The Art of Using Night Vision

I can remember the days when night vision was scarce. Training for night vision was closing your eyes for up to 45 minutes before a patrol took place so that your eyes were adjusted to the darkness when the squad stepped out on patrol. If the patrol were to encounter lights, they would do everything they could to protect at least one eye that was adjusted to the darkness.

Times have changed drastically in the sense that the need for night vision is so paramount that every service member deployed that leaves the wire has a form of night vision, typically a PVS-14 monocular. In an attempt to level the playing field against the permanence of "Home Court Advantage", technology provides tools limited only by the imagination of the user, that instill uncertainty, fear, and dish out cans of “Whoop Ass” from the “Super-Sized” menu to the bad guys.

From my experience, the biggest problem with night vision tools is that they are not used until units get into their theater of operation. This is potentially dangerous and can lead to fatalities. I understand the need to preserve items that cost thousands of dollars each but how will the item benefit the user if he/she does not train with it? How can the user become skilled in operating the optic without sufficient time using it during the trial and error phase of a training cycle?

While conducting the many different infantry type jobs in the US Marine Corps, I have learned that everything used needs to be an extension of the user; from the boots to the body armor; the vehicle to the crew-served weapon. Weapon manipulation should be as if the bullet fired was under the same control as the finger that pulled the trigger. The shooter should instinctively know where the round impacted and what the factors involved that caused it to impact at its destination. Walking around with a night vision device mounted on a helmet should give the user comfort and not uncertainty. The only way to reach this point of efficiency is to perfectly practice regularly and realize that when a life-threatening crisis hits you it is unlikely that you will rise to the occasion but you will sink to the level of your training.

Night vision devices should enhance stealth. If you have to sprint or move rapidly, there probably is no reason to use night vision. If, as a shooter, I can hear you running towards me, I still have a target to shoot. The proper use of night vision should aid in eliminating visual and audible indicators that could give your position away and make you a target. The shooter should only move as fast as he can shoot accurately. Night vision will slow down your movement because of diminished peripheral vision and depth perception. As a shooter, who relied on stealth, it benefits me to take advantage of the night and move slower with more deliberation. This will increase accuracy while shooting on the move, increase stealth, and drastically limit fratricide.

I have used night vision as a secondary means of communication. Whether from a hide or in a CQB situation, infrared beams allow friendly forces to know my position. I have been in situations while out on patrol and have lost communication with an adjacent element. I know, no matter how thick it may get, I cannot return fire at certain ranges because of the lack of awareness of the position of that unknown unit. I would check for aircraft, and then throw a IR flood beam in the air. I have never seen a Marine miss an opportunity to participate in a Jedi Light Saber battle (cross their IR laser beams in the air), and therefore can effectively locate known and unknown adjacent units in the area.

From a hide, there is no need for the breach force to break radio silence when they see a laser coming through a window. I reveal to them my position, and the position of my muzzle and focus. There is no need to talk about it because if I can see their lasers, I know their general position. They can safely assume that I am focused on a potential threat, so either my shot eliminates the threat, or I shift my laser and they can assume the area is clear. If time is a factor for the breach force and they cannot wait anymore, then they can signal with rapid vertical movements of the lasers and my muzzle will shift to provide surveillance or precision fire in a different sector.

I understand these methods will not work for everyone in every situation, but the bottom line is that none of the techniques can be developed safely unless the guys coming back from missions are using these tools to reign in and refine their skills and increase their abilities with proper and constant training.

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL WOLFSEN.

About the Author:
Currently, Michael Wolfsen focuses on Law Enforcement and Military consultation and sales at Morovision, Night Vision, Inc. This past spring 2012 he was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps after serving over 8 years in various missions throughout 5 combat deployments.

Michael’s first deployment was the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, where he participated in the clearing phases and transitioned to the security phase that took place to enable the first democratic elections in Iraq. He returned to Iraq to serve as a Squad Leader in 2007 where he led over 500 patrols to deny the enemy the freedom of movement and to provide the locals with a stronger sense of security.

Michael’s first Afghanistan deployment moved him up to lead a team as part of a Distributed Operations Platoon that was trained to operate as a large unit with individually operating elements. His 3-man team spent time tracking and engaging the Taliban by direct or indirect fire in the mountains of the Korengal Valley. Follow up missions were to provide surveillance on main supply routes to deny the Taliban the ability to interfere with coalition troops’ access to those roads. He quickly discovered that clandestine skills during those times required quality optics and the proper training to use them, to remain undetected and to observe the enemy during the times they were most likely to operate, at night.

Michael was then transferred to Virginia for additional training and graduated from the Marine Basic Security Guard Course, the Advanced Urban Combat Course, a Non-Lethal Weapons and Tactics Course and the Green Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Course. He then deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct a surveillance and security mission along the Naval Base Perimeter. Michael was then transferred to Camp Pendleton, CA and redeployed to Afghanistan. He completed his career as a Sergeant and a Marine Scout Sniper Assistant Team Leader.

Mr. Wolfsen has vast knowledge in both day and night time operations pertaining to weapons and tactics, surveillance and effective use of tools that improve a shooter’s efficiency.

Michael’s combat experience has taught him that there is fine line to walk around with the highest lethality, yet at the same time maintain credibility and legitimacy providing security to all citizens in a particular area, all without causing harm or damage to innocent people. Urban deployments gave him a deeper respect for Law Enforcement Officers and their ability to remain holstered in a situation that could escalate in a blink of an eye, yet remain resolute in their physical and mental posture for the sake of the citizens, all while putting their lives at risk.
If you are a Law Enforcement Officer and your job is tactical and/or surveillance in nature, Michael and the Morovision Team are able and ready to assist. Morovision’s mission is to increase your operational capabilities, situational awareness and survivability.