Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 1543.3
possible, especially if they suspect that the search targets may be wearing highly reflective
material, such as the reflective tape of a PFD.
Criminals are using night vision more and more frequently in the commission of their crimes.
If you don't understand and plan for this fact, it can make tactical situations more difficult and
more dangerous. They typically have the older technology, with proper planning and the right
tools, their night vision can be used against them.
The first step in defeating night vision is to know that it is, or might be, in use. One of the best
indicators is the presence of an IR light source, since Russian- or older- technology often
requires it to operate. Another is simply the type of suspect that you're addressing. Drug
smugglers, for instance, might be more likely than others to have high-tech equipment,
including night vision.
One way to defeat night vision is to use a light source to blind the user by causing blooming in
his/ her system. This can be done with just a flashlight or with a high-intensity light source
(i.e. a Maxi-Beam light), using either white or IR light. Police grade flashlights (one hundred
lumens of light or more), shined in the eyes of an individual using night vision, will generally
shut their unit down or, at least (because of the intensification process), force the individual to
look away and cause a momentary blinding effect. This is particularly true for users of
Russian devices. High-intensity light sources (in the range of one million candlepower) will
shut down most night vision devices, including some Gen 3 systems, if they are looking
directly into the light source. With a flashlight or high-intensity light source, either white or
IR light will cause the desired blooming effect. Be careful however, if you use white light; if
you think an individual is using night vision when they're not, you may needlessly give your
position away. IR light, on the other hand, will not give your position away to those not using
night vision. IR filters are available for just about any police grade flashlight on the market
today; if your agency uses night vision devices, you should have an IR filter for the flashlight
you use.
Use Caution When Using Your IR: Remember to use extreme caution when considering
using any one of your IR light sources. It will definitely give your position away to anyone
else using night vision devices.
In close quarters confrontations- such as making arrests- having MNVDs on your face presents
criminals with a great target. It takes only 13 lbs. of pressure to fracture the orbital socket. To
keep from having your MNVDs jammed backward into your eyes, you need to get them off
and away from your face before getting within reach of a suspect. Taking the MNVDs off, ,
can create another problem. Remember that looking into MNVDs means one eye is not
completely dark-adapted. With a monocular system, one eye will be dark-adapted and the user
will notice that it takes a few minutes for the aided eye to adapt.
Currently NVD devices, both monocular and binocular types made to be mounted on the users'
head, are not suitable to be worn while firing a weapon without specialized training. There
are significant problems found in firing accuracy. Additionally, the eye adjustment from light
to dark may limit the user from timely response and so at this time it is not recommended that
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