100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative's Guide To Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, And Surviving Any Dangerous Situation Situa

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A Note to Readers
Epigraph
Introduction
Part I: Mission Prep
Part II: Infiltration: Access to Enemy Territory
Part III: Infrastructure Development: Lodging, Transportation, Weapons
Part IV: Surveillance: Observation, Tracking, and Counter-Surveillance
Part V: Access: Clandestine Breaking and Entering
Part VI: Collection: Audio and Video Intelligence
Part VII: Operational Actions: Deny, Disrupt, Disable
Part VIII: Sanitization: Leave No Trace
Part IX: Exfiltration and Escape: How to Disappear
The Final BLUF
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Glossary
Resources and References
Index
Copyright

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CONTENTS
ANotetoReaders
Epigraph
Introduction
PARTI:MISSIONPREP
001AnatomyofaViolentNomad
002CreateanEveryDayCarryKit
003BuildaVehicleBoltBag
004MakeaConcealableCompass
005BuildanImprovisedConcealableHolster
006ConcealEscapeTools
007ConstructaRectalConcealment
008UseImprovisedBodyArmor
009IdentifyEmergencyBallisticShields
010TheViolentNomadWorkout
PARTII:INFILTRATION
011CrossEnemyBordersbySea
012CrossEnemyBordersbyAir
013CrossEnemyBordersbyLand
014ConcealGearUsingCaches
015HookandClimbaTargetStructure
016ScaleaHighWall
017BlendintoAnyEnvironment
PARTIII:INFRASTRUCTUREDEVELOPMENT
018HotelSecurityandSafetyAwareness
019PreventaHotelRoomInvasion
020ConcealBelongingswithinLodging
021BuildaRoomHide
022StealaVehicle
023OperationalVehiclePrep

024EscapeandEvasionVehiclePrep
025BuildaVehicleHide
026StealaPlane
027MakeaWaterBottleSilencer
028TransformanUmbrellaintoaLeadPipe
029TurnaPenintoaWeapon
030UseaFishingWeightasanImprovisedSap
031MakeaFlexibleChainWeapon
032MakeaNewspaperNailBat
033DeployaRollofCoins
PARTIV:SURVEILLANCE
034DismountedSurveillance
035MobileSurveillance
036MakeanImprovisedInfraredLight
037MakeaTrackingDeviceforNightSurveillance
038DetectTamperingofPersonalEffects
039DetermineSurveillance
040DiscreetlyLoseSurveillance
041DetectTrackingDevices
042DeceiveSurveillanceCameras
PARTV:ACCESS
043CreateImprovisedLock-PickingTools
044PickaLock
045ClamaKey
046CloneaKey
047ImpressionaLock
048BypassaHotelRoomDoor
049SurreptitiouslyUnlatchDoorLocks
050DefeataPadlock
051CovertlyAccessLockedLuggage
052OpenaCarDoorwithaPieceofString
053DiscreetlyOpenGarageDoors
PARTVI:COLLECTION

054InstallanAudioDevice
055TurnaSpeakerintoaMicrophone
056ConstructandInstallaPinholeCamera
057MakeHomemadePlastic
058SendAnonymousEmails
059HideInformationinPlainSight
060HideandExtractDataUsingEverydayPhotos
PARTVII:OPERATIONALACTIONS
061DrawaConcealedPistol
062ShootfromaVehicle
063WinaKnifeFight
064StrikeforaKnockout
065DeliveraDevastatingElbowStrike
066MakeanImprovisedTaser
067MakeanImprovisedExplosiveDevice
068MakeaDiversionary“Flash”Device
069MakeaMolotovCocktail
070PITaTargetVehicle
071PistolDisarmament:PointedatChest
072PistolDisarmament:PointedatBack
073SurviveanActiveShooter
074MakeanImprovisedGasMask
075SurviveaGrenadeAttack
076WagePsychologicalWarfare
PARTVIII:SANITIZATION
077LeaveZeroDNABehind
078LeaveZeroFingerprintsBehind
079LeaveZeroDigitalTraceBehind
080TrickFacialRecognitionSoftware
081TrickFingerprintScanningSoftware
082CreateaHastyDisguise
083GetPastaGuardDog
084DiscreetlyClearaFloodedScubaMask
085DisposeofaBody

PARTIX:EXFILTRATIONANDESCAPE
086CreateaRappellingHarness
087EscapeaMultistoryBuilding
088SurviveaDrowningAttempt
089EscapefromanAutomobileTrunk
090DevelopaBug-OutRoute
091PerformaJ-turn
092PerformaReverse180
093SurviveVehicularImpact
094BreakThroughaTwo-CarBlock
095EscapeanAmbush
096SetUpProperPostureforEscape
097RepositionRestrainedHands
098DefeatHandcuffs
099DefeatZipTies
100DefeatDuctTape
TheFinalBLUF
Acknowledgments
AbouttheAuthor
Glossary
ResourcesandReferences
Index

ANotetoReaders

The skills described in the following pages are called “deadly” for a reason—and not just

because of the danger they pose to others. Developed by highly trained operatives who

regularly face life-threatening conditions, these skills push the limits of human endurance,

precision,andingenuity.

Andoften,theboundariesofthelaw.

The book you are holding in your hands (or reading on your device) contains actionable

informationadaptedfromtheworldof specialoperations.Muchofthatinformation,shared

herewithciviliansinthespiritofself-defense,istobeusedinonlythedirestemergencies.

When confronted with unexpected danger, in many cases the safest course of action is

escape.Inthefaceofanactiveshooter(seepage178),thefirstoption(ifconditionsallow)is

torun—andthelastistofight.Ifathiefwantsyourvaluables,handthemover.Iftheendof

theworldtrulydoescometopass...well,thenallbetsareoff.

The author and publisher disclaim any liability from any injury that may result from the

use, proper or improper, of the information contained in this book. The stated goal of this

bookisnottoenableadeadlyclassofcitizensbuttoentertainwhilesimultaneouslyimparting

abodyofknowledgethatmaycomeinhandyintheabsolutedirestofemergencies.

Bedeadlyinspirit,butnotinaction.Respecttherightsofothersandthelawsoftheland.

Our fate is determined by how far we are prepared to push ourselves to stay alive—the

decisions we make to survive. We must do whatever it takes to endure and make it through

alive.

—BEARGRYLLS

INTRODUCTION

Potential dangers lurk everywhere these days. Disasters strike in war-torn regions and far-

flung locations—but with alarming regularity, they also seem to inch closer and closer to

home.Spanningactsofterror,massshootings,andtheunseen(andsometimesvirtual)matrix

ofeverydaycrime,dangerrefusestobeconfinedtodarkalleys,unstablenations,ordistantzip

codes.

People tend to imagineworst-case scenariosinhighly colorfulterms,butchaos andcrime

aretherealapocalypticscenarios.Wepicturealiens,frozentundra,andintergalacticwarfare,

when in fact the catastrophic event we’ve been waiting for is more likely to look like a

mundane report of vandalism on last night’s news—or the massive Internet shutdown in

tomorrow’s headlines. Or, indeed, the violent criminal hiding in the shadows of a desolate

parking garage. In the face of true catastrophe, a basement full of canned peas and distilled

waterisn’tlikelytobemuchhelp.

Inafuturewhereeverystrangerposesapotentialthreat,knowingthepredatormindsetis

theonlysafehaven.Whatarethetricksusedbythestealthiest,mostdangeroushumanbeings

inourmidst?Howcanyouspotandavoidthe dangersthatsurroundus?Youcouldturnto

thecriminalclasstofindout.Oryoucouldgoonebetterbytakingapagefromsomeofthe

mosthighlytrainedspecialistsontheplanet.

The one hundred deadly skills you are about to encounter are adapted from the world of

special operations, a complex web of associations dominated by operatives with a shared

predilection for intrigue and danger. These elite, highly skilled warriors are charged with

riskingtheirlivesunderthemostchallenginganddireconditionsonearth.Asoperativeswho

routinelyinfiltratetheworld’smostdangerousandvolatileregions,theymustbeequalparts

spies,soldiers,andlawlessrule-breakers.

Theyareactionheroesformoderntimes,one-partJamesBond,theotherRambo.Somecall

thesehighlyskilledoperatives“ViolentNomads,”asanodtotheirdisregardforinternational

bordersandtheirbiasforswift,brutalaction.

Many of the techniques that make up the Violent Nomad body of knowledge cannot be

divulged without severe risk to public safety, but a great deal of potentially lifesaving

information can still be shared. Each skill is broken down into its most critical parts, or

CoursesofAction(COAs),andsummedupbyaBLUF(BottomLineUpFront),whichspells

out the key takeaway from the operative’s perspective; Civilian BLUFs flip the skills around

andoutlinepreventive measurescivilians cantaketoarm themselvesagainstpredatorsusing

theseparticulartechniques.

AsaretiredNavySEALwhospentseveralyearsinsidetheNSA(NationalSecurityAgency),

inwritingthisbookIdrewonanunusualbreadthofexperiencethatspanstwentyyearsspent

running special ops all over the world, both in teams and alone, and merges lessons learned

from both combat and surveillance. The skills in this book represent a potential path to

survivalinthefaceofanynumberofdangeroussituations,fromeludingpursuersandescaping

abduction to self-defense. And they may even provide a blueprint for getting through

doomsday.

Theworldisn’t gettinganysafer,but youcan be prepared.Whetheryou’refacedwithan

alieninvasionoranassailantwieldingaseeminglyinnocuousitemsuchasawaterbottleIor

anumbrella,learninghowtothinklikeaViolentNomadwillradicallyimproveyourchances

ofcomingoutontop.

I.Turntopage70ifyou’reinterestedindevelopinganirrationalfearofwaterbottles.

PARTI

MISSIONPREP

001 AnatomyofaViolentNomad

Beyondthedefensivepotentialcommontomanyoftheskillsinthisbook,thereismuchthe

average civilian can learn from an operative’s mindset. First and foremost, that mindset is

defined by preparedness and awareness. Whether in home territory or under deepest cover,

operativesarecontinuallyscanningthegenerallandscapeforthreatsevenwhenthey’renoton

the clock. Civilians, too, can train their minds toward habits such as scouting exit routes in

crowded restaurants or building spur-of-the-moment escape plans. This kind of vigilance

allowsanoperativeconfrontedwithsuddendangertotakeimmediateaction.

Whetherheiscrossingborders,executingsurveillance,oreliminatingdangeroustargetsand

disappearingwithoutatrace,theclandestineoperativefrequentlyworksalone.Giventhathe

sooftenfindshimselfbehindenemylineswithoutreinforcements,anoperative’scombatand

counterintelligenceskillsaremetbyanequallysophisticatedaptitudeforriskassessmentand

analysis. In an increasingly dangerous world, civilians who are attuned to potential risk

(particularly but not exclusively when traveling) will be many steps ahead of the general

populace.

•••

Theoperativealsodemonstratesabaselinepredispositiontowardanonymity.Eachclandestine

operative is trained to “go black,” operating for extended periods of time with limited

communication to associates. While operating under the radar, he may assume the outward

appearance of a student, a businessperson, or a traveler, as he understands that terrorist

groups or host-nation governments may be targeting him during his travels—and that if

perceived as a spy and arrested, he will be subject to detention and harsh interrogations.

Additionally, as a traveler, he is vulnerable to the risks of petty crime and kidnapping that

applytoanyciviliantravelingabroad.Tocountersuchrisks,theoperativeadoptsasneutral

anappearanceaspossible.ThegeneralruleisthelessconspicuoustheNomad,thesafer.

Due tothehighly covertnatureoftheirmissions,operativesgotogreatlengthstoensure

that they blend into their surroundings. A carefully managed appearance allows them to

operateundetectedbypotentialwitnessesaswellashost-countrypoliceandsecurityservices.

But beyond their unremarkability, clothing and gear must have the capability to conceal the

equipmentrequiredforanoperationoranescape.(Thewaistbandandcuffsofpantsandthe

tonguesofshoes,forexample,areidealhidingplacesforhandcuffkeysandrazorblades.)

OperativesfavorbrandssuchasPanerai,whicharedurableandwellmadebutstillhavea

civilian-friendlylook.Always readytorunorfight, theywear closed-toedshoes withKevlar

laces and conceal weapons and spread escape equipment throughout their clothing. Lighters

andcigarettesarealwayscarried,evenbynonsmokers,astheymaybeusedasatoolofescape

or to create a distraction or diversion. (See pages 86, 166, and 168.) LED flashlights are

essentialforseeinginthedarkorsignalingforhelp.

•••

When it comes to gear, preparedness doesn’t look quite the way moviegoers have come to

expect. Because clandestine operatives cannot board commercial flights with concealed

weaponsorhigh-techspygeartuckedawayintheirluggage,theyfavora“no-tech”or“low-

tech”approach that is highly dependent on improvisation. Though fictional spies employ all

manner of shiny, complex contraptions, in the real world, every high-tech toy increases an

operative’s risk of detention or arrest. Hence, operatives learn to adapt, improvise, and

overcome technical obstacles using tools and technology that are readily available in the

country of operation. One example: Every hotel room has a Bible or a Koran stashed in a

bedsidedrawer—andtapingacoupleofthosetogetheryieldsasetofimprovisedbodyarmor

thatprovidessignificantprotectionagainstprojectiles.

Thoughlow-techdoesn’tusuallyextendtoanoperative’scommunications,hetakesahighly

cautious approach to cybersecurity. The operative avoids leaving behind trails of digital

breadcrumbs at all costs, understanding that any cybercommunication is fundamentally

insecure. In an age where savings accounts and the locations of friends and family are

vulnerabletoanythirdpartywithaccesstoaWi-Ficonnectionandthewilltodoharm,there

isnosuchthingasasurfeitofprecaution.

Civilian BLUF: Particularly when traveling, civilians are well served by adopting the

operative’s predilection for anonymity. Choose clothing and accessories for usefulness and

generalneutrality.Inavolatileurbancrisis,brightcolorsandeye-catchinglogoscanbecome

convenientaimingpointsforapairofriflesights.

002 CreateanEveryDayCarryKit

Whiletheaveragecivilianapproachesemergencypreparednessfromalife-supportperspective

thatprioritizesfoodandwatersupplies(stasheddeepinahomebasement)totheexclusionof

weapons and escapetools, true preparednessacknowledgesand confrontstheviolenceofthe

modern world. To ensure a state of constant preparedness, the Violent Nomad carries up to

threetypesofEveryDayCarry(EDC)kits,eachdesignedtosupporthismissionandhelphim

evade crisis. Whether the call comes or not, the EDC kits also provide an edge against

unexpectedthreatsofallsorts,fromenvironmentaldisasterstoterroriststrikesandlone-wolf

attacks.

When traveling through potentially hostile territory or during turbulent times, a Nomad

willdistributeseverallayersoflife-supportandpersonal-safetyitemsthroughouthisclothing

andouterwear;intheeventthatheisstrippedofhisprimaryweapon,thispracticemayleave

himwithseveralundetectedoptionsoflastresort.Escapegearinparticularshouldbespread

outinsuchawaythatsomeofitremainsavailableiftheNomadisrestrained.

Themostbasickit,the“pocketkit,”shouldbecomprisedofessentialweapons,escapeand

evasion equipment, and one “black” (covert) mobile phone. Rather than being consolidated

intoasinglecontainerorconcealment,theseitemsshouldbedistributedthroughoutclothing.

Ahandgunshouldbeconcealedinawaistbandholster,forthemostaccessibledraw.(Seepage

152fortipsondrawingaholsteredweapon.)Anemergencycommunicationdeviceisessential,

butothercontentswillvarydependingontheterrain.AstainlesssteelZebrapencanbeused

to leave notes for potential rescuers—or to strike an assailant. In the case of abduction or

detention,ahandcuffkeyandLEDlightcamouflagedalongsidecarorhotelkeysarepotential

lifesavers;asbackupintheeventthatclothespocketsaresearched,aconcealablehandcuffkey

canbehiddeninashirtcufforonazipperpull.Someoperativescarrymouthpieces,whichcan

bevitalduringhand-to-handcombat.

The “container kit”—generally tucked into a jacket or an operational bag (see below)—

functions as backup in the event that an operative is stripped of his primary weapon and/or

operational bag. This highly condensed kit contains small improvised weapons (loose coins

tiedupinahandkerchief)andnavigationalaids(aheadlampandahandheldGPSdevice)that

changedependingontheenvironment,aswellaslock-pickingtoolsthatcouldprovideaccess

to information, food, or shelter. Purchased within the area of operation, a set of “recci”

(reconnaissance)keyblanksprovidesanadvantageinbreaking-and-enteringscenarios.Durable

andreliablydiscreet,arigidsunglasscaseistheoptimalcontainerforthiskit.

Thefinalpieceofthepuzzleistheoperationalbag.Toprepareforthepossibilityofescape

inthefaceofsurveillanceorattack,itscontentsshouldincludeanemptycollapsiblebackpack

andachangeofclothesincolorsoppositefromtheonestheoperativeiswearing.Evenshoes

should be taken into consideration—if wearing sneakers, pack a pair of rubber sandals. A

concealed pocket holds highly sensitive data on memory devices such as thumb drives or SD

cards,aKevlarclipboardactsasaninnocuous-lookingformofimprovisedballisticarmor,and

awadofcashallowstheNomadtosubsistindeepcoverforaslongasthesituationdemands.

RelatedSkills: Build a Vehicle Bolt Bag, page 10; Create a Hasty Disguise, page 200; Use

ImprovisedBodyArmor,page20;IdentifyEmergencyBallisticShields,page22.

003 BuildaVehicleBoltBag

Operatives don’t have the luxury of being able to return to base to stock up on food or

ammunition, so their effectiveness as free-range agents is built around preparation—and

preparation means always being prepared for the worst. When an operative is conducting a

missionabroad,oneofthefirstordersofbusinessuponbeingcalledintoactionisbuildinga

bolt bag. In the case of emergency, this bag (also known as a “bug-out kit”) becomes an

essentiallife-supportsystem.Itcontainseverythingneededtokeeptheoperativealive,should

he have to “go black,” hiding out of sight until he can either resume his mission or make

arrangementstosafelyexittheareaofoperation.

Aboltbagtypicallyconsistsofadayortwooflifesupport—water,food,cash,emergency

medicalsupplies,navigationaids,anda“black”orcovertphonesimilartothetypeknownin

the criminal world as a “burner.” The bag should be stashed in the operational vehicle,

concealedina spot thatis easilyaccessiblefrom thedriver’s seat,suchasthecenterconsole

compartment(betweentheseats)orundertheseat.(Shouldtheoperativefindhimselfupside

downastheresultofacollisionwithaggressors,thekitshouldbewithinarm’sreach.)Asits

name implies, the bolt bag needs to be light enough to be carried—canned foods and other

heavysuppliesdonotlendthemselvestoeaseoftransport.

CivilianBLUF:Inday-to-daylife,boltbagscanbeusedasprecautionarydisastermeasures—

notonlybycivilianslivinginregionsathighriskfornaturaldisasters,butbyanyonealertto

thethreatofurbandisastersorterrorism.

004 MakeaConcealableCompass

Covert situationsoftencallforeasilyconcealable,dependable low-fialternatives—andinthe

caseofacompass,asimplepairofmagnetsfitsthebill.Anoperativemayhavebeenstripped

ofhisGPSdeviceuponcaptureormaybeworkinginacontextinwhichtheuseofahandheld

GPSsystemwouldattracttoomuchnotice.AconcealablecompassensuresthattheNomadis

alwaysabletoeffectivelynavigatethroughunknownterritory,nomatterhowremote.

Thoughmicrocompassesmaybefoundatanyadventurestoreinthedevelopedworld,they

may not be available elsewhere. Improvised compasses, on the other hand, are easy to make

usingresourcesreadilyavailableinmostcountries.Thetoolworksbyharnessingthepowerof

rare-earthmagnets,thebaselinemechanismusedtopowercompasses.Tunedtothedialofthe

earth’smagneticfield,whenconnectedandallowedtodanglefromalengthofthread,therods

becomeanaturalcompass;onepointssouth,theothernorth.

Becausethepurchaseofrare-earthmagnetscanarousesuspicion,itisadvisabletoseekout

lessalertingproductssuchasrefrigeratormagnets,whiteboardmagnets,ormagnetichandbag

closures, always in pairs. Any improvisations must be tested thoroughly, lest the Nomad be

confrontedwithaninaccurateimprovisedtoolmid-escape.

CivilianBLUF: The standard instructions for building a compass (see illustration) involve a

pairofrare-earthrodmagnetsandalengthofKevlarthread(chosenforitsdurability),buta

similareffectmaybeachievedbypiercingamagnetizedneedlethroughacorkandfloatingthe

deviceinwater.

005 BuildanImprovisedConcealableHolster

Operativesarewellversedinusingundergroundchannelstoacquireweaponswithinthearea

ofoperation,asgunsandothermunitionscannotbetransportedacrossinternationalborders

without permission from both the country of origin and the destination country. But

specialized equipment such as concealable holsters are often harder to come by, and any

attempttosmuggletheminwouldcertainlygetaNomadpulledintoanunwanteddetainment

atcustoms.

Inordertomaintainalowprofile,operativesgenerallytravelaslightlyaspossible,utilizing

off-the-shelf resources to fulfill their mission requirements. This predisposition toward

minimalism presents challenges but does not tend to leave operatives in a disadvantaged

position, as many improvised tools—the holster included—provide a better capability than

manufacturedversions.

Commercially available holsters tend to make concealment difficult. Bulky and inflexible,

they increase the overall signature of the weapon in an operative’s waistline and can make

extraction a challenge. A pistol that cannot be quickly and seamlessly removed from an

operative’s holster becomes a deadly liability, so the choice of holster is crucial. This

improvisedmodel,madeofwirehangerandtape,contributesvirtuallynoadditionalbulkand

ensuresaquickandglitch-freedraw.

RelatedSkills:DrawaConcealedPistol,page152.

006 ConcealEscapeTools

Thepossibilityofbeingcaptured,kidnapped,ortakenhostageexistsforalltravelers,butit’s

onethat’sespeciallyrealforoperativeswhocannotrelyuponbeingbailedoutbytheirhome-

nationgovernments.

If captured, operatives can expect to be immediately frisked for concealed weapons, at

whichpointtheyarelikelytohavemostoftheirgearconfiscatedbytheircaptors.Escapeaids

concealedinclothingmayremainundetectedforawhile,butoperativesknowthatiftheyare

incaptivitylongenough,they willeventuallybestrippednakedandhavetorelysolely upon

the escape tools they’ve concealed on and inside their bodies. Given a lack of institutional

backup, self-escape preparations are an essential component of a Nomad’s every operational

plan.

Ahumanaversiontobloodybandagesmeanscaptorsareunlikelytocloselyexaminelesions

or scars, so a Nomad can utilize medical adhesive to glue specific tools onto the body

underneathmanufacturedwounds.

Thereisalsoanear-universalreluctanceonthepartofcaptorsforfrisking,pattingdown,

or probing the nether regions of their detainees—and this unease provides operatives with

exploitableopportunitiesforconcealmentofescapetoolsinaxilla(armpit)hairorpubichair.

Body concealments can be as elaborate as suppositories placed in the penis (urethra and

foreskin), vagina, or rectum or in the nostrils, ears, mouth, and navel. And they can be as

simpleasbarelyperceptiblecondoms.Note:Thisadvantagecanworktoa Nomad’sbenefit,

butdiminishesquicklyasheorsheistransferredtoincreasinglyhigherlevelsofdetentionand

security.

RelatedSkills:ConstructaRectalConcealment,page18.

007 ConstructaRectalConcealment

When a mission involves a high potential for capture, operatives prepare for the possibility

that they will be detained, searched, and stripped of any visible weapons. This leaves the

operative only one method of recourse: the concealment of weapons and escape tools in his

bodilycavities.Navigationaids,money,escapetools,andevenmakeshiftweaponssuchasan

improvisedicepick(seeillustration)canbeconcealedinsideatamponapplicatororaluminum

cigartubethatisinsertedintotheanalcavity.

Theuseoftherectalpassageasahidingplaceforillegalitemsorweaponsiscommoninthe

shadow worlds of drug trafficking and terrorism. But the technique is also well known to

operatives as an extreme measure of self-preservation used during ground zero of high-risk

missions.

Such a concealment is surprisingly immune to high-tech methods of detection. Full-body

scanners bounce electromagnetic waves off the body in search of metallic objects and other

contraband.Whiletheirlow-frequencyradarcandetectweaponsthatprotrudefromthebody,

itcannotseethroughskinorbone.EvenX-raymachinesdon’tdoaverygoodjobofrendering

items camouflaged in tissue, and MRI machines used in medical contexts would render a

concealmentasashadowthat,givenitslocation,couldbemistakenforfecalmatter.

Note:Anyimprovisedcontainersmustbewaterproof,nontoxic,smooth,andsealedontheir

upperend.

008 UseImprovisedBodyArmor

Whether engaging armed targets or caught in the crossfire of social unrest, operatives

frequentlyfindthemselvesinneedofbodyarmor.Government-issuedarmorprovidesthebest

protectionagainstinjury—butbecauseofitstraceability,operativesoncovertmissionsarenot

authorized to use it. To survive, they must learn to create improvised body armor using

everydayitemsandmaterials.

When taped tightly together in units of two, hardcover books such as encyclopedias and

dictionaries become rigid bundles or “plates” that can dissipate the energy of a projectile.

Taping commonly available ceramic tiles to the outer facing of each plate provides an

additionallayerofprotection,andtheresultingarmorcanbeconcealedbyajacketorcoator

easilycarriedinamessengerbagorbackpack.

Plates should be suspended on the front and back of the torso in order to protect “center

mass”—thespineandvitalorganssuchasheartandlungs.

Another layer ofprotectioncanbeachievedviaa commerciallyavailableKevlarclipboard

rated to stop 9mm pistol bullets. Lightweight and portable, once painted with a flat brown

painttheclipboardisnon-alertingandwillpassscrutinyifexaminedatabordercrossingor

airport.

Improvisedarmormustbethickenoughtosloworstopaprojectileandthinenoughtobe

wearable.Dependingonavailablematerials,ViolentNomadsmaybeabletocreateimprovised

armorthickenoughtostopaprojectile.Pistolroundstravelmoreslowly(9mmprojectileat

1,100feetpersecond);fasterriflerounds(5.56mmprojectileatapproximately3,000feetper

second) require more protective material. But an operative never quite knows what he will

encounter,andsotendstobuildfortheworst-casescenario.

009 IdentifyEmergencyBallisticShields

Whenbulletsareflying,theoddsofsurvivalaredeterminedbysplit-seconddecisions.Whether

thosedecisionsareeducatedones,ratherthanunconsciousmovesmadeintheclutchesoffight

orflight,canmeanthedifferencebetweensafetyandseriousinjuryordeath.

Theinstincttorunforcoverisuniversal,butitmustbecoupledwithanunderstandingof

the relationship between ballistics and everyday materials. Dense wood, concrete, steel, and

granite are the preferred materials in the face of open fire—these thick, heavy materials can

stop bullets and save lives. Sheetrock walls may offer concealment—thus diminishing a

shooter’saccuracy—andgivetheappearanceofsolidity,buttheywillnotstopbullets.Evena

small.22-caliberpistolcanripthroughdrywall.Concreteorsteelcolumns,ontheotherhand,

providebetterballisticprotection,despitetheirrelativelackofcoverage.

In cases of emergency, these principles can be applied to many of the objects in civilian

environments. Granite-top tables, concrete planters, and steel appliances all fit the bill.

Countertops, desks, and tables in hotel rooms are frequently made of granite or steel. But

someeverydayobjectsappearsolidyetaremadeoutoflightweightmaterialsthatwon’thold

uptogunfire.Mailboxesandtrashcansaregenerallymadeoutofaluminum.Hulkingvending

machines are mostly comprised of glass and plastic. Cars are partially made of steel, but a

steelsolightweightthatitfailstoofferadequateprotection;intheabsenceofotheroptions,

hidingbehindtheenginesideofthecar,ratherthantheemptytrunk,putsanadditionallayer

ofdensematerialsbetweenanoperativeorcivilianandtheshooter.

RelatedSkills:UseImprovisedBodyArmor,page20;SurviveanActiveShooter,page178.

010 TheViolentNomadWorkout

No strangers to ruthless obstacle courses and drills that combine sleep deprivation and live

explosives to simulate the hardships of real-world combat, operatives are trained under the

toughest conditions on earth. Once past basic training, they remain combat-ready by

incorporatingthe“RunFightRun”formulaintotheirworkouts.

Repeatedlyliftingapairofdumbbellsdoesn’ttranslateintoanabilitytodefeatanassailant

in hand-to-hand combat after an arduous chase over rugged terrain—so Violent Nomad

training prizes real-world combat and self-defense techniques over muscle-building reps.

Traditionalstrength-buildingandcardiovascularexerciseshavetheirplace,butintegratingthe

RunFightRunphilosophyintoworkoutroutinesbuildstheendurancetooutlastanopponent

inafightand/orchase.

Consistingofintegratedrepetitivestrikingmovementsstackedwithsprints,RunFightRun

workoutsdonotrequireagymoranysophisticatedequipment.Allthat’sneededisaplaceto

sprint and an object to carry and strike, preferably a heavy punching bag; designed for

striking,itisversatileenoughtobeusedforsquats,deadlifts,carrying,andpresses.Aheavy

bagcanalsobethrownandstruckontheground,whichiswheremostfightsendup.

Civilian BLUF: Use the heavy bag to perform a mix of exercises, with sprints integrated

between reps. Increase duration and weight as needed to ramp up intensity over time. A

worthy conditioning goal is to be able to perform three sets of striking for three minutes

straightandthensprintforonemileinsevenminutesorless.

PARTII

INFILTRATION:ACCESSTOENEMY

TERRITORY

011 CrossEnemyBordersbySea

As smugglers and refugees the world over well know, maritime borders in even the most

securecountriestendtodisplayhighdegreesofporosity.Foranoperativebent ondiscretion

andstealth,intherightkindoflandscapehelocastingbecomesapreferentialmethodofentry.

Droppingfromaslow-movinghelicopterintofrigidwatersisahigh-level,dangerousskill.

Even while hovering, helicopters can create hurricanelike winds that result in blinding mists

andskin-stingingwaterblasts.Practiceis essential,andleapingoutof a helicopterintodark

seasrequiresproperaltitudeandsafeforwardspeed.Onlybyfollowingspecificprotocolscan

operatives survive the jump. At an altitude of twenty feet, the helicopter’s forward speed

shouldnotexceedtenknots;atanaltitudeoftenfeet,forwardspeedshouldnotexceedtwenty

knots.Thisisknownasthe“10for20,20for10”rule.

Correctbodypositioning(seediagram)preventsinjuryandensuresthattheforceofimpact

hits the divingfins(ratherthanany protruding bodyparts)anddoes not dislodge thediving

mask.Althoughthejumpprohibitstheuseofheavy-dutydivingequipment,awetsuit,amask

orgoggles,fins,andaninflatablelifejacketareessential.Allothergearmustbestowedina

waterproof backpack or “dry bag” and strapped onto the operative with lanyards so as to

prevent its being lost to the depth of the ocean. Its contents should include mission-specific

gear such as a change of clothes that will allow the operative to blend into the area of

operation and an additional weapon, along with a hand shovel. The operative’s primary

weapon, an MP7 submachine gun, should be loaded and carried bolt forward; a condom

stretchedoveritsmuzzlepreventswaterfromenteringthebarrelbutwon’timpedeabullet’s

exitpath.

The dry bag is slung over one shoulder so it can easily be shed if the operative runs into

difficulties in the water. Strapping a bag on too securely could impede the operative’s

swimmingstrokeandposeariskofdrowning.

To swim to shore, operatives use the combat recovery stroke, a side stroke with a

minimizedprofileinwhichthearmsdon’texitthewater.Onceoutofthewater,theychange

intodryclothesandusethehandshoveltocachetheirgear.

012 CrossEnemyBordersbyAir

Formostcivilians,illegalbordercrossingsconjureuptunnelsdugdeepunderground,passage

fees paid to shadowy guides, and caravan rides to distant way stations. But for Violent

Nomads, border crossings are solitary affairs best accomplished via a territory’s most

unmonitored,unguardedspaces:bysea(page28),byland(page34),orbyair.Whenexecuted

inacountry’sdesolatecornersandundercoverofdarkness,suchinfiltrationscanbeentirely

undetectable.

For trained operatives, an infiltration by air is built on a two-pronged approach:

appropriationofanunmannedprivateplane(page66)anddescentviawingsuitandparachute.

Global laws dictate that maritime airspace reverts to international rule within twelve

nautical miles of any country’s coastline—and that guideline should inform any attempt at

infiltration.Oncewithinenemyairspace,theaircraftmust“goblack,”itstransponder,radios,

andlightsshutoffinordertoavoidalertingenemyair-trafficcontroltowerstoitspresence.

Acombinationofairglidingandparachutingfromtheplanedownontoruralterrainoffers

the quietest and least visible means of entry. Once a landing point has been identified,

calculating the jump point involves a universal equation: When jumping from a moving

aircraftinawingsuitmadeoutofanonporousnylon,everytwoandahalffeetdroppedmeans

a simultaneous gain of one foot of forward glide, more if going downwind. Such a suit

essentiallyturnsanoperativeintoahumankite,allowinghimtousehislegsandarmstosteer

likeanaircraft.Parachutingisaslow-movingandmuchmorevisibleproposition,soaNomad

shouldwaituntilthelastpossibleminutetoactivatehischute.

Onceonground,thenylonwingsuitandparachutecanbemeltedintoahandfulofglasslike

beads.

013 CrossEnemyBordersbyLand

Every nation displays some weaknesses along its borders, particularly in its uninhabited

spaces,andoperativesalwaysseektoexploitthesevulnerabilities.Butthewildertheterrain,

themorechallengingitwillbetocross.Aseasonedoperativecrossingenemybordersonfoot

might spend days or weeks trekking alone through scorching deserts, freezing mountaintops,

anddense jungle asheslowlywendshiswaytowardthe areaofoperation.Despitethepace

andphysicalchallengesofsuchanapproach,themostdifficultrouteislikelytobethemost

desirable one—for the more rugged the terrain, the freer it will be from scrutiny and

surveillance. If airspace is heavily guarded, infiltration on land may also be the operative’s

onlyrecourse.

GearandTransportation: Almost inevitably, a portion of the journey will occur on foot,

buttheidealscenariowillallowtheoperativetoclockafairnumberofmilesonanoff-road

motorbike with the horsepower to carry a two- to three-hundred-pound load and the

durability to take on extremely uneven terrain. In many parts of the world, motorcycles are

more common than cars, so acquiring or stealing a bike from a neighboring country is well

withintheoperative’sgrasp.

In addition to his EDC kit and bolt bag (pages 6 and 10), the operative will be carrying

enough fuel, food, and water to last the trip and the clothing and gear needed in order to

disguise himself once he crosses the border; even if the operative is able to forgo drinking

waterbecausewatersourcesarecommonthroughouttheterrain,hismissionsupplieswillbe

extensive. Each phase of the infiltration will also require a unique set of tools and weather-

appropriategear.

Shelter: Though operatives are trained to survive extreme levels of sleep deprivation, an

infiltrationstretchingoverseveraldaysorlongernecessitatesreststops.

Improvised shelters are usually preferred. Unlike nylon tents, shelters built from found

materials such as branches or compacted snow blend into their environments and act as

camouflage. In snow-covered landscapes, igloo-like shelters can be constructed out of

compacted blocks of snow. Despite their temperature, these blocks act as nonporous shields

that effectively shut out exterior weather while sealing in heat, allowing operatives to warm

theshelterwiththeirownbodyheatandtheadditionofalitcandleortwo.Oncetheslabsof

snowareplacedbackintothesnowbank,exposuretoafewhoursofsun,rain,orsnowtakes

careofcoveringtheoperative’stracks.

Navigation: When the terrain dictates that operatives proceed on foot, the most grueling

portion of the multiphase infiltration process has begun. Operatives may walk for days in

extremeweatherconditionstoreachtheirdestination.(Infact,poorweatherconditionsmay

be optimal as a means of erasing the operative’s footprints.) And they must be prepared to

navigateusingonlyacompassandamapintheeventthattheirGPSdevicefails.

Thisprovesmucheasierinmountainousareasorseascapes,wheremountaintopsandother

topographical landmarks provide reference points for orientation. In undifferentiated desert

environmentsthatstretchoutforhundredsofmiles,theriskofstrayingfaroffcourseoreven

walkingincirclesissignificant.

In such instances, pace counting—the practice of counting every other step as a gauge of

distance—canbealifesavingtechnique.Asingleadultstepspansapproximatelyonemeter,so

onehundreddouble-stepsadduptoapproximatelytwohundredmeters.Keepingtrackcanbe

an effective barometer of distance in an environment with few other means of assessing

progress.

Untraceability:Operativesgenerallytravelundercoverofnight, sleepingfor shortstretches

duringdaylighthoursandtimingtheirnightmovementstolunarcycleswhentheycan.Ahalf-

moonoffersalevelofvisibilitythatisparticularlywelcomeonroughterrain,whilefullmoons

may render the operative too visible. Night travel is significantly slower than daytime

movementsbutinvolvesfewerrisksthantravelinginbroaddaylight.

Operatives also plan their routes through terrain that makes detection difficult and take

precautions to avoid leaving clues behind. They urinate off-route, in bodies of water if

possible,andpackandcarrytheirfecalmatter.Whereterrainpermits,theyavoidsoil,sand,

and mud and walk on nonprinting surfaces such as rocks, roots, grass, leaves, and bark.

Footprints are unavoidable, but operatives try to break up a consistent trail anytime the

environmentpermits.

014 ConcealGearUsingCaches

AViolentNomad’smissioniscompleteonlyoncehehassuccessfullyvanishedfromthearea

ofoperation—soheneverundertakesaninfiltrationwithoutawell-plannedexitstrategythat

accounts for all of his post-mission needs. Traveling light is crucial, so particularly when

crossingintoremoteterritoryonfoot,theNomadwillseparatehisgearandsuppliesintotwo

categories:itemsneededforthefirstlegofhisjourney,anditemsneededpost-missionand/or

foremergencyexfiltration.Designedtosupportsurvivalontherun,hissecondarycachewill

storeawell-thought-outresupplyoffood,fuel,communicationdevices,money,andweapons,

hiddenawayonapreplannedrouteoutoftown.

Operationalgearreservedforfutureusecanbecachedviaavarietyofmethods.Protected

fromtheelementsbybeingpackedintodurablecontainerssuchaswaterbottlesorlengthsof

PVCpipe,itcanbeconcealedanywherefromcavestohollowed-outtreetrunkstothebottoms

oflakes.Themoreremotethecachesitethebetter,asthelastthingaNomadwantstodois

recover a cache that has been booby-trapped or put under surveillance. Burying operational

gearwelloutofsightreducestheoddsofaccidentaldiscovery.MarkingitslocationonaGPS

deviceenablestheNomadtorecoverhisgearintheabsenceofvisiblelandmarks.

015 HookandClimbaTargetStructure

Nomadsfrequentlygainaccesstomulti-occupancytargetbuildingsbystrollingintounlocked

lobbiesorpickingrudimentarycommerciallocks(seepage110)onbackdoors.Butinhighly

secured buildings monitored by camera and/or roving patrol, access through front or back

doorsmaynotbenegotiable.

Fortunately,anybuildingwitharowofbalconiesalongitsbacksidepresentsasecondary

option:scalingtheexteriorofthebuildingfrombalconytobalcony.Usingapainter’spole,an

extra-longlengthoftubularnylonorrope,andahook,aNomadcanconstructalightweight

ladder system that will safely hold his body weight—enabling him to perform the simple

“hookandclimb”techniqueusedforcenturiesbypiratesstealingontoenemyships.

Tyingaseriesoffrostknotsintoadoubled-overlengthoftubularnylon(itsbitterendstied

togetherwithanoverhandknot)yieldsadurablestepladder(seediagram);thelineshouldbe

more than twice the length of the target structure’s height. After a heavyweight metal

household hook is inserted into a painter’s pole and tied or snapped onto the ladder, the

apparatus can be hooked onto an upper structure durable enough to hold the operative’s

weight. He then climbs from one floor to the next and repeats the process until the target

destinationisreached.

Evenwhenperformedlateatnight,thismethodoflastresortcomeswithahighpossibility

ofexposure.Butbecausesecuritycamerastypicallyaren’tsetuptocatchpeopleclimbinginto

abuilding,inahigh-securitycontextitmaystillbethebestoptionforaNomadlookingtoact

with stealth. Building owners seldom set up cameras beyond the first floor—and train those

they do install toward doorways, on the assumption that any invaders will be coming in

throughthegroundfloor.

016 ScaleaHighWall

While a smooth building facade or high wall may not offer an operative the convenience of

climbing from balcony to balcony (see page 40), the use of a one-way friction knot makes

infiltrationviaropeordrainpipeeminentlyfeasible—solongastheclimbingropeistautand

securelyanchoredatbothtopandbottomends.

Asafetyknotusedbyrockclimbersasaformoflifesavingbackup,thePrusikknotistied

in such a way that it can move only up a rope or line; downward pressure causes it to lock

into place. Tied to a climber’s harness, the knot can provide a fail-safe that may catch the

climberintheeventthatotherdevicesfail.Inaninfiltrationorescapescenario,theknotcan

beexploitedforitsabilitytoslideupaline,lockingintoplacewhenitreceivestheoperative’s

bodyweight.

To tie a Prusik knot, first tie a shoelace or an equivalent length of small-gauge nylon or

parachutecordintoaloopusingasquareknot(seepage43).Then,wrapthecordaroundthe

climbing rope or drainpipe and loop the cord through itself (see diagram). Pass the cord

throughtheresultinglooptwicemore.Pulltightly.

Ideally,tiefourPrusikknotstouseashand-andfootholds,aswhenshimmyinguptheline.

Intheeventthatsuppliesarelimited(ifusingshoelacesinthecaseofescape),twoknotsare

enoughtotogglefromasinglehandholdtoasinglefoothold.

If shimmying up a drainpipe, it will be necessary to untie and retie knots around support

brackets.Tosavetime,bringextrapre-loopedcord.

017 BlendintoAnyEnvironment

Whenfittingintoaparticularregion,aNomadworksthroughanenvironmentalchecklist,the

first dimension of which is personal. How do his look and manner stack up to the

environment?Travelerswholookandactlikefishoutofwaterareprimetargetsforcriminals

of all stripes, and operatives who make themselves conspicuous are prime candidates for

discovery.

The secondary dimension of this process is cultivating cultural awareness, which means

constantly weighing actions and preferences against the prevailing cultural context. If the

general population forgoes ketchup on their sandwiches or ice in their drinks, the operative

willfollowsuit.

Nextissituationalawareness,meaningtheoperativecontinuallyscanshisenvironmentfor

potentialdangers,playingoutworst-casescenariosinordertoidentifywhichactionstotake

beforecrisisstrikes.Withinthirtysecondsofhavingenteredarestaurant,hehascanvassedall

exitsandspottedanypotentialimprovisedweaponsinthevicinity.Hehasalsoidentifiedhis

“invisible thresholds,” the imaginary lines whose crossing will spur him into swift, decisive

action.If he spotsan armed guard carryinganautomaticweapon, hewillquickly determine

his“threshold”forescapeordefensiveaction—i.e.,shouldtheguardlookhiswayrepeatedly,

hewillduckoutthebackdoor.

The final dimension of total awareness is third-party awareness. The operative is always

keenly aware of anyone who might be watching him—whether he’s operating in another

country or using the Internet, his goal is to remain undetected by third parties such as law

enforcementofficials,citizens,criminals,andevenhackers.

PARTIII

INFRASTRUCTUREDEVELOPMENT:

LODGING,TRANSPORTATION,WEAPONS

018 HotelSecurityandSafetyAwareness

Hotelroomsarenotoriouslyunsecurelocations.Especiallyindevelopingnations,eventrusted,

name-brand properties can be susceptible to graft and surveillance—some of it officially

sanctioned. In an era of global uncertainty, aggressive governments go to great lengths to

collectintelligenceonWesterners, whether theybehigh-rankingdiplomatsorrun-of-the-mill

businesspeople.Manytravelblindinthefaceoftheseinvisiblethreats,assumingtheyaresafe

when tucked away in their hotel rooms or rental cars. But any property controlled by an

unknownentityisvulnerabletoamultitudeofthreats.

Some hotels will actually place Westerners in rooms that are wired for surveillance. One

waytothwarttheireffortsistochangeroomsandhotelsfrequently.Becausetheseproperties

are also subject to unexpected emergencies, the safest rooms are those on second or third

floors. Most countries’ fire services are not equipped to reach any higher—but a Nomad

avoidsthegroundfloor,asintheeventofahostileinvasion,havingsomedistancefrom the

lobbyiscrucial.(Terroristswillmostlikelyworktheirwayupfromthegroundfloor.)

Anoperativewilllookforaroomthatisequidistantfromstairwellsandelevators—aroom

too close to the emergency exit exposes him to the risk of being grabbed and shoved into a

stairwell.Toofar,andheisatadisadvantagewhentryingtomakeaspeedygetaway.

CivilianBLUF:Hotelsaretargetsforbothcommoncriminalsandprofessionalconmen,and

lobbiesareparticularlygreatplacesforcriminalstostalktheirpreywithouttheriskofbeing

challenged—thelikelihoodthatthey’llbe questionedbyhotelstaffislow.Fortunatelyhotels

havemanyentrancesandexits;usethemunpredictablytoavoidcreatingroutinesthatcouldbe

observedandanticipated.

019 PreventaHotelRoomInvasion

Hotel guests can mitigate risk by making educated decisions about room and floor selection

(seepage48).Buthotelroomdoorlocksarenotoriouslyflimsy,andeventhemostwell-chosen

room is only as secure as its doorframe, often a slim wooden structure bearing little to no

reinforcement.Socivilianstravelingthroughparticularlyhigh-riskregionsmaywishtoassess

thelayoutoftheirroomsandconstructadditionalfortifications.

Whileasolidlockprovidesameasureofprotectionagainstlockpicking,onlyareinforced

doorframecanpreventanassailantfromkickinginadoor—afewstrongblowswillhammera

metal deadbolt right through a wooden frame. Covering the entire width of the door, an

improviseddoorbarspreadsthepressureoftheblowsalongthebar,relievingthedeadboltof

some of the impact and preventing it from bursting through the doorframe. Fastened with a

pair of small eyelet screws, the reinforcement mechanism leaves behind only a minimal

signatureonceitisremoved.

Inroomswheredoorsopenoutward(morecommonoutsideoftheUnitedStates),invaders

must pull the door, rather than kicking it, in order to force entry—a more difficult task to

beginwith. Asimpletrickmakestheirjobevenmorechallenging:runninga length of nylon

linefromthedoorknobtoafixedstructureortoanotherclosed,lockeddoor.

In rooms where doors open inward, wedging or barricading the door will provide

temporary reinforcement, giving an operative time to plan an escape route or create an

improvisedweaponwhileinvadersstruggleagainsttheobstacleshehassetintheirpath—from

wooden wedges typically used to keep doors open to a lock reinforcement mechanism made

outofabroomstick.Asamethodoflastresort,pilingamassoffurnitureinfrontofthedoor

providesanacceptablemeansofdelayingattackers.

020 ConcealBelongingswithinLodging

When moving within the area of operation, operatives may take refuge in a hotel room

(booked under an assumed name), but they never let their guard down—for they are always

oneroominspectionawayfromdiscovery,andwithitmissionfailure.

Whileitisbestpracticetocarryorhideweaponsandidentificationpapersontheirperson

orinthedeadspacesofanoperationalvehicle,therearetimeswhensensitivegear,tools,or

data need to be securely stowed in a rented room. Hotel safes offer negligible protection, as

they are frequently checked by hotel staff. Instead, operatives rely on elaborate hiding

techniqueswellknowntoprisoninmatestheworldover.

Successfulconcealmentspotsshouldbetime-consumingforintruderstounearth.Intruders

(andhotelstaffalike)alwaysmovequicklywhenthey’recanvassingaroom,asthey’refearful

of being intercepted. Hiding spots that involve screwdrivers (the back panel of a television,

powersockets)willprovetootime-intensiveformostthievestodefeat.Thesespotswillalso

betraytracesoftampering—deliberatelyaligningthescrewsonanoutletoradjustingtherings

onashowercurtainaremeasuresthataresuretotrumptheaverageintruder.

Airventsaretheperfectwidthforhidinglaptopsortabletscontainingvaluableinformation

—just unscrew the grate and place them in the airshaft. Anything flat can be taped to the

undersideofadrawer.

021 BuildaRoomHide

Collectinglong-termintelligenceonatargetisaprocessthatcouldgoonformanydaysand

weeks—pinning down the target’s daily routines and establishing vulnerabilities over time is

key to effective surveillance. But sitting in a parked car for days on end is bound to arouse

suspicion in even the most anonymous of cities. For long-term stakeouts the operative must

createaroom“hide,”anindoorbasefromwhichtocollectintelligenceunobserved.

Thebestroomisonethatprovidesanunobstructedlineofsightoverthesurveillancetarget.

An upper floor will maximize an operative’s field of view while minimizing his visibility.

(Mostciviliansdon’tlifttheirgazeaboveeyelevelastheygoabouttheirdailylives.)Before

buildinghishide,theoperativesurveystheoutsideofthebuildingduringthedayandatnight.

Ifcurtainsinthe buildingare drawnorshut bymaidserviceatcertaintimes oftheday, the

operativefollowssuit.

While collection by night assures a certain level of discretion, daytime surveillance may

yield more valuable information. Tocollectunobserved,theoperativeshields theroomfrom

viewbybuildingavirtualcloakofinvisibility:atemporarydarkroomthatwillenablehimto

disappearbehindawindowinbroaddaylight.Insteadofreflectinglightaswhitewallsdo,its

darkcurtainswillabsorblight,reducingvisibilityintheroomwithoutcompromisingthelook

of the window, which will appear no different than any other when viewed from a ground-

levelvantagepoint.Pinningthesheetstotheceilinginadoublelayerwillpreventlightfrom

leakingintothedarkroomuponentryandexit.

022 StealaVehicle

Unliketheirbig-screencounterparts,ViolentNomadsdon’tdriveAstonMartins,Porsches,or

anyothertypeofBond-worthyrides.Thebestvehicleforcarryingoutamissionisthevehicle

that attracts the least attention—the vehicle that will allow an operative to tail and sit on a

targetforhourswithoutriskingdetection.Thevehiclethatwillblendintotheflowoftraffic

afteraquickgetaway.

Violent Nomads often rent, cash-purchase, or commandeer vehicles; prepare and modify

themforamission;andthendumpthemwhentheyarenolongerneeded.Stolenvehiclesdon’t

leaveapapertrail—andeventhoughtheNomadwillalwaysusefalseidentificationandcredit

cards, he prefers to avoid leaving behind any potential traces. The vehicle can be used

operationally,andthendumpedorburnedlongbeforeitisreportedmissing.

SelectingaVehicle

Theoptimalvehicleforanymissionistheonethatisunremarkableineverysense.Thiswillbe

dependent upon the setting of the mission, so Nomads carefully survey their operational

environmentstodeterminethebestcarforthejob.Theyselectamake,model,andcolorthat

mirrorthemostpopularchoicesinthearea.Beyondthetypeofcar,detailsaresignificant.If

localsinthe areaofoperationhangminiature country flagsfrom theirrearviewmirrors,the

Nomadwillfollowsuit.

Additionalconsiderationsforidentifyinganoperationalvehicleinclude:

DeadSpaceandVoids:Theenvironmentand/or particularities ofa mission maydictatea

vehicle with plenty of voids where operational gear and weapons can be concealed. A

surveillance mission may require cameras, and a mission in a desert or other secluded

environment may require stocking enough food and water for days. Vehicles with the most

usablespaceincludesedans,SUVs,andutilityvehicles.

Condition:Marks,dents,orscrapesareconspicuousattributesthatthirdpartiesmightnotice

andtransmittoauthorities.Conversely,carsthatlooktoocleanalsoriskattractingnotice.In

mostenvironmentsoutsidewealthyenclaves,asoiledcarwillhaveabetterchanceofblending

inwiththerestofthecarsontheroad.

StealingaVehicle

Thesophisticatedkillswitches,transponders,andothersecurityfeaturesnowinherenttomost

modernvehiclesmakecartheftamuchmorecomplexpropositionthanitoncewas;inorder

togeta cartostart,akeyneeds tobebothcuttotheignitionandembeddedwiththe right

transponder.ThisiswhyNomadsandcommoncarthievesalikeseekoutopportunitiestonab

carkeys,carjackrunningvehicles,andhacktheirwayintoolder-modelcarswithlessstringent

securityfeatures.

Valetanddailyparkingstructurestendtodisplayextremelylaxsecuritymeasures.Keysare

often simply tagged and placed in unlocked drawers at valet booths that are frequently left

unattended,providingNomadswithanopportunitytoquicklyandeasilyfilchasetofcarkeys

tothemodeloftheirchoice.

Nomads may also canvass the streets, seizing opportunities for carjacking as they arise.

Civiliansfrequentlyrenderthemselvesvulnerablebyleavingtheirkeysintheignitionasthey

withdrawcashfromanATMorsettlethegasbillinsidethestation.

When it comes to stealing a car the old-fashioned way, Nomads seek out older-model

vehicles with proven security vulnerabilities—Hondas being one reliable example. Once the

lock cylinder is bypassed, the ignition on these models is easily switched on by the tip of a

screwdriver.

Theirfirstorderofbusinessissearchingforsparekeysand“valetkeys,”thethinkeysmany

automakersembedintovehicles’owner’smanuals;theseallowaccesstodoorsandignitionbut

won’t open trunks or glove compartments. Even high-performance vehicles have their

particular vulnerabilities, and Nomads are keen students in this area. Certain BMW models

havewiringharnessesbytheirtrunksthatcanbeshortedandusedtounlocktheentirevehicle.

To expose the lock cylinder on an older-model vehicle (see diagram), they use a few hard

knockswiththehandleofascrewdrivertobreaktheplastichousingonthesteeringcolumn.

Then,theyusethesametechniquetodisengagethelockcylinderfromthelockbody.

Beforetheoperativestartstheengine,hemustalsobypassthesteeringcolumnlock—avery

simple lock mechanism that can be broken by yanking the wheel in any one direction with

bruteforce.Insertingthetipofthescrewdriverintothelockbodyandturningittotherightis

allittakestostarttheengine.

CivilianBLUF: Never leave a running car unattended, even for a moment. Never leave your

carkeysinyourvehicle,eveninalockedgarage.Checkyourowner’smanualforavaletkey

andmoveittoasafeplace.

023 OperationalVehiclePrep

Once an operational vehicle has been acquired, undertaking a range of adjustments will

enhanceperformanceanddecreasevisibilityandtraceability.Thesemayinclude:

• Commandeering voids and dead space suchas the dashboard on the passenger’s side,

airbag compartments, door panels, and seat covers—a suite of caches well known to

drugsmugglersandmules. Ina surveillanceor combatcontext,these spacescanhold

anythingfromarifletoalife-supportsystemcontainingwater,food,money,laptops,

andothercommunicationdevices.

• Outfitting the vehicle with forged license plates and registration documentation.

ExpiredtagsmightblowaNomad’scoverintheeventthatheispulledover.

•Installinganannycamdisguisedinatissueboxonthereardashasanextrasetofeyes.

Depending on the direction in which it is trained, the camera can be used for

surveillanceortodetermineifsomeoneisfollowingthevehicle.

• Disabling daytime running lights, brake lights, and interior lights and chimes for

inconspicuoustravel.Partiallypullinteriorlightbulbsoutoftheirsockets—farenough

to prevent them from turning on, but not so far that they will dangle and attract

attentionintheeventthattheoperativeispulledover.

•Overinflatingtiresforoptimalperformance.

024 EscapeandEvasionVehiclePrep

Duetotheirhighinherentrisk,escapeandevasiondrivingtechniques areusedbyoperatives

onlyincasesofextremeurgency,invehiclesthathavebeenspeciallychosenandretrofittedto

make maneuvers such as the J-turn or the Reverse 180 (pages220 and 222) possible. High-

center-of-gravityvehiclessuchasSUVsarepronetoflipping,whilesmallercarsmightnotfare

aswellincollisions.Examplesofretrofittinginclude:

Selecting Tires: Tires should be replaced with high-performance models inflated to the

recommendedpoundspersquareinch.

Seat-Belt Workaround: In a car that is flipped upside down, the seat belt’s pendulum

locking system could become a deadly liability. If the weight of the operative’s body swings

the pendulum deep into the car door, the belt may lock into place and lose its ability to

unbuckle,soawell-placedrazorbladecanbealifesavingmeasure.

AirbagDisengagement:The lastthinga Nomad wantsis airbags goingoff—andinnewer

vehiclemodels,automaticallykillingtheengineastheydeploy—duringahigh-speedpursuit.

Left-Foot Braking: The human nervous system functions faster and more efficiently when

bothsidesofthebodyworktogether—whichiswhyracecardriversandoperativesusetheleft

footforbrakingandtherightforgas.

Threshold Braking: Learning to depress the brake pedal without locking up the tires is

necessary for precise handling. When deployed at a high speed, this controlled braking

maneuverenablesanoperativetocometoastopwithminimalslidingorskidding.

025 BuildaVehicleHide

Theoptimalhidesiteforstaticsurveillanceisaroomwithaview,butinsomecasesNomads

areforcedtosetuptemporaryhidesitesinsidetheirvehicles.Thisscenarioinvolvesaslewof

vulnerabilitiesanddiscomforts,butexposurecanbemitigatedbytheconstructionofasheet-

baseddarkroomsimilartowhatanoperativewouldbuildinanurbanhidesite(page54).Such

adarkroomallowshimtodisappearasifbehindthedarkestoftintedglass—butunlikeglass,

itdoesnotleavehimvulnerabletobrightsunshineandcuriousonlookers.

AlargesedanorSUVwithtintedwindowsandfoldingseatsgivestheoperativetheability

to set up a full-fledged surveillance suite inside his low-tech darkroom. A tripod, an SLR

camera,andashutterreleasecablewillproducehigher-qualitynightshotsthanthosecaptured

byspecializednightvisionequipment.

Toavoidbeinggivenawaybyenginenoise,runninglights,orexhaustfumes,theoperative

alwaysturnsofftheignition.Incoldweather,heappliesRain-Xtointeriorglassandwearsa

nonporousjacketthatretainsbodyheatinordertopreventwindowsfromfoggingup.Heuses

emptybottlesasreceptaclesforurine;whenfilledandcappedthesecanbeplacedonthefront

orreardashtoactasdefrostingdevices.

Toenterthedarkroom,hewillconstructapretextforleavingthevehiclemomentarily,such

asgoingtothecornerforacupofcoffee.Returningtothecar,hequicklyandcasuallyslips

intothebackdooronthedriver’sside—tomostonlookersitwilllooklikesomeonehasjust

settledintothedriver’sseat.

026 StealaPlane

Mostcivilianswouldbeverysurprisedtolearnthat,forthoseinpossessionofflighttraining,

swiping the world’s most common aircraft—a Cessna 152 or 172—is no more difficult than

picking the lock on a flimsy office desk. But for a Nomad looking to perform aerial

surveillanceorcrossbordersundetected(seepage32),stealingsmall,privatelyownedplanesis

justanothermeansofsecuringanuntraceablemethodoftransportation.

Relatively quiet, fuel-efficient, and reliable, single small-engine planes have several

advantagesforNomads.Theyarehigh-wing(asopposedtolow-wing)aircraft—whichmeans

their wings won’t get in the way if an operative needs to jump out in a hurry. Another

significant advantage is defined by the acronym STOAL, for “Short Takeoff and Landing”:

Small aircraft do not require very much space in which to take off and land, which enables

Nomadstoavoidrunwaysandinsteadlandinopenfieldsandotherdesertedspaces.

Most important, small aircraft tend to be outfitted with flimsy, highly vulnerable wafer

locks, making them extremely easy for an operative to steal using the picking tools and

techniquesthatapplytoanycommondoorlocks(page110).

Small aircraft are typically kept at single-run airports, where security is negligible and

airspace goes unmonitored by transportation or customs authorities. Once an operative has

brokenintothe plane, he willlikely be abletotakeoffandfly away without attractingany

notice.

Civilian BLUF: Owners of private planes are well advised to store their planes in hangars

and/orlockthemdownlikebicycles.

IMPROVISEDWEAPONS

Violent Nomads are always prepared for the eventuality of being captured and stripped of

theirweapons—orthat,inagivencontext,evenawell-concealedweaponwillposetoogreata

riskofdetection.Butbecause theyarewell versedinturningeverydayitemsintoimprovised

weapons,theywillnevertrulybecaughtunaware.

Thereisnosuchthingastheidealimprovisedweapon,asthebestweaponinanyscenariois

simplythe one thatcan be reachedwhenit isneeded.If it canbeeasilyacquiredwithin the

areaofoperationandcarriedwithoutarousingsuspicion,allthebetter.

Thoughimprovisationrulestheroost,someeffectiveweaponsofself-defensecanbecreated

withaminimumofadvanceplanning.

Forcivilians,learningtoseethedangerinherentineverydayobjectshasmultiplebenefits.A

manholdingatightlyrollednewspapermaybeaperpetratorgettingreadytostrike,butonly

thosewiththeforesighttorecognizehisweaponwillbepreparedtofendoffhisassault.And

intheeventofanattack,thecivilianwhoisabletorecognizetheself-defensepotentialinthe

materialsathandwillbeonestepahead.

Civilian BLUF: While the examples used in the following pages describe operatives

repurposing everyday items in the course of a mission, many innocuous everyday items can

standinasimprovisedweaponsofself-defenseasthesituationdemands.Evensaltandpepper

shakers, found on restaurant tables all over the world, can be used to temporarily blind an

assailant—thrownintoanopponent’s eyes,they createamomentarystingingand/or blinding

effectthatmaygiveyouthetimetoescapeorgaintheupperhand.

027 MakeaWaterBottleSilencer

Gunfire’s two biggest giveaways are sparks and sound: an extremely loud bang as the

gunpowder inside the bullet’s cartridge is ignited, along with the resulting flash. But paired

with subsonic bullets from a .22-caliber or .45-caliber pistol, an improvised silencer can

eliminate both. Though some states restrict or outright ban the purchase of silencers and

suppressors,aviablealternativecanbemadefromaplasticwaterbottle,asquareoffinewire

mesh,andastainlesssteelscouringsponge.Theonlyaudiblenoisewillbeatickingsound,the

resultofthepistol’shammerinitiatingtheblowbystrikingtheprimer.

Mimickingtheactionofastandardsilencer—aperforatedsteeltubeencasedwithinasolid

steel tube—the improvised version uses a two-pronged muffling device. Rolled into a tight

cylindricalshape,thestifflayerofsteelmeshwillholditsformanddirectthebulletthrough

and out of the water bottle in a straight line. Tugging on the scouring sponge will help it

expandtofilltherestofthespaceinthebottle,creatingametalpillowthattrapsandmuffles

sound. Like a makeshift steel box, the contraption dampens sound and light waves with a

surprisingdegreeofeffectiveness.

CivilianBLUF: For an imaginative predator, lethal materials are readily available. Stainless

steelscourerscanbeobtainedatanygroceryorhardwarestore,andfinewiremeshcanbecut

outofwindowscreensorscreendoors.Awarenessiskey.

028 TransformanUmbrellaintoaLeadPipe

Because bullets and bullet holes leave forensic traces behind, the world’s most common

assassination weapon is neither a rifle nor a handgun but a piece of common lead pipe

concealedinnewspaper.Adenseandheavysapleavesbehindonlyitsintendedeffect:crushed

boneand,ifappliedtoahumanskull,utterannihilation.

Reinforced with lead, a collapsible umbrella has also been used by criminals to the same

effect.Toturnoneintoaweaponofself-defense,acquirethreetofourheavy-dutywrenches.

Slide the wrenches under the canopy and around the handle, zip-tying them to the umbrella

handlebeforesecuringtheoutsideoftheweaponwithadditionalzipties.Blacktiesonablack

umbrella will not be visible—which means that the weapon will look no different from an

ordinaryumbrella(thoughitwillbesignificantlyheavierandisnotrecommendedforeveryday

use).

029 TurnaPenintoaWeapon

The smartest pen is not a personal computing accessory but a deadly and completely

inconspicuous weapon of self-defense. In a pinch, any pen grasped from the bottom of a

handbag or briefcase can be used to inflict harm on an assailant, but one partiuclar make is

especially effective: With a barrel made of 100 percent stainless steel, Zebra’s original steel

pencanmoonlightasanincrediblemakeshiftstabbingtoolstrongenoughtopierceplywood.

Tostrike,holdthepeninatightfist.Useanoverhandgriptostrikeanassailant’sheadand

anunderhandgripifstrikingthethroatorkneeatcloserange.

030 UseaFishingWeightasanImprovisedSap

Theinnocenttrappings ofa fishingtrip,aneight-ouncefishingweight anda bandanawould

attractnonoticeinatraveler’sbackpack.Seenseparately,theitemsposenodiscerniblethreat.

But in the face of imminent danger, they can be turned into an effective, small, and dense

makeshiftsap.

Foldtheweightintothebandana,thenrollthebandanaintoacylinder.Foldthetwoends

together and strike opponents, aiming for knee (to cause buckling) or head (to cause the

assailant to lose consciousness). The resulting weapon will be powerful enough to crack a

coconutanddoequivalentdamagetoahumanskull.

031 MakeaFlexibleChainWeapon

Thoughnowmostcloselyidentifiedwiththeworldofmotorcyclegangs,chainweaponshave

beeninuseforaverylongtime.Modeledafterthemedieval weaponcalledachainmace,a

basicflexiblechainweaponcanbemadebyattachingtwoitemsthatnaturallybelongtogether

(andhenceshouldattractnosuspicion):achainandapadlock.Theresultingweaponwillbe

strongenoughtocrackhumanbone.

Thoughanybicyclistcanusehischainandlockasimprovisedweaponsofself-defense,the

ideal length of chain—slightly longer than an average forearm—is shorter than that used to

lockupabike.Anoverlongchainwillswingtooslowly,givinganassailantplentyoftimeto

react.

032 MakeaNewspaperNailBat

The sight of a person walking down the street holding a newspaper is one so common and

unremarkable that in the surveillance world, newspapers are frequently used as decoys; like

cell phones or cigarettes, they present operatives with an alibi for loitering on park benches

whilesurveyingatarget,ameansofbecomingacreatureoftheirenvironment.Inapinch,they

canalsobeusedasaweapon.

Rolled up into a tight cylinder that is doubled over onto itself and taped together, a few

sheetsofnewspaperbecomeasurprisinglysturdybaton.Wettingthepapergivesthebatona

significantamountofextraweight,andtheadditionofatwo-and-a-half-inchwoodnailturns

thebatonintoapotentiallydevastatingbludgeon.

CivilianBLUF:In a volatile, unsecured environment, even the most innocent of props can be

causeforalarm.

033 DeployaRollofCoins

Foraneasy-to-reachadvantageinhand-to-handcombat,anoperativekeepsarollofcoinsin

hispocketatall times. (ForeigncurrencyclosestinsizetoAmericannickelsor quarters will

resultinoptimal heft.)Grippedinthecenterofthepalm,thecoinswillincreasethedensity

and weight of his fist—a street-fighting trick that will significantly amplify the velocity and

impactofapowerpunchsuchasastraightrightorleftpunch,ahook,oranuppercut.

Stuffedintoasock,pillowcase,orhandkerchief,thatsamerollofcoinscanbeusedasan

improvisedsap.Thistypeofweapongainsasurprisingamountofpowerfromacombination

ofvelocityanddensity.Whenswungwithforce,itcanbreakbones;directedatanopponent’s

head,theimpactcaneasilyresultinaknockout.

Initsbloodiestincarnation,arollofcoinscanbestuddedwithhouseholdnailstocreatea

sharp and deadly version of brass knuckles. A punch with these spiked knuckles (another

hallmark of street fighting) will inflict serious and unexpected damage no matter where it

lands.

Carriedseparately,eachoftheseitems—arollofcoins,afewstraynails,apairofsocks—is

non-alerting. But when a Nomad senses danger ahead, they can be assembled into effective

optionsforself-defenseinunderaminute’stime.

PARTIV

SURVEILLANCE:OBSERVATION,TRACKING,

ANDCOUNTER-SURVEILLANCE

034 DismountedSurveillance

Stalking a subject on foot may be a low-tech proposition, but it is also a complex endeavor

withahighinherentriskofdiscovery.Conductingsurveillancealoneis particularlydifficult,

thestressofpotentiallybeing“burned”amplifiedaspatienceandstaminaaretestedoverlong

hoursanddays.Becauseanoperativecan’tswitchoutwithteammembers,heismorelikelyto

bespottedbythetarget.

Severalrulesofthumbcanmitigaterisk.Whenonfoot,remaininthetarget’sblindspotat

all times. While the target eats, sleeps, or works, take the opportunity to change clothes.

Switchoutofclothingasoftenaspossible—atadistance,humanbeingsarerecognizedbythe

color and style of their clothing rather than their facial features. Never wear the same thing

twice.

Usetheenvironmenttogainadvantage.Glass surfacesoffer reflectivecapabilitiesandcan

alsoallowanoperativetoscanthestreetfromapotectedvantagepoint.

Vary the timing of surveillance to learn the target’s patterns while thwarting possible

countersurveillance.Donot attempttofollowthetargetall day, everyday—that’sa surefire

way to arouse suspicion. Around-the-clock surveillance is better suited for a multimember

teamwithplentyofpeoplewhocanrotateinandout.

Eighty-five percent of surveillance teams are detected by third parties rather than by the

targetsthemselves—whichunderlinestheimportanceofblendingintotheenvironment.Look

thepart,andcarrybooks,maps,cigarettes,andotherformsof“pocketlitter”asnon-alerting

excusesforloitering.

035 MobileSurveillance

Volatile, high-speed car chases may light up the silver screen, but the slow-paced reality of

vehicular surveillance is defined by patience and persistence. It’s easy to become complacent

when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic or waiting outside a movie theater for two hours—

andtolosesightofthe“rabbit’s”vehicleashepullsaquickrightorslipsoutofaparkinglot

duringoneofthosemomentarylapsesinattention.Vigilanceiskey.

It’s also surprisingly easy to be spotted when following a target too closely. To avoid

detection, stay out of the target’s mirrors and lane and remain one car behind at all times.

Always observe the “two-turn limit.” Following the target for more than two consecutive

turns brings a serious risk of being burned. In this and many other regards, mounted

surveillanceisfarbettersuitedtoamultimemberteaminwhichonemembercanblowpasta

turn,lettingthenextsurveillanceteammembertakeoverandbecomethenew“eye.”

Avoid mirroring the target’s actions, particularly on U-turns. If the target takes a U-turn,

movetothenextturnpocket,thenturnaroundandcatchup.Don’tfollowarabbitthrougha

series of odd maneuvers such as stairstepping through neighborhoods or pulling into dead

ends; the rabbit is probably performing these maneuvers in order to confirm that he’s being

followed.

Letdensity determinedistance.Staycloseindensetrafficand/or urbanenvironmentswith

manystoplights.Twoorthreecarsbetweenanoperativeandthetargetcouldspellalossifthe

operative misses a light or two because a car ahead of him has stopped to take a turn. In a

ruralareawithlowdensity,stayfarback;fewerdriversontheroadmeanslesscamouflage.

CivilianBLUF: Increase your awareness of cars that seem to be mirroring you as you drive

(particularlythosethatfollowyouonmultipleturns)andyouwilldecreaseyourvulnerability

toabductionsorcarjackings.

036 MakeanImprovisedInfraredLight

Anoperativecollectingintelligencefrominsideatarget’shomeorplaceofbusinessmaywait

fordaysforthecoasttoclear—andwhenthatmomentarrives,hiscollectionprocessmustbe

swiftandundetectable.Inthedarkofnight,wheneventhesmallestamountofambientlight

cancompromiseamission,aninfraredlightsourceprovidesanidealrecourse.Invisibletothe

nakedeye,itallowsaNomadtosearcharoomincompletedarkness.

Though infrared bulbs and filters are commercially available, such purchases may create

unwanted scrutiny; an improvised solution, using a flashlight, a piece of camera film or the

slipofplasticinsidefloppydisks,andacameraphone,providesthesameresults.

Whilebothfilmandfloppydisksarebecomingextinctinthedevelopedworld,theyarestill

readilyavailableinmanycountries.Placedinfrontoftheflashlight’sbulb,thefilmactsasa

filter, blocking the flashlight’s visible light rays to undetectable levels. A standard camera

phone(seebelowforexceptions)willallowanoperativetoviewtheobjectslitbytheinfrared

beam emitting from his modified flashlight. Though he’ll be working in complete darkness,

anyobjectthelightisshiningonwillbevisibleinhiscameramonitor.

Note: Some of the newest camera phones come equipped with infrared blocking filters that

render them unsuitable for this usage. To find out if a particular model will work, obtain a

remotecontrol. Turnthecamera onandpointthefrontendoftheremote(the endwiththe

LED lightbulbs built into it) toward the phone’s screen. Press any button on the remote and

lookatitthroughthescreen.Ifthecameradoesdetectinfraredlight,theglowoftheremote’s

LEDbulbswillbevisible.Ifnot,aninexpensivephonepurchasedwithintheareaofoperation

willbelikelytoincludeaninfraredfilter.

037 MakeaTrackingDeviceforNightSurveillance

Mobile surveillance is a uniquely challenging skill set in the intelligence-gathering arsenal.

RequiringaNomadtoengagewithmultiplestreamsofinformationatonce—fromtheflowof

traffic to a target’s sudden turns to the possibility of being spotted—it becomes even more

difficultifavehicle’sdistinguishingfeaturesareeclipsedbythedarkofnight,whenidentifying

a car by its make and model becomes a near impossibility. Similar difficulties emerge if a

Nomadneedstotrackatargetthroughdenseurbanenvironmentsorwhenthetargetdrivesa

commonvehicleinacountrywherelicenseplatesareseenasoptional.

When the ever-present possibility of losing the target is multiplied by these factors, a

rudimentaryinfraredtrackingdevicecanbeusedtoilluminatethetrackedvehicle.Forgedout

ofcamerafilmorfloppy-discmaterialandawhite-lightkeychainLEDflashlight,itfunctions

identicallytoanimprovisedinfraredlight(page90). But insteadof beinghandheld,oncethe

deviceisassembleditiszip-tiedtotheundercarriageofthetargetvehicle.

Camerafilmorfloppy-discmaterialwillsubtractthevisibleraysfromanymechanismthat

emits white light, acting as a barrier that lets only infrared rays (invisible to the naked eye)

through. Lending a telltale glow that is visible only to the Nomad viewing the roadway

throughthelensofadigitalcameraorsmartphone,theresultingmakeshiftdeviceprovidesthe

sortofclose-rangeconfirmationtrackingthatasatellitedevice(seepage100) mightmiss by

several feet. (More suitable for longer-term surveillance, GPS tracking devices enable

surveillanceteamstoestablishthetarget’spatternoflifeovertime.)

038 DetectTamperingofPersonalEffects

Scrutiny of Westerners in developing economies is an increasingly common phenomenon.

Whether seeking trade or government secrets or attempting to determine a visitor’s ulterior

motivesfortravel,inmanycountrieshotelsecurityandgovernmentofficialsworkintandem

tosurreptitiouslypoliceforeignersstayingintheirproperties.

To find out if their belongings have been tampered with and determine their surveillance

status, operatives use discreet alignment techniques to monitor the placement of electronics

andvaluables.

The key word is discreet. Giving host-nation security services reason to believe that an

operative is onto them could result in their upping the ante and moving to detain him—or

worse.

CardinalBearingsTechnique: Use a compass or a compass app to align items in cardinal

directions. Position obstructions around the USB ports on a laptop to determine whether

intrudershaveusedflashdrivestodownloaddata.

SpaceandDepthTechnique:Experiencedhackerswillbypasstheoperatingsystem,flipping

a laptop upside down and unscrewing the hard drive in order to capture the contents of the

computer.Todeterminewhetheralaptophasbeenmoved,useathumbasameasurementtool

whensettingitintoposition.

Traps:The“donotdisturb”signonahoteldoorcanbeputtogooduseasatelltalesignthat

aroomhas,infact,beendisturbed.

Photo Trap: Use Photo Trap or a similar app (see page 126) to compare before and after

shotsof belongings. Suchapps comparebefore andaftershotstakenfromthesame position

andanimateanyportionsthataren’tanexactmatch.

039 DetermineSurveillance

Almosteverycriminalact,frompursesnatchingandothermisdemeanorstosexcrimesoracts

ofterrorism,involvessomedegreeofpreoperationalsurveillance.Thoughtheymaybefocused

on watching a target, criminals themselves are actually quite vulnerable to detection during

thistime—particularlyiftheirtargets(unliketheaveragecivilian)remainalertandattunedto

theirsurroundings.

Toconfirmsurveillance,ViolentNomadssearchfor“coincidences”repeatedovertimeand

distance, employing a multipronged approach governed by the acronym TEDD (Time,

Environment, Distance, and Demeanor). But be subtle—it’s advantageous to let criminals

believethey’velosttheirtargetaccidentally,ratherthanhavethemthinkthetargetisevading

them.

Time:Isthesamepersonorpeopleobservedrepeatedlyovertime,indifferentenvironments?

Todeterminewhetherthisisthecase,payattentiontotheclockthroughouttheday.

Environment:Noticeanypeoplewhosedressorbodylanguagedoesnotfittheenvironment?

Distance: Are the same people popping up in environments separated by a fair amount of

distance? For instance, was the same man in the dark glasses seen ten minutes ago in a

neighborhoodstore(lesssuspicious)ortwohoursagoinasupermarkettenmilesaway(more

suspicious)? Eliminate coincidence in order to confirm surveillance—test out theories by

runningerrandsacrosszipcodes.

Demeanor: In a possible surveillance context, “demeanor” stands for both behavior and

appearance. Be on the lookout for people whose dress or behavior does not fit the

circumstances.

040 DiscreetlyLoseSurveillance

The key to getting rid of a surveillance team without escalating a tail into a heated chase is

letting them believe they have lost their target—and not the other way around. To lose a

mobile surveillance team, forgo highly visible evasive driving techniques in favor of the

followingprotocol:

CreateanAccordionEffect:Breakdownasurveillanceteambydraggingitthroughanarea

withmanylightsand/orstopsigns.Alongstretchofstop-and-gotrafficwillthinoutateam

without alertingitsmemberstotheNomad’s agenda. Thecarclosesttohimmaystayclose,

buttherestoftheteamwilleventuallygetstuckseverallightsaway.Unabletoswapoutwith

teammembers,thelonetailmaygrowwaryofalertinghistargetandopttodisengage.

StopandStartFrequently:Surveillanceteamstendtolosetargetsonthestartorstopofa

movement—so increase the frequency of stops. An operative parked near an exit could take

tworight-handturnsoutofthelotbeforetheteamrealizesit’stimetostartmoving.

Use Public Transportation: To lose a surveillance team by hopping on public transport,

planinadvance.Arriveatadestinationjustasthebusortrainispullingupandhoponbefore

thetailcanmobilize.

Transit through HighlyPopulated Areas: Density and congestion make it difficult for a

teamtokeepeyesonatarget.Whenonfoot,enterhigh-trafficspotssuchasmalls,amusement

parks,andtouristtrapstoincreasethechanceofaloss.

041 DetectTrackingDevices

Inthesedaysofshrinkingtechnology,affixingamagnetizedtrackingdevicetoavehicleisan

all-too-easy proposition. Readily available for purposes from parenting to surveillance,

tracking devices come in sizes as small as thumb drives—and they’re also preinstalled in a

varietyofcontexts,pingingthelocationsofmobilephonesandrentalcarsalike.Foroperatives

travelinginternationally,it’ssafetoassumethatanyrentalcarwillcomepre-equippedwitha

built-in tracking device used to deter theft. But in the hands of an unfriendly host nation,

there’snotellinghowthisinformationcouldbeused.

Communicating via satellite, cellular towers, and server banks, tracking devices can be

eitherpermanentlymountedtoavehicleortemporarilymagnetizedtoitsframe.Becausetheir

signalscannotpunchthroughmetal,theycannotbehiddenbeneaththeframeormetalpartsof

thecar—whichmeanstherearespecificplaceswheretheyareusuallyfound.

Toavoidgettingcaughtovertlyinspectingavehicle,listenforatelltalestatic.Turnoffany

cell phones, and set the radio to an AM station that’s crackly and out of range. If an

occasionaltickingsoundcanbedetectedbehindthatfuzz,thereissomekindofcellulardevice

at workinsidethecar.(Thesoundarisesfrom theinteractionofthecellularsignalwiththe

radio’sspeakerwireandcoil.)

Donotattempttoremovethetrackingdeviceifthereisreasontobelievethatthetracking

is nefarious rather than a matter of standard protocol; instead, come up with an excuse to

tradeinthecar.

042 DeceiveSurveillanceCameras

Capturing footage of our faces at traffic stops, ATM machines, and outside businesses from

jewelrystorestopizzajoints,surveillance camerasline the streetsinmajorcities. Andgiven

howcheapthey’vebecome,theyarenowfoundinevenremotepartsoftheworld.Toerron

the safe side, a Violent Nomad always assumes he is being filmed and employs several

methodsofconcealmentanddisruptiontoreducetheriskofbeingidentified.

Disguise: Operatives avoid masks or outlandish disguises, Hollywood plot devices that will

quicklygetthemspottedbythirdparties.Instead,theywearhatsorheadcoverings.

Light:Theauto-exposurefeatureonmanycamerasconstrictstheapertureinbrightlight—so

shining a flashlight or LED directly into the camera will result in a lower-quality image, as

will timing movements so that the sun is always behind an operative when he encounters a

camera.

Static:Asecuritycamera’scoresignaltravelsdownacopperconductorsheathedinlayersof

braided metal and rubber. Placing a steel razor blade in contact with that copper conductor

will short the connection, temporarily disrupting the camera’s video feed. After the blade

slides through the rubber jacket, it is wiggled through the braided shield until it reaches the

hardmetalcore.Leftinplace,thebladewillcausethemonitortofillupwithstatic.Assoon

astherazorisremoved,thesignalwillreturntonormal.

PARTV

ACCESS:CLANDESTINEBREAKINGAND

ENTERING

PICKINGALOCK

An operative typically prefers a method of clandestine entry that will allow him repeated

accesstothetarget’sdomicileor placeof business, butmissiontimelinessometimesdemand

moreimmediateaction.Insuchcases,theoperativemayreverttothetime-honoredpracticeof

lockpicking.

Though popular depictions of breaking and entering frequently show thieves bypassing

locked doors with the cursory jiggle of a screwdriver, in reality it takes two hands and two

toolstoopenalock—onetoliftthelockpins,andonetoturnthecylinder.

Still,asthefollowingpageswilldemonstrate,itisremarkablyeasyforintruderstobypass

commondoorlocks.Thebestpreventionisahigher-qualitydoorlock,buttherearemeasures

civilianscantaketoreinforceeventheflimsiestofhotelroomlocks.

043 CreateImprovisedLock-PickingTools

Whileanylockwithakeycantheoreticallybepicked,high-securitylocksfeaturingpinsthat

mustbeliftedandtwistedprobablywon’tbevulnerabletoimprovisedinstruments.Mostpin

tumblerandwaferlocks,however,canbedefeatedwithnothingmorethanacoupleofpaper

clipsandasignificantamountofpractice.

Using two paper clips, along with a pair of pliers and a flat file or hard surface, an

operative can create improvised tools to simulate the actions of a rake pick and a tension

wrenchortorsiontool.

Larger,thicker-gaugedpaperclipsarepreferable,astheywillholdupunderpressure;bobby

pinsorthebandmetalusedtoholdshippingcratestogethercanbeusedasanalternative.

Thinningtheinstrumentswillallowmoreroomformaneuveringandensurethatbothtools

areabletofitinsidethelocksimultaneously.Intheabsenceofafile,thefloororawallcanbe

usedtosandthemdown.

044 PickaLock

A crosscut view of the interior of a common lock reveals its inner workings—along with its

vulnerabilities. The lock case houses two rows of five pins, top and bottom, their lengths

corresponding to the cuts on a key. (Known as a five-pin tumbler lock, this common model

actuallycontainstenseparatepins.)

When there’s no key in the lock, springs in the top of the pin chamber push the top and

bottom pins down so that they obstruct the lock’s shear line. When a properly cut key is

inserted into the lock, the pins are pushed up to the levels that clear the shear line. The

cylinderisfreetorotate,therebyretractingthedeadbolt.

Thetricktolockdefeatisinsimultaneouslyapplyingtensiontothecylinderwhilemoving

the pinsoutofthewayoftheshearline;intheabsenceofakey,therotationaltensionwill

holdtheminplace.

Using the nondominant hand, first insert the tension wrench or torsion tool and apply

rotationalpressure.Insertthepicktoolwithotherhand,usingittomovethepins,onebyone,

untiltheypopintounlockedposition.Usethetipofthepicktooltofindeachpin,employinga

rockingmotiontoliftittotheshearline.

Withimprovisedoroff-the-shelflock-pickinginstrumentsonhand,acommonpintumbler

lockcanbedefeatedviaacombinationofpatience,dexterity,andpractice.

DUPLICATINGAKEY

Because every lock that is picked open must be picked closed, lock picking is actually the

option of last resort. Instead, whenever possible, operatives aim to temporarily appropriate

and duplicate a target’s key. Ensuring a method of repeated access to the target’s home or

business, this enables them to perform surveillance in small, undetectable increments over a

periodofdaysorweeks.

045 ClamaKey

Materials as ordinary and commonplace as a bar of soap, a patch of skin, or a piece of

Styrofoam can be used to physically “clam” a key, producing an embossing that is the first

stepinduplication.

But when operatives are unable to make a physical impression of the target’s key, a

photograph provides one of the simplest and most effective means of replication. All that’s

neededasawindowofopportunityisthatsplitsecondinwhichthetargetmomentarilyplaces

hiskeysonarestauranttableorbarcounter.

Physical methods of clamming provide a more accurate embossing of the target’s key but

canbedifficulttopulloff.Accessmaypresentitselfatanygivenmoment,andtheoperative

mustbereadytoact.Intheabsenceofclammingtools,theoperativecansimplypressthekey

against a soft patch of his own skin; the resulting mark will last several minutes. Once the

operativehasleftthepremises,tracingtheoutlinewithamarkerorpenproducesarendering

that will show up clearly in a photograph or photocopy. More-dependable results can be

obtained by depressing keys into malleable surfaces such as bars of soap, Styrofoam cups or

plates,ortraditionalkeyclamsfilledwithmodelingclay.

046 CloneaKey

Armedwithnothingmorethananaluminumsodacan,apenorpencil,apairofscissors,and

apaper clip, a Violent Nomadcaneffectivelyturnakeyclammingintoa duplicatekeythat

willgranthimdirectaccesstothetarget’sdomicileorbusiness.

Acopymachinecanrenderatrue-to-sizeflatcopyofthetargetkeyclamming.Ifworking

fromaphotograph,resizeorphotocopyprintstoreflectactualkeyproportions.

Use scissors to carefully cut out a paper outline of the key. Set aside. Cut the top and

bottomoffofthealuminumcan,thencuttheremainingcylinderinhalf.Laythekeyoutline

ontopofthealuminumrectangle,thentraceandcutoutthekeyshapeoncemore.Thisisthe

duplicatekey—butbecauseitissomalleable,aseparatetorsiontoolisalsoneeded.

Tomakeone,straightenoutapaperclip,thenbendoneendintoanLshape.

Slide the aluminum key clone into the target lock, partially unlocking the mechanism by

raisingthelockpinstotheshearline.Thekeyclonewillbetooflimsytoturn,soinsertthe

shortendofthepaperclipintothelockbeneathit.Usethepapercliptoturnthelockcylinder.

047 ImpressionaLock

Thecentralchallengeinlockdefeatismomentarilyswipingthetarget’skeyinordertocloneit

(see page 114). In many instances, operatives cannot get close enough to a target to do so

without compromisingmissionintegrityandmustthusproceedwithout a clone.Iftheyseek

one-time access to a target’s residence, they may choose to pick the lock (page 110). But

generally, once they negotiate access to a target’s home or business, their goal is to provide

themselvesarepeatable,reliablemeansofreentry.Operativeswanttheabilitytocomeandgo

without detection in order to accomplish the mission over several entries—a key can allow

them to split an hour-long task into several five-, ten-, or fifteen-minute increments over a

period of thirty days. They may also want to provide copies of the key to other government

entitiesconductingcompartmentalizedoperations.

In the absence of a clone, the key duplication technique of last resort is impressioning a

lock.Thistime-intensivetechnique,onefamiliartomasterlocksmithstheworldover,requires

practiceandmanyriskyminutesspentatthetarget’sdoor.But foranyoneintentongaining

accesstohigh-valuedocumentsandevidence,thetimewillbewellspent.

Toexecute,useaprimarytriptophotographthelockanddeterminewhattypeofkeyblank

to purchase. Or transit to the location with a set of reconnaissance key blanks purchased

withintheareaofoperation;thesewillhavethegreatestprobabilityofprovidingamatch.

Withkeyblank,flatandroundfiles,andpliersinhand,thepainstakingprocessofmanually

impressioning the key begins. First, smooth down the key blank with the flat file. Insert the

keyblankintothelock,andjiggleitupanddown.Thelockpinswillleavebehindarowof

telltale scratches—these become guidelines for key cuts. Using the round file, carefully file

grooves at scratch points. Insert the key blank into the lock and repeat, filing it down at

markedpointsuntilitfinallyclicksandturns.

048 BypassaHotelRoomDoor

Mandatory in many commercial buildings and hotels due to fire codes and disability laws,

leverhandleknobsallowapersoncrawlinginafiretoreachupandquicklypulldownonthe

knob to unlock the deadbolt. But beware: this accessibility feature also renders the locks

vulnerable to intruders.Whenguestslockthemselvesout orleverhandlesmalfunction, hotel

staff members use an under-the-door lever lock tool to trip the lock from the hallway, and

such a tool is easy to replicate using a hanger and piece of string. With a series of simple

maneuvers,thievesandoperativescaneasilydefeatthislock.

Construct an Under-the-Door Tool: Use a set of pliers to cut the hanger at two points,

creatingasmallL-shapedhookandalargerJ-shapedhandle.Bendanadditional“hook”into

theL-shapedhandleandtieafour-foot-longpieceofstringtothishook.

BreachtheDoor:SlidetheL-shapedendofthetoolunderthetargetdoor,holdingontothe

freeendofthestring,andpushitforwarduntiltheJ-shapedendofthetoolisaboutoneinch

awayfromthedoor.

GrasptheDoorknob:RollthetoolontothecurveoftheJ-shapedenduntilanaudibletap

on the other side of the door signals that the tool is now upright. Slide the tool toward the

knobuntilitcatchestheleverhandle.

TriptheLock:Pullonthehangerandstringtopullthehandledownanddisengagethelock.

Civilian BLUF: Lever handle knobs are easy to defeat, but additional protection may be

obtainedbyobstructingthegapbeneaththedoorwithatowel(stuffedintothegapassecurely

aspossible).

049 SurreptitiouslyUnlatchDoorLocks

Commonlyfoundinbothhotelroomsandhomes,doorchainandbarlocksaretheflimsiestof

alllockingmechanisms.Butforoperativeslookingtoaccessatarget’sroomwithoutleavinga

trace,aforcedentrythatleavesbehindasplintereddoorframeandabrokenlockisamethod

oflastresort.Instead,operativesrelyonamethodofentrythatsetsthelockbackintolocked

positionupondeparture.

Adoorthatissecuredbyonlyachainorbarlockwillopenaboutthreeinches—justenough

spaceforanoperative’sorthief’sforearmtosqueezethroughandcreateanauto-unlockdevice

usingarubberband,apushpin,andalengthofdentalfloss.

Onachainlock,looponeendoftherubberbandtotheendofthechain,thenstretchand

pintheotherendtowardthecenterofthedoor.Asthedoorcloses,theincreasedtensionon

therubberbandwillpullthechainoutofthelock(seediagram).

Onabarlock,thetechniqueisslightlymorechallenging.First,affixtherubberbandtothe

bar using a “girth hitch” loop. Then, stretch the other end of the rubber band toward the

doorframe (away from the center of the door) and pin it to the wall beside the door (see

diagram).

Topullthelockclosedasthedoorshuts,loopadoublelengthofdentalflossoveronearm

ofthelockingbarnearitsbase;holdontotheendsoftheflosswhileclosingthedoor,then

pulltolock.Toretrievethefloss,pullitthroughthedooropeningbyoneend.

Civilian BLUF: Never rely on door chain or bar locks to secure doors. Always use your

deadbolt.

050 DefeataPadlock

While padlocks have a heft that communicates a certain impenetrability, in reality they

providelittlemorethanasenseoffalsesecuritytotheirowners.Operativesactuallyseekout

entrancessecuredbypadlocks,ontheveryassumptionthattheywillbeeasytodefeat.Many

are constructed quite flimsily, built with a loose tolerance that makes them extremely

vulnerabletointruders.Insomecasestheycanbebypassedentirely—thepiecestowhichthe

locks are affixed may themselves be vulnerable, as with hasps that can simply be unscrewed

fromagate.

In order to defeat a padlock directly, a set of improvised shims can be made using a

lightweight, pliable aluminum can and a pair of shears. Cutting out two rectangular pieces

withsemicirculartabs(seediagram)yieldstoolsstrongenoughtotakeonmostpadlocks.

Slid down between the shackle and lock case, the shims are rotated so that their tongues

move to the insides of the shackle and jostle the interior ball bearings aside. With the ball

bearings pushed out of the indentation in the shackle, the padlock will unlock with upward

pressure.

Civilian BLUF: When securing an entrance via padlock, be sure to select a top-of-the-line

modelandaddressanyvulnerabilitiesinthesurfacetowhichthepadlockwillbemounted.

051 CovertlyAccessLockedLuggage

Alockedsuitcasepresentsnorealimpedimenttoawell-trainedoperative.Luggagelockscan

easilybeopenedwithmasterkeysorbypassedentirelybysimplynudgingthesuitcase’szipper

open with a ballpoint pen. But an operative conducting a search of a potential target’s

valuablesalwaysseekstoeraseanytraceofhisactions.Whenattemptingtoretrievevaluable

intelligence (or to plant eavesdropping technology or tracking devices that might render the

targetevenmorevulnerable),breakingintolockedluggagewithoutdetectioniskey.

Becausethere’snotellingwhetheratargethasemployeddiscretealignmenttechniques(see

page94)inordertodetecttampering, aViolentNomadcanneverbetoocautious.Together

withthezipper breakingtechnique,the useofappssuchas PhotoTrapcanhelpensure that

thetarget’sbelongingsareleftexactlyastheywerefound.

Oncethesuitcasehas beenbreached,off-the-shelf trackingdevices canbeinsertedintoits

lining—theareabetweenthewheelsandthefabricoftenprovidesadiscreetconcealmentarea.

CivilianBLUF: Any object with a zipper closure can never truly be locked, and any suitcase

madeof clothcanultimatelybeslashedopenbyasharpinstrument.Foradditionalsecurity,

selecthard-sidedortrunk-styleluggagewithclamshellorclipclosures.

052 OpenaCarDoorwithaPieceofString

Older-modelcarswithpull-uplocksarevulnerabletotheunlikeliestofbreak-intools:asingle

pieceofstring,shimmiedintothecarthroughtheopeningbetweenitswindowandframe.The

mostdifficultpartoftheprocessiswedgingthestringpasttherubberizedweathersealaround

thetopofthecardoorframe.Theolderthecar,thelooserthesealwillbe.

TieaSlipknot:Formaloopatthecenterofasix-foot-longpieceofstringorparachutecord.

Cross one end of the string over and under the loop, creating a secondary loop. Hook the

stringbackoverandthroughtheinnermostloop,tighteningitintoaknotwhilemaintaining

theupperloop.

ShimmytheKnotintotheCar:Workingfromtheuppercornerofthecardoorjustabove

thelock,shimmytheknotandlineintothecar,keepingbothendsofthestringoutsideofthe

car. Pull back on the corner of the window to create an opening. In models where the glass

windows don’t have a frame around them, beware of exerting too much pressure on the

windowandcausingtheglasstoshatter.

SnaretheThumbPuller:Guidetheknotdowntowardtheunlockmechanismandsnareit

withtheloop.

TightentheKnot:Pullbothendsofthestringinoppositedirectionstotightentheslipknot

aroundthethumbpuller.

UnlocktheDoor:Oncetheknotistightenedasmuchaspossible,pulluponbothendsofthe

stringtounlockthedoor.

053 DiscreetlyOpenGarageDoors

Lock picking can be an arduous and time-consuming task, which is why operatives tend to

seek out workarounds such as clamming a target’s key (page 114) or bypassing the lock

altogether(page120).Inahomeinfiltrationscenario,anattachedgaragewithadooroperated

byanelectricopeningdeviceprovidesasignificantvulnerabilityfortheNomadtoexploit.

Because they must slide up and back onto rail systems, garage doors are built with space

alongtheirtopedges.Byslidingastraightened-outhangerwithahookatitsendbetweenthe

garagedoorandtheupperdoorframe,thecablethatdisengagestheautomaticopeningsystem

can be hooked. Because most civilians use their automatic door closure systems as default

lockingmechanisms, thisisallthatisneededinorderto“unlock”thedoorbeforemanually

openingit.

Oncetheoperativehaspulledthedooropenjustafewfeet,hewillquicklyslidebeneathit

and immediately pull the door closed. Entry to the house may now be possible—many

homeowners fail to lock the door connecting the garage to the house. Even if that door is

locked,thereisnowasafeandcoveredspacefromwhichtoworkonbypassingthelockforas

longasnecessary.

CivilianBLUF: Cut or tie off the manual-open cable of your garage door so that the cable

becomesunreachablebyatoolinsertedatthetopofthedoor.Eveninasecuredgarage,never

leaveyourcarkeysinyourcar.Lockthedoorbetweenyourhouseandgaragetocreatelayers

ofsecurity.

PARTVI

COLLECTION:AUDIOANDVIDEO

INTELLIGENCE

054 InstallanAudioDevice

What is the optimal concealment spot for an audio surveillance mechanism? The answer

depends on a compromise between available options, time spent on target, and achievable

soundquality.Whileitispossibletocreateafunctionallisteningdeviceusinglittlemorethan

amobilephoneandapairofheadphones(seepage136),abotchedinstallationwillyieldlittle

inthewayofactionableaudio.

In selecting their install points, operatives attempt to determine where unguarded

conversations are likeliest to occur (often in bedrooms or kitchens rather than living rooms)

andaimforlocationsthatputthematthe“centerofconversation.”

Sound quality will also depend on the particularities of the concealment spot. In a car, a

central console or dome light produces intelligible audio from both front- and backseat

conversations,whereasabugplacedtoonearthefrontofthevehiclemaypickupinterference

from the motor or stereo system. The molding of a television offers highly effective

concealmentbutaddsaplasticbarrierthatmayinterferewithsoundquality.

Lastly, operatives will choose between a “hard install,” a semipermanent installation that

utilizes parasitic power from a source such as a television or an electrical outlet, or a “soft

install,”whichmaybeassimpleasplacingarecordingdeviceinsideaboxoftissues.Thefirst

optiontakesagreatdealoftimeontargetbutmeanstheoperativeneverhastoreturninorder

to service the device. A soft installation may require dangerous return trips when the device

runsoutofbatteriesormaxesoutitsmemory.

CivilianBLUF:Whilenoise-cancelingsoftwarecanoverridethesoundsoftelevisionorradio,

it cannot process the sound of running water—which makes bathrooms in potentially

compromisedlocationsidealspotsfordiscreetconversations.

055 TurnaSpeakerintoaMicrophone

Stashing a voice-activated recording device in a target’s room or vehicle is relatively simple,

but without sound amplification, such a setup is unlikely to result in audible intelligence—a

proper audio-surveillance system requires amplification via microphone. In the absence of

dedicatedtools,however,theNomadcanleverageacellphone,anaudiojack,andapairof

headphonesintoaneffectivelisteningdevice.

Becausemicrophonesandspeakersareessentiallythesameinstrument,anyspeaker—from

theearbudsonapairofheadphonestothestereosystemonatelevision—canbeturnedintoa

microphone in a matter of minutes. The simple difference between the two is that their

functionsarereversed.Whileaspeakerturnselectronicsignalsintosound,amicturnssound

intoelectronicsignalstobemanipulatedandamplified.

Thedistinctionturnsontwo wires, onepositive (red)andonenegative(black).Switching

thesewiresreversesthepolarity,andthereforethefunction,ofthedevice(seediagram).

Toexecute,cuttheoutboundendsofthespeakerwiresandattachthemtoanaudiojack.

Plugtheaudiojackintotherecordingdevice.

Any small recording device can be employed, but using a phone set to silent and auto

answerasalisteningdevicehastwoadvantages:Itcapturesintelligenceinrealtimeanddoes

so without the operative having to execute a potentially dangerous return trip on target to

collectthedevice.

Thisaudioinstallationtechniqueishighlyadaptabletoavarietyofenvironments.Tosetup

vehicular surveillance, disable one of the car’s rear speakers, plugging its wires into a voice

recorderorphone;concealtherecordingdeviceinthedeadspaceofarearpassengerdoorora

trunk’slining.Inpublicplaces,earbudsdanglingfromacoatpocketcanfunctionasadiscreet

ambientsurveillancestation.

BUILDINGANDCONCEALINGASURVEILLANCECAMERA

For a Nomad, the optimal surveillance camera begins with an off-the-shelf product from a

local superstore and ends with an object that blends into its environment to the point of

invisibility.Thestartingpoint?Astandard-issuebabymonitor.

Withcamerasgettingsmallerandlighterbytheday,it’spossibletodisguiseasurveillance

setupinaboxofKleenex,thecasingofaguttedhardcoverbook,ortheampledeadspacein

officeequipmentsuchasprinters.Buttosecureaviewovertheexteriorofatarget’shomeor

businessinordertoobtainpositiveidentificationonkeyholdersandvisitors,Nomadscanuse

homemadeplasticanddisguisethecameraasaninnocuousrockorclumpofdirt.

056 ConstructandInstallaPinholeCamera

A pinhole camera starts with a visit to a superstore and the purchase of a wireless baby

monitor. Once in hand, crack open the baby camera housing to reveal its contents (see

diagram). Remove the components—a transmitter, a battery pack, and the camera lens—but

keepthemwiredtogether.Discardthebabycamerahousing.Followtheinstructionstocreate

homemade plastic (see page 142), then place a toothpick in the eye of the camera lens and

mold the plastic around the lens in the shape of a rock; the toothpick will create an

indiscerniblepinholethroughwhichthecamerawilloperate.

Paint the rock in a neutral color or a shade specific to the landscape outside the target’s

homeandenclosethetransmitterandbatterypackinawaterproofziplockbagorTupperware

container.Burythecontainerinashallowhole(toodeepandthetransmitter’ssignalwillfail)

andsetupthecamerasothatitcapturespeople’sfacesastheyenterandexitthebuilding.To

ensurethatthecamera’s“lookangle”isproperlypositioned,leavethetoothpickinplaceuntil

thelastminuteanduseitsangletogaugethefieldofview.

Foranadditionallayerofcamouflage,applyspraygluetotherockduringinstallationand

coveritwithdirtgatheredonsite.Fromaremotesetupinavehicleuptotwohundredyards

away,anoperativewillbeabletoobservethecomingsandgoingsonhismonitorscreenwith

limitedriskofdetection.

057 MakeHomemadePlastic

Allthatisneededtoconcealvaluabledata,keys,orsurveillancedevicessuchascamerasand

microphonesaretwoingredientscommonlyfoundinanyhouseholdkitchen:milkandvinegar.

Heated and strained so that the milk’s casein proteins coagulate into a rubbery, plasticlike

substance,themixturecanbemoldedintoanyshape,dryingtoaclaylikeconsistency.

In contrast to body cavity concealments focused on escape, or to mobile tech solutions

focused on eliminating the Nomad’s digital signature (page 194), plastic concealments are

useful for camouflaging valuables or surveillance devices in a particular environment. The

shape-shifting substance can be formed and painted to resemble rocks, bricks, logs, or any

number of objects, making it a prime candidate for the dead drops Nomads use to

surreptitiouslycommunicateimportantdatatoassociates.

Note:Heattimemayvarydependingonthemicrowave’spowerandsettings.

CivilianBLUF:Camerasareeverywhere—alwaysassumeyouarebeingrecorded.

058 SendAnonymousEmails

Password-protectedemailaccountsandWi-Ficonnectionsarechild’splaytomodernhackers,

a class of information specialists that includes identity thieves, scam artists, and seasoned

terroristsamongitsranks.Tothwartthem,Nomadsemployananonymitynetworkoriginally

developed by members of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as a tool for secure

communication.(Ironically,ithasalsobecomethefavorednetworksolutionforcriminalsand

black-marketbusinessesofallstripes.)

Tor, the name of the network, prevents forensic traceback by encrypting and bouncing

informationthroughachainofvolunteerserversallovertheworld.Bydisguisingthesender’s

pointoforigin,thenetworkprotectsNomadsfromthirdpartiesattemptingtofindouttheir

geolocation; an anonymous email account with no connection to the Nomad’s name or

identityprovidesanadditionallayerofsecurity.

Though free Wi-Fi hotspots are known for their lack of security and vulnerability to

hackers, they can be useful toaNomadwho’swary ofhavinghishome or hotel connection

tapped. To set up an anonymous browsing session, transit to a location that falls outside

regularpatterns,thenaccessafreeWi-Ficonnectionthatdoesnotrequirealoginorpassword.

DownloadTails,a user-friendly operatingsystemthatusesTorasits backdropandsavesno

browsing information. Once loaded, use Tails to create a new, completely anonymous email

address. Follow the example of citizens in authoritarian regimes who, wishing to further

decrease the span of their digital footprints, will often share email accounts with close

associates.Insteadofsendingandreceivingemails,theykeeptheircommunicationssecureby

responding back and forth on draft emails, thereby never creating any potentially alerting

traffic.

059 HideInformationinPlainSight

No matter how carefully a Nomad covers his tracks, any exchange of digital information

presents the possibility of a security breach. So operatives secure their messages with a

multiprongedsystem,layeringvariousformsofencryptionintocommunicationssentthrough

ananonymitynetworkandviafalseemailaddresses(page144).Just as spies once concealed

information-filledmicrodotsontheheadofapin,todayoperativesembedtextdocumentsinto

digitalimagesthatmustbedecompressedtorevealtheircontents.

To create a rudimentary form of encryption, start with a program such as TextEdit or

Notepad. Avoid any word processing software that is connected to an update mechanism;

documentscreatedinsuchaprogrammayberecoverablebythirdparties,eveniftheyaren’t

beingsavedtoaharddriveortothecloud.

Beforecomposingamessage,pasteaninnocuousimageintothetextdocument.

Typesensitiveinformationaboveorbelowtheimage.Changethefontcolortowhiteand/or

the fonttoa symbolforadditional cover.Intheshortterm, thiswillconcealactivitiesfrom

onlookerswhilethemessageiscreated.Whenthemessageissent,theimagefilesizewillserve

asafront,disguisinganyadditionalspacetakenupbythetext.

060 HideandExtractDataUsingEverydayPhotos

Whena suspicionof surveillance isconfirmed,there is nosuchthingas asurfeit of caution.

The Nomad hunkers down, limiting anything but the most essential communications and

meetingassociatesincrowdedpublicplaces.Ifhemustsendoutinformation,asingleformof

encryptionorcovertmessagingdoesnotsuffice—varyinghismethodologieswillmakeitmore

difficultforpotentialcodebreakerstodeterminepatternandunlockhiscode.

Althoughelaborate,amethodofencryptionthatreliesonstagingaphysicalartifactwithin

aphotographdeceivesthehumaneyewhilefoilinganykindofautomateddecryptionsoftware.

To set up the decoy, acquire a high-megapixel digital camera. (A smartphone camera will

not produce images of high-enough quality.) Handwrite or print the message on paper.

Concealthephysicalartifactinthebackgroundofaposedshot—atthebaseofabuildingor

camouflagedonabusybulletinboardinthebackgroundofagroupshot.

Photographthescenewiththeentireimageinfocus,thenzoominontheresultingimageto

makesurethemessageislegible.

Instoringoremailingtheimage,besuretosaveitatfullresolution.Mergetheimageintoa

setofinnocuousphotographs.Downloadedtoaflashdriveandsmuggledintoadeaddrop,or

attached to a draft email on an account shared with associates (see page 144), the set will

revealitstruecontentsonlytothosewhoknowtosearchforthem.

PARTVII

OPERATIONALACTIONS:DENY,DISRUPT,

DISABLE

061 DrawaConcealedPistol

Many gun-carrying civilians mistakenly practice their target shooting to the exclusion of

relatedcompetencies.Onefrequentlyneglectedarea,theartofrapidlyandseamlesslydrawing

aconcealedweapon,is crucialtosuccessful self-defense.When confrontingan assailantwho

alreadyhashisweaponinplay,adelayofevenahalfsecondorlesswillseriouslycompromise

chancesofsurvival—sooperativesknowthatworkingondrawingtechnique(alwayswithan

unloadedweapon)andunderstandingtheintricaciesofeachparticularholsterarecrucial.Two

frequentproblemsarefumblingthedrawanddrawingtheholsteralongwiththeweapon.

DrawingaWeaponunderanUntuckedShirt:Adrawoccursinasingleseamlessmotion

thatcanbebrokendownintothreedistinctphases.Inthefirst,theoperativeuseshisthumbto

“hookandsweep”hisshirtoutoftheway,efficientlymovingthefabricasidetopreventthe

weaponfromgettingtangledupinitsfolds.Inthesecond,hisnondominanthandholdsuphis

shirtwhilehisdrawinghandliftstheweaponoutoftheholster.Inthethird,hisnondominant

hand becomes the support hand as he pops the wrist of his drawing hand and points the

weapontowardthetarget.Allthewhile,hiseyesremainfixedonthetarget.

DrawingaWeaponunderaCoat:Acoatthatswingsforwardwhiletheoperativeattempts

to draw can be a very real liability—one that’s neutralized by the simple trick of weighting

down the jacket with a roll of coins. Use the drawing hand to brush the jacket back while

simultaneouslydrawingtheweapon.

Inbothcases,thecrucialsupporthandhelpsstabilizeaimwhilequickeningthedraw—thehumanbody

functionsmorerapidlyandefficientlywhenbothsidesareperformingparallelactionsintandem.

062 ShootfromaVehicle

For drivers and passengers caught in enemy crossfire, the first line of defense against armed

attackersshould bea rapidgetawayby car.If driving away isn’t possible,running for cover

outside the vehicle is preferable to hunkering down. When bullets are flying, a stationary

vehiclecanquicklybecomeaglass-enclosedcoffin.

But for skilled operatives confined in their vehicle, a quick draw and an understanding of

thedynamicsofshootingthroughglassmaymeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.

Thequestionofwheretoholsteraweaponforeaseofaccesswhiledrivingdependsonthe

individual driver, but for a right-handed person, a weapon holstered on the left hip will be

accessibleviaacross-drawbutunimpededbytheseat-beltbuckle.

Whentakingaim,leaningbackanddownaffordscranialprotectionandkeepstheshooter

outofviewandawayfromglass.Windshieldsareconvex,curvedsurfaceswhosearctendsto

alterthebullet’spathway.Tocorrect,operativesaimlow;ashotaimedthroughawindshield

atthetarget’spelvisshouldhitatchestlevel.

Operatives always fire multiple rounds, the first to break glass and the second to hit the

target,bracingforajolt.Becausethefirstshotisfiredinaconfinedenvironment,theresulting

noiseandpressurewillbeacute.

Mostcarwindowsaretemperedandlaminatedsothattheywillbreakintopetalsthatstick

togetherratherthanflyingapartintoshards.Butwhendealingwithglassofanykind,serious

injury can occur. If possible, push or kick the spidered glass out of the way for safety and

improvedaim.

063 WinaKnifeFight

Easy to acquire and menacing to behold, knives are often used by common criminals who

value their intimidation factor but lack a basic knowledge of knife fighting. For this reason,

operatives know that learning proper knife-fighting techniques can play a critical factor in

survivinganattack.

GuardingtheWeapon:Protectvitalorgansfromanopponent’sknifeandpreventtheknife

from being snatched by holding up a sacrificial guard hand and rotating the torso sideways.

Turn knuckles toward the attacker to protect the arteries and veins on the inner wrist and

forearm.

KnifeGrip:Anoperativealwaysmaintainsafullgriponhisknifehandle.Leavingthethumb

stretchedoutoverthetopofthehandleisextremelyunsafe,sohecurlshisthumbaroundthe

handletopreventinjuryandprohibitanopponentfromtakingtheknifeaway.

AnglesofAttack: To weaken an opponent, stab and slice along one of the eight angles of

attack. This kind of motion enables the operative to filet a muscle apart, disabling the

opponentandallowingtheoperativetogaintheupperhand.

CutPoints:Inalife-or-deathstruggle,anoperativewilltrytostabanopponentinoneofthe

body’slargearteriestocausealethalinjury.Thefemoralartery,locatedontheinsideofeach

thigh,hasthegreatestchanceofbeingleftunguarded.

CivilianBLUF: Aknifethatisnot usedsafelyprovidesnodefense atall—it’smorelikelyto

imperiltheuserthantowoundhisattacker.

064 StrikeforaKnockout

Whenoperativesshoot,theyaimtokill—andwhentheystrike,theyaimforaknockout.

Thekeytoachievingaknockoutpunchistolandthehitinsuchawaythatitwillcausethe

brain to bounce back and forth in the cerebrospinal fluid. A hard punch that lands on the

temple,jaw,orchincancreateinjuriesinboththefrontofthebrain(a“coup”injury)andthe

back of the brain (a “contrecoup” injury), causing the opponent to lose consciousness and

givingtheoperativeplentyoftimetoescape.

Thepowerinawell-executedpunchcomesfromarotationalactioninthecore,amplified

by the momentum of a double step forward. To make sure the punch lands forcefully, an

operativewillaimhisknucklesthroughthebackoftheskull.Beforethrowingthepunch,he’ll

employaseriesofjabswithhisnondominanthandtodistractandweardowntheopponent,

usingtheelementofsurprisetodeliverahard-hittingstraightpunchwithhisdominanthand.

While hand-to-hand combat is never strategically desirable, even the best-laid plans are

subjecttounexpecteddevelopments.Whethercaughtoffguardwhilepickingalockorsimply

avictimofbeinginthewrongplaceatthewrongtime,theoperativemayfaceanynumberof

opponents who are incidental to his mission. Drawing a weapon in such a scenario would

attract too much notice, so when taken by surprise the operative seeks to knock out his

opponentandclearthepremisesasquicklyaspossible.

065 DeliveraDevastatingElbowStrike

Trainedtoexecutedeadlyassaultsunderanypossiblecircumstance,ViolentNomadsarewell

versedinthemanyformsofhand-to-handcombat—andtheyarealwayslookingforthemost

efficientwaytoendafight.

The elbow is the hardest and sharpest point on the human body. When combined with

momentum and a calculated angle of attack, an elbow strike can result in a knockout,

breaking skin and causing serious injury. Though both punching and kicking can potentially

knockoutanopponent,elbowstrikesoffermoremaneuverabilitywhenengagingcombatants

in close proximity—and unlike punches, they can be employed in the all-too-common event

thatfightsaretakentotheground.

Properbodypositioningbeginswithabentelbow,withtheactivehandopenandthethumb

anchored to the chest. Keeping the thumb anchored to the chest prevents the arm from

straighteningwhilestriking.Thepowerinanelbowstrikecomeslargelyfromtherotationof

the core, with the elbow becoming the temporary holding spot for that momentum.

Straighteningthearmdilutesmomentumandincreasesrecoverytime.

Theulna,abladelike bonethatrunsthrough theforearm, can berecruitedasasecondary

point of contact; keeping the hand open prevents the forearm muscles from constricting and

envelopingtheulna,allowingthesharpanddeadlybonetorevealitself.

Thetakeaway?Aiminganelbowatthethroat,temple,orchinwillresultinastrikewitha

goodchanceofstunningorseriouslydebilitatinganopponent.

066 MakeanImprovisedTaser

Nothingcouldbelessalertingthanthesightofatouristtakingphotographs—andthat’sgood

news for Nomads looking to create improvised self-defense weapons out of ordinary

disposablecameras.

Nonlethaloptionsforself-defensearecrucialforaveragecitizensandoperativesalike,and

the use of Tasers is legal across most of the United States. Off-the-shelf models, however,

aren’t alwayseasytocomeby,soNomads must sometimes resorttoan improvised hack by

purchasingadisposablecamerawithintheareaofoperation.

Followingaseriesofmodifications,the camerabecomesahighlyeffectiveTaser—rewired

sothattheelectricitynormallyusedtopoweritsflashisdirectedintotwoprotrudingscrews,

their chargepowerful enoughtotemporarily incapacitateanassailant.Anopponent hit with

suchachargeislikelytofalltothegroundandbeincapacitatedforseveralminutes.Acharge

ofanywherefrom120to380voltswillradiatethroughtissueandnerves,interferingwiththe

brain’scommunicationwithmusclesbycreatingstaticwithinthebody.Theresult—impaired

motor skills and involuntary muscle contractions—creates a powerful, nonlethal option for

self-defense.Toconstruct,trainedoperativescarefullyfollowthesesteps:

DraintheCapacitor:Beforetakingthecameraapart,itisabsolutelyessentialtoremovethe

batteryanddepresstheflashbutton.Thiswilldrainthecapacitorofanystoredelectricityand

preventanaccidentalshockduringassembly.Ifthecapacitorisnotproperlydrained,therisk

ofinjuryisveryhigh.

Take the Camera Apart: Carefully remove the camera housing, then remove the circuit

board,flash,film,andbattery.Breakaparttheflashbulbassemblyandthecircuitboard.

Prep the Tools: Acquire a screwdriver, a pair of wire strippers, two four-inch lengths of

insulated wire, and two small screws. Before discarding the roll of film, cut and reserve a

smallpiece.

Rewire the Camera: Strip the lengths of electrical wire at both ends. Wrap the wire ends

aroundtheheadsofthescrews.Twistthescrewsintothecamerahousinginthespacewhere

thefilmrolloncesat.Wraptheopposingwireendstothecapacitorpostsandtapetosecure.

Thisredirectsthecamera’schargefromitsbatteryintothetwoscrews.

PuttheCameraBackTogether:Mountthecircuitboardintoitsoriginallocation,tucking

intheelectricalwirealongsideit.

InserttheSafetyMechanism:Placethepieceofreservedfilmbetweenthebatteryandthe

batteryterminalposttopreventthemechanismfromaccidentallydischarging.

Replace the Housing: With its exterior cardboard casing replaced, the camera will look

virtuallyindistinguishablefromthemodelsfoundinthebackpackofanytypicaltourist.

Incapacitate the Opponent: To use the improvised Taser, employ a stabbing motion to

drive the screws into the opponent’s flesh. A touch will deliver a significant jolt, but in the

eventthatthedevicedoesn’tdischarge,breakingtheskinshouldinjureanattackerenoughfor

theoperativetogaintheupperhandandmakearapidescape.

Note: Creating an improvised Taser is much more dangerous than it seems. Anyone

attempting to do so should avoid touching the camera’s capacitor or any part of its circuit

boardwhilethecapacitor is charged.Theelectricity willdischarge, causingasignificant and

potentiallydisablingshock.OnlydischargetheTaserincasesofextremeemergency.

067 MakeanImprovisedExplosiveDevice

Intheabsenceofbackupfromfellowteammates,theoperativelookingtoinfiltrateatarget’s

homemustrelyonimproviseddiversionarydevicestodistracttheenemy’ssecurityunit.Used

aspartofmilitarycampaignsforcenturies,diversionsareparticularlyhelpfulforcombatants

workingalone.

Two diversionary devices can be made from a disposable lighter. The first creates a

momentary flash that will temporarily blind an opponent without damaging surrounding

property (see page 168); the second launches an explosion equivalent to that created by a

quarter stick of dynamite. Unlike Molotov cocktails and many other types of homemade

explosive devices, this tool can be set off without advance modifications—which means it

won’tarousesuspicioniftheoperativeissearched.Allthat’sneededistapeandalighter.

To create an explosion sizable enough to cause injury, damage property, and create a

sustainedsenseofdisorder,operativeschooseamodelfueledbycompressedratherthanliquid

gas;thoughnolongersoldintheUnitedStatesduetotheirassociatedhazards,compressedgas

lighterscanreadilybefoundoverseas.

The trick works by loosening the flame adjustment gear from the lighter body until gas

beginstoleak.Whenthestrikerwheelisrolledtolighttheflameandthelighterismountedat

adownwardanglewithtapeorzipties,theflamewillbegintomelttheplasticcasing.Aftera

minute or two,theflamewillburn throughthecasing,ignitingallthegas inthecanister in

onefellswoop.

068 MakeaDiversionary“Flash”Device

Explosions, car accidents, fire alarms, power outages . . . These are just some of the

“incidents”thatseemtofollowoperativesaroundtheglobe—handydiversionsthatdrawthe

attention of law enforcement officials, bystanders, or targets while the Nomad accomplishes

his mission and vanishes into the night. In the face of sudden attack, diversions can also be

usedtofacilitateescape,whichiswhycarryingadiscreetandportablediversionarydevicecan

bealifesaver.Madeintwominutesorlessfromanordinarydisposablelighter,theimprovised

devicecreatesablindingflashthat,whenusedindarkness,canimpairthehumaneyeforupto

tenminutes.

Mimicking the action of a stun grenade or “flash bang” device, the device works by

isolatingandheatingupthelighter’sflint—madeofmetalcompoundsthatheatupquicklyand

produceaburstofincandescenceuponcombustion.Whentheheatedflinthitstheground,the

resulting flash is significant enough to be mistaken for an explosion. In essence, the gesture

takesthelighter’slifetimeofsparkandusesitupallatonce.

069 MakeaMolotovCocktail

Theclassicweaponof rebellionandurbanwarfare,theMolotovcocktailearneditsmoniker

during World War II and has been around since the Spanish Civil War. To this day, the

incendiarydeviceremainstheweaponofchoicefordisenfranchisedagitatorsandanyonewho

lacksaccesstomoresophisticatedtoolsofcombat.Becauseitcanbelaunchedoverbarricades

or gates, it creates an option for street-level combat targeting highly guarded buildings or

compounds.

For Violent Nomads seeking to disguise their actions as those of ordinary citizens, a

Molotov cocktail provides a quick-to-assemble solution that can be thrown from a distance

and sow a vast amount of chaos—without leaving any trace of governmental involvement.

Apart from its obvious offensive uses, it may be employed as part of a campaign of

psychological warfare (page 186) or as a diversionary tactic, drawing the attention of

onlookersandsecurityforcestoaflamingcar whiletheNomadstealthilyinfiltratesatarget

building.

Thoughabasicversioncanbemadebyfunnelingfuelintoaglassbottle,additionsofmotor

oilandsoapcreateamoreflammabledevice.Motoroil,beingthickerthangasoline,createsa

longer-lastingfire.Shavingsofsoapcreateagellingeffect(particularlyifthemixtureisleftto

sitovernight),makingforapotentnapalmlikesubstancethatspreadsandstickstosurfacesas

it burns. A fuel-soaked tampon becomes a flammable stopper and fuse. When the fuse is lit

andthebottlethrown,theglassshattersuponimpact,ignitingadeadlyandfast-movingfire.

070 PITaTargetVehicle

Most drivers tend to feel relatively safe when they’re inside their vehicles. Especially when

traveling through familiar areas, they become complacent, failing to pay attention to their

surroundings—whichiswhytargetingabadguy’svehiclealongthemostvulnerablepartofhis

routeprovidesasolidoptionforNomadslookingtocreatean“accident.”

As expertsinboth offensive anddefensivedrivingtechniques,ViolentNomads know how

to turn an automobile into a highly effective weapon. A properly executed vehicular attack

willincapacitateor eliminatea target without anyattributiontoofficial channels. One such

method is the PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique). Used for decades by U.S. law

enforcement, PITing is a pursuit tactic that forces a fleeing car to abruptly spin sideways,

causingthedrivertolosecontrolandcometoastop.

ThekeytoPITmaneuversisfortheoperativetomaintainhisspeedthroughoutthecollision

process.PITingatspeedsoflessthanthirty-fivemilesperhourwillcausethetargetedvehicle

to spin sideways and crash. PITing at any speed greater than thirty-five miles per hour is

considered a lethal technique that will likely result in the targeted vehicle rolling over

completely; high-center-of-gravity vehicles such as SUVs and vans are susceptible to rolling

overifPITedatspeedsoflessthanthirty-fivemilesperhour.

ThehighlyskilledNomadwillconductaPITmaneuverwherethereistheleastlikelihood

ofbeingobserved,seamlesslyspeedingawayfromthesceneandanypotentialwitnesses.

071 PistolDisarmament:PointedatChest

If a masked man emerges from the shadows, aiming a weapon at a target’s chest at short

range,receivedwisdomsaysit’stimetoraisehandsandsurrender.Insomecasesthatmaybe

thewisestchoice.Iftheattackerdemandsawallet,avehicle,orvaluables,handthemoverand

allowhimtoescape—butiftheattacker’saimistoabductorshoot,fightingforcontrolofthe

weaponisapropositionwhoseoddsarebetterthanmightbeassumed.Inscenariosbasedona

shooterandanunarmedtarget,militarydrillshaveshownthatthepartywhomakesthefirst

moveismostoftenthepartywhoprevails.Evenwhenstartingfromadistanceofsixtoeight

feet,unarmedtargetsarefrequentlyabletoruntowardanddisarmashooterbeforehepulls

thetrigger—benefitingfromadelayedresponseastheshooterprocessesunexpectedactions.

Whiledisarminganadversaryisahigh-riskmaneuver,Nomadsusethefollowingprotocol

toincreasechancesofsuccess.

PivotandTraptheWeapon:Theoperativeshouldclasptheopponent’shandsandthebody

ofthegunwhilepivotinghisbodyoutofthelineoffire.

DrivetheBarreltowardtheAdversary:Twisttheweapontowardtheadversary’sforearm.

Pull the Weapon Away: Continue to drive the barrel of the weapon over sideways while

wrenchingitaway.

Gain Control of the Weapon: Having pried the weapon from the opponent’s hands, the

operativeshouldbackawayquicklyanddoasystemschecktoensurethattheweaponisready

tofire.Takeaimandbereadytoshootiftheopponentdrawsabackupweapon.

072 PistolDisarmament:PointedatBack

Theelementofsurprisecanbeapowerfulweapon.Whichiswhycriminalstendtosneakup

on their targets from behind—springing out of bushes as targets unlock their front doors,

sliding out from behind parked cars as targets dig around for their keys, slinking out of the

shadowsasthetargetismid-transactionatthecornerATM.

Whileanunseenweaponcancauseaninstinctivelock-and-freezeresponse,evenwithagun

pressed against his back, a well-trained operative can control the outcome of a violent

altercation. If an attacker simply wants material goods, even an experienced operative may

choosetohandthemoverandallowhimtoescape.Thethreatofkidnappingorbodilyharm,

ontheotherhand,willbemetwithaswiftandsuddenresponse.Attheoutset,theoperative

willpushbackagainsttheweapon;onsemiautomaticmodels,thiscouldpreventtheweapon’s

firing mechanism from engaging. Then, using a pivot-and-sweep motion, he will trap the

weaponinhisarmpitinasurprisinglyeffectivehold.

073 SurviveanActiveShooter

Populardepictionsofshootingspreeshavevictims(orsoon-to-bevictims)coweringhelplessly

in the face of drawn weapons, even when targets vastly outnumber the shooter or shooters.

Historyhasshown,however,thatalackofactioninthefaceoflivefirewillradicallyreducea

target’schanceofsurvival.

Whether they’re under attack from a lone wolf or a band of terrorists, the three tactics

availabletocivilianscaughtinlivefirearerunning,hiding,andfighting.Runningisthefirst

option,andfightingisthelast.

Run:Iftheassailantisfarenoughawayandthereappearstobeanescaperouteimmediately

available,considerattemptingtorun.Leavebelongingsbehindandrunwithaplaninmind.It

isharderforashootertohitamovingtarget,somoveinazigzagpatternand/orfromcoverto

cover.

Hide:Ifexitingthepremisesisnotachievable,thenextstepistofindthesafestareaavailable

andsecureitaswellaspossible.

• Hide somewhere out of the assailant’s view and silence cell phones and other digital

devices.

• Lock the door, if possible, or create a barricade. Block the door using whatever

materials are available: desks, tables, file cabinets, other furniture, books, etc. Close

blindsandcurtains.

•Targetsshouldattempttoputsomethingbetweenthemselvesandtheassailant.Ifina

roomwithacloseddoor,hidebehindsolidobjects,awayfromthedoor.(SeeIdentify

EmergencyBallisticShields,page22,forpreferredobjects.)

• Call out for help using mobile devices, landlines, email, text, and radios to get first
respondersmovingtothelocation.
•Placesignsinexteriorwindowstoidentifythelocationofinjuredpersons.
•Alwaysconsidertheriskentailedbyopeningthedoor.Theassailantmaybangonthe
door,yellforhelp,orotherwiseattempttoenticetargetstoopenthedoortoasecured
area.
Most ricocheting bullets follow the path of the floor, so when bullets are flying, squat or
move to hands and knees rather than lying down; when taking shelter from grenades or
explosives, lie on the floor with mouth open (to prevent pressure from rupturing lungs) and
feettowardtheexplosion,withfingersinterlacedbehindhead(toprotectbrain).
Fight:Fightingisanoptionoflastresort,tobeusedonlywhenallotheroptionshavefailed
orareunavailable.Theimportantthingtounderstand,however,isthatfightingisanoption:
Itis possible for unarmed targets to effectively disarm and incapacitate an armed assailant,
particularlyiftheyoutnumberhim.Remember,aguncanonlybeshotinonedirectionatany
one time. Attackers often assume that their targets will be cowed by the sight of their
weapons;anyoffensivereactionislikelytocatchthemoffguard.
Professionalfighttrainingprovidesadvantages,butevenuntrainedpeopleunaccustomedto
fightingcanbeofservice,particularlyifthey’reactinginagroupinwhichonepersonorteam
aimstosubdueorovercometheshooter’supperbodyandtheothergoesforthelegs.Theaim
istocontroltheweaponandthencontroltheshooter,gettinghimonthegroundorknocking
himoutinordertoescape.
Actwithphysicalaggressionandviolence.
Throwanythingavailableattheassailant.
Workasateamwhenwithothers.
Alwaysactconsciously,nomatterhowlittletimetheremaybe.
Use improvised weapons to strike the shooter—tools, sporting goods, any hard and dense
objects available. Blind the shooter with anything that burns or blinds—cleaning products,
fuel,salt,pepper.Whenstriking,continueuntiltheshooterhasbeenknockedunconsciousand
thereisnofurthermovement—donotstop.
Related Skills: Use Improvised Body Armor, page 20; Identify Emergency Ballistic Shields,
page 22; Pistol Disarmament: Pointed at Chest, page 174; Pistol Disarmament: Pointed at
Back, page176; Deliver a Devastating Elbow Strike, page 160; Strike for a Knockout, page
158;SurviveaGrenadeAttack,page184.

074 MakeanImprovisedGasMask

Alachrymatoryagentfrequentlyusedbylawenforcementasaformofriotcontrol,teargasis

the most common nonlethal chemical weapon in the world. Irritating the eyes, nose, throat,

and skin, the substance causes debilitating short-term effects ranging from sensations of

intensepain,burning,andsuffocationtotears,temporaryblindness,blistering,andvomiting.

Butbeyondthephysicaleffectsliesapotentiallygreaterthreat:Exposuretoteargasmaybe

aprecursortomassdetention.Onceacrowdhasbeenimmobilized,lawenforcementofficials

may take the opportunity to perform a round of indiscriminate arrests. Given that foreign

governments sometimes use Western detainees as a form of political currency, accidentally

gettingcaughtupinsuchagovernmentcrackdownisaveryrealconcernforanytravelersin

unstableregions.

The first tool of self-defense against violent methods of crowd control is a well-honed

awareness of third-party activity. Follow common sense in generally avoiding areas where

protestorscongregate.Ifanoperativepassesthroughsuchanareaandsensesimminentchaos,

heseekstoclearthepremisesasquicklyaspossible.

Ifhecannotavoidtravelingthroughareaswheretheuseofteargasisapossibility,hewill

createanimprovisedgasmaskfromanemptyplasticjug,asponge,andclearpackingtape.

Aspongesaturatedwithcleanwaterbecomesaneffectivefilter,andoncetapeddowntothe

operative’sfacethedevicewillactasanadequate(butnotairtight)temporarygasmask.

075 SurviveaGrenadeAttack

While grenade attacks used to be relegated to active combat zones, they are increasingly a

feature of surprise acts of terrorism as well as civil unrest. Though they are most often

unanticipated,suchattacksposeariskthatcanbemitigated.

Agrenade’sexplosiontakesapredictableupside-downconeshape,generatingablastwitha

six-meter kill zone (depending on its model). While it may be possible for a bystander to

outrun the explosion in the seconds between impact and detonation, an upright posture will

leavehimvulnerabletoshrapnel.Ifcoverisn’tavailablewithinthreesteps,takeonegiantleap

away from the grenade and to the ground. The goal is to move out of the cone-shaped

explosionandawayfromthepathofshrapnel,whichrarelytravelsalongtheground.

Positionfeettowardtheblastinordertoprotect the brain. Crosslegs inordertoprotect

femoralarteries, coveringearstoprevent tympanicmembranesfrom rupturing.Keepelbows

tight against the rib cage and open mouth to regularize internal and external pressure and

preventthelungsfrombursting.

Know that in an urban environment, the danger of the blast will be compounded by the

landscape—cement buildings and glass windows joining a litany of potential hazards. The

explosionwillcreateasecondarysetoflethalprojectilesfromthesesurroundings.

076 WagePsychologicalWarfare

When long-term observation of a known criminal runs dry, operatives may resort to

psychologicalwarfareinordertoprovokeareactioninthetarget.

Ifatargetsuspectshismovementsarebeingwatchedandhaspareddownhisroutineand

contact with associates, inducing paranoia can reveal new intelligence. Who does the target

call when he is feeling cornered? Breaking a pattern might reveal new behaviors or third

partiesfortheoperativetoinvestigate.

Depending on the surveillance context, psychological warfare can involve techniques from

letter drops to “soft attacks” designed primarily to provoke fear rather than create damage.

Besieging a target with anonymous written communications (“We know who you are”) can

contribute to an overall sense of unease. Messages written as if they are coming from

neighbors mayconvincethetargetthatheissurroundedbyanall-seeinghordeof unfriendly

forces—andresultinhiscallingouttoassociatesforassistance.

Harassinggesturesmayescalatetovandalismorsoftattacks.Usinglong-rangetacticssuch

as throwing Molotov cocktails (see page170) or scattering gunshot from a moving vehicle,

operativesworkingalonecancreatetheillusionthattheyarebackedbyabandofmany.

Thegoalinpsychologicalwarfareofanysortistodistortatarget’sperceptionofrealityin

ordertobringaboutachangeinbehavior.Stoppingshortoffull-fledgedattacks,suchtactics

allow the operative to remain unseen, continuing his surveillance mission from a more

powerfulposition.

PARTVIII

SANITIZATION:LEAVENOTRACE

077 LeaveZeroDNABehind

ThoughDNAsamplescanbeliftedfromtracequantitiesofmucusandsweat,therealculprits

inforensicidentificationarehumantissueandskincells—whichiswhythemostmalevolent

classofcriminalsandrapistswillgoasfarasscrubbingdownandshavingtheirentirebodies

andheadsinordertosloughofflooseskincellsandremovethepossibilityofbeingbetrayed

by a stray hair. (Cut hair produces variable forensic results, but cells taken from the root

containvaluablegeneticinformation.)

A thorough full-body scrub highly reduces the odds of leaving trace DNA behind, so an

operativestartsfromthetopandworkshiswaydown,brushinghishairashewashesit.

Heselectsclothingthatcovershisentirebody,hot-washingitmultipletimesorpurchasing

itnew. Denim andcottonarethemost commonfibersintheworld—andthereforetheleast

traceable.Whenbuyingclothing,hetakescarenottotouchit.Hepurchasestheitemsnextto

theclothingthatwillactuallybewornsoastoavoidcontactwhenpullingthemofftherack.

Heappliesglovesbeforegettingdressedandwearsahattocontainhishair.

Onceontarget,hecovershismouthandnosewithasurgicalmaskorafull-faceskimask

to avoid the spread of saliva or mucus. He touches only what is necessary and nothing else.

Attemptingtocleanacontaminatedsiteisasearchforaneedleinahaystack—besttoavoid

leavingtracesfromthestart.Oncesafelyawayfromthetargetzone,heburnsalloperational

clothing.

078 LeaveZeroFingerprintsBehind

As criminals and law enforcement officials know, the efficacy and frequency of fingerprint

matchingtendstobeoverstatedinthepopularmedia.Alegalcorrelationmustdisplayamatch

amongadozenormore“minutiae,”theridges,whirls,andbifurcationsthatrendereachprint

unique—but movement and natural oils often cause smudging and other imperfections. Still,

operativestakeextrememeasurestoavoidleavingidentifyingevidencebehind.

The key to sanitization is covering fingerprints and thoroughly cleaning tools. This is a

lengthyprocessthatlastsfromthebeginningofanoperationtoitsend—foranoperativewho

covershistrackswhileontargetbutfailstoproperlysanitizehisgetawayvehicleortoolsisan

operativeindangerofgettingburned.Aspartofmissionprep,hesanitizesanygear(lockpicks

orweaponsneededforthatparticularmission)bywipingitdownwithanacidsuchaspaint

thinnertobreakdownoils.Hethoroughlysanitizestheoperationalvehicle.

Healso switchesout glovesateachstage of the process to avoid transportingidentifiable

fibersorsubstancesfromthesafe house to thetarget. In asetting where gloveswoulddraw

toomuchnotice—retrievinginformationinanofficeorduringtheday—hefillsinthetroughs

offingerprintswithsuperglueorfilesdownfingerprintswithapumicestone.

Operativesseekingtoerasetheirfingerprintsoveralongerperiodmayseektoprocurethe

chemotherapy drug Capecitabine, as pharmaceuticals are only loosely regulated in many

foreigncountries.Asasideeffect,thedrugcausesinflammationandblisteringonthepalmsof

handsandsolesoffeet,sloughingoffskincellsandprints.

079 LeaveZeroDigitalTraceBehind

Themost dangerous element inanygivenenvironmentmaybe thedevicefoundinthepants

pocket of the majority of civilians in the developed world: a cellular phone, an electronic

tether that could be employed to track a target’s every move. This inadvertent digital

scrapbookcanalsobeusedtocreateadetailedbiography—includingnotonlyaccesstobank

accountsbutalsoinformationaboutfamilyandfriends.

In areas where communications companies are owned and operated by host-nation

governments, digital security becomes particularly relevant. Any foreign phones pop up on

cellular networks as outsider devices, and as such, become increasingly vulnerable to being

tracked.Whenpossible,operativesprefertopurchaseprepaid,contract-freephonesinsidethe

hostnationratherthanbringingintheirown.

Intheeventthattheydotravelwithelectronics,operativesprotectthembyeithershielding

orfullydisablingthem.Cellphones,tablets,andlaptopscanbeshieldedfrombothincoming

and outgoing signals by a pocket made out of a quadruple layer of aluminum foil. (Smart

deviceswillplowthroughsingleordoublelayersbyredirectingalloftheirbatteries’energies

toward finding a signal.) The foil must be tightly compacted around the device, leaving no

gaps.

A more polished option is a discreet shielded carrying case (e.g., Zero Trace) embedded

withadoublelayerofmetalfabricthatblocksallsignals,inobservanceofCIAprotocol.

Because many cell phones employ small backup batteries that run even when phones are

turned off, in the absence of a workable shield, removing all batteries and SIM cards is the

onlywaytorenderaphonecompletelysafefromanyvulnerabilities.Asthisisn’tpossibleon

somephones,sometimestheonlyoptionistoleavethedevicebehind.

080 TrickFacialRecognitionSoftware

ForgedidentificationpapersgrantanactiveNomadanimportantlayerofanonymity—butif

hehasalreadybeenidentifiedbyforeigngovernmentsas aprobablesecurityrisk,hispicture

may come up in a database at border crossings or other high-security checkpoints. Current

facialrecognitionsoftware,basedonimagery,isstillrelativelyeasytobypass,sotheNomad

willproceedasplanned.

Usingalgorithmsthatcompareparticularanchorpointswithinagivendatabaseofimages—

noses,thespacebetweeneyes,thesizeofeacheye,theshapeofcheekbones,chins,andears—

the technology focuses on distinctive bony prominences that cannot be readily altered. But

covering up or otherwise obfuscating those anchor points leaves the software little to work

with.

Largesunglassesandlongbangscanbeusedtocovertheforehead,browbone,andpartof

thecheekbones.Ahatpulleddownlowandadownward-tiltedheadcanthrowanoperative’s

faceintoshadow.Smilingchangestheshapeoftheeyesandpushestissueoverthecheekbones,

whichiswhymanycountriesrequireaneutralfacialexpressioninpassportphotos.

FrequentlyinuseinLasVegascasinos,whereitpreventscheatinggamblersfromsiphoning

off millions of dollars in revenue, facial recognition is an ever-evolving science. As social

media platforms begin to use it to tag and sort through images, it will only grow more and

more sophisticated. One day facial recognition will be a well-oiled mechanism utilized to

secureanythingfrombordercrossingsandATMstoprivatehomesandbusinesses,alongwith

the up-and-coming vascular identification technologies that take thermal pictures of human

faces, using the positioning of facial veins and arteries as the basis for identification and

leavingfewifanyoptionsforsubterfuge.Butfornow,thetechnologyleavesplentyofgapsfor

aNomadtoexploit.

081 TrickFingerprintScanningSoftware

The most widely used form of biometrics, fingerprinting is increasingly traveling from the

criminal justice system into the realm of consumer electronics. Harnessed for such uses as

unlockingsmartphones,authorizing payments, and securingdoors or safes, the technology is

becoming more widespread. As it does, its quality becomes more variable, displaying

vulnerabilitiesforNomadsandcommoncriminalstoexploit.

For an operative, collecting fingerprints is frequently a postmortem scenario. Performing

“battledamageassessment”intheaftermathofaplannedeventsuchasanexplosion,hemight

be tasked with gathering biometric information in order to confirm the target’s identity. In

suchcasestheoperativewillgothemostdirectroute:severingthetarget’sthumb.

Butthumbprintscanbereplicatedvialessviolentmeans,oneofwhichinvolvesthechewy

candy known as the gummy bear. Malleable and tacky, gummy bears are exceptionally

receptivetofingerprints.Becausetheyhaveaconsistencysimilartothatofhumantissue,they

arealsowell-suitedtodeceivinglower-qualityfingerprintscanningmechanisms.

Cheap scanners don’t read depth, which is why they won’t register the fact that a

fingerprint’stexturalpatternhasbeenreversed—theridgesturnedintovalleys,andviceversa,

as they are transferred onto the gummy bear. When confronted with more sophisticated

technology, Nomads use a combination of Silly Putty and gelatin, impressioning the Silly

Putty, then pouring a gelatin solution into the clay and letting it sit until it gels. Carefully

removingthegelnetsaduplicatefingerprintthat’samatchforpatternandisimpressionedto

properdepth.

082 CreateaHastyDisguise

In the real world of covert operations, disguise doesn’t follow the well-worn conceits of spy

moviesandthrillers—thebathroomdyejob,theuseofmasks.Instead,aneffectiveandrapid

transformation relies on illusion, employing tricks of perception rather than true disguise. A

few props can turn a businessman into a service worker, and a change in color pattern can

causeatargettovanishfromsight.

In attempting to evade surveillance teams, operatives employ a working knowledge of

surveillance psychology.Whatdoes a surveillanceteamactuallysee whenthey’re watchinga

target?Particularlywhenwatchingfromadistance,asurveillanceteamwillhomeinoncolor

blocksratherthanfacialfeaturesorhairstyle,usingbroadvisualstrokestokeeptrackofthe

target’s movements. Over time, the colors of the target’s clothing become ingrained in the

surveillance team’sbrain—insteadofscanningforthetarget, theyunconsciouslyscanforthe

colors he’s wearing. An easy way to subvert their expectations is to duck into a public

restroomorfittingroomandveryquicklyswitchouttodifferentcolors.Ifwearingwhiteover

denim,switchtoblackoverdenimandwalkrightoutthedoorwithoutbeingspotted.

Anotherwaytomanipulatetheexpectationsofasurveillanceteamistostartoutinbright

colors. Thiswillcausetheteamtorelax,secure intheknowledgethattheyarewatchingan

easy mark. When the operative emerges from a stopping point in a muted outfit, he’ll be as

goodasinvisible.

083 GetPastaGuardDog

WhenNomads writeupa reconnaissancereportona target’shomeor business, theyalways

include a full accounting of any animals they come across. Even untrained dogs, when

spooked,cangiveawayaNomad’slocationoralertanownertothefactthatsomethingout

of the ordinary is under way. Any infiltration plan must include measures for distracting or

subduing pets or guard dogs while the Nomad goes about his business—and particularly in

third-worldcountries,operativesmustalsobewaryofthewilddogsthatroamthestreetsin

packs.

Killingguarddogsleavesbehindatrailofunwantedevidence,soNomadsresorttotactics

thattemporarilydisableordistracttheanimal.Acaninedeterrentspray,equivalenttopepper

spray, will irritate a dog’s eyes and carries a smell that dogs find extremely unpleasant. A

burstofcompressedair(theproductusedtodustelectronics)willfreezeadog’snoseandhave

him running for cover. Compressed to fluid form, the mixture of nitrogen and other gasses

undergoes a massive drop in temperature upon being released from the can; when emitted

fromacanthatisturnedupsidedown,thegaswillsprayoutasliquidandimmediatelyfreeze

toice.

Though challenging to come by in any scenario, female dog urine is one of the most

effectivecaninedistractiontoolsinaNomad’sarsenal.Sprayedinadog’sfaceorawayfrom

theentrypoint,itsscentprovesanirresistibleenticementforanyattackdog,nomatterhow

welltrained.

084 DiscreetlyClearaFloodedScubaMask

To operatives carrying out missions with complex logistics, diving is just another form of

clandestine movement—one that is well known to the drug cartels that move thousands of

kilograms of contraband across the world via submarine (the ocean floor being nearly

impossibletopolice).

While swimmingacross openwatersruns the riskofdetection, divingkeeps theoperative

concealeddeepunderwater,givinghimastealthywaytoattackboats,piers,andbridges.It’s

also an unexpected means of escape. Upon accessing a cache of scuba gear submerged at a

predeterminedlocation(seepage38),aViolentNomadcoulddisappearforeverwithasingle

breath-hold.

Scuba diving’s flexibility comes with its fair share of vulnerabilities. Entry and exit pose

complex logistical challenges, and medical hazards are abundant, especially for an operative

divingalone.Typically,aNomadcannotstayunderwaterforlongerthanthreehours,soany

tacticalplanmustaccountforthislimitation.

Thoughtheriskofdetectiondiminishesoncetheoperativeisunderwater,onetelltalesign

of activity—easily observed in a quiet harbor—is the trail of bubbles emitted by the overly

hastyclearingofascubamask.

085 DisposeofaBody

Withapreferenceforvehicularcollisionsanduntraceableinjections,aViolentNomadalways

attempts to disguise an assassination so that it looks like an accident. But sometimes a hit

simplygoesbad.ANomadmakesmistakesthatcouldleadtohisidentificationorissurprised

mid-missionbyanincidentalthirdparty.

In order to safely extricate himself from the area of operation, the Nomad must first

disposeofthecorpse.

Land Burial: Compared to a typical horizontal burial site, a vertical grave leaves a

significantly smaller footprint aboveground—and less surface area means a smaller signature

fordogstosniffout.Thegraveisdugtwofeetdeeperthanthelengthofthe body, whichis

lowered down headfirst so that organs (which give off the most scent) are buried deep

underground.

ThermalBurial:Toeradicate alltrace ofa body, a cremationchamber canbe replicatedby

fillingafifty-gallonsteeldrumhalfwayfullwithjetfuel.(Jetfuelcanbecommandeeredfrom

small private airports with minimal security.) After about two hours, bones and teeth will

have turned to dust, making any identification near impossible. This method will give off a

significant amount of smoke (more easily spotted during the day) and flame (more easily

spottedatnight)andmustbeundertakenindesolate,ruralenvironments.

Maritime Burial: The least discoverable burial site is a watery grave at the bottom of the

ocean floor, a few nautical miles offshore. Weighted down by fifty pounds of steel pipe,

bricks,or cinder blocks,thebodyis wrappedinalayer ofperforatedconstructionplasticor

ground cloth so that air bubbles won’t prevent it from sinking. An operative will secure the

plasticwithadoublelayerofchickenwiretopreventbodypartsfromfloatingtothesurface

asthebodyisattackedbymarinelifeordegradesovertime.

PARTIX

EXFILTRATIONANDESCAPE:HOWTO

DISAPPEAR

086 CreateaRappellingHarness

Combinedwithanimprovisedrope(see page 212) a rappellingharnessmadeout ofa single

bedsheet could be the key to a safe and fast escape. For an operative, it may also allow for

access to a target’s room from a building facade. Once the mission has been executed, the

operativevanishesandthesheetisdiscarded—anuntraceable,anonymousartifactswipedfrom

ahotelroomorpurchasedunderanassumedname.

Aking-sizesheetwillcreateaharnesslargeenoughforadults,whilefull-sizesheetscanbe

used to create harnesses for children. A similar harness can be made from materials such as

one-inch-wide tubular nylon, cargo straps, furniture covers, and the plastic sheeting used in

commercial construction. An important additional layer of safety during rope descents, the

harnessensuresthatanoperativewon’tfalltohisdeathifhelosesholdoftherope.Relatively

safe,secure,andeasytomakeinlessthanthreeminutes,itprovidesthree“pointsoffailure”;

whensecuredtoanimprovisedrope,gravityandtensionshouldensurethatifoneloopfails,

theothertwowillcontinuetohold.

Asecureknotandproperropelengtharekeytoasaferappellingapparatus.Aropethatis

toolongnegatesthepurposeoftheharness,whichshouldallowtheNomadto“bounce”(asif

fromabungeecord)afewfeetfromthegroundintheeventthathelosesholdoftherope.In

buildingtherope,useaguidelineofonesheetperstory.

RelatedSkills:EscapeaMultistoryBuilding,page212.

087 EscapeaMultistoryBuilding

The action heroes of the silver screen can be seen scaling the face of skyscrapers using all

manneroffuturisticsuctiondevicesandlaser-cuttingrappellingtechniques.Intherealworld

ofcovertoperations,however,anescapefromamultistorybuildingislikelytobeassistedby

amuchmorehumbleprop:anordinarybedsheet.Whetherescapingafire,ahostagesituation,

or the scene of a crime, learning to create a dependable rope out of bedsheets will ensure a

swift exit from a multistory building, under any set of circumstances. Stronger than some

ropes, high-thread-count sheets represent another case in which improvised materials can

perform with greater effectiveness than their store-bought counterparts: One sheet may hold

hundreds of pounds of body weight. (Tensile strength increases with thread count, and an

increaseintensilestrengthcanhandlemoreweight.)

When checking into a hotel room, opt for a king-size bed—king-size sheets mean more

material,whichtranslatesintoadditionalropelength.Oncecheckedin,callthefrontdeskand

request additional sheets in order to gather enough rope length to make a potential descent.

Buildingstoriesareapproximatelytenfeettall,andoneking-sizesheetshouldprovidetwelve

feetoflength.

Tensilestrengthaside,theropewillonlybeasdependableastheanchortowhichitistied.

Thechosenanchorshouldeitherbepermanentlyaffixedtowalls,largerthanthewindow,or

heavier than the person it is holding—beds, radiators, large dressers or tables, and heavy

couches are all good options. In the absence of those possibilities, a chair wedged behind a

closeddoormaydothetrick.

Tiethesheetstogetherusingsquareknots,whichtightenunderstress,andalwaysleaveat

leastsixinchestoonefootoflengthattheknotends.Ifescapingfire,wetthesheetspriorto

tying them and make sure the anchor isn’t highly flammable. For added security, pair rope

withtheimprovisedrappellingharness,page210.

088 SurviveaDrowningAttempt

When an operative is captured in hostile territory, the odds of survival are low. Instead of

being taken to trial, he will likely simply be made to “disappear”—which is why operatives

practiceescapingwhilewearingundefeatablerestraintsonhandsandfeet,bothinwaterand

on land. Tied up, thrown into open waters, and left to drown to death, the well-trained

operative still has recourse to a few skills that can help extend his life until he is found or

reachessolidground.

Whenitcomestoself-preservationinwater,thekeytosurvivalisbreathcontrol.Withthe

lungs full of air, the human body is buoyant—so deep breaths and quick exhales are key.

Buoyancyinfreshwaterismorechallengingbutstillachievable.Panicking,whichcanleadto

hyperventilation,isthenumber-oneenemytosurvival.

Restraints and body positioning may make breathing a challenge, but repositioning is

always within the Nomad’s grasp. In shallow waters, use a sinking and bouncing approach

(seediagram)totraveltowardshore,ricochetingofftheseabedorlakeflooruptothesurface

foraninhale.

Whenfacingdown,whetherfloatinginplaceorusingabackwardkickingmotiontoswim

toshore,theoperativeshouldarchhisbackinordertoraisehisheadabovewater.

In rough seas, this may not give him enough clearance to get his head out of the water.

Instead,afullbodyrotationwillallowhimtotakeadeepbreathandthencontinuetraveling

forward.

089 EscapefromanAutomobileTrunk

ViolentNomads frequentlyoperateinornearcountriesthatareatwaror inpolitical crisis,

andthusarevulnerabletobeingkidnappedforransom—sometimesasacalculatedattemptto

thwartamission,sometimessimplyasaresultofbeinginthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.

Moreandmorefrequently,travelerstounstableregionsfacethesamerisk.

Themostpredictablepointsofvulnerabilityinatraveler’sschedulearehisdeparturefrom

andreturntohishotelatthebeginningandendofhisday—butanabductionmayalsobethe

result of a staged automobile accident. Common ruses used by kidnappers to apprehend a

targetontheroadinclude:

TheBump:Theattackerbumpsthetarget’svehiclefrombehind.Thetargetgetsouttoassess

thedamageandsuddenlyfindshimselfinthetrunkofacar.

The Good Samaritan: The attackers stage what appears to be an accident or feign a car

problem.Thetargetstopstoassistandsuddenlyfindshimselfinthetrunkofacar.

The Trap: Kidnappers use surveillance to follow the target home. When he pulls into his

drivewayandwaitsforthegatetoopen,theattackerpullsupfrombehindandblockshiscar.

Thetargetfindshimselfinthetrunkofacar.

Ineachofthesescenarios,thetargetendsupimprisoned.Buthedoesn’thavetoremainin

that state. Take the time to understand how a vehicle’s trunk operates, learning its

vulnerabilitiesandhowtodefeatthem.Iflockedinatrunk,alwaystrytobepositionedina

waythatallowsaccesstoescapetools.

090 DevelopaBug-OutRoute

While a well-concealed cache of escape tools is an essential component of mission prep (see

page16),themostvitaltoolofescapeisn’tashimoracompassbuta meticulously planned

emergencyroute.Whenunexpecteddevelopmentsarise,operativesmustbeabletoensuretheir

ownsafeexitoutofanareaofoperationtheyneverofficiallybreached.

Planningprimaryandalternateescaperoutesisaweeks-orevenmonths-longendeavorthat

requiresthedevelopmentofasignificantamountofareaknowledge.Operativescanvassroads

to determine the quickest and most discreet routes of escape. They use a thorough research

process that identifies friendly and unfriendly areas—and assume they are at risk of being

followed, ambushed, or chased. They look for routes least likely to be observed by third

parties or to include dead ends, checkpoints, or choke points. And they create bridges from

their primary route to their alternate routes, building a network of secondary branches they

canveerintointheeventthattheyarefollowedorencounterunexpectedroadblocks.

Oncethey’veestablishedtheirroutes,operativesidentifytemporarylodgingorhidesites—

stopping points that will enable them to travel by night and rest by day. Using detailed

calculationsbasedonmileage,speed,andtheavailabilityofsuppliesinsurroundingareas,they

stage caches of food, water, and life support at predetermined points along the routes. They

mayhidealternatevehiclesatcachepointsinordertoshakeoffpotentialtailsorsetuprally

pointswherethey’llmeetknownassociatestohandoffintelligenceorotherassets.

Loadedintoapassword-protectedGPSthatisstashedintheoperative’sboltbag,thebug-

outroutesprovideaneffectiveformofoperationalinsurance.Themorecomplexanddetailed

they are, the better—emergency exfiltration is one of the many areas in which research and

attentiontodetailcanwinoutoverbruteforceandeventhemostwell-armedpursuers.

091 PerformaJ-turn

Onlyinthemoviesdooperativesroutinelydrivethroughbarricades,offofbridges,andonto

thewrongsideofhighways.Inreality,high-octanevehicularmaneuversarerarelydeployedin

thefield.Inmostcases,escalatingatensesituationintoachaseisatacticaldisaster;engaging

ina highlyconspicuousmaneuverwhenitisn’twarrantedonlygives theadversaryreasonto

comeaftertheoperative.

Still, there are times when properly executed evasion techniques can mean the difference

between mission success and detention—which is why Nomads regularly rehearse them in

abandonedparkinglotsoronuntraveledruralroadspriortoanoperation.

The J-turn, Forward 180, or “Bootleg Turn” allows a Nomad to quickly shift the

momentumofthevehiclefromonedirectionoftraveltoanotherwithinthewidthofatwo-

lane road. To properly perform a J-turn, the Nomad must first master the vehicle’s braking

systems.Theinitialattemptisnevermadeduringacrisis.

The coordinated use of the emergency brake and release is essential for the maneuver,

keepingthevehicleundercontrolby“lockingup”therearbrakes.Avoidingtheuseofthefoot

brakepreventsthefronttiresfromslidingorskiddingandwardsoffalossofmomentumby

the keepingtheheavy,engine-bearingfrontof thevehiclefrom degradingand“sinking”—an

effectwhichwouldpreventthevehiclefrompivoting.

The steering wheel must be turned quickly and aggressively. As the car rotates a full 180

degrees,removeleftfootfromtheemergencybrakeanduserightfoottopresstheaccelerator.

Topreventthetiresfromrollingofftherims,ensuretirepressureisaminimumoffivetoten

poundspersquareinchovermaxpressurelimits.Sinceeveryvehicleisdifferent,speedsmust

be greatly reduced when conducting maneuvers in high-center-of-gravity vehicles such as

trucksorSUVs.Evenfortraineddriversanyspeedgreaterthanthirty-fivemilesperhourmay

resultinflippingthevehicleandshouldbeavoided.

092 PerformaReverse180

When time is of the essence, a cumbersome U-turn is not the best tool in an operative’s

arsenal.U-turnsalwaysinvolvetheriskofbecomingtime-intensivethree-pointturns;atahigh

speed,theycanalsoresultinpoppingatireonthecurbordrivingofftheroad.Inanattack

situation,aReverse180isthefastestwaytoreversethedirectionoftravel—butthemaneuver

should be attempted only in extreme emergency, by highly skilled drivers when under

imminent,life-threateningdanger.Performedincorrectly,aReverse180couldflipavehicleor

permanentlydamageitstransmission.

The turn should be performed at speeds no greater than thirty miles per hour. Emergency

brakes must be in good working order, and a seat belt must be used. Though in order to

reducefrictionthemoveisbestperformedonwetorslipperysurfaces,inanyenvironmentit

producesastressthatcarsarenotdesignedtoaccept.Inotherwords,theReverse180isnotto

betakenlightly.

Reverse: Starting from a complete stop, shift into reverse and drive backward for three car

lengths.Stayundertwenty-fivemilesperhour.

TurntheWheel:Shiftgearstoneutral,removefootfromthegaspedal,andyankthewheel

allthewaytotheleftasquicklyaspossible.

HoldtheWheel inPlace: Hold the wheel in place until the vehicle has completed a 180-

degreeturn.Donotbrake.

Accelerate:Shiftbackintodriveandaccelerateawayfromattackers.

Note:If attemptinganescapeonaroadthatdoesnotallowsufficientwidthtoattempt the

turn,drivinginreverseinaslalompatternwillhelphandicaptheattackers’aim.

093 SurviveVehicularImpact

Due to their propensity for high-risk defensive and offensive driving techniques, operatives

have a tendency to fall victim to a higher-than-average rate of vehicular accidents. Surviving

these accidents while minimizing stress on the body is a matter of advance preparation and

posturalknow-how—techniquesthatapplytoanyciviliancaughtinacarcrash,whetherasa

resultofahigh-speedescapeorarun-of-the-millincident.

Whiletheabilitytosurviveacrashmightappeartoqualifyasdefensiveknowledgerather

thana“deadly”skill,self-preservationinthefaceofaccidentsorattemptedassaultsiskeyto

missionsuccess.Inordertoremaindeadly,aViolentNomadmustremainsafe.

One of the most commonly used steering positions—controlling the wheel with a hand

placedattwelveo’clock—isalsothemostdangerous.Onimpact,suchpositioningassuresthat

whentheairbagactivates,itwillviolentlythrustanoperative’sforearmintohisface.Proper

steering positioning (see illustration) may both prevent the operative from ending up with a

forearmfullofteethandprotecthisthumbsfrombreaking.

For passengers, bracing during impact is a simple but lifesaving technique that can

significantly reduce the risk of spinal and brain injuries. (Seat belts adequately restrain

shouldersandhipsbutcannotpreventheadsfromflyingforwardduetocrashmomentum.)In

oneaccidentinvolvingasmallaircraft,passengersweresleepingwhentheplanecollidedwith

astandoftrees. Onepassengerout ofthesixteenawokeandbracedforimpact,andhewas

thelonesurvivor.

IfusingthevehicleforaplannedimpactsuchasaPIT,disengagethe airbagsso thatthey

don’timpedeescape.

094 BreakThroughaTwo-CarBlock

Checkpoints or roadblocks are common sights in many parts of the world. Foreign

governmentsrelyonthemtodetercrimeorterroristinsurrections,particularlyafternightfall

—but the deep cover of night is also a prime time for bad guys to set up false checkpoints

Determining whether a checkpoint is legitimate or a terrorist ruse can be a question of

survival, one that relies heavily on instinct and split-second decision-making. If the Nomad

believesthecheckpointtobehostile,hewillfirstchecktoseeifhecanaccomplishadiscreet

evasiontoavoidtheroadblock.Ifhecannot,breakingthroughtheroadblockmaybehisbest

bet.

Manycheckpointsusecarsasbarriersinordertofunneltrafficintoasingleline;oneguard

interrogates driversas they stop,while thesecond remains inone oftheobstructingvehicles

andbacksoutofthewaywhenacarisallowedtopass.Ifhitintherightplace,theblocking

vehicle is relatively easy to “move.” The momentum of a full-size car traveling at ten to

twentymilesperhourwillalmosteffortlesslycausetheobstructingvehicletospinoutofthe

waywhileinflictingonlyminimumdamagetotheoperative’svehicle.

Aimforapush,notacollision.Iftravelingathighwayspeeds,slowdownsignificantlyor

cometoastopbefore“pushing”theobstructingvehicleoutoftheway.Onecarlengthisall

thatisneeded.Controltheangleofimpactsothatthefrontrightorleftcornersofthevehicle

makes contact with the front axle of the blocking car, protecting radiator and engine

components(seediagram).Significantdamageincurredtothevehiclewilldefeatthelikelihood

ofanescape.

095 EscapeanAmbush

Where do the greatest dangers lurk? For Violent Nomads and civilians alike, it’s the unseen

menaces that pose the most peril—which is why violent attackers so often strike from

concealedpositions,usingtheelementsofspeed,stealth,andsurprisetocatchtheirtargetsoff

guard. From dense underbrush to desolate intersections and dark corners, attackers choose

ambush spots that enable them to strike rapidly, carry out their mission, and disappear

withoutalertingpotentialthirdparties.

Operatives know that the best defense against targeted ambushes is to constantly vary

routes and habits. Take varying routes to and from work. Change up departure times.

Criminals and kidnappers frequently stalk their marks, plotting attacks around the

vulnerabilitiesintheirroutines.Foilthembybeingunpredictable.

Cultivate a constant awareness of possible ambush sites and scenarios. Look out for

desolateareas,chokepointswhereroadsnarrow,andanystructuresorlandmarksthatcould

provide cover for potential assailants. If possible, plan routes to avoid potential ambush

points.Thesimplestwaytodefeatanambushistosidestepthethreatcompletely.

Ifanoperativecannotavoidoranticipateapotentialambushpoint,heshouldincreasehis

speed as he approaches. Particularly when driving, he may be able to speed through the

ambushpointandbackontoalessisolatedstretchofroadbeforetheattackerisabletomake

contact.

Theattackeriscountingontheelementofsurpriseinordertooverwhelmthetarget.Ifthe

targetcangetaheadstartbyanticipatingtheattacker—despitenotbeingabletoseehim—he

willremoveoneoftheattacker’sprimaryadvantages.

ESCAPEABDUCTION

In the face of abduction attempts, the old adage rings true: Never follow an attacker to a

secondlocation.Butsometimesanoperativewillbeoutnumbered,outgunned,ortakingsevere

blowstothehead.He’striedtorun,triedtohide,andputupagoodfight.He’sreachedthe

pointatwhichhehasnochoicebuttotemporarilysurrendertohisabductorsinordertoavoid

severebodilyharmorworse.

Thekeywordistemporarily.AViolentNomad’ssurrenderismerelyamomentaryplayfor

survival.

096 SetUpProperPostureforEscape

Getbig.That’sthecentralmottoofanyescapeplan,anditappliesatthemomentofrestraint.

Defeatinghand restraints comes down to a matter of wrist and palm placement. Keeping

the thumbs together, spread palms apart (see diagram)—this will flex the wrist muscles,

broadeningthediameterofthewrists.Joiningthepalmsatthumblevelwillcreatetheillusion

ofclosedpalmswhileleavingasizablegapatthebackofthewrists.

Frequently used as restraint devices in kidnapping and torture scenarios, chairs provide a

foundationagainstwhichtobraceavictim’slimbs—butalsoastructureagainstwhichtobuck

andstrain.At themomentofrestraint,takedeep breaths toincreasethe widthof the chest,

arch the lower back, straighten arms and knees as much as possible, and move feet to the

outside of the chair legs. Shrinking back down to size once captors have left the room will

creategapsintherestraints.

If restrained with rope or chain, attempt to discreetly create slack in the restraints by

retainingalengthofropeorchaininonehand(seediagram).

097 RepositionRestrainedHands

Itbearsrepeatingthat oneof themostimportantcomponentsofanytypeofrestraintdefeat

happensatthemomentofcapture—whentheoperativetemporarily“surrenders”whilesetting

himselfupforescapeasbesthecan.Anoperativeshouldpresenthishandsinfrontofhimif

possible. Should captors be willing to restrain him in this position, he will have less work

aheadofhim.(Aslawenforcementofficialsknow,themosteffectivewaytosubduedetainees

istorestrainthemwiththeirhandsbehindtheirbacks,thuspreventingthemfromusingtheir

handsortamperingwiththeirrestraints.Thisisalsotherestraintpositionmostoftenseenin

combatandhostagescenarios—butit’soneoperativesarewellequippedtodefeat.)

When being restrained, spread hands and flex wrists to increase girth and improve the

chancesofbeingabletowiggleoutoftherestraints(seepage232).Discreetlydriveforearms

downintothecuffsasthey’reappliedsothattheyareplacedhigheruponthewrists,where

thediameterislarger.

Once cuffed and left alone, visually inspect the restraints in order to determine a defeat

method.Todothatfromaposteriorrestraint,movebothrestrainedhandsalongwaistlineto

one side of body and look down, or leverage any available reflective surfaces (windows or

mirrors)around.Viewrestraintsanddeterminethebestcourseofactionbefore repositioning

hands—the last thing an operative wants to do is get caught with his hands in front of him

withoutaplan.

098 DefeatHandcuffs

Equal parts magic trick, criminal ruse, and defensive operational skill, the art of restraint

defeat comes down to an understanding of the mechanics of the particular restraints used.

Armed with a common bobby pin (preemptively tucked in at the waistband), time, and

patience, anyone can eventually defeat a pair of handcuffs, particularly if they are of an

extremelycommonmake(seediagram).

If wiggling out of the cuffs isn’t feasible, there are several defeat options to try: picking,

shimming,orpryingthecuffsapart.

PicktheLock:Topickacommonpairofhandcuffs,insertoneendofthebobbypinintothe

lockandsweepittowardthewristuntilitcatches.Pulluponthebobbypintodisengagethe

shacklearm.

ShimtheLock: The easiest method of handcuff defeat, shimming involves feeding a bobby

pin or similar instrument between its teeth and ratchet. Driving down the shim temporarily

tightens the cuffs, but will eventually separate the teeth from the ratchet (similarly to the

actionofbreakingazipper).Oncetheshimhasbeenpusheddownfarenough,anupwardpull

willyankopenthelock.

PrytheShacklesApart:Ifhandcuffedinsideavehicle,useaseat-belttonguetobreakthe

doublebowsawayfromtheshacklearm.

099 DefeatZipTies

Efficient,streamlined,andlightweight,ziptiesseemtopresentanoptimalmethodofrestraint

for the criminals who use them. Originally designed to hold together cables and wires, once

appliedthetiesaredesignedtolockpermanently,typicallyremovedbyapairofshears.Just

likehandcuffs,tape,andothermeansofrestraint,however,theyareeminentlydefeatable.

Becauseziptiesaremadeofplastic,theycanbeworndownbyrepeatedfriction.Acinder

block or a brick or cement wall will wear them down quickly, but if a rough surface isn’t

available,theycaneasilybeunlockedwithabobbypinorsimilarinstrument.

100 DefeatDuctTape

Famous for its durability and its many applications, duct tape is the familiar stuff of school

projects, banged-up car bumpers, and patchwork home-improvement jobs. More often than

not,ducttapeisalsoanabductor’srestraintoffirstresort—readilyavailableandinexpensive,

quickandeasytoapply.Onceabductorshavemovedvictimstoasecondlocation,theymay

upgrade to zip ties, handcuffs, or nylon cord; time-consuming to secure, particularly if they

involve knots, such restraints are frequently reserved for the period following the initial

abduction, when abductors have more time to tie the victim down—which makes the

beginningphasesofanabductionsocrucial.

Defeating duct tape or packing tape may seem like an impossibility, especially when it’s

tightly wrappedinmultiplelayers. But througha shrewd useof the body, victims canbreak

throughtheirbonds.

Ducttapeandothertypesofcloth-backedadhesivetapemaytearmoreeasilythanshipping

tape,whichcanhardenintoanundefeatablemassofhardplasticwhenbunchedtogether.The

key with all types of tape is to move quickly and seamlessly, using the momentum of a

snapping action rather than muscle power to shear the tape apart. Whether an operative

defeats ankle restraints by squatting down abruptly or snaps out of wrist restraints by

knockinghisarmsviolentlyintohischest,performingtheactioninonesuddenmovementwill

shearthetaperatherthancrumplingitupintoasolidandundefeatablemass.

TheFinalBLUF

The bottom line underlying each and every skill in this book is that in a world full of

unexpected,ever-changingthreats,anunseenarmyoftrainedciviliansisapowerfulweapon.

When crisis strikes, it takes only a basic level of knowledge to distinguish a victim from a

survivor—orfromthelevelheadedleaderwhoshepherdsapanickedgroupofwould-bevictims

tosafety.

Inotherwords,thetruepurpose ofthisbookis nottomakeyoumore dangerous,but to

makeyousignificantlysafer.

Acivilianwitha workingknowledgeof theskillsdescribedinthisbookisacivilianwho

knowshowtothinklikeapredator—whichwillputhimonestepaheadofattackersandhelp

to prevent him from becoming prey. But beyond any one particular skill, it is the Violent

Nomadmindset,definedbyaspiritofimprovisationandanalertnesstothreatsofallkinds,

thatdistinguishesvictimsfromsurvivors.

In order to protect the integrity of its missions, the world of special ops must by nature

remainshadowyandclandestine.Nothinginthisbookbetraysclassifiedtacticalinformation

that could be used by enemy forces to subvert the public good. But it does provide civilians

withtheabilitytorecognizeandprotectthemselvesfromadiversearrayofthreats.

Danger has become an increasingly common facet of modern reality—a reality in which

deadlymayhavetobecomethenewnormal.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Iamgreatlyanddeeplyindebtedtothosewhohelpedmemakethisbookhappen.

H.K. Melton wasthemavenandthe brainsbehindtheinitialinceptionofthisbook.His

passion for all things spooky, along with his own history of successful book writing, guided

medownthepathtopublication.

Dan Mandel is my literary agent, a man who could sell ice to polar bears and throwing

starstoaninja,andanall-aroundgreatguywhokeptmeoutoftrouble.

Savannahismylittleghostwriter,or perhapsmoreappropriatelythewriter,ofthisbook.

She spent hundreds of hours talking long-distance on the phone with me, pulling from my

memory everything she could to put down on these pages. Without Savannah, and her

tremendouspatience,skill,anddiligence,thisbookwouldhaveneverbeenpossible.

TedSlampyak,whowasthestoryboardillustratorforthehitseriesBreakingBad,wasthe

illustrator for this book. His creative skills are second to none, and his partnership brought

thisbooktoalevelitcouldneverhaveachievedwithouthim.Heisatrueprofessionalanda

masterofhiscraft.

Matthew Benjamin is my badass, wisecracking, chain-smacking editor. If not for his

leadership,patience,andvastexperience,thisbookmayhavenevercometolife.

The publication reviewers at the Pentagon, who ferried the book through a complicated

reviewprocessviaanumberofagencies,representavaluablesystemthatIbelieveallcurrent

andformermilitarywritersshouldembrace.Iamgratefulfortheirtimeandtheireffortson

mybehalf.

AbouttheAuthor

CLINT EMERSON, retired Navy SEAL, spent twenty years conducting special ops all over the

worldwhileattachedtoSEALTeamThree,theNationalSecurityAgency(NSA),andtheelite

SEALTeamSix.Utilizinganarrayofpracticalskillshedevelopedtoprotecthimselfwhileat

home and abroad, he created Violent Nomad—a personal non-kinetic capture/kill program

catalogingtheskillsnecessarytoconfrontanypredatororcrisis.

MEETTHEAUTHORS,WATCHVIDEOSANDMOREAT

SimonandSchuster.com

authors.simonandschuster.com/Clint-Emerson

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@TouchstoneBooks

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GLOSSARY

Existing at the crossroads of military operations and intelligence, Violent Nomads occupy a

worldfilledwithacronymsand codes. Belowarea few of the termsthatappear throughout

thisbook.

areaofoperation:Theregionorcountryinwhichtheoperativewillexecutehismission.

BLUF:BottomLineUpFront.

COA:coursesofaction.

CONOP:ConceptofOperation.

diversionary device: A device that creates an explosion or visual impairment in order to

divertenemyforcesandallowtheoperativetoinfiltrateorescapeatargetarea.

EDCKit:EveryDayCarrykit,theNomad’sportablesystemoflifesupportandself-defense.

helocasting:Usingahelicopterjumptoinfiltrateanareaofoperation.

improvisedweapons:Weaponsmadeofavailablematerials.

pace counting: The practice of counting steps as a navigational aid in undifferentiated

territory.

PIT:ThePrecisionImmobilizationTechnique,apotentiallylethaltechniqueusedtodisablea

dangeroustargetvehicle.

room hide: A temporary darkroom that allows an operative to perform surveillance

unobserved.

Tails:Ananonymousoperatingsystemthatsavesnoinformationtothecloudortotheuser’s

harddrive.

TEDD: Time, Environment, Distance, and Demeanor, the acronym used by operatives to

confirmcountersurveillanceandtracking.

Tor: An anonymity network that prevents third parties from tracking an Internet user’s

location.

RESOURCESANDREFERENCES

Escape/Security

•100deadlyskills.com.

• Escape the Wolf, www.escapethewolf.com: The author’s corporate security and crisis

solutionsfirm.

•Emergency:ThisBookWillSaveYourLifebyNeilStrauss

•SurvivingaDisaster:EvacuationStrategiesandEmergencyKitsforStayingAlivebyTony

Nester

•WhenAllHellBreaksLoose:StuffYouNeedtoSurviveWhenDisasterStrikesby Cody

Lundin

•BuildthePerfectSurvivalKitbyJohnD.McCann

•SASSurvivalHandbook:HowtoSurviveintheWild,inAnyClimate,onLandoratSea

byJohnLoftyWiseman

• Wired Magazine’s Danger Room, http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/: Covers security-

relatedtechdevelopments.

• Door Devil, http://www.doordevil.com/: Sells doorway reinforcement kits that can

actuallypreventhomeinvasions.

LockPicking

•VisualGuidetoLockPicking,3rded.,byMarkMcCloud

•HowtoOpenLockswithImprovisedTools:Practical,Non-DestructiveWaysofGetting

BackintoJustAboutEverythingWhenYouLoseYourKeysbyHansConkel

•TheCompleteGuidetoLockPickingbyEddieTheWire

Military

•MyShareoftheTask:AMemoirbyGeneralStanleyMcChrystal

•Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of

SEALTeam10byMarcusLuttrell

•GhostWars:TheSecretHistoryoftheCIA,Afghanistan,andBinLaden,fromtheSoviet

InvasiontoSeptember10,2001byStevenColl

•TheCompleteGuidetoNavySEALFitness,3rded.,byStewartSmith

• Get Selected for Special Forces by Major Joseph J. Martin with Master Sergeant Rex

Dodson

• Sofrep (the Special Operations Forces Situations Report), http://sofrep.com/: Provides

breaking news and opinion on all matters related to the special operations forces of the

UnitedStatesmilitary.

Mindset

•OnCombat:ThePsychologyandPhysiologyofDeadlyConflictinWarandinPeaceby

DaveGrossmanwithLorenW.Christensen

• On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Dave

Grossman
•SharpeningtheWarrior’sEdge:ThePsychology&ScienceofTrainingbyBruceK.Siddle
•GatesofFire:AnEpicNoveloftheBattleofThermopylaebyStevenPressfield
•AtlasShruggedbyAynRand
• Gym Jones, https://www.gymjones.com/: The website of this hardcore training gym
featuresonlinetrainingpackages.
Mountaineering/Climbing
•KissorKill:ConfessionsofaSerialClimberbyMarkTwight
•ExtremeAlpinism:ClimbingLight,FastandHighbyMarkTwight
•TheCompleteGuidetoClimbingandMountaineeringbyPeteHill
• Urban Climbing, http://urban-climbing.com/: Find resources, tips, and videos on rock
climbingandurbanstructuralclimbing.
Navigation/Tracking
•RangerHandbookbyRangerTrainingBrigade,USPentagon
•U.S.ArmyMapReadingandLandNavigationHandbookbyDepartmentoftheArmy
•TheSASTracking&NavigationHandbookbyNeilWilson
Prep/Survival
•Benchmade,http://www.benchmade.com/:Sellstop-of-the-linesurvivalknivesforoutdoor
enthusiastsandwell-preparedcitizens.
• County Comm, http://www.countycomm.com/: Sells overstocks of tactical and outdoor
gearmanufacturedforgovernmentalagencies.
•Huckberry,https://www.huckberry.com:High-end,stylishgearforurbanadventurers.
•ImminentThreatSolutions,http://www.itstactical.com/:Sellsmilitary-gradegearranging
fromtraumaandsurvivalkitstolock-pickingandescapetools.
•MOTUS,http://motusworld.com/:Articles andresourcesforciviliansreadytotaketheir
survivalskillstothenextlevel.
• Shomer-Tec, http://www.shomer-tec.com: Sells the surveillance and security equipment
usedbypoliceofficersandmembersofthemilitary.
Spycraft
• Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA’s Spytechs, from Communism to Al-Qaeda by
RobertWallaceandH.KeithMelton
• The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception by H. Keith Melton and Robert
Wallace
• Spy Coins, http://www.spy-coins.com/: Sells hollow coins and dead-drop devices for
camouflagingmicrochipsandsensitivedocuments.
• Survival Resources, http://survivalresources.com: Sells a wide variety of emergency-
preparednessandsurvivalgearandsupplies.
Miscellaneous
• Tactical Distributors, http://www.tacticaldistributors.com/: Provides high-end tactical
apparelandgear.

• Trikos International, http://trikos.com/: Provides of top-of-the-line personal protection

canines,trainedbythesamemethodologyasthedogsthatservealongsideNavySEALs.

• The U.S. State Department’s International Travel Guidelines,

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html:Sourceforup-to-datesecurity

alertsandcountry-specificsafetyadvisoriesforinternationaltravelers.

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/: Find

pilotingcoursesnearyou.

•WingsuitFlying,http://www.wingsuitfly.com/:Learnmoreaboutwingsuitflyingandfind

outwheretogettrained.

INDEX
Anoteabouttheindex:Thepagesreferencedinthisindexrefertothepagenumbersintheprintedition.Clickingonapage
numberwilltakeyoutotheebooklocationthatcorrespondstothebeginningofthatpageintheprintedition.Fora
comprehensivelistoflocationsofanywordorphrase,useyourreadingsystem’ssearchfunction.
Note:Pagenumbersinitalicsrefertoillustrations.
abduction:
defeatingducttape,240,241
defeatinghandcuffs,236,237
defeatingzipties,238,239
escape,231
escapefromautotrunk,216,217
postureforescape,232,233
repositioninghands,234,235
scenarios,216
air,bordercrossingby,32,33
airbagdisengagement,62,63
airgliding,32,33
airplane:
high-wing,66
stealing,66,67
STOAL,66
airvents,52
ambush,escaping,228,229
anonymity,2,4–5
blendingintoenvironment,44,45
creatingdisguise,200,201
audiolisteningdevice,134,135
speaker/microphone,136,137
autotrunk,escapefrom,216,217
awareness,44,45,243
ballisticshields,22,23
bedsheet:
escapemultistorybuildingvia,212,213
asrappellingharness,210,211
blendingintoenvironment,44,45
BLUF(BottomLineUpFront),xiii,243
body,disposalof,206,207
bodyarmor,20,21
bordercrossings:
byair,32,33
byland,34,35,36–37
bysea,28–29,30–31
breakingandentering,107,108
bug-outkit,10
bug-outroute,218,219
caches,38,39,218,219
camera:
hideandextractdataineverydayphotos,148,149
improvisedtaserfrom,162–63,164–65
pinhole,140,141

surveillance,102,103,139
caninedeterrentsprays,202,203
Capecitabine,192
carcrash,surviving,224,225
cardinalbearingstechnique,94,95
cellularphone,sanitizing,194,195
chainweapon,78,79
checkpoint,breakingthrough,226,227
clammingakey,114,115
cloningakey,116,117
coins,rollof,82,83
compass,concealable,12,13
concealescapetools,16,17,18,19
containerkit,7,8
cybercommunications,4
anonymousemails,144,145
hideinformation,146,147
sanitizing,194,195
deadbolt,122
digitaldevices,sanitizing,194,195
disguise,creating,200,201
DNA,zeroleftbehind,190,191
doorlocks:
car,openingwithstring,128,129
garage,130,131
unlatching,122,123
seealsolockpicking
drawingconcealedpistol,152,153
drowningattempt,surviving,214,215
ducttape,escaping,240,241
elbowstrike,160,161
emails,anonymous,144,145
encryption,148
escapefrommultistorybuilding,212,213
escaperoute,218,219
everydaycarrykits,6–7,8
explosivedevice,improvised,166,167
facialrecognitionsoftware,bypassing,196,197
fightingactiveshooter,179,180–81
fingerprints,sanitizing,192,193
fingerprintscanningsoftware,tricking,198,199
fire,escapeabuilding,212,213
fishingweight/sap,76,77
“flash”device,diversionary,168,169
forensicidentification,190,191
garagedoors,opening,130,131
gasmask,improvised,182,183
gear,caches,38,39,218,219
goingblack,2,10,32
GoodSamaritan(kidnapping),216
GPS,password-protected,218,219
grenadeattack,surviving,184,185
guarddog,gettingpast,202,203
gummybears,andthumbprintreplication,198,199
handcuffs,escaping,236,237
hands,repositioningforescape,234,235

harassment,186,187
hideandextractdata,148,149
hideinformationinplainsight,146,147
hidingfromactiveshooter,178,179,180
holster,concealable,14,15
hookandclimb,40,41
hotelsecurityandsafety,48,49
bypassinghotelroomdoor,120,121
concealingbelongings,52,53
detectionoftampering,94,95
escapefrommultistorybuilding,212,213
hotelroom,50,51
installlisteningdevice,134,135
roomhide,54,55
unlatchingdoorlocks,122,123
impression,lock,118,119
information,digital,146,147
infraredlight,90,91
J-turn,220,221
key:
clamming,114,115
cloning,116,117
duplicating,113
kidnapping,seeabduction
knifefight,156,157
knockoutpunch,158,159
knots:
Prusicknot,42,43
slipknot,128,129
squareknot,211,212
land,bordercrossingby,34,35,36–37
landburialofbody,206,207
lighter,explosivedevicefrom,166,167
listeningdevice,install,134,135
lockpicking,107,110,111
duplicatingakey,113–17
handcuffs,236,237
impressionoflock,118,119
improvisedtoolsfor,108,109
unlockingpadlocks,124,125
luggage,covertaccessto,126,127
maritimeburialofbody,206,207
mindset,243
Molotovcocktail,170,171
multistorybuilding,escapefrom,212,213
navigation,36
newspapernailbat,80,81
operationalbag,7,9
padlock:
andchainasweapon,78,79
unlocking,124,125
parachuting,32,33
pens,asweapons,74,75

photos,hideandextractdatain,148,149
pinholecamera,140,141
PIT(PrecisionImmobilizationTechnique),172,173
plastic,homemade,142,143
pocketkit,6,8
Prusikknot,42,43
psychologicalwarfare,186,187
rappellingharness,210,211
rectalconcealment,18,19
reverse180turn,222,223
roadblock,breakingthrough,226,227
roomhide,54,55
RunFightRunworkout,24,25
runningfromactiveshooter,178,179
saltandpeppershakers,69
saps,72,76,77,82,83
scalingahighwall,42,43
scubadivingmask,clearing,204,205
sea:
bordercrossingby,28–29,30–31
burialofbodyin,206,207
seat-beltworkaround,62,63
shelter,36
shootingsprees,surviving,178,179,180–81
SillyPutty,andthumbprintreplication,198,199
slipknot,128,129
“softattacks,”186,187
soundamplification,136,137
spaceanddepthtechnique,94,95
speaker,asmicrophone,136,137
squareknot,211,212
structure:
escapemultistorybuilding,212,213
hookandclimb,40,41
scalingawall,42,43
suitcase,covertaccessto,126,127
surveillance:
accordianeffect,98,99
camera,139,140,141
determining,96,97
dismounted,86,87
losingdiscreetly,98,99
mobile,88,89
night,trackingdevice,92,93
publictransportation,98,99
TEDD(time,environment,distance,anddemeanor),96,97
two-turnlimitin,88
surveillancecameras:
deceiving,102,103
disguise,102,103
light,102,103
static,102,103
tampering,detectionof,94,95
taser,improvised,162–63,164–65
teargas,protectionfrom,182,183
TEDD(time,environment,distance,anddemeanor),96,97
thermalburialofbody,206,207

thumbprints,replicating,198,199
Tornetwork,144
trackingdevice,92,93
detecting,100,101
insuitcase,126
trapstodetecttampering,94,95
two-carblock,breakingthrough,226,227
umbrella/leadpipe,72,73
under-the-doortool,120,121
vascularidentificationtechnology,196
vehicle:
airbagdisengagement,62,63
boltbag,10,11
braking,62,63
buildingahidein,64,65
escapeanambush,228,229
escapeandevasionprep,62,63
escapefromtrunk,216,217
J-turn,220,221
listeningdevicein,134,135
opendoorwithstring,128,129
PIT(PrecisionImmobilizationTechnique),172,173
prep,60,61
reverse180turn,222,223
roadblock,breakingthrough,226,227
seat-beltworkaround,62,63
shootingfrom,154,155
stealing,56,57,58–59
survivinganimpact,224,225
valetkey,59
ViolentNomad,anatomyof,2,3,4–5
wall,scaling,42,43
waterbottlesilencer,70,71
weapons:
chain,78,79
concealed,drawing,152,153
explosivedevice,166,167
fishingweight/sap,76,77
improvised,68,69
knifefight,156,157
Molotovcocktail,170,171
newspapernailbat,80,81
pens,74,75
pistoldisarmament:pointedatback,176,177
pistoldisarmament:pointedatchest,174,175
rollofcoins,82,83
saltandpeppershakers,69
umbrella/leadpipe,72,73
waterbottlesilencer,70,71
wingsuit,32,33
workout,RunFightRun,24,25
wrenches,72,73
Zebrasteelpen,74,75
zigzagpattern,runningfromshooter,178,179
zipties,defeating,238,239

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SkilltestingbyKenzieEmerson

InteriordesignbyErichHobbing

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Emerson,Clint.

100deadlyskills:theSEALoperative’sguide/ClintEmerson,retiredNavySEAL;illustrationsbyTedSlampyak.

pagescm

Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.

1.UnitedStates.Navy.SEALs—Handbooks,manuals,etc.2.Survival—Handbooks,manuals,etc.I.Slampyak,Ted,illustrator.

II.Title.III.Title:Onehundreddeadlyskills.IV.Title:SEALoperative’sguide.

VG87.E642015

613.6'9—dc23

2015012021

ISBN978-1-4767-9605-5

ISBN978-1-4767-9606-2(ebook)

100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative's Guide To Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, And Surviving Any Dangerous Situation Situa

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