up by working the belt nightly by hand.  I usually take mine and work it into a circle both directions back and forth to make it more pliable.  Now, this isn't taking the stiffness you'll need to support the holster out, just making it easier to wear.  Unless you're specifically after leather, an Ares belt would be my choice.

Ares Gear Aegis Belt (bottom) and Ranger Belt (top)

Now onto leather.  If you're after something that has a formal appearance, I would suggest a leather belt from Mean Gene Leather (his website just went live, so give it a click).  Gene Higdon is turning out some real quality handmade belts that are my current favorite.  Gene, formerly of High Speed Gear Inc. fame, has been making innovative products for awhile.  He's the first and only person I know of to take a cobra buckle and put in on a leather belt.  The cobra buckle model is called the "Barbarian Belt", I got it and two of the normal buckle models (Shooter's Belt) through the good folks at War Sport Industries.  The Shooter's belts I got for my father and father-in-law as Christmas gifts, and they both love them.  Gene now has another model out he's calling the "Victory Aegis" belt that has the Ares Gear Aegis buckle that you see on my Aegis belt.

My "Barbarian Belt"

Mean Gene's new model with stitching is a great looking belt.
(pic from www.meangeneleather.com)  

I also like Crossbreed Holsters or Gould and Goodrich for leather belts.....in that order.  They offer different styles of belts and buckle choices.  They're all extremely comfortable for every day wear.  The stiffness of any of them is more than adequate to support any holster.  These belts don't have any feature that would present them as "tactical" or give away that you're carrying.  If you're going for leather, this is a great option.  The added bonus for me is that they are made in the U.S.A.

Gould and Goodrich Shooter Belt

These aren't the only options out there by far, just the ones I'm familiar with and choose.  If you're carrying and care that your life may depend on your equipment, then don't forget about having a good belt.  If you're after a good carry belt just take a look at your wardrobe and purpose, then develop your own list of considerations.  Once you've done that, go shopping.  Hopefully this will help get you started.

Plano LE/GOV Cases

Recently at a Darley Defense expo I was able to talk to the fellas from Plano.  Plano has a fairly extensive line of weapons and ammo cases.  Who knew.  They've been around for a bit, but I wasn't tracking them.  If you haven't heard of Plano you've probably never owned or shopped for a tackle box.  If you don't know what a tackle box is, please stop reading and seek other means of entertainment.

Just having gotten a new shotgun, the Plano 108190 All Weather Case was just what I needed and just what I ended up with.  Most of you are probably familiar with Pelican or Storm cases and these are pretty much the same.  There are some small differences, but the most beneficial difference being the price point.  You can pick this case up from Walmart for around $115.  A Pelican case of this size will cost you around $300.  

As you can see in the picture above it has the pluck style foam which enables you to pluck out a specific shape to better secure your firearms and equipment.  I just haven't plucked it yet, so the shotgun is setting on top.  Below you'll see that the case has wheels and locking latches.  The latch locks aren't up to TSA specs, but there are lock holes so that you can also lock it with a TSA approved lock.  

Plano also produces ammunition boxes.  They are much like the military style ammo cans most of us are familiar with, except much lighter.  Great for throwing loose ammo or boxes of ammo in.  They have several shapes and sizes to choose from.  They are very durable and very handy for whatever other else you can use them for.  These are one of those things you can never have too much of.  

So if you're looking for a great gun case or some convenient, durable storage cases go check out the Plano website and then go shopping.  Check the tag below and see one of the best reasons to shop Plano....Made in the USA!

A Soldier's Task: Raising Adults

This post is simply a story about being a soldier and one of the many thankless chores we conduct as leaders and mentors. 

Raising young men and women.

I'm sure this post may apply to Marines, Airmen, and Sailors as well.  My background is Infantry and Special Operations, so this is the experience I'm writing from.  I'll mostly be speaking from my time in the Infantry, because with my latter job I don't have very junior folks.  

As a Soldier you have America's sons and daughters thrown your way, most of them fresh out of high school.  Most don't have the life skills to properly get by on their own.  The hard truth of this is that some of them just had parents that were nonexistent, didn't have parents, or their parents were what I would consider trash.  The others, they've been raised well, but they still have some growing up to do.  

That's where we step in.  As a first line supervisor in the Army you are responsible for teaching and showing your young soldiers "the way".  This covers the gamut of how to wash their clothes to financial responsibility.  It even includes how to keep their rooms clean and other disciplines that are needed to be successful as a young soldier.  It's not just about how to shoot, move, and communicate.  It's not just about how to be physically fit and become a warrior. 

When I first came in, you could not move out of the barracks until you were E-6 or if there wasn't enough barracks space.  Nowadays you can live off-post if you so choose no matter what your rank.  This could be unit dependent.  This means you have young men with the responsibility of finding a place to live within their means.  Good leaders will walk their soldiers through this process if needed.  Either way, they'll ensure the soldier knows what they're doing, even if they're married.  This process also applies to buying a vehicle.  

If that soldier gets in trouble or gets out of line, it's that supervisor’s responsibility to counsel him and provide some kind of corrective action.  Essentially, we have to punish the soldier in some fashion and teach them right from wrong.  This is a touchy subject for many, because you've probably heard the term "shit rolls down hill".  If that soldier did something that was noticed by "higher", than it will come rolling down to your level before you roll it onto them.  I've been the recipient of tough love thanks to mistakes by a soldier or two (even though you may not deserve it).  Right or wrong, that's just how it works in some units.  

When a young soldier has nowhere to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you can bet a leader in the unit will have a spot at the table for him and welcome them as one of their own.  When they need a ride home from the bar because they drank too much or when they're stuck somewhere with a broken down vehicle because their paycheck doesn't afford them a nice, new vehicle.

In summary, we are with your sons and daughters everyday.  We are responsible for their lives, especially on deployment where we are with them 24/7 and possibly in harms way.  We aren't just there to make them tactically and technically proficient.  We are there to raise them as men and women who will be a benefit to society and be successful no matter what they do as career soldiers or in civilian life.  I could go on and on about the tasks leaders/mentors conduct in the military that are outside of what you probably think we do.  As an infantry squad leader, I always said one of the most important jobs we do is raising men.  I still believe that to be true.  

For any military folks that read this, feel free to comment below and add to this. 

Concealed Carry: Dressing to the Gun

In today's society, it's best to carry a weapon any and everywhere you go (that the law allows of course).  Protecting you and your family should be your highest priority.  The weapon I am going to focus on here is the handgun.  Pistols come in various sizes, but mostly the same shape.  We won't get into handgun selection here as I've already covered that in a prior blog.

As the title of the blog states, we will talk about dressing to the gun.  I could write a book on this topic and give hundreds of examples, but this will be a general overview.  Carrying concealed doesn't mean you have to dress like you're in a 5.11 catalog, you can wear almost whatever you want as long as you're smart about it.  There are several factors to be taken into consideration when dressing to the gun.

• Size of the Gun:  Full size handguns will provide challenges when deciding what to wear, while compact handguns are easier to conceal.
• Body Type:  Slimmer people like myself will have a tougher time concealing larger handguns, but it can be done.  Larger framed people will have a less tough time.  We all come in different shapes and sizes, some of these will present their own challenges.
• Activity:  What will you be doing?  What kind of movement will be required?  Are you going to be in close contact with people who don't need to know you're carrying?
• Weather:  Hot weather can mean dressing in clothing that doesn't conceal as well.  It can also mean more perspiration, which can provide challenges.  Cold weather will obviously make it easier to conceal, but can provide the challenge of having more layers to get through to the gun.
• Holster:  If you want to read more about this, read my blog on it by clicking here.  
• Purpose:  Business?  Pleasure?  Do you need to blend in?

These are just some of the general considerations when dressing to the gun.  As I said before, we could write a book on this.  The idea here is just to throw some out there and get you thinking.  

The best practice is to go through your clothes and find what conceals your firearm best so you have a good idea of what you can and can't wear.  When you go shopping, think of your considerations for carrying.  

When I took this picture originally I posted it and jokingly said, "always bring your gun when trying on new jeans".  I was really serious though, as I do believe you should make sure whatever jeans you buy have enough room for you to comfortably carry.

When I teach carrying concealed, I usually am talking to "alpha males".  Some of which like to dress to show off their work in the gym.  I usually tell these folks they are going to have to learn to be less vain and dress less to show off their muscles and more to conceal the firearm.  This doesn't mean you have to dress baggy, you just can't wear compression shirts.  Below there are a few examples of clothing that's good or bad to wear.

 While black is one of the better solid colors to wear, moisture wicking garments like Under Armor is not a good choice.  As you can see here, my M&P9c with Raven Vanguard 2 is easily shown due to the fabric hanging over the pistol. 

Lighter color fabrics are best when they have a pattern.  A pattern is good with any color as it helps break up the outline of the gun or whatever you may be carrying.  

Again, black is a good color for solids, but not the Under Armor type fabrics.  As you can see here all I had to do was bend forward a little and when I stood back up straight the fabric was hanging on the pistol.

Again, a pattern works great for hiding the outline of the pistol.

The best practice is to use a mirror and check to see how well your carry gun shows with whatever is in your wardrobe.  Colors, patterns, and fabric all play a role in how well you're able to hide the firearm.  Some sweaters easily snag on the edges of some pistols as well.  When you do this, make sure you move around to see how well your outfit does.  If you're going shopping for instance, make sure the firearm won't show when you do things like bend over, reach up, or squat down.  The length of your shirt can come into play if it's short enough that when you put your arms above your head the shirt comes up enough to show the firearm.  

So that's your intro on how to dress to conceal a carry pistol.  Maybe when I have more time on my hands in about 4 years I'll sit down and write a more lengthy bit of instruction, but this will get you started.  Most folks will be able to figure it out from here.  Feel free to comment below if you have anything to add or if you have any questions.

Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe

When you decide to carry a concealed firearm, holster selection can be key.  It can also be a little overwhelming with all the options out there.  Often times you have to spend a little money getting the wrong products before you find the right one.  In my case, I happened to get lucky and got it right the first time.  My first concealable inside the waistband (IWB) holster was a CrossBreed.  If you know me, you know that I'm a fan of Raven Concealment holsters as well, but if you're looking for the ultimate in comfort, then a CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe is the way to go.  I won't go into a Raven's Phantom vs SuperTuck debate because they both serve different purposes.  The SuperTuck is a dedicated IWB, whereas the Phantom is a versatile platform that can be used IWB or outside the waistband(OWB).

It's been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  If that statement is true, then CrossBreed should be extremely flattered.  There are several copycats out there from small companies to larger holster makers such as Galco.  Some have slight differences or claimed "improvements" on the design, but there's only one original and that's CrossBreed.



CrossBreed is a company that anyone with values, namely Christian values can get behind. From the packaging the holster ships in to the crosses on the belt clips, I'm a fan. In this day and age it's rare for any organization to stick to it's guns when it comes to religion. I believe in acceptance, but I also believe in live and let live. A direct quote from CrossBreed's website states that when the inventor Mark Craighead was asked about the origin of the name CrossBreed holsters, "he was never ashamed to answer that, although there is some reference to the hybrid nature of his designs, the larger meaning behind his company’s name references the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice upon the cross which was made for all mankind."

Even the packaging shows they are a Christian company.

The customer service I have received from them has always been great. Their holsters also carry great warranties. Directly from the website:

LIFETIME WARRANTY: Once you receive your holster you have two weeks to try it out,

if it doesn't work for you, simply give us a ring and we will buy it back. Even after your

two-week-try-it-free period is over, the holster still carries a lifetime warranty and we will

repair or replace it as long as you own it if it fails you in any way under normal use.

My experience with CrossBreed holsters has been both abroad and at home. I've used one for carrying in the Middle East for about 8 months of carrying a full sized handgun concealed and more recently I've been utilizing one to carry my every day carry(EDC) handgun. This holster has performed well for me in temperatures reaching 120 degrees all the way down to the recent "polar vortex" temperatures in the single digits.

The holster's hybrid makeup combines leather and kydex. As I've spoken of before, I'm sometimes not a fan of all leather holsters because they can get flimsy and when worn IWB can make it difficult to re holster your handgun. That being said, CrossBreed has given us the best of both worlds. The comfort of leather and the stiffness of kydex. The leather backing on the two holsters I've used has been the standard black cowhide. They also offer premium hard rolled tan cowhide and horsehide. I didn't have any issues with the standard black cowhide on the first one, so I stuck with that on the second one. Those options come at an additional cost, but I'm sure they're worth it for some folks. I don't perspire as much as some people, so with those types the different leather may be a better option.

The holster on the left was carried by me on deployment

and the one on the right is one of my current options.

                                This just shows where the kydex meets the leather and some of 
                                       the shape of the kydex. Notice how it's shaped for the 
                                      gun to beat a slight cant. Also notice the tall sight notch 
                                              to accommodate different sizes of sights.

The backside may appear uncomfortable because of

the hardware, but you can't feel it once it's on.

The holster is adjustable for ride depth and cant utilizing the SteelClip clips. These clips are mounted with a spacer so as to allow for better "tucking" capability. The clips slide over your belt and hold the holster securely in place. There is plenty of room and flexibility to tuck your shirt in behind the clips. As always, when carrying concealed you need to ensure you have a good quality, stiff belt on. That is essential with any holster.

Notice the small gap between the clips and the leather backing.

The holster comes with the option of having what they call a "combat cut" or not.  My M&P9c holster does not have it yet, but I cut the other one myself.  Way back when I ordered the first one I was given the advice to get it without the cut and send it back to get it done if I wanted it, or try it myself.  I cut that one myself because I didn't want to send it back and wait on it while in the Middle East.  This second one I plan on doing the same thing.  I have no doubt CrossBreed does a great job with the combat cut, but I prefer to cut it myself and tailor it to my needs.  When you make the cut it does take away a slight bit of comfort factor, but it's worth it to me to be able to get my hand on the gun better.  Be aware that this holster does hold the gun very tight to the body in case you're one of those folks who like aggressive stippling as it could provide some "red skin".

UPDATE:  I emailed the staff at CrossBreed to find out what the best method was for doing my own "combat cut".  Copied and pasted below is their reply:

"The best way to combat cut the holster is to draw in the line that you want the combat cut to follow. If you have access to a band saw they work the best but you can use a good pair of shears or a carpet knife. After the leather is cut just use some 80 grit sand paper to round and smooth the edge and finish smoothing the edge out with emery cloth. If your holster is black cow just use some KIWI leather show polish on the edge to seal it and if the holster is natural horse just some Neetsfoot oil on the edge to seal it.
We can always combat cut your holster for you for ten dollars and this includes shipping back to you. Just send the holster back to us at 224 North Main Street, Republic, MO, 65738. Please be sure and include a note that you want the combat cut and ten dollars (cash,check,or money order) and your name,phone number and mailing address and we'll get it taken care of for you. Once we receive the holster in the shop we get it combat cut and shipped back out to you in three to five working days."

Here you can see the bottom holster without the combat cut.

And the top holster with my combat cut.

This shows the difference in the two and how the leather

may get in the way of your normal draw stroke. 

Below are some pictures showing the holster I used with my M9 Beretta while in the Middle East.  This is to show you just how well the SuperTuck will hide even the largest of handguns.  As most of you know, the M9 was not designed to be carried concealed at all.  I was able to carry for several months without even my linguist knowing until I drew it while training some folks one day and he was amazed.  So even as small framed as I am at 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds I was able to hide it.  When you look at these pictures realize that you know the gun is there, so it will be more easily noticeable.  I also noticed after taking the pics that I didn't do the best job at adjusting my pants, but you get the idea.  I would like to note that you don't necessarily want to be tucked in when carrying because it provides a slower draw obviously, but there are times when you can't get around it.  Just know that you need to practice some dry fire while tucked to ensure you're good to go if the need arises.  If you have dress shirts that are really long that could provide some challenges.  Some tailoring may be in order.

Here you can see it sticking out a little, but this isn't the preferred "garb" 

when carrying a full size handgun.

This just shows what it looks like revealed.

Here the shirt is tucked in.  The gun isn't noticeable, but you might notice 

the clips if you were really looking.  

This is where I could have adjusted my pants and belt better, but 

you get the point.  Even with this large of a handgun the SuperTuck

does a good job at hiding the firearm.

  

In the below picture you will see the M9 training gun in the SuperTuck.  What I would like to point out here is that the barrel extends well below the coverage of the holster.  This is one concern for me.  As you know if you've read more of my posts, I believe that the ability to holster is just as vital as the ability to draw the gun.  When shooting this firearm and then re holstering the hot barrel can become an issue.  I found this out the hard way.  Now, hopefully in a real situation you won't be firing that many rounds, but if you're training there's always that possibility. 

While a great holster, it can tend to produce a small amount of noise at times.  I've noticed in a quiet environment I can hear it as I walk with a noise I would describe as "creaking".   It's not a big issue because even with a small amount of "white noise" or background noise it becomes unnoticeable.  One other issue is that with my belt tightened up where I like it, it can compress the kydex slightly causing the slide on my handgun to creep back as the gun sets in place.  I remedy this by reaching down and pushing it forward.  Again, not a huge issue.  The slide only creeps back maybe 1/10th of an inch and if you don't notice and push it forward, it slides back forward when you draw the firearm.  I did quite a bit of dry firing and live firing to ensure this wouldn't be a problem.  Neither of these are "show stoppers", I just wanted to present them here for full disclosure.  I'm usually cautious of reviews that are all "sunshine and flowers".

So to wrap this up, in my experience the SuperTuck by CrossBreed is one of the best concealable holsters out there.  For a pure IWB and comfort, I don't believe it can be beat.  With a great product from a great company with values such as CrossBreed, you can't go wrong sending them your money.  Speaking of, this holster will run you about $70.  Well worth it.  Holsters are very important, so spend the money and get it right.  Please don't settle for something that's "ok" because it's cheaper and don't go for the copycats.  If you're looking for an IWB holster that has the option to tuck in, get a CrossBreed SuperTuck.  They also have some other great looking products on their website, so check them all out.  I would venture to say their other offerings are good as well.