Tactical Tangents

You do honorable, important, and dangerous work in your profession, but that work also feeds into your social needs, and you've internalized and reinforced the attributes that make you good at your job to a degree that sets you up for problems down the road.
Mike addresses the importance of examining your identity and why you need to expand your roles in life beyond your career, because you might not always be as special as you think you are.
 
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Intro music credit Bensound.com

From hostage rescue to burglary alarm calls, dynamic entries to slow and deliberate clearing, CQB and entry tactics have shifted over time—but the risks haven't gone away. It doesn't matter if you're a high-speed tactical operator or a patrol cop on the front lines, clearing structures with guns has some fundamental challenges, and there's no perfect way to do it.
 
This episode explores the tradeoffs behind how we clear structures, why context matters, and what actually improves survivability when everything is working against you.
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Intro music credit Bensound.com

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping how information is gathered, analyzed, and acted upon in both policing and military operations, and even the private sector. In this episode, we examine the practical implications of AI tools—especially large language models (LLMs)—and how they are already influencing intelligence analysis, operational planning, and day-to-day decision-making across our professions. 
Mike and Jim explore the promise and limitations of human–machine teaming, the risks associated with data security and data poisoning, and how adversaries can exploit AI systems to manipulate information environments, accelerate decision cycles, and disrupt traditional OODA loops. As tacticians, we also have to consider the threats with AI teaming; deepfakes, synthetic media, and automated influence campaigns can distort perception and undermine trust during critical incidents or conflicts.
We focus on practical leadership considerations: when to trust automated tools, how to validate AI-generated information, and how organizations can integrate these technologies without surrendering judgment, sovereignty, or operational advantage. The ultimate goal is to help practitioners understand how AI changes the competitive landscape—and how professionals can adapt without becoming dependent on systems they don't fully control.
Links: 
Great article from Red Beard Tactical on how to use AI to write better OPORDS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tactics-ai-opord-150850002
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Intro music credit Bensound.com

In complex environments, effort alone doesn't equal results. Whether you're in uniform or behind a badge, you face the same reality: limited resources, adaptive adversaries, and problems that refuse to stay solved. The difference between activity and impact often comes down to how you see the fight.
Mike and Jim break down systems thinking for tacticians — a practical way to understand how outcomes actually emerge inside military and law enforcement environments. Using real-world examples, they explore how feedback loops, incentives, and hidden dependencies shape everything from crime trends to operational tempo.
Links:
https://sdm.mit.edu/a-systems-analysis-of-tactical-intelligence-in-the-us-army/ 
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/warden-five-rings-great-strategists/ - John Warden's "The Enemy as a System"
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Volume-09_Issue-1-Se/1995_Vol9_No1.pdf
https://amzn.to/4smTmEM0 - The Air Campaign: Planning For Combat by John Warden
https://amzn.to/3OTgcVQ - Winning in FastTime: Harness the Competitive Advantage of Prometheus in Business and Life - by John Warden
https://media.defense.gov/2017/Dec/27/2001861508/-1/-1/0/T_0029_FADOK_BOYD_AND_WARDEN.PDF - John Boyd and John Warden: Air Power's Quest for Strategic Paralysis
https://warontherocks.com/2015/09/the-five-ring-circus-how-airpower-enthusiasts-forgot-about-interdiction/ - The Five-Ring Circus: How Airpower Enthusiasts Forgot About Interdiction by Mike Pietrucha
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Intro music credit Bensound.com

We dive into the real-world implications of living in a sensor-saturated society. From ALPR and private-sector camera networks to open-source data and pattern analysis, modern surveillance isn't just a policy debate — it's a tactical environment.  We unpack how integrated surveillance systems create unprecedented investigative power while simultaneously introducing new vulnerabilities for police, military professionals, and everyday citizens.
The conversation moves beyond headlines to explore the operational reality: how patterns are built, how they're exploited, and how tacticians can leverage these tools while denying the same advantages to their adversaries. Along the way, we tackle the enduring tension between liberty and security, drawing on insights from history and reminding us that while the technology is new, the dilemma is not. If surveillance is the new terrain, understanding it isn't optional.
The question isn't whether the system exists — it's whether it works for you, or on you.
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Intro music credit Bensound.com
Photo credit: Flock Safety