SHADOWS THAT BITE
An old maxim of creativity is to take two things that aren’t normally seen together and combine them in a way that brings out new qualities in both. In regard to survival, when not under the stress of an immediate threat, this has led to the development of tools, gear, and skills not considered before. Some disappear almost immediately; others become the new standard. From the outside, GBRS Group appears to be combining two things that don’t obviously fit together: skateboards and night vision. But after talking to them, we realized they’re a surprisingly natural match.
The team at GBRS Group isn’t just a group of medically retired SEALs who provide top-tier training for end users. Digging into the history of combat footwear, for years those engaged in combat looked outside traditional military supply lines for anything that would give them an advantage. Skate shoes brought something otherwise overlooked to the table: dexterity and silence, both of which are sought after by those who operate mostly at night.
In the same way, Slade, DJ, and Cole of GBRS Group bring that mindset not only to survival training, but to their work with night vision, tactical gear, and firearms as a whole. Respectful of the old ways and focused on breaking problems down into their parts to comprehensively solve them, their approach to training isn’t as simple as a mere maxim. Instead, it fits into exploring new features of night vision by taking them into the world of extreme sports and practicing a skill until it becomes performance on demand.
GBRS Group’s cadre offers training for those who present them a problem to solve. This flexible approach works to their advantage, as the tactical training industry can often become hyperfocused on trends. In contrast, they’re masters of the fundamentals, especially those that relate to night vision and close-quarters combat. For all the times we’ve heard someone talk the talk on fundamentals, it’s refreshing to see that GBRS Group can pull them off, without a hitch, only to explore new options once the foundation is secure.
What is GBRS Group and what do you do?
GBRS: We are a Tier 1 tactical training and consulting company focused on providing training and equipment to end users in military, federal, state, and local special operations units. We provide insight and development assistance to companies who serve
