Explore every episode of the podcast The TTPOA Podcast

We invited Scott Howell from the Ironsight Podcast to sit down with us and  NTOA Staff members at the NTOA conference to untangle how law enforcement terminology, training culture, and information sharing shape real-world warrant service. We challenge the way “dynamic,” “deliberate,” and “no knock” get used, then work toward clearer definitions, better decision making, and better communication across teams and leadership. 
• NTOA’s role in national collaboration, standards guidance, and training education 
• Why incident debriefs beat social media clips for context and learning 
• How “dynamic entry” becomes multiple meanings across agencies 
• Centering step, threshold assessment, and why labels drift over time 
• Checklist behavior versus problem solving under stress 
• No-knock warrants as a judicial exception rather than a tactic 
• Presence, purpose, and authority as risk mitigation for everyone nearby 
• Capability limits, team tiers, and the cost of copying bigger teams 
• The 2022 position paper, how it was interpreted, and how it spread 
• Data limits, LIoKA examples, and why measuring outcomes is hard 
• Instructor messaging, professionalism, and keeping feedback channels open 

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

The job trains you to win the fight, but it does not always train you to carry what comes after. From the middle of the TTPOA vendor floor, we sit down with Brad Ortiz (Science Shop) and Dwayne from the American Warrior Association to get brutally practical about officer wellness, resilience, and the kind of support that actually works for first responders, veterans, and families.

We dig into what “resiliency training” really means and why a proactive wellness framework matters just as much as firearms reps. The conversation gets specific on moral injury in law enforcement, how the steady drip of hard calls and broken systems rewires your stress response over time, and why the tipping point is rarely the one dramatic moment people expect. We also unpack culturally competent clinicians and why the right counselor has to understand the lifestyle, not just the diagnosis.

Then we zoom out to the bigger identity question: what happens when the badge becomes the whole self, and how do you build a life outside law enforcement without losing the mission to serve? Along the way, we connect the dots between SWAT culture, leadership, business decision-making, and relationship-driven integrity that lasts longer than any single purchase or contract.

If you care about first responder mental health, proactive resilience, and real-world tools for longevity, hit play, share this with your team, and subscribe so you do not miss what we are building next.

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

The word “dynamic” gets thrown around like it means fast feet and reckless decisions, but that’s not what we see in real CQB. From the TTPOA conference floor in Round Rock, Texas, we take live questions and pull the conversation back to what actually keeps people alive: strong foundational skills, honest accountability, and the ability to move from task to task with zero delay when the fight starts.

We dig into what makes a shoot house useful for law enforcement training and what quietly sabotages learning, from obvious bullet traps to target setups that let people memorize “the right answer.” We talk about how to build a progression that develops visual discipline, decision-making, and scoring standards, plus why many real shootings look like officers “shooting the situation” instead of shooting their vision. If your team wants better performance, we argue you have to stop chasing fancy scenarios and rebuild the foundation that tactics sit on.

We also get very specific for the officers paying their own way. If you only have 100 rounds for a range day, we lay out a clear plan that balances predictive doubles, reactive shooting, movement, and a final live check of your dry work. And we close with a hard truth about culture: after action reviews only work when people own mistakes, cut excuses fast, and walk out as a stronger team.
If you would like to train with TTPOA, here is the training link: https://ttpoa.org/advanced-training

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

We sit down with Matt Pranka to talk night vision as a real capability for law enforcement and SWAT, not a gear flex. The thread that ties it all together is simple: hard skills built through honest training create calm decisions when real fights unfold at full speed.
• night vision training built around application and shooting fundamentals
• positive identification limits at distance under white light and IR
• offsets, lasers, illuminators, and repeating reps to expose errors
• dry fire and efficient practice for busy officers and instructors
• separating real training from social media content and empty “systems”
• CQB mindset differences between winning the fight and trying not to lose
• why patrol shootings happen fast and why speed must be trained
• debriefs that focus on what went wrong and how to move forward
• setting training conditions that allow mistakes early and reduce defects later
• process-driven improvement over shortcuts and “easy button” promises
• the gap between basic qualifications and real operational readiness

If you would like to train with TTPOA, here is the training link: https://ttpoa.org/advanced-training

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

In this episode, we had an inspiring conversation with Ed and Rick of Obsidian Spear Group. They shared their journey of starting a new company focused on law enforcement training after retirement, discussing what that experience has been like, how they’re giving back, and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way—lessons that have made them better professionals and people. “ That's Just Texas Talkin”

ED
Founder - Obsidian Spear Group

Ed  dedicated over 21 years in U.S. Army special operations. He served in the 75th Ranger Regiment as a Recce Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Small Unit Tactics Instructor, shaping the next generation of elite warriors.

 In 2014, Ed was assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), where he operated globally as an Assaulter, Breacher, Sniper, and Senior Tactical Advisor. With multiple deployments around the world and deep combat experience, he now leads Obsidian Spear Group—bringing hard-earned lessons to those who face danger head-on

 "I started Obsidian Spear Group in 2024 to continue a calling that began in the Regiment—mentoring warriors. Some of my most rewarding moments in the military came from training new Rangers, helping them become more lethal, more decisive, and more resilient in chaos. I saw that same need in the law enforcement and civilian world. OSG was born to pass on not just what I learned from success, but also the hard lessons from failure—to equip today’s protectors with the mindset, skill, and heart to thrive in the fight."

If you would like to train with TTPOA, here is the training link: https://ttpoa.org/advanced-training

If you would like to be a vendor at our Conference, here is the link: https://ttpoa.org/conferences/2026-ttpoa-conference/vendors

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

In this engaging episode, we talk with SOLGW co-founder Mike Mihalski and new CEO Nate Horvath about gun ownership in America, the creation of the most reliable AR platform, and the vision for SOLGW 2.0. Tune in for insights on the future of firearm innovation! A Texas gun company leading the way!

If you would like to train with TTPOA, here is the training link: https://ttpoa.org/advanced-training

If you would like to be a vendor at our Conference, here is the link: https://ttpoa.org/conferences/2026-ttpoa-conference/vendors

TTPOA Partnerships:

Jorge Pastore Foundation 

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

In the exciting series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Brian and Chancey from Reticence Group. We explored how practical shooting training can be effectively incorporated into SWAT team training. The discussion covered strategies for aligning training goals, overcoming common challenges, and fostering team buy-in. Listeners will gain valuable insights on building strong communication between trainers and SWAT Teams to create impactful, real-world shooting programs.

 In Exciting series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Brain  and Chancey from Reticence Group. We explore how practical shooting training can be effectively implemented in partnership with law enforcement leadership. It delves into strategies for aligning training goals with administrative priorities, overcoming common challenges, and fostering collaboration to enhance officer skills and safety. Listeners will gain insights on building strong communication between trainers and law enforcement agencies to create impactful, real-world shooting programs.

In this exciting series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Brian and Chancey from Reticence Group. They shared insights on how they train active and veteran officers in practical shooting. Both Bryan and Chancey are instrumental in teaching at a major metro police department, integrating a practical and performance-based shooting approach into their firearms training program to better prepare officers. 

In this exciting series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Brian and Chancey from Reticence Group. They shared insights on how they train police recruits in practical shooting at the Academy. Both Bryan and Chancey are instrumental in teaching at a major metro police department, integrating a practical and performance-based shooting approach into their firearms training program to better prepare officers.

I sat down with Tanner and Coy. They and their teams are competing in this or any competition for the first time. We discuss lessons learned, equipment, training, and key takeaways to enhance your team's performance in real-world operations.

On day two of the 2025 SWAT competition, I sat down with the competition's directors: John Agnew, Sean Harris, and Jeff Kranz. We discussed the details of the event, pulling back the curtain on how the competitions are organized, where they will be held, lessons learned, ways to improve, the reasons behind the Competition, and the future of the SWAT and Sniper Challenge.

On Day 1 of the 2025 SWAT Competition, I sat down with two veteran competitors, Dave and Shaun. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of competing at a high level in our 50s. We also share lessons we've learned and explore how competition impacts and enhances our daily work and SWAT activities. 

We had the honor of sitting down with Kim Pastore, the resilient wife of fallen Officer Jorge Pastore. Jorge, who served as a dedicated SWAT officer with the Austin Police Department, tragically lost his life while responding to a hostage rescue call on November 11, 2023. In this heartfelt and powerful podcast episode, Kim shares her story of that fateful day and the incredible journey she's embarked on since Jorge’s passing.

Her strength and determination shine through as she opens up about her experiences and emotions, revealing what an extraordinary and inspiring woman she truly is. Kim also founded the Jorge Pastore Foundation, an initiative dedicated to providing free training for law enforcement officers, ensuring that Jorge's legacy continues to make a difference. This conversation will leave you moved and inspired by Kim's unwavering spirit and dedication. Don’t miss it!

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

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In the episode, we discussed the practical aspects of pistol shooting with Sean Griffith and how that applies to law enforcement.

     Sean began his shooting career in the United States Marine Corps in 2008 and has been involved in the fields of training and firearms since then. From 2010 to 2012, Sean served as a martial arts instructor for the USMC, where he realized his passion for teaching and helping others reach their own goals. In 2012, Sean exited the Marines and started a career in law enforcement. Sean served as an operational officer in Maryland from 2012-2015, where he gained valuable experience in the field while honing his own shooting skills through competition shooting within the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and training on his own time. In 2015, Sean moved from the department’s Operations Section to their Training Unit and taught firearms and tactics full time to both law enforcement personnel as well as civilians deploying overseas. 

     In 2017, Sean accepted a 3-year transfer to teach firearms to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and agents full-time. During this time, he continued to develop his skills in both instructional techniques as well as shooting skills. In 2018, Sean won the IDPA National Championship in the Stock Service Pistol Division and began competing in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) in March of 2018. By July of 2019, he had attained the rank of Grand Master, the highest shooter ranking available, in the Production Division. In November of 2019, Sean began competing with a red dot mounted pistol in the USPSA carry optics (CO) division, and by August of 2020, he had attained the rank of Grand Master in the CO division as well. Since then, Sean has had multiple top 12 finishes at the USPSA National Championship (top 12 qualifies for the "super squad" the following year).

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training.  We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness.  In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association. 

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

Welcome to a first-time collaboration between the Iron Sights Podcast and the TTPOA Podcast. 

Recorded during the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) Annual Conference, this episode brings together TTPOA hosts Brandon and Matt, Chief Bryan Williams, and myself, Scott Howell, for an unfiltered and brutally honest conversation. 

We get into the real challenges facing law enforcement today—from broken leadership and cultural barriers to the lack of proper training—and most importantly, we discuss the why behind those problems.

Chief Bryan Williams is known as a cops’ cop—a leader who trains with his people, speaks the hard truth, and refuses to sugarcoat the realities of modern policing. As a USPSA grandmaster shooter and someone who is actively creating change in his department, Bryan brings raw passion and hard-earned insight to the table. This conversation is everything people inside and outside the profession wish they could say out loud. It’s real, raw, and unfiltered, just the way Bryan wants it. 

So buckle up, drop the ego, and get ready for an eye-opening episode that doesn’t hold back.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

11:14 Brian Williams’ Background

14:31 Training Standards Matter

17:38 Leadership & Decision-Making

23:47 Systemic Issues In Leadership

37:15 Understanding Community Concerns

40:13 Officer Vs. Leadership Disconnect

44:54 Strong Leadership Examples

49:21 Community Policing & Perception

01:02:32 Real-World Training Gaps

01:11:10 Officer-Involved Shootings

01:18:09 Remembering The ‘Why’

01:29:33 Internal Vs. External Promotions

01:34:23 Mid-Level Management Issues

01:42:37 Community Accountability

01:51:13 SWAT Tactics & Evolution

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Red Dot Fitness Training Programs:
rdfprograms.com

Online Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):
https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membership

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https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coaching

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https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1

Connect With Us:
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In the episode, we discussed the practical aspects of pistol shooting with Hwansik Kim.  Hwansik talks about how important it is to be Vison Focus during shooting and other practical training methods.  

 We sat down with Scott Howell, a veteran health & Fitness Industry expert with over 25 years of hands-on experience as a Business Leader, Innovator, Educator, and Operator of hundreds of US health clubs, CEO of Red Dot Fitness, and host of  Iron Sights Podcast. 

In this episode, we sat down with Lead Faucet Tactical owner Dan Brokos and Lead Faucet Tactical Instructor Gabe Rivera to discuss CQB Marksmanship.

In this episode, we sat down with Lead Faucet Tactical owner Dan Brokos and Lead Faucet Tactical Instructor Gabe Rivera to discuss CQB Training Methodology.

https://leadfaucettactical.com/home-6362

 In this episode, we sat down with Lead Faucet Tactical owner Dan Brokos and Lead Faucet Tactical Instructor Gabe Rivera to discuss the Principles of CQB, Surprise, Speed, and Violence of Action.

https://leadfaucettactical.com/home-6362

In this episode, we discussed the practical aspects of precision rifle shooting.  We also honor the life and service of fallen Austin SWAT Officer Jorge Pastore.
https://www.jpastorefoundation.org/


Daniel Jarecke:
Daniel Jarecke is a professional long range shooter that has been
competing professionally since 2017. He has 4 national championship
event wins and 10 podium (top 3) finishes, and more than 15 state regional
wins. He is the sport’s only consecutive 2-time winner of the Best in Texas
national AG Cup match. Daniel has extensive experience training law
enforcement sniper teams in and out of the state of Texas, has taught at
numerous basic and advanced sniper schools, and taught at the TTPOA
conference as a sniper instructor in 2023 and 2024. He has also trained
numerous civilian long range competitive shooters and has developed
strategies based on hit percentages and probabilities that have helped him
gain an advantage over his competition.
Mike Castillo:
Austin SWAT and former sniper Team Leader.

In this TTPOA Train-Up Series I sat down with practical shooting instructor Ben Stoeger. Ben is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world teaching shooting classes. This Train-Up Podcast will Focus on dry fire training. This is a 6 part series over shooting fundamentals

On this episode we sit down with Chris Palmer.  We talk about police training, police culture and use of force.  Chris has served on a large full time SWAT team and has years of experience. Chris is one of the most respected and wisest Officers serving. Chris was the keynote speaker at the 2024 TTPOA Conference. 

Chris Palmer:
1999 to 2001 Patrol officer.  2001 to 2006 N.E.T. Neighborhood Enforcement Team. We were a directed enforcement position within the precincts.  2006 to 2019 (SWAT) Full time unit 

In this TTPOA Train-Up Series I sat down with practical shooting instructor Ben Stoeger. Ben is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world teaching shooting classes. This Train-Up Podcast will Focus on the training issues. This is a 6 part series over shooting fundamentals.

In this TTPOA Train-Up Series I sat down with practical shooting instructor Ben Stoeger. Ben is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world teaching shooting classes. This Train-Up Podcast will Focus on the fundamental shooting principles of trigger control. This is a 6 part series over shooting fundamentals.

In this TTPOA Train-Up Series I sat down with practical shooting instructor Ben Stoeger. Ben is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world teaching shooting classes. This Train-Up Podcast will Focus on the fundamental shooting principles of vision. This is a 6 part series over shooting fundamentals.

On this episode we sat down with Chancey & Brian of The Reticence Group.  We discuss firearms training in Law Enforcement. These boys are crushing the old “Red Shirt" way of teaching officers how to shoot a firearm.  They take a practical and inductive style of teaching students how to train and shoot.  They are pushing shooting with combining speed and accuracy in Law Enforcement firearms training.   I know you will enjoy Chancey's "Chanceyism" 

https://www.reticencegroup.com/

In this TTPOA Train-Up Series I sat down with practical shooting instructor Ben Stoeger. Ben is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world teaching shooting classes. This Train-Up Podcast will Focus on the fundamental shooting principles of grip. This is a 6 part series over shooting fundamentals.

On this episode we sit down with third time guest Chuck Pressburg from Presscheck Consulting. During our conversation we talk with Chuck about Sons Of Liberty Gun Works 6 max rifle, rifle set up, performance shooting, training issues, OIS, Force on Force Training and Team Culture.

https://presscheckconsulting.com/2024-courses

SGM(R) Pressburg retired from the US Army on January 1, 2017 after 26 years of active service, mostly in Special Operations and Special Missions Units. After Infantry and Airborne Training in 1990, Chuck completed the Ranger Indoctrination Program and was assigned to the 1st Bn, 75th Ranger Regiment.

 Chuck’s experience includes:

• 10 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment including Platoon Sergeant of a 65-man strike force that was deployed to Afghanistan two times in 2001/2002. Chuck’s platoon was highly decorated for combat action receiving 10 Silver Stars and 11 Bronze stars with “V” during their first deployment.
• 24 months Rifle and Sniper Squad Leader - 82nd Airborne Division.
• 2 years Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) (Founding member, 1st active Army unit member deployed to combat, Selection Class #1, Operational Training Course (OTC) Class #1).
• 20 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting Small Kill Team (SKT) operations and Direct Action raids in support of conventional and Special Operations Forces.
• 12 years, HQ USASOC performing various operational and staff tasks including a two-year assignment to the G8 section where Chuck performed Science and Technology R&D. While assigned to USASOC, Chuck graduated from the Defense Acquisitions University’s Combat Developer’s Course and The Human Factors Engineering (MANPRINT) Course. Chuck spent several years assisting in material acquisition programs for SOF.

In this episode we sat down with a young first time competitor Chris Martin.  Chris talks about his shooting journey, how he trains practical shooting, his experiences at this SWAT competition and his OIS.

In this episode we sat down with The Colony SWAT, Allen SWAT, Lakeland, FL SWAT and Stanislaus SO, CA SWAT.  We discussed training for the SWAT Comp as a new team and an out of state team.

In this episode we sat down with the winner's of the 2023 TTPOA SWAT Competition and the 2024 TTPOA Kelley Pirkle Sniper Competition. We discussed training for competitions, team culture, and spent time honoring Kelley Pirkle. 

On this episode we sit down with SOLGW and find out what is new with the the guys...!!!

https://www.sv3solutions.com/

On this episode we sit down with John Stamatopoulos and Peter Buchanan from SV3 Solutions.  SV3 Solutions began with a commitment to excellence in explosive breaching—a commitment that has evolved into groundbreaking training innovations over the past 18+ years. With a collective experience of 85 years in law enforcement and 70 years in SWAT operations, our three partners bring unparalleled expertise, having successfully executed over 3,800 tactical operations.

​Inspired by our mentor Rus Hart, founder of Rapid Entry Systems Technology Corp (R.E.S.T.) 1989, we embarked on a mission to continue the legacy of bringing explosive entry techniques to the law enforcement community. Rus Hart's encouragement upon his retirement fueled our growth, and since then, we have expanded our offerings to address evolving needs within the tactical and explosives community.

​With a strict adherence to excellence, SV3 Solutions caters to a global audience, providing specialized training to law enforcement, military, government agencies, and private industry partners. Our courses empower individuals to navigate high-risk situations with skill, precision, and confidence.

​

“Dutch” has served 31 years in the United States Army, 26 of which were in Special Operations Command, with experience with the 19th Special Forces Group, 1st/75th Ranger Battalion, culminating with 14 years as a USASOC Operator. 

His unique perspectives and experiences make him a valuable Subject Matter Expert at Tactical Hyve.

During his career he:

• Planned and conducted small unit tactics supporting Unconventional Warfare, Special Reconnaissance, Foreign Internal Defense, and Direct Action missions. 
• Took part in over 1000 successful combat assaults in classified and unclassified missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. 
• Trained and participated in training Task Force partners (FBI HRT/Ranger Regiment/SAS/SASR/KSK/FSK/JTF2/U.S. Border Patrol) to include indigenous forces of Columbia, Thailand, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, and the KSA
• Trained Domestic, Federal LE, United Kingdom, Australian, Canadian, New Zealander, German, and Norwegian K9 Forces  
• K9 Troop Sergeant Major/Operations Sergeant Major/Task Force Liaison Officer/Team Leader/K9 Handler/Operator Team Member/ Platoon Sergeant/Squad Leader/Team Leader/Machinegun Team Leader/Assistant Gunner/203 Gunner/SAW Gunner/Rifleman
• K9 Program Manager USSOCOM 
• Proficient in Pistol/Rifle/SAW MG/M240 MG/Carl Gustav AT gun and many various makes and models of small arms (to include foreign weapons) and crew-served weapons. 

On this episode we sit down with Chris Palmer and Gabe Rivera.  Both Chris and Gabe have served on full time SWAT teams and have years of experience. 

Chris Palmer:
1999 to 2001 Patrol officer.  2001 to 2006 N.E.T. Neighborhood Enforcement Team. We were a directed enforcement position within the precincts. Basically we would be tasked by the commander to solve problems brought to them by the community. This is where I got plain clothes and U/C experience. We would work informants, buy dope, write warrants, surveillance and locating subjects with felony warrants, a bit of everything without responsibility for the radio.   2006 to 2019 (SWAT) Full time unit with 5 ten man squads now 4 ten man squads. Barricades, Violent subjects arrested, Present for several (20?) OIS and fired my weapons in 4 of them.  At last count I've had 56 rounds fired at me and been hit once. Most of those have been through the walls on HRT entries. I've never shot anyone during an HR. Mine were all arrests/ barricades2017- present   Contract breaching instructor for Forced Entry Tactical Training. 2019 - present Full time firearms training detail. 

Gabe Rivera:
15+ years as a Law Enforcement Officer with 12 years assigned to departments Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) team. Has held roles on the team such as Team Leader (TL), Assistant Team Leader (ATL), Sniper, JHAT Member, Maritime Team Member, Firearms Instructor, and Tactics Instructor. Have obtain thousands of hours training with some of the best firearms and tactical instructors in the world. Holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Criminal Justice and Corrections from California State University-Fullerton.

On this episode we sit down with return quest Matt Little of GreyBeard Actual.  Matt Little, is a US Army Special Forces combat veteran who has extensive law enforcement experience, including serving as training coordinator and an operational supervisor on a major metropolitan SWAT team, and has worked as a government contractor in non-permissive environments. Additionally, Matt is a lifelong martial artist and former national level competitor. He is also ranked as a master class shooter with pistol and carbine by both the US Practical Shooting Association and the International Defensive Pistol Association

On this episode we sit down with Bryan Williams. Bryan worked for the MCKINNEY Police department from 1985- 2004 and served 18 years on SWAT.  He taught a number of in service and travel courses to include basic sniper, advanced handgun, patrol rifle and basic SWAT.  Bryan is a USPSA Grandmaster in Limited Division and later achieved a second Grandmaster rating in Production Division.  He rose to the position of Assistant Chief in McKinney in 2001.  In 2004, Bryan was hired as the Chief of Police in Round Rock Texas where he served until 2012. 

On this episode we sit down with Krystal Dunn.  Krystal is a seemingly unlikely combination—part competitive shooter and part brow and skin care salon owner. Krystal grew up in a military family and spent her childhood all around the country shooting pistols with her dad, mom and uncles. However, she’d never even heard of competitive shooting until the fateful day her dad asked her to try it. After shooting an IDPA match, she quickly transitioned into USPSA and got into precision rifle competition. She’s now well established in her competitive shooting career, traveling to matches and events around the country, proudly promoting shooting sports and 2nd Amendment rights.

On this episode we sit down with Mike Mihalski, Kyle Grouthes and Chuck Pressburg of Sons of Liberty Gun Works.

Mike Mihalski is the co-owner and founder of Sons of Liberty Gun Works in San Antonio, Texas.

In 2014, with just one workbench in the basement of a lumberyard, Mihalski founded Sons of Liberty Gun Works alongside current co-owner, Kyle Grouthes. Under Mihalski’s leadership, the company is considered the fastest-growing rifle manufacturer in the United States. Mihalski takes pride in supplying countless government entities and civilians with high-quality rifles. 

In addition to overseeing the expansion of the business, Mihalski has committed his career to education and fact-based advocacy for the Second Amendment. He travels the country training armorers and fervent firearms enthusiasts on rifle construction. Mihalski also provides counsel to federal, state and local officials on firearm policies.

While many gun manufacturers shy away from debate and public comment on the firearm industry, Mihalski has, on many occasions, enthusiastically engaged in the public dialogue surrounding gun violence, mass shootings, and other firearm topics.

https://sonsoflibertygw.com

On this episode we sit down with “Sandy” Wall.  Sandy is a retired Master Peace Officer and a 28-year veteran of the Houston Police Department. He has worked in Patrol, Narcotics, and has served 22 years on the HPD SWAT Detail. He served as a Team Leader for more than 12 years.

After Law Enforcement he worked for Safariland Group as Director of Training for 15 years.

He co-authored, “Training the SWAT Trainer”. (Thomas publishing)

He is a multi-patent owner and inventor of the WallBanger Tactical System. Owner and CEO of Less Lethal Options, LLC.

He has been recognized in the U.S. Federal Courts as a subject matter expert in Less Lethal Munitions and Tactics. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association and Tactical Response Magazine. He has instructed for the FBI, TTPOA, MSTOA, CATO, NTOA, LTPOA, ATOA, Florida SWAT Association, CATI, ALERRT and the US State Department.

Check out his new book "The Long Ride Home"
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Road-Home-Sandy-Wall/dp/B0B18N6M3K
When Andy, a fresh-faced, naïve young man escapes his small town in Texas to embark on a career to become a big city cop, his life is changed forever. When he joins the Houston Police Department, his experiences, sometimes exciting, sometimes shocking force him to confront evils that most of us could never imagine, all while keeping his own demons at bay.  
After ten years of service as a beat cop, and fighting crime in the dangerous world of narcotics in the nation's fourth-largest city, Andy accepts the ultimate challenge, joining the Houston SWAT Team. His limits are tested like never before and he finds himself living on the edge where he must face his greatest fears, and finally confront the adversaries who have taunted him along the way.

On this episode we sit down with Sal Hernandez.  Sal is currently a full time SWAT Officer for a large agency in Texas. He is a firearms instructor and part of our sniper team. I’ve been a Police Officer for 9 years.

Prior to LE, he played D-1 college baseball.
He's competed in several SWAT competitions prior to The Tactical Games and he comes from a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu background.

He first heard about The Tactical Games while competing at the Florida SWAT roundup in November 2018. Tim Burke was a guest speaker at the opening ceremonies and talked about The Tactical Games.  He was immediately interested and competed at my first event in March 2019 at Reveille Peak Ranch in Texas. He knew that competing at The Tactical Games would strongly improve my performance at TTPOA and Florida SWAT round up competition’s. Training for and competing at The Tactical Games has also helped my individual skills as a Police Officer.
The men’s elite competitors have pushed me to another level. There were several times in 2020 I thought that I should drop down to the intermediate division. Several men’s elite competitors reached out to me and gave me advice on how to get stronger and improve my physical performance. You won’t get that camaraderie anywhere else.

He is truly grateful for all of the people he has met throughout the 7 Tactical Games he as competed in. Training for The Tactical Games has become a lifestyle for him and my wife who just competed in her first event.

On this episode we sit down with the TTPOA Sniper Cadre and discuss SNIPING and all things Sniper.  Mark Lang, Sean Harris, Mike Saxion and "The GOAT" Kelley Pirkle... These guys were a blast to sit down with and by far this was one of our favorite episodes to record.   

On this episode we sit down with Matt Pranka and Ben Stoeger.....  You just got to listen to the "Shit Show"....   Seriously on this episode Matt and Ben dive into competitive shooting in the tactical community and why we should be doing it.   Enjoy..!!

Sean Coldiron, served 15 years of his 21 years with the United States Border Patrol as a key leader with the full-time tactical team (BORTAC) in Tucson, Arizona.  Sean served the latter years of his service with BORTAC as the Deputy Commander.  Prior to the U.S. Border Patrol, Sean is a veteran of 2nd Bn / 75th Ranger Regiment.

https://www.ironclad-cs.com

On this episode we sit down with Ben Stoeger and discuss shooting and life.  Practical Shooting is still his life. He travels, trains, competes, teaches and improves both his own skills and his training methods. Things change fast in the competitive shooting scene and he like to stay on top of the changes in order to shoot his best and teach his students to be the best.

In 2005 he discovered the sport of Practical Shooting. This sport instantly became an addiction for him. He started training like it was his full time job and he got proficient quickly. He used dry-fire as his primary source of training and was able to make USPSA GM almost right away after starting competition.

By 2007 h started attending USPSA Nationals in an effort to learn how to shoot better and improve his skills. This is the most challenging event in USPSA to win and it took him years more of training to do so.

H began teaching other people to shoot in 2008. This started as a side gig at first but eventually it became his only occupation. In a few short years he was a traveling shooter/instructor and had published many of my ideas into a book series.

https://www.triarcsystems.com

On this episode we sit down with the Chris Reeves from TriArc Systems.  With a fervent interest for American war and weapons history, Chris Reeves founded TRIARC in September of 2013. As a former paratrooper, unit 1/505PIR in the 82nd airborne division, Chris’ military service of 14 years included two one-year combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chris was specifically trained and developed a strong talent for problem solving and working with mission specific equipment. Leadership skills were acquired during his deployments to Iraq as Chris was a squad leader and platoon sergeant in the 4th infantry division. Faced with battleground hardships, he had to ‘charlie mike’ (continue mission), many times when challenges seemed insurmountable.
After being wounded overseas and receiving a Purple Heart, Chris retired from the military and remained in Texas to work in the firearms industry. He was finally able to converge all of his values to a specific task: fine tuning the modern AR weapon system. 

A RIFLEMAN’S WORK GUN IS HIS CLOSEST COMPANION AND EXTENSION OF SELF— IT IS THE MAINSTAY OF PAST AND PRESENT WARS. AND THE GREAT MEN OF AMERICAN HISTORY REALIZED THAT IN WAR, THERE ARE NO RULES. ONE MUST GO INTO DEADLY GROUND WITH NO-HOLDS-BARRED IF HE WANTS TO COME OUT ALIVE. WHEN SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE FORCES STOOD IN THEIR WAY, THEY KNEW THERE WAS NO WHERE TO GO BUT FORWARD. TRIARC CONVERGES THESE TRADITIONS WITH EXTENSIVE TRIAL AND RESEARCH TO ARM USERS WITH FUNCTIONALLY INNOVATIVE WEAPON SYSTEMS. ULTIMATELY, TRIARC BUILDS TOOLS THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.

On this episode we sit down with The Former TTPOA President Graham Smith and totally embarrass him.  Graham as been a mentor, brother and leader to so many people throughout his long TTPOA career.  Thank you for everything you've done for us and we love you...

Graham has been with the Irving Police Department since 1990. He worked in the Patrol Div, Gang Unit and in 2001 he transferred to the Tactical Unit/SWAT where he served full-time for 18 years.  He is currently assigned as an academy training coordinator and serves as a Team Leader on SWAT.
He holds a BSCJ from Texas A&M Univ. Commerce, Master Peace Officer Certification. Completed TTPOA Basic and Advanced Swat Schools, FBI Basic SWAT School. Certified TTPOA Tactical Rifle Instructor, CRTC Urban Tactical Rifle Instructor, AR-15 & M-16 Colt Armorer, TTPOA Explosive Breacher, TCOLE Instructor and Firearms Instructor, Wall Banger Instructor, Ballistic Shield Instructor, Def-Tec :Less Lethal, Chemical Munitions, NFDD, O.C. Instructor.

PS....  Don't Be a Ding Dong