Leaders & Legends - Sid Heal - Part 2 of 2 - Understanding Tactical Science

The Debrief with Jon Becker

Episode Description – This is the second of a broad reaching two-part interview with Sid. In this second episode, we discuss the origins of his study and writings on tactical science and take a deeper dive into several concepts in tactical science like initiative and maneuver in time and space. We also dig into Sid’s views on leadership and take an emotional reflection on his responsibilities to those he led.

This episode of The Debrief is in honor of Sid Heal who passed away on May 24th, 2022, shortly before this episode aired. We remember Sid as a force in the special tactics community, as a war veteran, as a celebrated author, and as a commander of the LA Sheriff’s Department. A site has been created in honor of Sid that you can visit at www.sidheal.com

Guest – Charles “Sid” Heal. Sid is a legend in the special tactics’ community and a key figure in the history and evolution of special tactics in the United States. Sid is a retired CWO5 in the United States Marine Corps serving numerous combat deployments including the Vietnam War, The Gulf War, and Operation United Shield in Somalia. Sid is also a retired Commander from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, has worked in the Special Enforcement Bureau, the Emergency Operations Bureau, and a wide variety of other assignments. Sid is one of the most prolific authors on tactical topics having authored several books and hundreds of articles. Sid has taught at the US Army War College and is the former president of the California Association of Tactical Officers.

Topics Discussed

3:18 Short background on Sound Doctrine

6:23 Public perception of police use of violence vs reality

13:08 Origin of Sid’s writing career: combining doctrines of law enforcement and military

19:38 Key concepts in Sid’s books (end state, training vs education, maneuvering in time, etc.)

36:48 Writing tactical books that are widely accessible through simplifying concepts

39:18 The importance of tactical science (understanding the rationale behind decisions, etc.)

43:53 Sid’s recommended reading list (from Officer to Lieutenant)

48:42 Rapid-fire questions (most important habit, leader vs manager, most important trait for teams/leaders, if he could have dinner with anybody, who it would be, etc.)

Links and Books Referenced

Sound Doctrine by Charles “Sid” Heal - ISBN 9781930051119

Field Command by Charles "Sid" Heal – ISBN 9781590563441

Please find Sid’s recommended reading list at thedebrief.live/the-list

Other Places to See and Hear Sid

CATO Podcast – www.catonews.org

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal/

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal-part-2-of-2/

For more information, check out our website at thedebrief.live