Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Exchange the techniques and skills needed to walk the shadows. Post your guides and how-tos here.
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Xanatos
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Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Post by Xanatos » Mon May 28, 2012 12:29 pm

Is this post tl;dr? Fuck you, read it anyway. If you don't have time, put a reminder somewhere to look at it when you do have time.

We operatives are a dark lot in the sense that our lifestyle revolves around the night. However, each of us have a day life too that we have to maintain. This daily life often gets in the way and prevents us from opping as often as we'd like. And on the rare occasion we have the time to do an op we either lack the motivation, are out of shape or simply can't get into the "zone".
But just because we can't op enough doesn't mean we have to fall completely out of touch with ourselves. So for the next few weeks I'm going to be setting homework tasks that I expect each and every one of you to complete. Just simple exercises to help you stay sharp and in shape.
These assignments also extend to you visiting guests and silent lurkers - yes, you, the reader - I want you all to participate as well.


Lesson:

One thing most operatives overlook in their training is how they kit up before an op. An operative's clothing and all the gear attached to it should feel like a second skin; comfortable and easily accessible at a moment's notice. Clothing should be tight but not restricting, gear should be easy to access but not get in the way. An operative's kit should adhere to sight & sound discipline; gear should eliminate shine and not rattle while clothing should blend into the night and be as noiseless as possible, especially when moving. An operative should be able to slap on their basic attire and feel right at home, being instantly familiar with its tolerances - how loud footwear is on various surfaces, how effective the clothing blends into different environments, how much sight or hearing is impaired by headgear, how dexterous the gloves are, etc - as well as where on the body each piece of kit is located.

This describes the essence of an operative's gear. For more specific discussions (what to bring, how to use it, preferable patterns of camouflage, etc) please head over to the 'Gear' section.

Homework:

For starters, if you don't already have a SOL (Standard Op Loadout) then create one now. A SOL is a basic configuration that you can slap on quickly for an average op consisting of dark clothing, comfortable footwear and some basic tools (knife, flashlight, etc). Obviously this can change depending on the op (different camouflage to suit the environment or specific tools for the job) but that can only be sorted out before the particular op. Choose a set of clothing, some footwear, some headgear and/or gloves for a standard op around your neighbourhood. Next, select some basic gear for dealing with common circumstances; flashlight, knife, lockpicks, self defence/escape tools, things of that nature. Now figure out where on your person you're going to carry these items; in your pockets, on your belt, strapped to your limbs, etc.

Planning is all well and good, but at least once this week I'd like you to try on your SOL (preferably when nobody else is around to avoid arousing suspicion). Do your pushups & stretches from previous weeks while wearing it and take note of how much it impairs your senses, if at all. Make adjustments if necessary: are the pants too baggy? Does your equipment rattle a lot or fall out of pockets? Are some parts too bright or shiny? Is the material noisy to move in? Are your shoes/boots uncomfortable?

Try accessing your gear from different positions as well. Take out your knife, flashlight, lockpicks and anything else in your SOL while standing, crouching, prone, taking cover against walls, leaning around corners, hanging off ledges, etc. Try putting them back in; sometimes you'll find that putting gear away is harder than taking it out. If you find something difficult to reach or awkward to take out try mounting it somewhere else. Also, make sure to leave room on yourself for other 'specialised' pieces of kit for specific operations. (or loot)

Perhaps most importantly, try whipping out your self-defence gear if you have any (baton, mace, blinding powder, etc). This should become reflexive for every operative in the unlikely event of being compromised at close quarters. It may seem like a small thing, but potentially life-saving nonetheless.

Make a list here of your SOL and note any difficulties you encounter, as well as how you countered them. If you don't happen to have any gear to start with then you've got some shopping to do. Head over to the Gear forum to discuss how to get started.

Brotips: * Don't take any unnecessary items; they'll only burden you. Unless you're expecting to pry something then it's no use adding a crowbar to your SOL. Try limiting the amount of gear you take by seeing if some items can serve a dual purpose (such as a maglight serving as a baton, a sturdy knife serving as a prybar, etc).
* Unless you somehow get caked in mud or otherwise end up completely filthy, you shouldn't wash your opping attire. This keeps that 'natural' scent about you, making it easier to hide from animals and particularly keen humans.
* The Roll Test is perhaps the best method of testing how comfortable your loadout is. If you can execute a forward Parkour roll while wearing your SOL without any difficulties, you're doing it right.
* Got some shiny bits of gear or reflective footwear? Black electrical tape and dark spray paint can help with that. Just make sure it doesn't interfere with operation in any way.
* Find a good place to hide your gear from the casual observer; either hiding it all in one place for convenience or stashing bits & pieces all over the place to remain inconspicuous. Just make sure you know where everything is.
* Trousers too baggy? Tuck them into your boots or tie your legs with shoelaces. They'll snag less easily, especially when climbing fences.
* If you're shopping for opping attire always try to go for second-hand garments. They're generally softer and thus more quiet & comfortable, are cheaper and aren't as 'shiny' as new clothing.
* I can't stress enough how well dying clothing works. If you've picked up a good camouflage pattern but feel it stands out a little too much at night then dye it to a darker shade. The results are superb.
* Same goes for spray painting bits of kit to make them blend in better.
* Avoid velcro as much as possible when deciding where to carry gear - velcro pockets or pouches make a lot of noise at night.

Class dismissed.
We are all books containing thousands of pages and within each lies an irreparable truth.
What is locked, can be opened. What is hidden, can be found. What is yours... can be mine.

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Re: Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Post by Xanatos » Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:35 pm

This is quite overdue...

My SOL:
* Grey longsleeve skivvy
* Black t-shirt
* Custom-camo BDU trousers
* Black diving boots
* Navy blue t-shirt mask
* Grey & black Ansell Hy-Flex gloves
* Smith & Wesson HRT9B boot knife (black, double edged, leather clip-on sheath)
* Metsu-bishi in Skittles tubes (2 tubes in a US ammo belt pouch)
* Lockpicks (8 piece set, carried in black leather belt pouch)
* LED flashlight (black, AA batteries)

Kit & camo obviously changes depending on the mission, but this is the bog-standard loadout for urban environments with little vegetation. The flashlight is carried in one of my pockets, easily accessible and doesn't fall out easily or rattle too much. The lockpicks & metsu-bishi stay on the right & left sides of my belt respectively quite securely, although the picks sometimes rattle a bit when moving too fast. The main problem is with my knife; clipping it to my belt vertically makes it awkward to move and clipping it to my pocket makes it difficult to draw & sheath. I'd like to be able to wear it horizontally on the back of my belt a'la Sam Fisher like on my old BDUs but these ones (and my multicam) don't have the belt loops to support it. I'll need to sew some extra material as a sort of extended belt loop to solve this problem, unless anyone else has suggestions. Aside from that, it's a comfortable loadout.

What about the rest of you? Got your SOLs sorted out yet?
We are all books containing thousands of pages and within each lies an irreparable truth.
What is locked, can be opened. What is hidden, can be found. What is yours... can be mine.

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Re: Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Post by Wind » Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:26 pm

Assignment Week 6: Gear

At this time, I don’t have any tacticool clothing. I am waiting to get some after I lose my next 30 pounds (I’ve lost 80 already, so this isn’t a pipe dream.). Until then, I will use some old, faded black work Dickies, faded black long sleeve shirt, a faded black t-shirt for a mask, and footwear appropriate to the NO. I also carry a large camo bugnet that works well as a sniper veil.

The following is a list of my non-clothing standard gear:

FIRST AID KIT
Moleskin (blister treatment. Hard to flee if your feet are killing you.)
Assorted bandages
2 hand sanitizer wipes
Athletic tape (good to hold down bandages or to wrap an injured/sprained joint)
2 pair of latex gloves
SAM Splint II (good to support broken limbs)
Sawyer Bite & Sting Kit (good for snake, spider, and stinging bug bites)
A list with my medicines and emergency contacts in case I am found unconscious

TRAUMA KIT (in the USA just sneaking around a backyard could get you shot at)
2 CAT tourniquets (Why two? Standard military procedure is if one tourniquet doesn’t stop the bleeding add a second tourniquet. I like the CAT brand because they have a red tip on one end, so it makes it easier to orient correctly under stress.)
2 Emergency High Pressure Bandage, Trauma Wound Dressing, 6” Hemostatic Control Bandage, which includes pressure applicator, non-adherent pad, elastic secondary dressing, stop & go release, closure bar. These are only around $5 and can literally be a lifesaver.)
2 Chest seals (need one for the entrance wound and one for the exit wound if you are treating a sucking chest wound).
Emergency blanket (in case treating shock, hypothermia, or if lost and need emergency shelter)

TOOLS
Leatherman Wave with bit kit
Gerber Prybrid Utility (Pocket utility knife with prybar combo)

ILLUMINATION
Princeton Tec Fred Headlamp (I chose this one because when turned on it starts with a low light red, then a high powered red light. It is also only $25.)
Small keychain light that I keep attached to a zipper on my bum bag as a backup
See also my tactical flashlight under "Self-Defense"

SELF-DEFENSE
Sabre Red Pepper Gel (I like the gel over the spray because it comes out in a thicker stream, making it less likely to blow back on you. Bonus is that it is stickier and harder for the attacker to wipe off.)
Black Scout Survival Tactical Light (V4). (This is a little pricey at $60. However, it is made by Thrunite, has a very aggressive strike bezel, a lanyard, a carrying pouch, 6 lighting modes, a one button touch to immediately throw 2523 lumens to temporarily blind an attacker, is USB rechargeable, a red filter, is water resistant, and more.)
Knife (I always have one on me, which one changes with my anticipated needs).

SURVIVAL
Mini bic lighter
Survival paracord watch with whistle and fire rods
Button compass by Sunto
Cotton bandana
Some duct tape wrapped around a used plastic gift card
Frontier straw water filter

OTHER
Pair of binoculars (for recon mostly. I don't plan to carry these on an actual NO)
Pull string fireworks (I carry three that I have attached 20 feet of fishing line to so that I could use them in various situations to alert me if someone is coming or if I need to create a distraction)
Several hard candies (I prefer not to carry water because it is heavy and is carried in an item that is painful [canteens or water bottles] or awkward [water bladders that could puncture] to fall on. Instead, I prehydrate and carry hard candies to curb thirst. Obviously, if I plan a NO that is going to be more than 2 hours long or very physically demanding, I will have to use my CamelBak. Note that I always carry a Frontier Straw in case I need to access water.)

BAGS
All of my equipment is either carried in a bum bag (REI Co-op Trail V Waistpack), on my waist, or flat and soft items are carried in a drawstring backpack. This carrying configuration is working pretty well for me because I can roll in it safely and get everything to pass the rattle test. I like the bum bag because I can quickly move it depending on what I am doing. For example, for climbing a fence or crawling, I wear it in the rear, and, for rolling or general movement, I carry it in the front. It could also be worn as a sling bag.

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Re: Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Post by Xanatos » Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:09 pm

Looks like a lot of gear for a SOL... how cumbersome is it all?
We are all books containing thousands of pages and within each lies an irreparable truth.
What is locked, can be opened. What is hidden, can be found. What is yours... can be mine.

Wind
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Re: Night Ops: 6th Homework Assignment

Post by Wind » Sun Dec 20, 2020 5:38 pm

Xanatos wrote:
Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:09 pm
Looks like a lot of gear for a SOL... how cumbersome is it all?
Surprisingly not bad. It all fits in my 5.25 liter bum bag, a drawstring backpack, or the individual item's pouch on my belt. Most of the stuff doesn't weigh much, except the Leatherman Wave. That being said, I will continue to try to pair it down. However, I like to go heavy on medical in case I need it or come across someone else that does. The medical stuff is super light individually though.

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