Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

Intro music credit Bensound.com

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping how information is gathered, analyzed, and acted upon in both policing and military operations, and even the private sector. In this episode, we examine the practical implications of AI tools—especially large language models (LLMs)—and how they are already influencing intelligence analysis, operational planning, and day-to-day decision-making across our professions.

Mike and Jim explore the promise and limitations of human–machine teaming, the risks associated with data security and data poisoning, and how adversaries can exploit AI systems to manipulate information environments, accelerate decision cycles, and disrupt traditional OODA loops. As tacticians, we also have to consider the threats with AI teaming; deepfakes, synthetic media, and automated influence campaigns can distort perception and undermine trust during critical incidents or conflicts.

We focus on practical leadership considerations: when to trust automated tools, how to validate AI-generated information, and how organizations can integrate these technologies without surrendering judgment, sovereignty, or operational advantage. The ultimate goal is to help practitioners understand how AI changes the competitive landscape—and how professionals can adapt without becoming dependent on systems they don't fully control.

Links:
Great article from Red Beard Tactical on how to use AI to write better OPORDS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tactics-ai-opord-150850002

Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

Intro music credit Bensound.com

In complex environments, effort alone doesn't equal results. Whether you're in uniform or behind a badge, you face the same reality: limited resources, adaptive adversaries, and problems that refuse to stay solved. The difference between activity and impact often comes down to how you see the fight.

Mike and Jim break down systems thinking for tacticians — a practical way to understand how outcomes actually emerge inside military and law enforcement environments. Using real-world examples, they explore how feedback loops, incentives, and hidden dependencies shape everything from crime trends to operational tempo.

Links:

https://sdm.mit.edu/a-systems-analysis-of-tactical-intelligence-in-the-us-army/

https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/warden-five-rings-great-strategists/ - John Warden's "The Enemy as a System"

https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Volume-09_Issue-1-Se/1995_Vol9_No1.pdf

https://amzn.to/4smTmEM0 - The Air Campaign: Planning For Combat by John Warden

https://amzn.to/3OTgcVQ - Winning in FastTime: Harness the Competitive Advantage of Prometheus in Business and Life - by John Warden

https://media.defense.gov/2017/Dec/27/2001861508/-1/-1/0/T_0029_FADOK_BOYD_AND_WARDEN.PDF - John Boyd and John Warden: Air Power's Quest for Strategic Paralysis

https://warontherocks.com/2015/09/the-five-ring-circus-how-airpower-enthusiasts-forgot-about-interdiction/ - The Five-Ring Circus: How Airpower Enthusiasts Forgot About Interdiction by Mike Pietrucha

Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

Intro music credit Bensound.com