Frag Out! Magazine

Sailing means that we are out of hospital possibilities for a long time, so whatever we can do is just help ourselves – that makes a place for the Tactical Combat Casualty Care, especially in the medi- cal way of skills. The course we are acknowledged provides basics of the medicine devoted to the high risk areas, focused mostly on the self-rescue procedures. "It is very important for the armed guard to know how to help himself, or his squad mates in the situation that you will reach destination point in the next couple days, not hours" said Michal Czerwinski, Polish pioneer in the TC3 for Polish Special Forces, well known also as an originator and creator of Law Enforce- ment and Military TC3 Competition "Paramedyk." The course is mixed with training and testing, what helps best to check if the trainee fits the need. The needs of an employer like the Seagull Security are simple: English language – basic level, shooting skills test – more than 50% on the distances from 25/50/75/100m with 100 rounds, PE test inc- luding time pressure running and pull ups. Not much huh? Not really. Some of the guys that want to sign up should have never leave their homes, but most are prepared, skilled and ready to go. As we said – Polish and Professional. the job starts from a phone call with instructions while on standby to get on the airport. You fly to the place that you start the job, transit or to the headquarter for updating courses with new rules, instruc- tions or skills. The ship sails approximately from 7 to 14 days, unless everything works. The most important person on the ship is the Captain, which uses to work with Mar Sec Team Leader as a connec- tor with his squad. The Team Leader introduces the crew, shows the Rules of Engagement and advices for ship improvements like bar- bed wiring the deck or welding shooting positions. Clever Captains usually agree and cooperate with TL's without any problems. The job is strictly police-style service, so there is no way for Rambo deathmatches with "suspects." Every firing contact must be preceded by special procedures. In the company we already mentioned there are three stages of security rules. First is the RS#1 that is standard mode with no visible threat. Routi- ne binocular-operating skills that help with scanning the horizon. The TL can switch for the RS#2 while on the hostile High Risk Area or when a suspects are spotted. Then the cooperation with Captain is more visible, including radar reports and radio communications. If the skiff or fisherman's ship do not walk away but go in our direc- tion, and most dramatically when armed crews are spotted the Team Leader should switch the mode into the RS#3 mode that in- sists all the squad members to gear up, pick up the weapons and stay alerted on the wings awaiting TLs orders. Advancing ships are also informed by radio, honks and other visible signs, that include water pumps and TANGO flag leaving no doubts that we do not want them to get closer. Then the first shot is fired 45 degrees in to the sky, after clear confirmation from the Captain. The procedures from many companies may vary, but it is common that 300 meters is the deadline distance that allows armed squad to open fire. Proceeding from water on the sides of the boat, hull, engine and when the situation is extremely hostile – direct fire on the armed threat, the pirates. But there are also mistakes that happened, and shooting a fisher- man will most surely led to the prison. Trigger discipline is very well seen in this kind of work. "We had a very difficult situation once, especially for me as a Team Leader. It happened near Suez, when 10 skiffs, that I took by mista- ke as dolphins, were advancing toward my ship. We have counted at least 8 people on every unit, armed with RPGs, MGs and AKs. That made at least 80 'businessmen' against us 4, armed with FN FALs. We were outnumbered. My squad mates were ready to fire, and in- sisted to make the direct shots. I knew that if we start the shootout then it is going to be a hard one with not satisfactional outcomes. I knew also that I was sure the guys, and their skills were not the pro- blem. The pirates stopped at some distance, and just walked away. The next day in the same location we were reported about exactly the same situation" said Piotr Makala, Team Leader in the MarSec company and also MarSec course provider from Tactical Risk Group. The Maritime Security has never ever failed yet, what means that the ships with armed crews have never been taken over. It influences also unarmed vessels safety cause they might be believed to be protected like the other ones. Keep in a dark place rumors that spread bullshit about visible death of the MarSec. It growths very fast. www.fragoutmag.com

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