WarriorWare: Virtual Warrior: Mawhinney: Oregon World of Two: New Gadgets Movies, Music The Legend Sniper Police

Officers and Gear and Games and His Rifle Challenge and Patrol Dogs

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 03

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 03

Welcome to the Warrior.

ON THE COVER: Staff Sgt. Robert Kelly,

3E9 Emergency Management Technician, suits up at the USAF Silver Flag Training Site at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Photo by Michael Ives
THIS PAGE: A

WarriorWare

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., lands at Schoonover Field, Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., May 14, 2011, in support of exercise Global Medic 2011. Global Medic is a joint field training exercise for theater aeromedical evacuation system and ground medical components designed to replicate all aspects of combat medical service support. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Donald R. Allen, U.S. Air Force)

A shocking development in body armor, a drool-inducing pistol conversion kit and the summers cant-miss 3-Gun throwdown.

WA R R I O R F E AT U R E S
P R E S E N T E D BY

Virtual Warrior
Music, movies, video, apps and games to battle by.

The Legend and His Rifle

Record-setting Marine Corps sniper Chuck Mawhinney has fulfilled a long-term quest with completion of the Limited Edition Chuck Mawhinney M-40 Sniper Rifle.

Snipers: The Cream Rises to the Top

More than 50 competitors brought their A games and Type A personalities to vie for top shot honors at the Oregon Sniper Challenge.

A World of Two

EOD: Blowing Up the Stereotype

A dog is mans best friend, and that goes double, maybe triple or more, for a police officer and his patrol dog.

This aint Hollywood. Real-world Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians are highly trained, methodical, tech-savvy warfighters.

For exclusive video documentaries, gear galleries and an archive of NRA American Warriors previous issues, visit www.NRALifeofDuty.tv, presented by Brownells.

A M E R I C A N WA R R I O R

WA R R I O R WA R E
GUNS, GAMES, GEAR & GADGETS FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

The BodyGuard electronic control device is a heavy-duty glove with integrated video camera, green laser pointer, flashlight and electrodes that put out a 300,000-volt electric charge.

A R M S TA R

B O D Y G U A R D

THE GLOVE THAT GETS

MEDIEVAL
Designer David Brown, an avid hiker, came up with the idea for the BodyGuard after hearing news reports about two female mountain-bikers who had been mauled by a cougar on one of his favorite hiking trails. Seeing the need to protect himself and others from similar attacks, Brown went to work designing a prototype of a hands-free stun device that could be worn and made instantly available while riding a bike. Browns prototype evolved into a wearable electronic control device that could have a wide range of applications in the law enforcement, homeland security and defense realms. The BodyGuard is a heavyduty glove that houses a green laser pointer, flashlight, video camera and

It might look like something out of a sci-fi movie prop department, but the BodyGuard from Armstar is a very real and, potentially, very effective piece of body armor with a highvoltage bite.

WA R R I O R WA R E
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THE GLOVE THAT GETS

MEDIEVAL

The gloves arm guard is spacious enough to accept add-ons, such as GPS equipment, chemical sensors or other devices.

A R M S TA R

B O D Y G U A R D

... up to 300,000 knee-weakening volts of electricity are delivered to bring the bad guy into compliance.
electrodes capable of pouring hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity into any assailant within arms reach. When the wearer encounters an aggressor, he or she pulls a grenadelike pin out of the glove to ready it for use. A pad located in the gloves palm is depressed to fire up the electrodes, which arc and put off a loud sparking sound. If that demonstration isnt enough to deter the aggressor, the wearer can activate the bright green laser, point to the aggressor and begin recording evidence with the integrated video camera. If need be, the wearer has the option of making direct physical contact, at which point up to 300,000 knee-weakening volts of electricity are delivered to bring the bad guy into compliance. The BodyGuard was recently on display at the Department of Justices 2011 Mock Prison Riots and the Pentagon-sponsored Force Protection Equipment Demonstration, which means you might just be wearing this power-packed piece of body armor in the not-too-distant future.

WA R R I O R WA R E

Pistol. Its a Carbine. It Rocks!

Its a

CAA Tactical RONI Pistol-Carbine Conversion An oft-quoted line from shooting guru and former Marine, police officer and SWAT member Clint Smith has it that a handgun is best used for fighting your way to the rifle you shouldnt have put down in the first place. Fair enough, but were looking for solutions here, not adages. An innovative product we came across while combing the exhibit hall at the 2011 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Pittsburgh aims to give us the benefits of both handgun and long gun by marrying the close-quarter benefits of a pistol with the mid-range combat effectiveness of a carbine. CAA Tacticals RONI Pistol-Carbine Conversion kit allows the operator to convert a pistol to carbine in less than six seconds. Pull two pins out of the RONI chassis, drop in your pistol

With the RONI kit, only one firearm is required for both close-quarters and midrange combat situations. Drop a pistol into the RONI shell, and you now have a tactical carbine.

WA R R I O R WA R E

Its a Pistol. Its a Carbine.

... your pistol is now an effective and accurate tactical carbine.

and, bam, your pistol is now an effective and accurate tactical carbine complete with front and rear flip-sights, a folding forearm grip, five-position buttstock and cheek rest. Cool, huh? All NFA rules apply to the RONI Pistol-Carbine Conversion Kit. In addition, CAA was displaying two other RONI models: one with a 16 barrel and another without the butt stock. Neither of these models requires the NFA documentation. CAA Tactical currently makes RONI kits for the Glock 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 34 and 35 models, Beretta PX4 Storm, M9 and 92, Bul Cherokee, Springfield XD, Jericho, CZ PO7, Sig Sauer 226 and 2022, and Bersa 9mm. Models coming soon include Glock 20 and 21, 1911, H&K USP, S&W M&P, FN 5-7, Sig 226 Elite and 229, and more. Learn more or get your hands on one at www.commandarms.com.

WA R R I O R WA R E
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Competition

Guns are Be

ew events can rival the thrill of a good shooting competition, whether the firearms of choice are pistols, rifles or shotguns. Bring all three guns together at one of the nations premier shooting competition sites, and youve got the granddaddy of all shooting championships. NRA Life of Duty presenting sponsor Brownells, Hornady, AR15.com and the Rockcastle Shooting Center are teaming up this summer to bring you the inaugural and certainto-be-epic AR15.com/ Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship. The match will take place Aug. 26-28 at the Rock Castle Shooting Center in southcentral Kentucky. The AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am will

Gear up for this summers premier competitions: the inaugural AR15.com/ Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship and NRA Life of Duty Challenge.

etter than 1
consist of two distinct and separate shooting competitions going on simultaneously. The nations top 3-Gun professionals will compete over two and a half days running eight challenging and technical stages designed by former and current 3-Gun champions. At the same time, amateurs will compete over a day and a half, shooting seven stages on a separate course also designed by 3-Gun greats, but tailored especially for amateur and celebrity competitors. In all, more than 500 shooters are expected to participate across both divisions. This kind of high-octane, actionpacked competition is right up NRA Life of Dutys alley, so youd better believe well have a presence. At the events opening ceremony, a random drawing will team sets of professionals and amateurs, and their combined scores will be tallied throughout the weekend. When the last pistol, rifle and shotgun have been fired and the scores totaled, the pro-am pair with the best score will have bragging rights at the winners of the first-ever NRA Life of Duty Challenge. Over the course of the weekend, a number of events will be hosted to raise money for two very deserving groups: Marcus Luttrells Lone Survivor Foundation, which aims to empower and restore Americas wounded warriors and their families, and Task Force Dagger, which assists US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) soldiers and their families. At the end of the weekend, NRA Life of Duty will present a check representing the money raised to these worthy foundations. Longtime 3-Gun pro Jeff Cramblit will serve as Match Director, and ARFCOM (www.AR15.com) and NRA Board Member Joe DeBergalis will be Match Chairman. Rounding out the team is Range Master Kurt Miller and Statistician Linda Chico. Everyone is going to be a winner at this match, Cramblit said. It is going to bring new people into the sport, and with the unique format, itll be a blast. This match will be the single largest gathering of competitors and sponsors in the history of 3-Gun. You can already taste victory, cant you? Find all the details and late-breaking news at www.rockcastle3-gunproam.com.

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior
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Maximum Strength Music, Video, Games, Apps ...

What to Watch Between Watches

It takes a lot of gutsgrit, evento attempt a remake of one of the Dukes most beloved movies. We were skeptical, but the Coen Brothers pulled it off in what turned out to be one of 2010s best films. Jeff Bridges is no John Wayne, but, then again, who is? Young Hailee Steinfeld steals the show as Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old farm girl who hires Rooster Cogburn to hunt down her fathers killer.

True Grit

Thirty meters below the Western Front, one of the most crucial World War I missions youve never heard of was being carried outnot by soldiers, but by a group of Australian miners. This Australian film tells the story of Captain Oliver Woodward and the 1st Australian Tunneling Division, tasked with digging beneath enemy lines and detonating explosives underneath a strongly held German bunker.

Beneath Hill 60

Critics complain that AC/DC has been writing the same song over and over again since the bands formation. But, boy, what a song it is. This DVD captures the Aussie hard rockers live in Paris in 1979. This was the last filmed concert featuring original lead singer Bon Scott, who would die just two months later.

AC/DC: Let There Be Rock

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior Music

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Brad/Boys/Black:
Brad Paisley: This is Country Music
Its hard to find country music that really sounds like country music these days, but Brad Paisley can always be counted on to stay true to his roots. His latest features plenty of sizzling guitar slinging and guest appearances by Alabama, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Marty Stuart, Sheryl Crow and Clint Eastwood. Wait. Clint Eastwood?

Dancin to the hum of the Killer Bs

Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion 2

After a lengthy hiatus, those three bad brothers you know so well return with Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (Part One was shelved when Beastie Adam MCA Yauch was diagnosed with cancer.) The beats are contagious, the rhymes outrageous and MCAs battle against the big C is courageous.

Black Country Communion is as close as you can get to true classic rock today without hopping in a time machine with its dial set for 1974. On their second album in less than a year, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath), Jason Bonham (son of the late Led Zep drummer John Bonham) and bluesrock guitar hero du jour Joe Bonamassa riff and strut through 11 tracks of glorious, shameless throwback rock.

Paisley:

Featuring Clint Eastwood and a cast of thousands.

Gettin the C outta MCA.

Beastie:

BCC:

Rock isnt dead; its been resurrected through Communion.

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior
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Apps

Why Point It If Its Pointless?

GunApp Cost: Free (ad supported)
A virtual armory for your iPad or iPhone. Theres really not much point to this firearm/weapon simulator, but we find it relaxing to be able to fire off virtual rounds through everything from a Walther P99 to an M2 Browning machine gun to an RPG-7. A great time waster.

Gun Disassembly 3D Cost: Free (additional gun models can be purchased)

Need a refresher on how to disassemble your 1911? Of course you dont, but if by chance you did, thisd be the app for you. The app shows you, in 3D, how to disassemble and reassemble a variety of pistols and rifles. Game Mode lets you race the clock. How fast can you break down that Glock 17 and put it all back together?

Pro: no need to clean firearms after use Con: Garand clip ping tips off enemies to our location

GunApp

Pro: impossible for parts to roll off your table Con: doesnt smell like Hoppes No. 9

Gun Disassembly 3D

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YouTube

Some of our Favorite YouTube Moments

Thats the T-1000. Correction: That was the T-1000.

Death of an EOD Robot

Porta-Potty Clear
Because you never know where terrorists may lurk.

Rapid-Fire Shotgun

Who needs full auto?

Come outta that cage and lets see how tough you are.

Marine vs. Monkey

Worlds Fastest Police Car

Note to self: Do NOT speed near Brainerd International Raceway.

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior Games

Email the Editor Buy Now

Red Faction: Armageddon

GAME GENRE: Third-Person Shooter PLAYERS: 1 to 4 PUBLISHER: THQ

WARRIORS!

MARS NEEDS

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Red Faction: Armageddon

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Red Faction: Armageddon

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Red Faction: Armageddon

WA R R I O R WA R E Virtual Warrior

M
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Red Faction: Armageddon

ars aint the kind of place to raise your kids. In Red Faction: Armageddon, the planets surface is essentially uninhabitable. Everyone lives underground. And by everyone, we arent just talkin humans. Theres a whole slew of bug-like aliens down there, and its up to you, Darius Mason, to take them out and save the good people of Mars. Your best bet is to blow up everything you see. Fortunately, youre well equipped to do so with a variety of tools, including such conventional weapons as sledgehammers, assault rifles, shotguns and missile launchers. But when the going gets tough and the baddies get really ugly, youre going to want to turn to your big ironmaybe a plasma cannon to take out entire structures with one shot or the truly awesome singularity cannon, which shoots miniature black holes. Weapons abound and there are plenty of aliens and infrastructure to destroy. You can play Red Faction: Armageddon as a single player, or jump in with a few friends to play cooperatively in Infestation Mode. Or maybe youve had a bad day in the field and need to blow off some steam. If thats the case, Ruin Mode is just what the doctor ordered. In this game play mode, the object is wanton destruction. Blow up as much of the games environment in as little time as possible. Booyah! The graphics of Red Faction: Armageddon are great, the game playif somewhat repetitiveis initially engaging, and the weaponry is above par. But who are we fooling? The best thing about this or any other current release is that itll kill time until November and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Your best bet is to blow up everything you see.

A R R I O R

F E AT U R E S

S P O N S O R

>>

WA R R I O R

F E AT U R E S

S P O N S O R E D

BY

t has been a year of milestones for Colt. In 2011, the company celebrates the 175th anniversary of Sam Colts first firearms patent and, with it, the birth of a legend in firearms. At the same time, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of one of the most storied and enduring sidearms in military history: the Colt 1911, which evolved from its precursor, the Colt Model 1907 pictured here and used in the military trials of 1907 and 1910. While 2011 is a year rich in historical significance, it is also a year for new beginnings as Colts Manufacturing steps up once again to support those who put their lives on the line to defend American freedoms. The NRA extends its best wishes to Colt on its 175th anniversary and its heartfelt thanks for bringing you the Warrior Features you will read on the pages that follow.

S P O N S O R

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F E AT U R E S

S P O N S O R

>>

WA R

4 5 C O LT M O D E L 1 9 0 7 .

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Chuck Mawhinney
Left: Legendary Marine Corps sniper Charles Benjamin Chuck Mawhinney stands in front of a storage shed at his home in Oregon. Above: No. 3 of 103 of the Limited Edition Chuck Mawhinney M-40 Sniper Rifle.

THE LEGEND AND HIS RIFLE:

BY RICK STEWART

There is no hunting like the hunting of man; and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.
E R N E S T H E M I N G WAY

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E

Young Mawhinney received his first BB gun when he was just old enough to hold one and found excitement in hunting everything that moved. Like most kids his age, Mawhinney played combat with buddies who lived nearby and dreamed of vanquishing his countrys enemies. When others were scrambling to avoid the draft during the Vietnam era with various deferments, exclusions or dodging the war altogether, Chuck Mawhinney enlisted of his own accord. It was a duty, he said, a responsibility and obligation to serve my country as my dad and grandfather had before me. Spend some time with Mawhinney, and hell tell you that there are defining moments that shape a manforks in the path of life that can send you off in an entirely new direction. At a military induction facility in 1967, where he was ready to enlist in the Navy as a heavy equipment operator, a life-changing, course-altering obstacle came his way in the form of a large Marine with a larger-than-life persona. That day, as Mawhinney and other young men waited for their physicals and enlistment ceremonies, the towering, self-confident Marine screamed at all the sissies who werent Marines to get out of his expletive line. This line, he indicated, was for real menreal warriorsand he had little use for the rest. Right then and there, Mawhinney knew he wanted to be in the line with the

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E

harles Benjamin Mawhinney cut his teeth as a boy in the by RICK Oregon backcountry. The son ST EWA RT of a tough-as-nails Marine and World War II veteran, Chuck, or Moe as his friends call him, was raised by parents who ingrained words like discipline and character into everyday behavioral traits.

END AND HIS RIFLE

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E

M AW H I N N E Y T

Mawhinney joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967. By the spring of 1968 he was in Vietnam to begin what would become a 25-month extended tour.

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D

real warriors and real menthe line with a leader that wasnt afraid to speak his mind. He joined the Marine Corps, and by the spring of 1968 he was in Vietnam to begin what would become a 25-month extended tour. When you first meet Chuck Mawhinney in person, there is an apprehension about exactly whom you will encounter. Will you be led to some dark room in the back corner of a house to find a man lost in his own torment, a man arguing with his demons? Or will you feel small in the presence of a man who has done what most would never dare to do? Chuck Mawhinney is neithernothing like the person you expect him to be. But he is everything youd hope to find in a man, a legend and a hero. In the book Dear Mom: A Snipers Vietnam, Joseph Ward shared the exploits of Chuck Mawhinney once only known to a handful of men and the military. In a letter to his mother back home, Ward wrote, Dear Mom, Im teamed

Mawhinney holds a Marine Corps sniper record: 103 confirmed kills.

Chuck.
M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E up with two other snipers here (An Hoa), Chuck Mawhinney and Dan Collier. Chuck is the best sniper we have and hes been here almost 11 months. I could not ask for a better partner. When youre fresh in country, it doesnt take long for word to get around about guys like Chuck. Yet in contrast to his initial letter to his mother about working with Mawhinney, Wards letter about meeting Mawhinney the first time indicated great apprehension. I had heard enough about Chuck to form a mental picture of him as an eccentric man with an obsession about killing, Ward wrote. I almost panicked at the idea of meeting him, let alone being his partner. After Wards book came out, some doubted the accuracy of his claims of Mawhinneys 103 confirmed kills, and sought to discredit Chuck Mawhinney. Many wondered why Chuck had waited so long to disclose his story, while others clamored to embrace their newfound hero. But Mawhinney had neither withheld nor disclosed anything. In fact, he wanted no part of the intrusion, attention or scrutiny into his life. Mawhinney had never sought notoriety, fame or attention for his service. When he left the Corps at the end of his enlistment, he returned home and attempted to blend into obscuritya place he is most at home, a place he is most comfortable.

When youre fresh in country, it doesnt take long for word to get around about guys like

D HIS RIFLE

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G

His detractors and those who thought that Chuck was the created imagination of Joseph Ward would eventually have to eat their words when Marine Corps records confirmed what Ward had revealed in his book: that Charles Benjamin Mawhinney had more confirmed kills against enemy soldiers than any other Marine in history. As Mawhinney was leaving Vietnam as a sniper, he passed his Remington Model 700 M-40 sniper rifle off to Ward, telling him, Take care of my baby. His baby, Ward later said, was in such good condition, even after all that time it spent with him in the jungle, that you could have sold it in a sporting

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The Limited Edition Chuck Mawhinney M-40 Sniper Rifle is a faithful reproduction of the Remington Model 700 M-40 sniper rifle Mawhinney used in Vietnam. A run of 103 have been producedone for each of Mawhinneys confirmed kills.

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E

M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S

goods store as new; it was truly in that good of condition. Mawhinney said that he often wondered what happened to that rifle, and that he missed it like a child or next of kin . Then one day, the amazing happened. Some 30 years later, a Marine stationed in Okinawa noticed that his sniper rifle had the same serial number as the one logged in official records for Mawhinney. Believing that it was a mistake and likely impossible, armory personnel began an exhaustive records trace and, to their amazement, discovered that the rifle was the exact same one carried by Mawhinney in Vietnam to log his record kills.

baby.
Take care of my
M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D

S RIFLE

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S

The Corps was able to reconfigure the rifle to its original look and sent it to the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico, Va., where it remains today. If you need any other testimony to the longevity, dependability or durability of the Remington Model 700 weapons platform, you are either ethically biased or just dense, Mawhinney said. The weapon system that he trusted with his life and that proved itself reliable under the most extreme conditions is, he added, a weapon system that kept ticking longer than my watch! After years of effort, Mawhinney is finally fulfilling a long-term quest to recreate the M-40 rifle he relied upon so heavily in Vietnam. Yet unlike other attempts at reintroducing some kind of limited edition with limited likeness, Mawhinney worked directly with Remington and other manufacturers to perfectly recreate the firearm he carried to war, right down to the screws, the mounts and the squeaky damn rifle sling they gave us in Vietnam. In 2006, Mawhinney joined forces with Andrew Evans-Hendrick, another trained sniper and the owner of Riflecraft Ltd. in the United Kingdom. Hendricks company specializes in training and equipping professional shooters. Mawhinney and Hendrick wanted to accomplish what others had not been able to do since the M-40 went out of production: create a limited-edition, small production run of M-40 rifles that replicated everything to perfection. Others, including the USMC Scout Sniper Association (SSA), had convinced Remington to manufacture commemorative replicas of the rifle. In fact, about 1,500 of one such run were sold to collectors and the general public, but these projects were always plagued by the lack of support and attention to detail from entities outside of Remington. One of the unresolved challenges up to that point was recreating Mawhinney personally a replica optic with comparable quality and functional performance. test-fires each of the Mawhinney and Hendrick approached personnel at Leupold, which had Chuck Mawhinney purchased Redfieldthe original scopes manufacturer. They agreed to M-40s. Every rifle use acquired drawings and their intellectual know-how to achieve a ships with a logbook period-correct, Redfield Marked optic. signed and annotated Marty Bordson, the owner of Badger Ordnance and a historian/ by Mawhinney. collector, was able to use an original USMC mount from a rifle in his collection to help recreate a period-perfect mount for the optic as well. Although Mawhinney received a green light from Remington and the promised support he was looking for, from other aspects of the manufacturing processing it still took four years to get the rifle from initial start to market. With production now complete on the 103 Limited Edition Chuck Mawhinney M-40 Sniper Rifles, Mawhinney is hard at work personally test-firing each gun for accuracy, functionality and performance. Each of these masterfully crafted guns is stamped on the receiver with the production model number CBM8541the

RIFLE

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D

quest
Mawhinney is finally fulfilling a long-term

to recreate the M-40 rifle he relied upon so heavily in Vietnam.

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S

a Marine Scout Sniper. The floor plate is numbered and engraved with Mawhinneys signature. Records will be kept for authenticity purposes, and each rifle will ship with a logbook personally signed and annotated by Mawhinney during his break-in of the gun. With one rifle produced for each of the 103 confirmed kills he had in Vietnam, Mawhinney plans to personally break in each rifle and ensure its perfection before it is ultimately shipped off to its prospective buyer. All sales, handled through Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders, are coordinated through Mawhinneys website at www.chuckmawhinney.com. Mawhinney affectionately handles these rifles with absolute appreciation. And to watch him dial in a rifle is a thing of beauty. From initial bore sighting to piercing paper, he methodically examines the rifle, the scope, the mounts and everything in between. Between every shot of donated Black Hills ammunition he puts through the rifle, Mawhinney runs several patches through it to ensure the cleanliness of the barrel. While it takes him hours to work through a single rifle, he sees the exercise as a labor of love. After seven shots of rifle number 22/103, 75 cleaning patches littered the groundwith more to come. Its not ritual, Mawhinney said. Its self-imposed perfection and attention to detail. The Limited Edition Chuck Mawhinney rifle is truly a thing of beauty. And those in the know confirm that the rifle could not be more accurately reproduced. As A living American legend, of this writing, about one-fourth of the rifles have been Mawhinney has never sought sold. There is little doubt the rest will quickly follow. notoriety or attention for his military servicethe mark of a true hero.

CBM for Charles Benjamin Mawhinney, and the 8541 for the Marine Corps designation, or MOS, of

RIFLE

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D

perfection
Its not ritual. Its self-imposed and attention to detail.

D HIS RIFLE

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M AW H I N N E Y T H E L E G E N D A N D H I S R I F L E

M AW

SNIPERS THEN AND NOW

Perfect practice makes perfect.

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huck Mawhinney believes that not much has changed between the scout snipers of his day and those in action now. He has a tremendous amount of respect for these young men, whom he speaks with from time to time at graduations and shooting events. The biggest change he sees is the technological advancements a sniper has with him in the field today, compared to the crude, minimal tools of the trade he carried back then. Todays sniper, he said, is equipped with communication equipment that gives him instantaneous contact with others on the battlefield. From UAVs in the air to close air support, sophisticated satellite communication to laser-guided aiming technology, everything about the battlefield is digital, high speed and very interoperable. Unlike me, todays sniper and war fighter has instant connectivity with his chain of command and cavalry-type rescue support if hes in dire straits. When we ventured off into bad-guy country, there was little to no communication at all. First, the communications equipment at that time was far too bulky and difficult to carry to remain stealthful or mobile. And second, the equipment was only line-ofsight capable, thus sometimes undependable in the weather and the topography we were operating in. With almost laughable disgust, Mawhinney waves off the Hollywood image of Marine snipers created for the movies and television. First, he said, you never see them pissing their pants in moments of sheer terror. And second, the art of putting a bullet on target is about patience, practice and perfection. Practice does not make perfect, hell tell you. Perfect practice makes perfect.

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Question: What do you get when you put a bunch of hard-charging, rifle-toting, Type A personalities together on a field full of targets? Answer: An exceptional contest, and a lot of fun.

The Cream Always Rises to the Top

BY RICK STEWART

f Duty Network

1000 900 800 70 0 600 500 400 300 200 100

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SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

ver two beautiful days in June on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., 54 snipers came together to compete in the Oregon Sniper Challenge. Shooters representing the military, Secret Service, law enforcement and industry brought their A games to a uniquely operated competition featuring plenty of challenges and an eclectic bunch of shooters ranging from learning to legendary, expert to exceptional.
There is an amazing chemistry created when you get a bunch of uniformed warriors together representing different branches of service, departments and countries. Americans, Canadians and even a Belgium shooter were on hand. Its entertaining to sit back and watch a bunch of alpha dogs, with the tree-marking, mind-messing voodoo they use on one another in the spirit of competition. At a dinner with legendary snipers Chuck Mawhinney and Ed Eaton, I was entertained for hours by their subtle jabs and eye-gouging banter over Marine vs. Army snipers lore. Make no mistake about it, Mawhinney and Eaton are very good friends their verbal sparring is just what warriors do. Mawhinney is a famous Vietnam-era sniper who has more confirmed kills than any other sniper in Marine Corps history. And

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SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

only a few less than the Army record holder Adelbert Waldron, Eaton chimed in with cutting humor. If Eatons name sounds familiar, its probably because he is one of the snipers featured on the History Channels Deadliest Missions series. On a night mission in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, 19-yearold Army Sergeant Ed Eaton and eight other soldiers successfully completed a raid on a small village with about six thatched huts, known as hooches, before making their way to the landing zone. As their helicopters departed the area, they were fired upon. After the other helicopter reported a missing soldier, Eatons captain, Mike Perkins, saw the soldier down in the rice paddy and ordered their helicopter to circle back to pick him up. During the return, the helicopter was struck and violently crashed into the rice

Firing 5.56 (.223) and 7.62 (.308) caliber rifles, shooters at the Oregon Sniper Challenge worked through a number of challenging courses, all competing for top shot honors. Above: An Accuracy International AW model rifle.

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entry guys in general will tell us snipers that a one-eyed fat guy could do this job.
paddy, killing some on impact and seriously wounding others. Outnumbered 30-to-1, Eaton took up a firing position atop the helicopter and held the enemy at bay until a second helicopter could rescue the wounded. Once the second helicopter was loaded, Eaton realized that his captain was not going to make it onto the helicopter. He refused to leave his fallen comrade behind. Sgt. Ed Eaton is a soldier who truly deserved the Medal of Honor but was never decorated properly for his actions because his battalion was rotating out of Vietnam, and his awards package was never submitted. Good-natured bantering goes on among the law enforcement officers in attendance as well. One Tier 1 operator Talented shooters told me that even among their closefrom across the world knit group, there is always crap flying representing the between the entry guys and those that military, Secret Service, work the perimeter. law enforcement and Door kickers, breachers and entry industry made the 2011 guys in general will tell us snipers that Oregon Sniper Challenge a one-eyed fat guy could do this job, a huge success. he said. Yet when the arrows start flying and they begin their assault, they appreciate having cover support from those of us with eyes on target. Sergeant Jesse Babauta with the King County Sheriffs office in Seattle, Wash., is a team leader for the Special Operations Section of their TAC 30 SWAT Team. He says that events such as the one in Oregon are vitally important for them in refining skills and honing their craft. We spend a lot of time training in our department and getting good in our own backyard, he said. But we cant do this job in a vacuum if we expect to be proficient at what we do. Gatherings like this not only give us a chance to compete and showcase the things we can do, but also provide us a lot of

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SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

The Huismans first event three years ago featured 13 shooters and has grown to 60 registered shooters, a long waiting list and more than $73,000 in prizes.

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opportunity to interface with other departments and agencies. Because of the vendors and the various toys everyone brings to these events, we get to see and put our hands on a lot of equipment that we might otherwise only get to read about in magazines. Some of the shooters at events such as this do not apply their craft on a department, team or in the line of duty. Rather, they work for companies that develop some of the tools of the trade, and venues like this provide an opportunity to let people kick the tires on the new equipment. Events like this let actions speak louder than words, said Scott Parks, a shooter on the development team at Vortex Optics. These folks dont want to hear us tell them what our products do or how we stack up against others in this profession. They want to see the product in action and watch it perform under real-world operating conditions. Anybody can go to a trade show and fondle the wares, so to speak, but watching stuff perform and put through the paces is entirely another thing. Parks, using a Vortex Razor HD 520x50 optic, took fourth place in a field of 54 very good shooters. What impressed those paying attention around him was that the optic he was using was a preproduction piece that had been used and abused on various rifles from .308 to .50 BMG caliber and had sighted over 30,000 shots on targets at various matches. Parks is an excellent shooter, and that in and of

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

itself lends credibility with other shooters. But the abuse his scope has weathered, and the performance he has gotten out of it, says more to other attendees than boastful claims or any marketing material ever could. First-time challenge shooter May Lansigan represented SureFire at the competition. Lansigan knows that credibility comes from boots on the ground experience. As a marketing manager, I cant have credibility with people in this industry or profession by only knowing what our own product literature says, Lansigan said. I need to get my hands dirty, understand the nature of our customers operating environment and show that we are listening to them. Lansigans boss at SureFire, Dereck McDonald, also shot at the event. He went to Lansigan five months before the event and told her he had entered her in the competition. Thats cool, she had told him. But dont you think I should know how to shoot a rifle? In fact, Lansigan had never fired a rifle before. But after a mere five months of training, she surprised everyone at the event with a 35th-place finish. Before I came to this event, she said, I had never been in a competition, never been up in a helicopter, and here I was competing with some of the best shooters in the country, up in a helicopter and not just flying on one, but hanging out the side of it firing at targets down range. The Oregon Sniper Challenge is the brainchild of Steve Huisman, a 14-year veteran of law enforcement who had attended a number of shoots over the years. As he competed, he saw the shortfalls that some events had in enticing

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professional shooters in law enforcement, military and other government agencies to compete. Knowing that he would have to first crawl, then walk, to eventually run in his approach at pulling together a competition of this magnitude, he started a company called Cold Bore Competitions with his wife, Jennifer. The Huismans first event three years ago featured 13 shooters and about $8,000 worth of prizes. Since then, it has grown to 60 registered shooters, a long waiting list and more than $73,000 in prizes. My first year, U.S. Optics stepped forward and really took a chance on us with a very generous gift certificate, Huisman said. They have continued to sponsor us since, and I will be forever grateful to them. Today, the support we get from so many within the shooting sports industry is just overwhelming. As an example, Frank DeSomma at POF-USA has paid for the helicopter we use in our challenge. An opportunity like this for shooters would not be possible without that kind of generosity. Jennifer Huisman shoulders most of the organizational aspects of the shoot to keep things running smoothly. She works endless hours to compile the shooting data, meet the needs and wants of competitors and, in general, make sure that there is a place for everything and everythings in its place. 1000 Companies such as U.S. Optics, POF-USA, Surefire, Vortex, Woolrich, 8541 Tactical, USA Ammunition, Thunder Ranch and 900 others all have a strong presence at the event, which is held at the Douglas Ridge Rifle Club in Eagle Creek, Ore., an NRA 800 members-only facility that offers one of the states only 1,000yard ranges. The facility is wonderfully staffed with NRA Certified Instructors and Range Safety Officers. 70 0 Steve Huisman and his supporters have all worked hard to integrate shooting modules that closely replicate real-life 600 events into the competition. They strive to create scenarios that military and law enforcement officers have actually been 500 involved in, or might be in the future. The goal is to challenge competitors, yet not add unrealistic or gimmicky scenarios or shots. Its tough, but practical. 400

The goal is to challenge competitors, yet not add unrealistic or gimmicky scenarios or shots. Its tough, but practical.

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Left: Alex Paul of the King County (Wash.) SWAT Team won top law enforcement sniper honors and finished fifth-place overall at the competition. Below left: Scott Parks of Vortex Optics. Below right: Legendary sniper Ed Eaton.

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF

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Snipers come in all shapes and sizes, but those truly remarkable at it seem to possess a healthy dose of self-discipline and a methodical manner of organization.
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SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF T

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SureFire Marketing Manager May Lansigan was a first-time shooter at the Oregon Sniper Challengeand a firsttime rifle shooter period. Apparently a natural, she finished 35th in the competition.

THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF THE CROP

SNIPERS | THE CREAM OF

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The very first event had shooters working in teams to accomplish blind shots, where a spotter must communicate to a shooter a location on a target at 100 yards. Several wedge or triangle-shaped images appear on the target, and spotters must be able to direct the shooter to the correct shape or wedge within the mosaic of shapes present. This challenge, named Alpha Male 1, was developed by Caylen Wojcik, a former Marine Scout Sniper who won the first years competition and whose call sign was used to name the event. Another event, called Lonewolf IED Alley, was created by John McQuay of 8541 Tactical. In this event, shooters attempt shots at walking targets along a berm at 600 yards. Well below protective berms inside the pit, a cadre with risers lift mounted targets and walk along the berm before dropping out of sight. The 200-yard Weakside Hostage Rescue event has participants making a 50-yard dash, picking up their weapon from behind a wall, then firing two rounds from a standing position, two rounds from a kneeling position, two rounds from a sitting position and four rounds from a prone position. To add some difficulty and never allow shooters to truly recover from the sprint, shooters must perform a push-up between each shooting rotation to keep their heart rate up. Also, shooters must shoot from their weak side, and the event has a time limit. Top scores are earned by those who not only make each element within the time window, but also have the ability to bring their breathing under control quickly for the shot. Shooters can win individual events and categories, but all ultimately are competing for the coveted top shot honors. Out of the 1,300 points possible for this years challenge, the first-place finisher with 1,010 points was Francis The Animal Kuehl from the NorCal Practical Precision Rifle Club. Firearms engineer and shooting enthusiast Tom Hines followed with 989 for second, and Glen Seekins, owner of Seekins Precision, finished third with 965 points. Snipers come in all shapes and sizes, but those truly remarkable at it seem to possess a healthy dose of self-discipline and a methodical manner of organization. One of the most heart-warming aspects of this two-day challenge is the genuine display of appreciation for those who have come before them, along with the level of respect they share for one another. While everyone would like to win, learning is also of great importance. Competitors share advice with one another and discuss mistakes made during the shoot. Of course, sometimes the advice is offered to increase the

stress of an opponent who is close in score, but more often the advice shared is to help, encourage and improve the standing of another competitor. Sniper competitions come and go. Those that remain and expand each year, and that draw the very best shooters in the country, earn their stripes for organizational flow, industry support and overall learning opportunity for the shooters. The folks at Cold Bore Competitions have made the Oregon Sniper Challenge, only three years in the making, a must do calendar event at the top of the list for many expert shooters.

Honoring the Fallen One of the loudest roars of

applause heard during the weekend was when the mother of Jeffrey Alan Lucas was introduced to the competitors. Pat Lucas lost Jeffrey (left) during Operation Red Wingthe attempted rescue of a team of Navy SEALs, including Marcus Luttrell of Lone Survivor fame, atop a mountain in Afghanistan. A part of SEAL Team 10, Petty Officer First Class Lucas was a local Oregon native and was Navy SEAL of the Year in 2004. Jeffrey Lucas, 33 years old at the time of his death, was an outstanding sniper with much operational experience when the helicopter he was in was shot down, killing him, on June 28, 2005. Rick Stewart

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by MARK CHESNUT

Im alpha dog, hes beta dog, and below us. So theres just the two o

everyone else is of us in his world.

A World of Two

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he age-old saying about a dog being mans best friend goes doublemaybe triple or even morefor police officers who use dogs in their daily duties. In fact, having a four-footed partner, instead of the typical two-footed variety, can kind of grow on a man. Just ask Sgt. Troy Teigen, K-9 Unit supervisor for the Spokane (Wash.) Police Department.
The unit consists of five dog/handler teams, in addition to Teigen and his patrol dog, Rico. While the unit is small, members responded to 879 calls for service and provided assistance on 3,250 calls last year. I havent always been in patrol, Teigen said in a recent NRA Life of Duty interview. Ive done a variety of different things. I think Ive been involved in every specialty unit, from riot control team to SWAT, K-9, the drug unit, so Ive had an enjoyable career. It is different being a dog handler. Youre working with essentially a piece of equipment thats got a mind of its own. Its world consists of you and everything else below it. You are number one in his eyes, and he will do anything for you. Thats the pleasure they get out of life to work with their handler. Im alpha dog, hes beta dog, and everyone else is below us. So theres just the two of us in his world. While Teigens remarks could be generally applied across the board Sgt. Troy Teigen and his patrol dog, Rico. The 5-year-old German shepherd was donated from the military where he was trained as a bomb and tracking dog.

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Youre working with essentially a piece of equipment thats got a mind of its own.

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to most of Spokanes patrol dogs, hes referring specifically to his 5-year-old German shepherd. My dog, named Rico, was donated to us, and originally came from the military, Teigen said. He was assigned to the Navy SEALs and was trained by them as a bomb dog and a tracking dog. He speaks Dutch. He was born in the Netherlands. While saying the dog speaks Dutch might sound mysteriousor even crazyto some, Teigen is referring to the language in which he gives Rico his commands. One of the most frequent questions Teigen and other dog handlers within the department receive is about why they give commands in a language other than English. Most people are under the impression that we give our commands in a different language so that the bad guy cant call the dog off of himself, Teigen said. But thats not exactly correct. We essentially use the commands that they were born with. Most of our dogs come from Europe. We have a Czechoslovakian, a German and a Dutch dog. We also have a local dog that we bred ourselves, but he speaks German just because it was easier for the handler to remember that. Essentially, its easier to learn the commands in a different language than it is for the dog to learn a whole new set of terminology. Patrol dogs are considered just another piece of equipmentanother tool in the officers arsenal to help them do their jobs more efficiently and increase their chances of going home at night in one piece. But for law enforcement personnel working with the dogs, becoming overly sentimental about a canine partner can be difficult to avoid. After all, its a lot easier to get attached to a dog than a speed loader or nightstick. You try not to become too emotionally attached to the dog, Teigen said. The dog is owned by the city; its a piece of equipment, its a tool that we use. But how can you not? I mean, its a dog. Everybody loves dogs. And its a part of your family 24-7. So you do have an emotional attachment to it. Its hard. Its very hard. In fact, many people may not be aware that most patrol dogs live with their handlers and the handlers families. Thats a situation dogs handle differently, depending on their personalities. The same goes for how the officers family members handle it.

He was assigned to the Navy SEALs and was trained by them as a bomb dog and a tracking dog. He speaks Dutch.

To perform their duty well, patrol dogs must be under complete control of the handler at all times.

Even during training sessions, the dogs can be intimidating.

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The dog is second in my family, and my family

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Because of a pack mentality, a patrol dog like this one from the Spokane P.D. is very protective of its handlerthe head of its pack.

does not appreciate that.

The dog is second in my family, and my family does not appreciate that, Teigen said. But hes a very social animal, unlike some of them that are not quite so social. But he really doesnt want to have anything to do with them. Hes all about me. With the pack mentality of the patrol dog, and the handler considered the head of the pack, it shouldnt be surprising that most patrol dogs are very protective of their handlers. And for handlers, thats certainly not a bad thing. We actually train them in handler protection, Teigen said. If Im being beat up, hes supposed to react to that. And he will. Its a pack mentality. Theyre going to protect the pack, which Im a part of. Were so self-reliant as police officersespecially after a 20-year careerI dont rely upon somebody else to watch my back too much. But it is reassuring to know that hes around. Many people who see an officer with a patrol dog have no clue how much training is required to polish a dog to the point that it can be used on the streets. The task is truly daunting. I think what surprises most people about the training that the K-9 dogs go through is the amount of obedience (training) they have to have, Teigen said. We fundamentally have to have obedient dogs. They have to be able to listen to what we are saying. The prey drives and the defensive drives and all those things that make the police dog what it is would mean nothing if we couldnt control it, he continued. Its a piece of equipment; its a use of force with us to be able to keep people safe out on the streets, but we have to be able to control it.

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Because of the extensive training, when working and in the heat of a pursuit, a police dog can present an imposing figure to those on the other side of the law. Frankly, the dog is scary as hell to people who dont understand what its purpose is, Teigen admitted. Most people are intimidated by the K-9 dogs. Most of them probably need to be intimidated by the K-9 dogs. Obviously, we train with the K-9s and we play the part of the bad guy for efficiency purposes in the K-9 Unit. And when youre playing the part of the bad guy, it is uncomfortable. And we know what to expect. We know how to handle it. Yet, its just frightening. That intimidation factor we use to our advantage, obviously. When we go to calls, the presence of the dog, the announcement of the dog, the barking of the dog can elicit the proper response and get cooperation from people. And ultimately thats the purpose: to get people to cooperate with whatever we are trying to accomplish. Throughout his 20-year career, Teigen never really intended to someday end up heading Spokanes K-9 Unit. But now that he is doing just that, Rico is the perfect partner.

Most people are intimidated by the K-9 dogs. Most of them probably need to be intimidated by the K-9 dogs.
Teigen and Rico perform a training exercise in the basement of a Spokane courthouse.

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Hes a pretty phenomenal dog, Teigen said. Hes very handler sensitive in the fact that whoever his handler is, and thats me obviously for the last year and a half, hes very protective. He doesnt have a lot of defensive drive, meaning that hes very social with people and I can take him around a lot of people and not have to worry about him being A Spokane P.D. defensive. But when we do training and when were on the street, patrol dog pursues his defensive attitude is that he always wants to be in front of me a suspect during to protect me. One of the habits that he hasand Im not sure training drills. if this is from his military training or if its just innate within his characteris that when I go to sit him, hell actually try to sit in front of me. When I go to down him, hell always try to down in front of me. So its always like he wants to be between whatever the rest of the world is and me. Ive always thought that was pretty neat. What does the future hold for Rico? Due to his outstanding work as a patrol dog and his military bomb-sniffing background, the future is bright, indeed. The department plans to train one of its handlers as a bomb dog handler and also utilize Rico in that respect. He still has it, Teigen said. Weve played around with him to see if he can detect explosives or handguns, and hes still got the training he had a couple of years ago. He can differentiate whether hes supposed to be looking for a handgun or looking for explosives. Honestly, Im blown away by how he performs whenever I use him. Like any other person or animal, he has his good days and bad days. But he takes it to a new level when he knows its real. He understandsand maybe thats me exuding excitement at whatever the incident isbut he understands when its real. Its almost like hes got a level of professionalism in him, and he knows the game is on and its time to play hard.

... hes got a level of professionalism in him, and he knows when the game is on and its time to play hard.

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Dangerous Duty
The alley emptied into the overflow parking lot of a local drinking establishment, and the large crowd present made pursuit even more difficult. When Lesser and Austin caught sight of the suspect across a major four-lane street, they decided that it was time to let Var do his magic and bring the chase to an end. As Var closed upon the suspect and got within 10 to 15 feet of him, the suspect turned and fired three shots. The first bullet struck Var just outside his left eye and followed the skull, exiting from behind the dogs ear. The second bullet struck Var in the knee of his left hind leg, and the third ricocheted off the ground and struck him in the pad of his front paw. As Officers The first bullet Lesser and Austin were drawing struck Var just their weapons, Var outside his left eye and followed yelped, paused, and then looked back the skull, exiting at Lesser with a from behind the look that seemed to say, What the hell dogs ear. was that? before falling to the ground. The suspect raised his weapon to engage the police officers. It was a fatal mistake, and both Lesser and Austin fired upon the suspect, killing him. After securing the suspect and calling for an aid car and assistance, Lesser began to focus his attention on his dog. He scooped up Var and rushed him to an animal hospital for emergency treatment. Var was treated, released and permanently retired. Unfortunately, he died only a few months later due to complications during surgery to remove a brain tumor. Rick Stewart

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enior Officer Danny Lesser knows the close personal relationship you can develop with a partner you spend most of your time with and who also lives in your home. His partner came out of the Czech Republicnot as a mail-order bride, but as a military-trained working dog. Var came into Lessers life in December 2000 and immediately entered the departments dog and handler training program before going operational in 2001. Having worked K-9 as a law enforcement officer for 11 years, Lesser has seen a lot of dogs come and go, but he had never seen a dog more excited to work than Var. Its like he had this switch, Lesser said, a switch that he could flip on and off in a second. But when it was on, it was really on. Once Var hit the back of a patrol car, hed wear out the back seat turning circles just waiting to engage. Var partnered with Lesser for nine years before he was retired from the force. But when Lessers new dog from Germany failed to perform to the standards required of him, Lesser brought Var out of retirement and back onto duty to bridge the transitional wait for his new dog. Then on St. Patricks Day 2009, shortly after being reactivated to the force, Var joined Officer Lesser when he responded to a call of a car chase that ended when the suspect high centered the stolen vehicle he was driving. As the suspect took off on foot down a long alley, Lesser, Officer Brent Austin and Var entered the dark alley in search of the suspect.

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Draw Your Gun? Release Your Dog?

The decision to release a dog or use it in police work is always a choice borne out of necessity, safety and liability. The dog, like an officers Taser, baton, pepper spray, spike strip or weapon, is truly just another tool in the officers belt. And the use of the dog, like any other tool of the trade, comes with careful consideration and is always measured against case law, departmental protocol and sound judgment. Officer Danny Lesser says that every time an officer exits the patrol car, gives chase or draws a weapon, he or she is always measuring these decisions based upon judicial prudence, federal case law and the situational aspects of the present environment. In Graham v. Connor, federal case law that truly establishes the baseline for use of force, every officer weighs three primary considerations. We weigh the severity of the crime, whether the suspect is actively evading or resisting the officer, and the imminent danger posed to the officer, the dog and the public, Lesser said.

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Queer, an Air Force EOD technician, with some tools of his tradea backmounted 510 SUGV portable robotic device and a handoperated mini mine detector.

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By Steven M. Brown and Rick Stewart

Explosive Blowing Ordnance Up The Disposal: Stereotype

This aint Hollywood. This aint The Hurt Locker. Real-world EOD techs are highly trained, methodical, tech-savvy warfighters.

EXPLOSIVE OR DNANC E DISPOSAL [EOD]

EXPLOSIVE OR DNANC E DISPOS

Once real, but no longer functional: an inert 82 mm mortar round used in training as one of many examples of an Improvised Explosive Device.

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SAL [EOD]

EXPLOSIVE OR DNANC E DISPOSAL [EOD]

EXPLOSIVE

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he perception most civilians have of the world of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) has been framed over time by depictions in television and film. The entertainment industry pulls out all the stops to create nail-biting suspense as explosives experts with sweat dripping from their brows race against a ticking clock, desperately trying to decide whether to cut the red wire or the blue. The climax is almost always the same: The brave movie hero begins to clip one wire, hesitates, then clips the other, disarming the bomb and saving the day as the clock holds at 00:00:01.
It makes for great theater, but the entertainment industrys efforts to portray EOD technicians and their work invariably falls short of the reality. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Queer, an Air Force EOD technician, says that even serious, award-winning movies like The Hurt Locker, while entertaining, fail to make the serious connection between the inherent risks associated with the EOD specialty and the attention to detail that technicians possess for risk mediation. Those called to this profession are almost always methodically driven individuals with a keen sense of situational awareness and attention to detail. These duty-driven men and women are professionals of the highest order.

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Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Queer (right) entered the EOD discipline straight out of high school and has served as an EOD technician for eight years. Also pictured: Tech. Sgt. Joshua Langdon.

EXPLO

EXPLOSIVE OR DNANC E DISPOSAL [EOD]

This business is not about decisions made at the flip of a coin or renegade risk-takers with a death wish.
This business is not about decisions made at the flip of a coin or renegade risk-takers with a death wish, said Queer, who has served as an Air Force EOD tech for eight years. We train incredibly hard and spend an exhaustive amount of time learning the technical aspects of this job and the safest ways to perform it. While the allure of danger or an adrenaline junkie mindset may be what initially draws people to this profession, those are not the traits that keep people alive on the job. Few people really understand the all-inclusive nature of this job and dangers associated with itoutside of stuff blowing up, Queer said. High Risk, High Demand The entertainment industry does get one thing right: This is a dangerous job. But EOD techs dont go into it unprepared. Aspiring EOD technicians go through intensive training to develop the skills they need to complete their missions in one piece. Navy EOD candidates, for example, begin with three weeks of demanding training at a preparatory course in Great Lakes, Ill., then move on to nine weeks of dive school in Panama City, Fla. The Air Force requires 152 days of introductory training at either Lackland Air Force Base or Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. And thats just for starters. While each of the four military branches has its own individual introductory EOD training, all four branches ultimately end up at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle for their final nine months of training. The intermingling of Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine EOD specialists doesnt end after graduation ceremonies at Eglin. Once deployed, EOD technicians continue to work joint service missions. Despite the competitive rivalries between military branches, when it comes to EOD, theres a brotherhood. Even from day one, starting EOD school, youre taught joint service, joint service, joint service, said Queer. In my class we had Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, some reserveseverybody was thrown together. Why? Because we all do the same mission. Even with all the inter-service rivalry, when were needed, we work together. EOD technicians work with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives. Things dont have to blow up and dismember a person to be dangerous or to necessitate calling in an EOD tech. In addition, more and more EOD experts are integrating with Special Forces and Special Operations personnel to conduct direct-action missions and high-threat operational insertions with elite warfighters. From foot patrols to combat parachute

EXPLOSIVE OR DNANC E DISPOSAL [EOD]

DOGPIE: Dummy Ordnance Group/ Pile Improvised Explosivesa collective assortment of inert training aids/devices that replicate real-world explosives. They include a Sim-Claymore Mine, Sim-C4, Det Cord and various other simulated doo-doo.

If all an EOD tech had to worry about were IEDs, it would still be a decidedly unenviable job.

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insertions, more and more operational contingencies are presenting themselves that require EOD expertise. And, although the job is increasingly varied and in demand, the number of skilled EOD specialists is still relatively small. According to a recent article in National Defense magazine, there are about 5,500 EOD technician spread across the four services. The same article reports that EOD technicians have responded to some 112,000 calls for their expertise in Iraq and another 45,000 calls in Afghanistan as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have become a weapon of choice for insurgent forces. The Invisible Enemy If all an EOD tech had to worry about were IEDs, it would still be a decidedly unenviable job. But there exists another nearly invisible enemy on the battlefield, and it is every bit as deadly and prevalent as a jerry-rigged roadside bomb. I really dislike snipers, Queer said. Several times theyve missed my head by mere inches. Thats always a little nerve-rattling. Queer knows only too well the danger snipers pose to those have answered the EOD call. In September 2009 during a deployment in Afghanistan, he and his best friend, Staff Sgt. Bryan Berky, received word of heavy enemy engagement in Bala Baluk near Shewan in the western province of Farah. As they approached the city, they were asked to help establish a medivac landing zone to rescue casualties coming in from the city. When Queer, Berky and their team finished this assignment they continued on to the city. That day it was Queers turn to be in the turret of the MRAP (mineresistant ambush-protected) vehicle and Berkys turn to drive. Fate intervened, however, and that morning Berky asked Queer if they could trade places. When they hit the city, all hell broke loose and the team began to take direct fire from three directions. The vehicle in front of Queer and Berky was fired upon by an RPG, and their own vehicle took automatic weapons fire and small arms fire all at once. As rounds began to ping off the vehicle, Queer was just about to call out to Berky to get down as they attempted to exfil the area when he heard Berky yell out. As he turned to him, Queer saw Berky slumped down in the turret position. He knew his friend had been killed. Queer would tell you that the ordnance and improvised explosives they work with are dangerous without question, but his greatest worry is that of snipers, like the one who got Bryan. Far too many times, Queer has heard the bullets whizzing past his head as enemy gunmen seek to eliminate him and his EOD counterparts.

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Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Queer with more EOD tech toysM4 Rifle, ACOG Scope, helmet-mounted Night Vision Goggles and hand-held mini mine detector.

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Its one thing to see the danger that awaits you out there, he said. Its entirely another thing to have it mobile or lying in wait for you unexpected. Rise of the Machines EOD experts have long used technology on the battlefield. Metal detectors have been in use since World War II and have become increasingly effective with the addition of ground-penetrating radar to detect even nonmetallic objects. However, they still require a human operator, generally working in an area exposed to snipers. Today, the best friend of an EOD technician may just be the EOD robot. These remote-controlled, metallic warriors are the tip of the bombdetecting, bomb-disposal spear. They allow the highly trained, flesh-andblood EOD technician to operate from a distance, examining suspected ordnance from a relatively safe vantage point. Generally speaking theyre the first thing downfield on a live bomb, Queer said. For the first recon of the problem and even the first interrogation of it, its done robotically. Running on tracks, the EOD robot can traverse virtually any terrain between the EOD technician and the target. The tech controls the machine via a device that can vary from a unit the size of a small suitcase to something as small as a video game-like controller. In fact, Queer notes that some of the units can be controlled by actual Xbox controllers. Once downfield, the robot becomes the eyes of the EOD technician with its integrated camera and the ability to send back wireless, real-time visual confirmation to the operator. EOD robots are outfitted with at least one mechanical arm, which the operator can use to manipulate or even pick up the suspected explosive device. The EOD robots, which can range from 700 pounds down to manportable, backpackable units, provide an initial buffer between the warfighter and the explosive. It also helps keep him or her out of a snipers crosshairs. Queer can personally verify that the robots mitigate the sniper threatat least the threat to humans. Snipers in Iraq and

These remotecontrolled, metallic warriors are the tip of the bombdetecting, bombdisposal spear.

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This Talon-4 portable robotic devicewith extended range, mounted video camera and allterrain tracks for handling tough conditions answers to the name Grumpy. Youd be grumpy too, if you were always sent out first to take one for the team.

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Honestly, if youre looking at six figures to replace a robot, its still a lot less than replacing one of us.
Afghanistan have no qualms about unloading on the EOD technicians mechanical counterpart. Ive personally had four robots blown up that would have been me if it wasnt for the robot. Countless lives have been saved by the use of EOD robots in modern battlefields littered with mines and IEDS. The robots dont always make it back from a mission, but when the machines operator lives to serve another day, the cost-tobenefit ratio cannot be discounted. Honestly, even if youre looking at six figures to replace a robot, its still a lot less than replacing one of us, Queer said. We would have a lot more full caskets without them. The Human Element While the technology available to todays EOD technicians is an essential and ever evolving part of the profession, EOD is still all about the human element. Staff Sgt. Amber Goedde admits that she had no idea what shed be getting into when she signed up for EOD, and that the cool factor of EOD technology was an initial draw for her. I spoke with a recruiter, saw all the neat robots, remote control devices, suits, and stuff and thought, Thats a cool job, she said. But today, working as one of only about 50 females in Air Force EOD, Goedde says its not the technology that makes this job enjoyable and personally rewarding. Ultimately, the charge she gets, so to speak, comes from helping peoplepeople in often desperate situations.

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Staff Sgt. Amber Goedde: One of only about 50 women working in Air Force EOD.

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This career field was the best uninformed decision I ever made, Goedde says with a smile. Every time an IED is found and we go out and take care of it, you know thats another IED thats not going to hit a fellow countryman or a local, she said. You know youve made it safe. Youve made that road passable again. On deployments well go into a village thats being overrun by insurgents. People are waking up with IEDs in their yards, and we get to go in and help them. You see the looks on their faces when youve made it a safe place for their children to go out and play.

This career field was the best uninformed decision I ever made.

Air Force EOD technicians pose in front of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) with Rick Stewart, host of NRA Life of Duty Television. Pictured from left are Master Sgt. Fitzgerald, Staff Sgt. Goedde, Tech. Sgt. Langdon, Staff Sgt. Queer and Chief Master Sgt. Hurley.

Hungry For More Warrior?

Signing off for now, but well be back in September with NRA American Warrior Number 04. Expect more guns, more gadgets, more explosionsmore of the good stuff in life. Until then, stay safe.