Show Notes
At CATO we believe that history is the repository of all lessons and to ignore history is do doom yourself to repeat it. At the 2023 conference in San Diego, we asked the infamous SAS team leader Rusty “No Gloves” Firmin to debrief the lessons learned from the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege. I asked fellow CATO board members Toby Darby and Josh Wofford to sit down with Rusty so he could share his wisdom with those who could not see him at the conference. I spent a fair amount of time with Rusty before and during the conference and was impressed by his humility, sense of humor and how our profession shares many of the same struggles he as experienced throughout his career an ocean away. I highly recommend his book on the six day hostage taking called GO GO GO! The assault planning and training, strategy and tactics are described in detail, and the personal stories of the gunmen revealed -- who they were, where they came from, why they did it and Saddam Hussein's direct involvement. For more information about Rusty, The Iranian Embassy Siege, and to get a copy of his new book please visit his website: https://www.rusty-firmin.com
More from CATO Podcast
On May 6, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas. An Allen Police Department officer was already on the scene for an unrelated call for service when he bravely pursued the suspect and ended the incident. Allen Police Department Deputy Chief (then Lieutenant) Kris Wirstrom responded and acted as the Incident Commander. Nine people were killed, and seven others were injured. In this episode of the CATO Podcast, Marcus speaks with Deputy Chief Kris Wirstrom, breaking down the active shooter incident, lessons learned, and the impact on our profession. Marcus was fortunate enough to represent CATO at the 2024 North American Active Assailant Conference, where he heard Kris Wirstrom speak. He's one of those guys who makes you proud to be part of our profession. We trust you'll find his reflections and insight as valuable as Marcus did. Allen Premium Outlets Active Shooter Event - ALERRT/AIR video: https://app.frame.io/presentations/1c76c14b-4ba3-4460-8245-860d9e823e4f
Marcus interviews Travis Norton about his doctoral research on active shooter response at the University of Southern California. Travis was one of the authors of CATO's latest two-day course, Active Shooter Incident Leadership. Travis contributed much of the research and content for this POST-approved course, which addresses the common failures and challenges inherent in Active Shooter response. To learn about the class, where it is next or to host it, go to CATOTRAINING.ORG.
"Good intelligence is the linchpin for all tactical operations." -Sid Heal Marcus, Adam, and Kris discuss Chapter 8 of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer. The group discusses information versus intelligence, the parts of the intelligence cycle, and situational awareness. They also cover the common operational picture and how you can reduce friction during your next operation.
On June 15, 2023, Denver Police Sergeant Justin Dodge was working the Denver Nuggets celebratory parade when he found himself caught under the wheels of an 80,000 lb fire truck carrying the players. Lying in the street, Dodge promised himself that if the tourniquets held and he could get to the hospital in time, he would stage an epic comeback. Eight surgeries later, including one that amputated his leg inches below the knee, he's back! Justin works as a full-time SWAT team supervisor and has found a new passion in motivational speaking. The subject of a PBS documentary, Justin, is just a phone call away for anyone struggling. We hope his testimony inspires you to build resiliency so you can become the hero of your own story. Learn more at https://heavyvictory.com/ Follow him on Instagram at: @heavy_victory_
It's been said that it's more important how you think than what you think. CATO VP, Marcus Sprague, was fortunate to represent CATO at the Ohio Tactical Officers Association Conference in Sandusky, Ohio.