Rock’a Lock’a BANG! BANG! — Day 3/4 Report

# Overview

# Forensics and Microdot Demonstration

Forensics instructors showed how investigative tools can inform covert-entry operations. A standout demonstration involved microdotting: special microdots placed on a keypad that fluoresce under a particular light wavelength after being touched. The exercise illustrated how tiny, otherwise invisible markers can reveal contact history and help determine who accessed a device or location.

# Lock Manipulation — Impressioning

# Compliant Technologies — The GLOVE

# Breaching Tools and Scenarios

SPARROWS' breaching instructors brought both light and heavy rams and small and large collapsing bolt cutters. Training took place against a heavy breaching door, with instructors drawing on SWAT experience to explain the tools and the scenarios where each tool is appropriate. The focus remained on practical application and decision-making in breach selection.

# Night Three — Technical Presentations and Breakouts

Evening sessions included Rapid Safe Entry and Manipulation demonstrating side punching and injection attacks against keypads and certain safes. These live demonstrations showed how quickly some security containers can be defeated when the correct technique is used. One breakout group walked the local community with prepared bug-out bags to practice surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques.

# Day Four — Mission Day

Mission Day put several days of training into a single, evolving scenario inside the prison. Participants divided into three teams: one representing prison staff and two representing inmates. The scenario began with a riot and hostage situation and expanded into tasks that included securing wings of the facility, locating hidden objectives, accessing locked gun cabinets and safes, lock manipulation, casualty management, and adapting to new problems as they appeared.

The scale and complexity required teams to apply prior classroom and live-demo lessons under stress. The scenario tested decision-making, inter-team coordination, technical tradecraft, and the practical limits of equipment and techniques demonstrated earlier in the event.

# Practical Takeaways

• Hands-on practice matters: many classes emphasized doing the work (impressioning, breaching, forensics) rather than watching demonstrations.
• Cross-discipline techniques are relevant: forensics and compliant tech were presented as tools that can inform or alter entry and post-entry actions.
• Realistic scenario training: Mission Day combined multiple mission tasks to exercise tactical planning, technical skills, and casualty management under dynamic conditions.

# Who attended and context