Man-Tracking – Capturing Modern Criminals with Ancient Skills

Good article tactical tracking during manhunts by Gabriel Russell, on the Law Enforcement Today Web site...

A worst case scenario become common occurrence, savage acts of violence followed by flight into the wilds. A rapist, child-molester or murderer flees from the urban scene of their crime to a remote rural location and poses a potentially lethal threat to anyone he encounters. A manhunt begins. Local jurisdictions converge and cooperate to offer chase. Most of the officers involved lack the training, experience and equipment to best deal with the conditions.

It’s the worst crimes that inspire this desperate act. A perpetrator who faces certain life in prison or the death penalty may use violence to avoid capture. The longer they are on the loose the greater the danger to the public. Not only are the officers involved often not fully prepared to deal with the situation, but though the size and scope of the operation demands a multi-agency response, the participating departments are typically ill-equipped to conduct joint operations under these unique conditions...

Read full article here.

January's desktop calendar is a Boeing Ch-47D in service with the California Army National Guard

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How to build a trench-style snow shelter

My snow shelter of choice when the temps dip below minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (standing temps, not windchill) on a multi-day, dead-of-winter operation is the trench shelter. And if I don't have enough snow depth for a trench, then I simply shovel it into a pile that I can dig a trench into.

Source: This article was adapted from the Field Manual for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), 6th edition (2001), edited by Bill McCormick. Prepared by the Raytheon Polar Services Company (RPSC) field support staff for the Office of Polar Programs (OPP), National Science Foundation (NSF).

A trench with a tarpaulin roof is the quickest shelter you can build. This is very important in an emergency.

• The size of the trench you dig is dependent on the size of the covering and on the support items used to span the trench. Support items could include skis, ski poles, bamboo flags, rope(s) stretched tight, etc.
• Span the trench with support items, cover with a tarp, and anchor the edges of the tarp with snow blocks or heavy equipment. Improvise with trench coverings. A trench can be covered with a tent fly, skidoo cowlings and covers, Nansen sleds, sled tanks, plywood, pallets, cardboard, plastic, etc.
• Shovel a light skiff of snow over the tarp to add extra insulation; too much snow will collapse the tarp.