CTG NATION PODCAST

Welcome Josh DeBord with Turkey Creek Productions to the podcast. Josh is a “sponsored” hunter and a member of the West Virginia Civil Support Team. The conversation is National Guard and small business heavy, with plenty of rabbit holes.

Through the ever present technological difficulties/user error(s), Aaron and Thomas finally sit down for the Official 2025 SC SWAT Challenge Review. This is a deeper and slightly more professional event break down, from the sponsors, all stages and all the teams. Seeing how the “ sausage is made” if you will and a little pleasant surprise at the end.

Short episode on podcast upgrades and possible guests to look forward too.

Bobby is back and we break down our recent live fire training and competitions. What does it mean to “vent down” from a “leadership” position, and why it is a double edged sword.

Aaron gives a brief breakdown of how Carolina Tactics Group started, how the podcast became the company focus and of course some stats that can help propel the podcast to offer you, the listener, more.

If it ain't raining, we ain't training! Oh and it was freezing too! The 2025 SC SWAT Challenge has concluded with new lessons learned, new connections made, new idea to take back to your departments and ultimately a new champion, with North Metro. This one's for the boys, not the boss. A more in-depth and admin friendly review will follow.

Welcome back, as Aaron and Thomas preview the 2025 SC SWAT Challenge. There's new sponsorships, new teams and new stages covered. Hope this sheds some light on things, but remember - this ain't no soup kitchen!

Finally! Schedules aligned with Aaron and Tardo, and here is your OFFICIAL review of the 2024 SC SWAT CHALLENGE - PART 1. This is an expanded and slightly more professional breakdown than Episode 63. Part 1 will cover the teams, Day 1 Workshop and Day 2 with the non shooting stages.

“The Man in the Arena” is an important motivational quote for leaders and followers in any profession. This is a quick listen to make all levels of your chain of command think for the better of your organization.

This will be Aaron's shorter, informal review of the third SC SWAT Challenge, at the Sawmill Training Complex, in Laurens, SC. It was the smoothest year yet logistically and with all the stages, with a lot of new faces. Very similar review to 2023, with emphasis on camaraderie, networking and efficient training. Each stage, team and overall event outlook will be broken down.

Welcome back Thomas Tardo of the Valkyrie Tacticool Solutions as we catch up on the business and dive into stepping up as a leader and continuing to grow professionally, no matter your rank.

After a 7 month hiatus we are back, with a course after action review of the Controlled Chaos Tactics, Special Response Team Operator Certification Course. This class is taught by the CCT owner/operator Paul Heitz and other military men of mystery, along with local law enforcement assistant instructors, covering the tactical basics for any law enforcement operator. BOLO for a follow up episode with the evil Santa Clause himself Paul Heitz and enjoy this AAR on the CCT SRTOCC 007 AKA “The Fuck Shop”.

The “you do you boo-boo” saying is almost always used in jest. But during this age of societal decay from the highest levels of government to the everyday citizens we deal with everyday, you have focus on you and your immediate circle.

Brewers back. Gets a little dark on why people leave law enforcement, how we can personally and professionally combat our patty cake society, while building resiliency.

Aaron breaks down “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” of recruiting future law enforcement officers.

What is resiliency? How do we develop it? And why do law enforcement officers need it more now then ever?

Aaron and Thomas sit down for an in-depth review of “The Ragnarök”, 2023 SC SWAT Challenge, held at the Sawmill Training Complex in Laurens, SC. Every team, day and stage is broken down to make all the competitors and this event better every year.

The SC SWAT Challenge 2023 was a great success! We grew, got more proficient and efficient with the comp itself and really hammered home networking and camaraderie with the teams. Aaron breaks that down along with the teams and stages from his perspective.

What is “networking” to you? Is it just professional or personal also? In person or just on the interwebs? Let's have a quick break down of how it can help law enforcement and how officers are naturally good at it.

Welcome Thomas Tardo back, with Valkyrie Tacticool Solutions. Exclusive preview of the 2nd Annual SC SWAT Challenge, to include competition changes, sponsorship and team highlights, along with some motivational sprinkles.

“Money is the root of all evil”, to include just being plan stressful. We are on the front line of public service, definitely not the money making side of things, yet we do the most dangerous and stressful aspects of the job. So we have to be disciplined and realists about what we got, just like during a call for service. ***We are NOT financial advisors in any training or capacity. We are average guys with average straight forward experiences sharing what has worked for us.***

It's 2023 and welcome back, new year - same motivation. Leadership can be hard, being a team player can be hard. From work and personal stress, you can feel like you are going to boil over at any minutes. But how will that stress effect you and what type of “leader” you will become?

Big milestone for the CTG Nation as we have a full house with Bobby, Corey and John. After some individual catching up it's all current events and rabbit holes.

Brewer is back to discuss and honor Drew Barr of the Cayce Police Department and Austin Aldridge of the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office.

We are back with some self criticism. Sorry for the wait, no excuses. Now is always the time for discipline, consistency and balance in your professional and personal life.

It's open mic night for Brewer. From the SWAT COMP, finding your niche in law enforcement, to why officers are still leaving the career in droves and the world just needing better humans. Always a fun mix of philosopher and ape brain.

Quick Action Sermon on taking care of yourself Mentally and Physically. The grind is real, but what are you doing to make sure you are in it for the long haul?

Aaron continues his conversation with “Crisco Kyle”, diving into keeping a general positive mindset in a world of negativity. How we detach, cope and decompress from the stressful grind of public service. And with all that how we can recruit and retain personnel.

“Crisco Kyle” himself returns in a two part podcast about publicly and internally changing law enforcement. Plenty of productive and positive war stories and rabbit holes for the change we need.

Aaron sits down with Valkyrie Tacticool Solutions founder/owner Thomas Tardo for an expanded review of his brainchild, “The Ragnarök”. Thomas fills in the gaps from Aaron's AAR, along with a time line from just an idea to handing the amazing trophy to the green men of the Greenville County Sheriffs Office.

Aaron does an individual review and hot wash on the first annual South Carolina SWAT Competition 2022 “The Ragnarök”.

Aaron is back with Brewer and the topic of the day is STANDARDS. Why we have them in the military and law enforcement, but haven't really been enforcing them. How has this crippled society? And how we fight back daily.

New Year, same CTG. We are kicking off the year short, sweet and motivated. What is progress publicly, privately and how do you grade it?

Aaron and Bobby sit down for another “Contemporaneous Shenanigans” episode between our currently hectic schedules. Qualified Immunity lives another day after multiple Supreme Court rulings, how first response needs to strep up its recruiting game and the training and experience disconnect between civilian first response and the military.

We catch up with Valkyrie Tacticool Solutions talking company goals with Corey and Thomas, and K9 TECC with Shane. Rabbit holes a plenty.

In Part 2 of our “For The Ladies” Series, Aaron sits down with a young female Deputy in the the Midlands of South Carolina. What is the female cop stereotype? Did CSI and Law and Order influence every millennial aged law enforcement officer? And the daily battles countering the “Defund the Police” era as an educated, motivated, female, minority Deputy.

Quick Team Update. Prequel on “Action”. What is “Speed and Violence of Action” and Code Black?

Bobby is back from the dead, with COVID antibodies, tactical swimming skills and a new pupper. General catch up before diving into the Afghanistan “Pull Out”, how COVID continues to terrify the world - leading to equally terrifying “overcorrection” by big governments and wrapped up by a Murdaugh Murder Update.

Aaron sits down with “Investigator Charlie” for part one of our “For the Ladies” series. From growing up in the fire service in rural South Carolina to being an Internet Crimes Against Children Investigator working joint operations on a weekly basis, she covers the spread in personal and professional experience.

Aaron sits down with fellow LEO “Crisco Kyle” discussing how he was drawn into public service, long distance shooting, why we love the job and how we can save it, with a few rabbit holes as always.

Aaron links up with Thomas again (finally) with Valkyrie Tacticool Solutions talking about the company's growing success and most recently with their leading edge K9 Tactical Emergency Casualty Care course. Getting away from business the two hit on general preparedness at work and the never ending war on “Blue Falcons”.

South Carolina specific current events with Aaron and Bobby. Murdaugh Murders, Fake Uber Killer, Governor McMaster reaffirms freedoms we've always had, wrapped up with Gamecock football “potential” and why we are excited about Texas and Oklahoma possibly coming to the SEC.

More “current events” with Aaron and Bobby. Firefighters still get shot, pedos get what they deserve and are we still abolishing the police?

Aaron and Bobby go deep into the social/culture war going on in our country. To “extremism” in Charlottesville, manufactured identity politics and outrage and daily increasing division - what is the endgame for our county?

BOBBY'S BACK! Aaron and Bobby catch up, hitting on Bobby's “check in the box” military training, domestic and international current events and teases for future episodes.

Aaron and Brewer are back again after a busy week within the CTG and VTS circles, and addressing attacking your weaknesses. Do your realistic work related nightmares motivate you? Have you been jolted awake in a cold sweat from a nightmare scenario where you were not fast enough? Not strong enough? Train the fear out of yourself.

Aaron's solo weekly review of all things cops, Biden and Bill Cosby's pudding pops.

Doc Cory from Valkyrie Tactical Solutions joins Aaron from the CTG Bat Cave talking all things tactical medicine, the LE and EMS relationship and stories of SUMTER MAN! Great mix of lessons learned, the leadership/realism needed in first response, with humor sprinkled in of course!

Aaron talks about the political polarization of the 2nd Amendment as the Left blames guns for the uptick in violent crime. While Right leaning states continue passing pro gun legislation.

Solo host, CTG OG Aaron talks about having multiple “Father Figures”. How this added value and experiences shared across different generations and backgrounds can make more capable men AND women not just in service, but in society as a whole.

CTG OG Aaron covers a short week in review, speaking on training ideology at the range and staying motivated among the unmotivated. Constitutional Carry is officially Law in Texas (jealous). What is "radicalized" to this current administration and how history is repeating itself with some sins of the 20th Century. A South Carolina family dynasty in further turmoil. Rapped up by a big announcement by our friends at Valkyrie Tactical Solutions...