The United States military maintains a larger operational footprint than the armed forces of any other nation on earth. With troops stationed or deployed to literally hundreds of different locations around the globe, a naval presence in most heavily trafficked waterways, and ongoing combat or advisory operations going on in half a dozen countries at […]
Men's Lifestyle
Using Strike Force Energy as a pre-workout supplement?
While there are already plenty of supplements on the market aimed at giving you a boost of energy to get your workout started, I approached the problem from a slightly different standpoint: I’m not a gel-haired bro looking for an edge before I get my pump on (though I could be accused of that from […]
Pepper Spray and Defense: Why I’d rather be shot than sprayed with OC again
During my tenure on the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Team for Southern California, I had the opportunity to participate in a number of interesting and exciting training revolutions. I got to learn knife techniques alongside the L.A. SWAT team, vehicle searches with military police units, and to gain proficiency with a number of weapon systems not […]
Tactical thought – keeping it simple
“Why do you keep these tactics so simple?” That’s a question I get sometimes by thoughtful students in my classes. There is a moment in life where you realize that all those paths you created in that dense forest of problems in your head might not be accessible when you venture into the dark. Whether […]
Not the ‘preppers’ you see on TV: America’s wealthy take ‘prepping’ seriously
Depending on the circles you run in, the word “prepper” has different connotations. Its use in the media on shows with exaggerated premises about crackpots building camouflaged tree houses has made the idea of “being prepared” for disaster somewhat laughable, but among people that have spent some time in failed states, impoverished nations, or places […]
The right booze for the catch of the day: Expert angler breaks down the right drink for whatever you’re fishing for
The steelhead slid from my hands back into the dark cold of the river. He hung for a moment on the edge of the clear shallows, giving me one last glance at a bright rose-colored cheek before turning his nose and lunging hard back into the current. That fish had been hard earned. I had […]
Three survival skills you learned from movies (that will get you killed)
We tend not to go to movies looking for realism. Even the movies we watch that are “based on” or “inspired by” true stories tend to bend the facts of the tale around a more logical (or marketable) narrative that audiences would be more likely to get behind, but some common tropes have become so […]
Introducing ‘The Professionals Playbook’ – F-35 pilot Justin Lee interviews CIA Officer, author Michele Rigby Assad
*Editor’s note: Here at the Loadout Room, we pride ourselves on being well prepared and well rounded individuals capable of performing under whatever circumstances life throws at us. That’s just what Justin “Hasard” Lee’s podcast, “The Professionals Playbook” is all about. Lee, an active duty F-35 pilot with multiple combat deployments under his belt at […]
What and when you should be eating to maximize your gym time
Everyone loves a good, gruesome workout. You feel accomplished afterwards, you’ve got the endorphins flowing, but what next? Is it a protein shake? Is it a full meal? What about before the workout? What fueled you during those intense bicep curls? There is a lot that goes into the workout besides the exercises themselves. Pre, […]
When you need sunglasses that can do anything: Oakley Crosshairs
Surgical, precise, fluid, dynamic, tough and always ready describes the professional operator, executive, or adventurer. Limited only by the constraints of physics and his own humanity, the professional operator carefully chooses every piece of gear he carries. The responsibility for remaining both agile and quick leaves no room for any gear which only serves a […]