A Jihadi Environment

In Today’s World, a New Tactical Mindset and Skills Training Are Mandatory
 

- John D. Guandolo

The heat is definitely on … for the public and law enforcement.

Terrorist attacks can occur any time and anywhere. Look at the security used at the Rose Parade and at sporting events. Attacks also occur at smaller events, such as the one in San Bernardino, Calif. It’s reality.

In today’s law enforcement world, officers are really feeling it fro anarchist and domestic terrorist groups. When it comes to the jihadi threat—what many call the “terrorist” threat—many SWAT/CERT teams have good tactical skills. However, they lack the knowledge about the jihadi threat to make the proper decisions when the time comes.

The focus of this article is to lay out 16 critical touch points for LE to keep in mind when dealing with jihadi attacks and how teams can best prepare themselves.

PREPARATION

1 The team and leadership must understand the threat. This will directly impact the team’s pre-determination of the deadly force needed to neutralize the threat quickly and decisively. Why? Because the jihadi does not intend to demand a ransom, enumerate terms and expect to make a clean get-away. They plan on dying and taking as many innocents as possible.

When engaging the terrorist enemy during such an event—school takeover, citywide assault, etc.—the decision matrix used in the strategic use of deadly force must also include an understanding of jihadis and their methods of operation. Officers should be trained to be aware that these events will likely involve explosives, IEDs and uncommon implements of destruction.