Life’s Lesson; If it ain’t practical, it ain’t Tactical

I have come to loath the word “Tactical”. Everything you see now a days has the word tactical attached to it. Tactical knives, tactical folders, tactical clothing, tactical webbing, tactical shoes and boots. Everything is tactical, and if it doesn’t say “Tactical” it is a cheap copy.

Lets take a moment to look at the American Heritage Dictionary definition of Tactical;

tac·ti·cal (tkt-kl)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or using tactics.

2.a. Of, relating to, used in, or involving military or naval operations that are smaller, closer to base, and of less long-term significance than strategic operations.

b. Carried out in support of military or naval operations: tactical bombing.

3. Characterized by adroitness, ingenuity, or skill.

tacti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun 1. adroitness - skillful performance or ability without difficulty;



Tactics, simply mean: this is what I do things. Tactical means, the way in which I do it.

In other words ladies and gentlemen, and those of you in France; Everything is “tactical” but this is where I get deep: Not everything is practical.

I work with the Special Operations community. I don’t have a badge or patch or certification, or what ever. I don’t carry a coin. I don’t know what group is attached to which region. I do have over 200 combat missions. I have thousands of kilometers on Baghdad roads. I have combat experience and I have learned what has worked for me, and what has not. So take a few pointers as I point out the difference between tactical and practical.

What makes a product “tactical”? As I surf the web, and review products, I see that some items that are tactical, are just a different color then items that are not tactical.





Take a red pair of Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, color them coyote tan, and you can sell them as tactical. After all, Converse Chuck Taylor’s are canvas, light weight, rubber soles for good traction, and in all actuality, they would make a perfect desert warfare shoe. But they would only sell for $40. We cant have that. So, a marketing gu ru calls up a former navy seal, Says, “hey Richard, I’ll give you $1000 to wear our shoe and tell us what you think”, Richard wears the foot wear for a week, and says, yup, it’s a good shoe. Well, now the company can say “as worn by Navy Seals” or “tested by Navy Seals”. Call it a tactical boot, and charge $200 a pair. And you know what. One of you is going to buy it. I did. I bought a pair of desert color Oakley boots. MSRP was $225, but I got mine from the dealer for $100. Are they worth a hundred dollars? Nope. They look cool, and my operator friends think they are high speed, but are they worth a $100? Nope. But they look cool, and they are Oakley. Everyone knows Oakley is the best.


Ok, here is another pet peeve I want to throw your way. Tactical folders. For Malkie and his friends in France, I am talking about a pocket knife. The knives I see over here in Baghdad, are ridiculous. Titanium, extra carbon reinforced, spring assisted, tempered etc, tactical folder. These knives sell for between $40 and $100+. (my folder is a $2 Bud K special. www.budk.com When your body is in combat mode the body system in charge of survival is the Sympathetic Nervous system.

This system tells your body to fight or get the hell out of there. Now, during this time of stress, the human body works on gross motor skills. i.e. punching someone in the nose. The body looses fine motor skills, i.e. buttoning your Levi’s 501 blues. (This is why, when French guys get caught sleeping with their sisters boyfriends, they struggle to get their pants on while have no problem running away). So to say that a folding knife is a “Tactical Folder” is an oxymoron. Like French Intelligence. If you want a “tactical knife” you should have a straight edge knife, with a 7” blade, situated on your kit that is easy to grab, in a neutral position, and preferably with a partial serrated edge. It should be full tang and the sheath should be so that the knife comes out easily. Kinda sounds like your bayonet huh? Pulling a straight edge knife (like your bayonet), out of its sheath is a gross motor skill. Simplicity is practical. Practical is tactical.



Two months ago, A police officer friend of mine was given a new holster for his M-9. We reached a secured area, where all weapons needed to be cleared, and my associate tried to pull side arm from his triple retention holster, and it wouldn’t come out. The problem was, that the pistol needed to be twisted with an exaggeration to release it from the retention. It was a “tactical Holster” but for my colleague, it was not practical, and if it is not practical, it is not tactical. I myself went into a gun shop a in March of 06, and tried to buy a Kydex holster for my brothers Sig 9mm. This holster was designed so that the weapon could be drawn quickly. I could not get the weapon out of the holster. I pulled, I twisted, I yanked, (yanked is like a hard pull) and the weapon would not come out. My brother is 6’2, and 230lbs, and he couldn’t get it out. The gun shop staff had a difficult time getting the weapon out of the holster, and finally, the shop manager just about used a crow bar to remove it. Now, this was a tactical holster. Tactical. Why was it tactical? It was black. It was slim. It’s design was simple. But again, it was not practical. If a weapon needs fine motor skills to be used in a crisis situation, your dead.




My “tactical vest” is not. It has enough pockets, but they are all situated in the wrong areas. I am a right handed shooter, but all the M-4 magazines are on the right side. Now picture it. Fire fight. Magazine change. Your left hand needs to reach across your chest, grab a magazine from under your right armpit, remove it and then insert it into your weapon. Does it work for me? Sometimes. Is it practical? No, It is not. Again, I bought it, because all the operators had one. I even spent the extra money for the tactical tan one. It would be better if the magazines were on the left side and the pistol holster on the right, where…..imagine this…my right hand is. This is a design flaw, based on good intentions at the time. It looks cool, but to keep my magazine changes simple, I wear a thigh rig on my left thigh that holds 4 mags. If I have to go to my right side magazines, then I have been in the area way to long. The “tactical vests” that are being sold now, have MOLLE webbing and individual pouches for the operator to attach in a way that is practical for his individual mission. This customization makes the vest more practical, and of course, Practical is tactical.


There are many other examples I have, but it would take hours for me to write it all down and compare. Clothing, lights, helmets, ropes, what ever you can think of. Take a moment to think of what you do. Then, think of how you need to get it done. Do you really need any extra equipment, or can you accomplish your mission with what you have? Are you buying it because it is labeled “Tactical”? Don’t be fooled. If it is not practical it is not tactical.