Tactical Tracking Operations Course

OPEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY PERSONNEL

Presented by a training Partnership with Direct Action Vertical Inc. and Six Six Solutions LLC

This is a full-length (40 hours delivered in four long days) tactical tracking operations course targeting law enforcement special operations personnel and officers assigned to remote patrol locations or tasked with man tracking of armed fugitives. This has EQUAL value in urban wooded parks and residential areas. Tracking an armed subject is the most dangerous operation law enforcement is called to deal with, where the suspect has most of the technical advantages. To give officers back some of that advantage, teams need to turn to the art of tracking, camouflage, noise discipline, specialized small unit counter-ambush patrol tactics, and be independently capable of handling medical emergencies in remote areas. This course will give officers the skills needed to track a subject through moderate terrain in the safest manner possible, and deal with actions on contact. (NOTE: This is a 4 day condensed course, 40 hours in 4 days.Class hours will run from 0800 to 1800 daily. Bring sack lunch. Snacks and drinks provided.) 

Prerequisites: All participants should be in physical condition for arduous duty and be able to work/operate an entire day in a cold or hot, wooded and alpine environment. Officers should already be proficient in special operations weapons handling. Officers should bring their duty gear, issued rifle, 200 rounds of rifle ammunition, 50 rounds of handgun ammunition and all equipment that would be used in a tactical environment. Course takes place outside rain or shine.

Skills Trained: Rules of tracking, tracking cards, tracking sticks, action indicators, stride records, preserving track evidence for court, use of force considerations, tracking team formations, lost track procedures, sign cutting for vehicles and facility security, clearing danger areas, actions on contact, counter ambush tactics, basic combat casualty care, downed officer extrication and transport, suspect handling post arrest in remote setting, boobytrap detection, camouflage, noise abatement, setting up kit for woodland operations, firearms handling in team formations, patrol tactics, line item reports and visual acuity exercises. 

Course includes moderately advanced live fire exercises for familiarity with woodland operations gear, counter ambush drills, and downed officer extrication drills. Operators will be screened for firearms proficiency prior to drills. Recommend operators have advanced firearms level of skill, and experienced at not shooting on line.

Location of Course:  Redmond Oregon (First day location to be announced in student packets after registration.)

Dates of Course: May 21 - 24, 2024

Cost: $1000

Course Numbers: Minimum 10, Maximum of 15

Instructors: Your instructors for this course are the best in the business and tach to special operations internationally. We have led actual tactical teams on live tracking missions for a collective of 40 years. Experience includes law enforcement and military special operations experience in various countries. The model techniques are based on the late David Scott Donelan TTOS school, for which Eddy Cartaya was an instructor. See website for instructor bios. Operators will emerge from this course as force to be reckoned with! 

Contact Information:  Eddy Cartaya, 541-213-6257, [email protected]

Supplies/Equipment Needed:  Officers should bring their duty gear, issued rifle, 200 rounds of rifle ammunition, 50 rounds of handgun ammunition and all equipment that would be used in an outdoor tactical environment. Bring all range PPE for the live fire exercises, a small camouflage / earth tone pack (roughly 30 liters), small tape measure (12 feet), write-in-rain pad/pen/pencil, compass. GPS, sunscreen, sunglasses, medical kit, team communications. Full gear list (including first day packing list) will be sent out upon registration. Course takes place outside rain or shine.

Attire:  Field duty / tactical uniform / camouflage. Sturdy boots. Inclement weather gear.

Weather:  Course will go rain or shine (safety stops called if lightning is observed).  Come prepared to be outside most of the time (sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear, etc.).

COVID:  All instructors are vaccinated.  We will have masks, and ample hand sanitizer on station if you need it.  You are not required to wear a mask on rope unless you are actively performing a close quarters intervention with an unvaccinated subject.  Have a mask on your person at the ready at all times.

Restrooms:  There will be a porta-potty and hand washing station on site.

Water / Coffee:  Please bring a Nalgene or water bottle. We will have water coolers with water and Gatorade on the tables at the tower.  There will also be a large coffee dispenser and fixings on the porch.  You may help yourself.

Food:  Each day will include a 45 minute lunch. Students should bring a sack lunch each day.

Smoking:  If you smoke, there will be designated butt cans and areas.  Fire hazard is always being monitored.  Please do not throw any butts on the ground at any time.

Firearms Safety:  Weapons will be cleared by firearms instructors each morning, after lunch, and each time you return to the training area.  If you have a chamber flag for your weapon, please bring it.  

Area Lodging:

Eagle Crest Resort, 1522 Cline Falls Road, Redmond, OR.  97756

Sleep Inn & Suites, 1847 NW 6th St, Redmond, OR.  97756

Comfort Suites, 2243 SW Yew Ave, Redmond, OR.  97756

Riverhouse on the Deschutes, 3075 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR.  97703 (Phone: (541) 639-3481)

Element Bend, 1526 NW Wall St, Bend, OR.  97703 (Phone: (541) 585-7373) 

Tentative Course Daily Schedule: 

This is a condensed high intensity course. Normally a 5 day / 40 hour course delivered in 4 days. Expect long 10 hour days. Each day starts at 0800 (locations will vary daily) and ends approximately 1800, with a 45 minute lunch. Students should bring a sack lunch each day. First day location / packing list to be announced in student packets after registration. 

May 21:  Intro, admin, tracking operations overview, rules of tracking, definitions, camouflage, spoor cards, tracking stick, action indicators, reconstructing actions, tracking evidence processing (casting and photography), kit and gear for tactical tracking, tracking kit configuration, micro tracking lanes.

May 22: Medical TCCC considerations, use of force, effective range, cover shadow, intro to tracking team formations, team formation walk through / basic team based tracking, lost spoor procedures, road and hill danger area crossing.

May 23: Incident operations, communications, LiNDAT reports, actions on contact phase 1 and 2, tent take downs (auditory targeting demo), sign cutting (lanes, vehicle, structures), cover shoot live fire exercise.

May 24: Suspect handling and transport, mission pre-brief, mock tactical tracking mission, mission debrief / AAR, course critique, graduation.

Any questions, special needs, or concerns, please contact Eddy Cartaya ([email protected]) or at 541-213-6257.