What is Tactical? - The Tactical Wire

*"Tactical" can be "running and gunning" -- but that's not all it is. Rushing into danger is only sometimes appropriate.*

In a recent discussion, the question arose – when will there be more tactical in THE TACTICAL WIRE? Inquiries revealed that it was a question about gear, stuff that many – if not a majority – don’t have and likely won’t have.

“Tactical” has to do with tactics.

According to the dictionary – tactics amount to “the science and art of disposing and maneuvering forces in combat” or “the art or skill of employing available means to accomplish an end” and “a system or mode of procedure.”

Tactical refers to things “… of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose” and being “… adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose.”

Not a lot of mention of gear so far.

Pull-through parking prevents a likely accident - a collision when backing. Marry that with parking next to a cart return, putting a physical obstacle between you and others when you're getting into/out of your car, and you have a smarter approach to safety in the parking lot.

For my money, “tactical” means (1) an awareness of things that don’t “fit,” (2) anticipating danger, (3) considering approach (or evasion) tactics (depending on mission), and (4) avoiding unnecessary adverse contacts (depending on mission).

Seeing “it” coming and putting oneself in a position of dominance – or simply escape – is the essence.

What if? A practitioner constantly plays the “what if?” game. If you see something you don’t understand, people behaving in a way outside the mainstream, ask yourself why?

Then act on that suspicion as if it were confirmed.

Gear is not completely out of the equation. Mission drives the gear train, as noted by EAG Tactical owner/instructor/mil-PD veteran Pat Rogers (RIP). Determine what your objectives are as that can help decision making as to the tools you need to reach your objective.

So why is this wire called “tactical?”

We couldn’t come up with a better name at the time. At our first meeting, I told our esteemed publisher -- who at that time had THE OUTDOOR WIRE and SHOOTING WIRE – that he was missing a (soon-to-be growing) part of the industry: one that covered the armed citizen interested in personal protection, civilian law enforcement, private security and military.

That’s our target audience.

*Retirees don't qualify at the range primarily to chat about old times - it's because they realize that preparation is critical.*

We don’t often cater to agency and War Department issues of purchasing, though that’s discussed in passing because it’s often part of the story we tell.

If you think that the night shift nurse walking to the darkened parking lot on the way home isn’t part of our “reach,” you’re mistaken. Or that kid in his first police job in a town of 3-4,000 people, or someone in a security career – those are ours too.

The night shift nurse’s mission is to avoid contact; failing that, her (or his) mission is to force a break in contact. The small-town copper has to seek out criminal offenders, take them into custody and bring them before the courts for disposition.

The primary infantry unit’s mission is to close with and destroy an enemy by means of fire and maneuver. The private security contractor is out to protect “high value individuals” and property.

Consider the codger, picking up those Part D prescriptions, facing an aggressive panhandler; he has a mission too, like that off-duty night shift nurse. Our space is primarily the personal protection space with side trips into contracts for replacement machine gun barrels, or which big police department bought into the double-stack 9mm “1911” pistol with whatever optic, and what’s the newest, neatest gadget.

Gear pieces, without doubt, get the most engagement. Hardware’s a big deal. It doesn’t work without software – and we address that too.

It’s all part of meeting that esteemed publisher’s credo – to keep you posted.

– Rich Grassi