How do y'all who are in the CASDF feel about Jim Wagner being on the cover of Black Belt Magazine in ACU's with CASDF insignia, carrying a M4, a M9 on a assault vest and wielding a knife? I assume he is teaching h2h and combatives to the NG? He also has a advertisement in the back for anyone interested in enlisting. I took one of his seminars back in 2003, I was not impressed. The impression I got was that he was a fantastic self promoter and makes some serious $ from his martial arts. Ive found that most martial arts systems that start with someones name, you get just that a name and little else. His system really works, just ask him...
I'm not sure what you're asking. That's standard gear we wear to all our drills.
I have no idea if he's in the CASMR. I couldn't tell who he was representing until I clearly saw the beret flash. No doubt about it; it's ours. Everything else is subject to speculation. Nothing in the article refers to the CASMR. I wouldn't be too surprised if our PAO's authorized this. They tend to like to capitalize on such things. I don't always agree with them. Still, I'd be willing to send this forward if no one has a good answer by next week.
One of our previous commanders was John Bianchi, the founder of Bianchi leather holsters, etc. I was hoping that it would eventually lead to Bianchi holsters strapped to our sides, but alas....
He is wearing the California tape and the CASDF shoulder patch as well... I guess you guys have a new member I guess he's thinking it strengthen his bio and make him look more military. He always does his photo ops in BDU's and combat gear, now he has a legit reason why. I bet he's hoping this makes his book and dvd sales go up.
This guy is just straight out BS. Look at his "career" withe the "PD". He was a "Corrections Officer", which means he did station work, and babysat in custodies who were being held prior to booking into jail. He worked two years at that, and "retired" after 10 years...hmmmm...sounds like he was a CSO, never a Police Officer. Don't see a badge or patch on his "tactical pose pic". Patches/badges/nametapes are required in CA by Statute.
Using the SMR uniform without authorization is a violation of the rules. Using it in advertising is a big NO-NO. If he is not a member, then he is wearing the uniform in violation of the law.
His claim to fame is having taken some classes and is now a teacher who is wondering why no one in the military or LE uses his style of combat. Simple: it's garbage. Don't waste any money on the Kung Fu of the moment.
CA,
Bianchi was not allowed to use his position to further his sales. If you were around during the 80's, you would know that the Bianchi M84 holster WAS a milspec item. Bianchi refused to cut any price deals with members of the SMR when they asked about private purchases of his gear. He stated that it wasn't something he was in charge of.
Bianchi was not allowed to use his position to further his sales. If you were around during the 80's, you would know that the Bianchi M84 holster WAS a milspec item. Bianchi refused to cut any price deals with members of the SMR when they asked about private purchases of his gear. He stated that it wasn't something he was in charge of.
Oh, I know. I was just being facetious. Besides, I believe his ex-wife is now the sole owner of Bianchi International and he now owns a different company.
It was before my time, but I have been told there was once an article in Soldier of Fortune about the SMR which created great political problems in the legislature for the organization.
The Soldier of Fortune article in question is probably the one from the May 1987 issue called "Citizen Soldiers". It was nine pages long and feature the Texas State Guard and a rogue group that had broke off from them. It made all State Defense Forces look bad. I have the issue in my files and am reviewing it as I write this.
One notable photo in the magazine was the one showing a soldier standing and wearing only the items he had been issued from the state. He had a service cap, a belt, boots, shoes, a tie and a canteen. The belt held the garrison cap over a sensitive area.
Originally posted by andrewdb: It was before my time, but I have been told there was once an article in Soldier of Fortune about the SMR which created great political problems in the legislature for the organization.
You might be confusing that with an "investigative report" that appeared in the San Jose Mercury News in the mid 80s, I think. The CSMR was a very different organization then and provided them with a lot to material to work with if you know what I mean. A lot of the sensitivity about firearms came from that article.
Originally posted by SMR54: You might be confusing that with an "investigative report" that appeared in the San Jose Mercury News in the mid 80s, I think. The CSMR was a very different organization then and provided them with a lot to material to work with if you know what I mean. A lot of the sensitivity about firearms came from that article.
If it was an article about the California Military Reserve, it was propbably the San Francisco Bay Guardian article of January 17, 1990 called "WARRIORS IN THE WINGS - California is training and arming a state militia to quell domestic disturbances in the increasingly likely event that the National Guard is sent to fight overseas" by Ed Connolly.
Connolly went after the Ohio Militay Reserve in print and then the California Military Reserve. He hated State Defense Forces in general and was kind of a nut. He testified against funding for the California Military Reserve at a hearing of the Assembly Ways and Means Subcommittee on State Administration.
I have a copy of the Warriors in the Wings article in Microsoft Word format and three large audio files from a radio interview with Connolly where he went after the California Military Reserve.
I wasn't aware of the San Francisco article. However, the San Jose paper did the article I was talking about. If I remember correctly it concentrated on SMR personnel and personal firearms. The article painted them as a rag tag militia group, which considering the state of SMR at that time may have been fairly accurate.
Sorry. Missed the tone I remember him well...maybe. I did yell at him and his staff once at CP Roberts when they interrupted my training block. Classic.
Ed Connely used to try and come by the San Jose Armory when I drilled there with the old 206th BDE. He was stopped and escorted off the property several times. He would hang around the parking lot later and try and get "quotes" from the SMR/NG personnel to use.
I can't speak about the bio for SGT Wagner, but I can say that I saw the memo from BG Hagan approving his appearance on the cover of the magazine as a promotion for the CASMR.
Originally posted by califsgt: I can't speak about the bio for SGT Wagner, but I can say that I saw the memo from BG Hagan approving his appearance on the cover of the magazine as a promotion for the CASMR.
If you are talking about the 10 JAN 2008 memo distributed by the G5, the article and photographs were NOT approved.
The memo implies that the SGT was given approval to work with the magazine but was required to submit the article with photographs for final approval before publication. Obviously he did not do so.
Originally posted by BTDT: This guy is just straight out BS. Look at his "career" withe the "PD". He was a "Corrections Officer", which means he did station work, and babysat in custodies who were being held prior to booking into jail. He worked two years at that, and "retired" after 10 years...hmmmm...sounds like he was a CSO, never a Police Officer. Don't see a badge or patch on his "tactical pose pic". Patches/badges/nametapes are required in CA by Statute.
I confirmed last night that he was a cop at a local OC agency.
A key phrase from the message that was passed down to us:
"The pictures and the actual article were not pre-approved by HQ. The photos give a misleading/false impression of the activities of the CSMR."
Also, what he won't tell you is that at the last three law enforcement agencies he was with, he left under less than desirable conditions. No, he wasn't fired, but pretty much "leave or else" kind of thing.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: sdfsgt,
I remember him well...maybe. I did yell at him and his staff once at CP Roberts when they interrupted my training block. Classic.
