You may have noticed that over the past several weeks, we have been running articles that feature the outstanding individuals that make up the Safariland CADRE.
With years of experience in life-threatening situations, Safariland CADRE bring real-world knowledge, skills, and expertise to everything they do. Each member embodies our motto, “Together We Save Lives.”
Today, we’re spotlighting Dan Brokos — a guy you want on your team when SHTF. He is a commanding presence, standing at 6’2″ and 245 lbs, with an exceptional level of skill and integrity. Add to that the strong rapport he builds with his students, and you’ve got the makings of a true legacy.
It’s quite possible that many reading this already know Dan Brokos, as he has been an instructor to untold numbers of professionals in military units and law enforcement over the years.
And if you haven’t met or heard of Dan, that’s why we’re here today — he’s someone worth knowing. We’ll take a quick look at his extensive Army and Special Operations background, his leadership as a trainer, and his commitment to ensuring his students have the training they need to be great at their jobs.
Military Career
Dan Brokos was introduced to firearms early in life by his father. “My father got me shooting from an early age. He was in the Marine Corps, and we’d spend time together hunting, fishing, and shooting,” Brokos recalls. These family moments helped set the foundation for a lifelong dedication to service and marksmanship.
During his 27 years of active-duty service, Dan spent 22 of them as a Green Beret, ultimately achieving the rank of Sergeant Major. His career took him across the globe, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and other conflict zones.
Among his many accomplishments are his roles in CIF (Commander’s In-Extremis Force), where he focused on direct-action counter-terrorism missions, and serving as the lead instructor for the Special Forces Advanced CQB Course.
Dan also held some of the most prestigious positions in Special Operations as the NCOIC of Range 37 then later as Sergeant Major at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, NC — the home of the US Army Special Forces CQB and Sniper School. There, he oversaw advanced marksmanship, CQB, and sniper training.
“I was one of only three guys to have held both NCOIC and Sergeant Major at Range 37,” Brokos shares, highlighting the rare combination of leadership and expertise that defined his career.
As the lead instructor for the Special Forces Advanced CQB and Sniper Courses, he not only taught advanced tactics but also shaped the training philosophy for a new generation of Special Forces soldiers.
Lead Faucet Tactical
After retiring in 2017, Brokos and his wife Juice founded Lead Faucet Tactical in southern Virginia, where he continues his mission of sharing his expertise. If you’re wondering where he got the name, Dan explains, “The name came from a squad leader teaching us to work with machine guns. He’d say, ‘Let the lead out!'”
Brokos’ teaching offers a range of cutting-edge training, from CQB and hostage rescue scenarios to advanced marksmanship. These courses are primarily geared toward military and law enforcement, but civilians occasionally join as well.
A quick look at their training calendar, and you’ll see a steady class schedule that includes shooting and Instructor CQB courses, on up to 14-day classes tailored for specific unit or team needs.
Training Philosophy and Techniques
His approach to training is a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. “You really have to push it beyond the limits until the wheels fall off, and get outside of your comfort zone,” he explains. This philosophy is designed to prepare students for real-world situations, where stress and speed can determine success or failure.
He emphasizes accuracy over speed, but he’s clear about the balance required. “I can draw one out of ten times; Bill Drill under 1.5 seconds — but in reality, you need to work on your speed while maintaining accuracy.”
Dan emphasizes a crawl, walk, run training method that incorporates the Eight Fundamentals of Marksmanship:
- Stance
- Grip
- Sight Alignment
- Sight Picture
- Breathing
- Trigger Manipulation
- Follow-Through
- Recovery
On the marksmanship side, Brokos says, “I teach the fundamentals with a lot of contingencies for fighting around cover.”
On the CQB side, his three- to four-day classes cover the point of domination and the duties and responsibilities of a one, two, three, or four man on an entry team.
He stresses that his classes involve a lot of hands-on practice, ensuring that students leave with a thorough understanding of the skills required in high-stress environments. For example, on trigger manipulation, he starts slow with basic skills, but by the end of class, people are going quickly with lots of movement.
Product Design
In addition to training, Dan has contributed to the design and development of several products, including the Brokos Belt and Hybrid Grip Slide for the Glock Gen 3.
These ideas were born from his experiences in combat. “Everything I’ve designed comes from the shortfalls I saw in the military. We did a lot of modifications to our gear to make it more functional,” he explains.
Drills
Dan is a big proponent for dry fire, and every class begins with 10 minutes of dry fire.. “It’s very important to dry fire all aspects, especially the trigger, which is probably the most important part of your pistol.”
He says he continually dry-fires his drawstroke, presentation, and reloads. “We train for all aspects of dryfire, it’s important for all aspects of your job. Your carbine runs dry? Rapidly transition to pistol, with a proper draw.”
13.5 Second Drill
A fan of challenging himself, Brokos uses the 13.5 Second Drill to test both carbine and pistol skills under time pressure. “It’s a drill where you start with carbine, transition to pistol, and go back to carbine, all under a strict time limit.”
This drill has become a favorite among his students, pushing them to improve their marksmanship and transition skills.
Here’s how it goes:
(Target: LFT which has NRA B8, 8-inch dot, and 4-inch circle all built in. An NRA B8 and 3×5 index card in replace of the 4-inch dot can also be used.)
- A. From the 10m line fire 5 rds with carbine at 4 inch circle for time ( all shots must be in the circle )
- B. From the 7m line with Empty Carbine sights on target , pro timer goes off transition to pistol and fire 5 rds for time , all shots must be in the black 10 and 9 ring on a B8
- C. From the 10m line Start with 3 rds in your Carbine , Fire 3 rounds into 4 inch circle , transition to pistol fire 5 rds in 8 inch dot (B8 8-10 ring) re-holster pistol , load carbine and fire 2 more rounds into 4 inch circle for time ( all shots must be in 4 or 8 inch dot )
Add the times from String A, B, and C together for your total time.
- Expert 13.5 below
- Advanced 13.6-17.5
- Intermediate 17.6-18.5
- Novice above 18.6
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Brokos plans to continue refining his training methods and expanding Lead Faucet Tactical’s reach. His dedication to giving back to the military and law enforcement communities keeps him motivated.
“The comments I get from LE guys, like ‘Hey Dan, I used your techniques behind my vehicle, and it worked,’ those keep me going,” he says.
Dan’s wife Juice seconds that, saying Dan is, “Kinda competitive. He’s great at it. He wants the other guys who are excited about what they do to have the best tools and be as good as possible. He really does care about the guys.”
If you are looking to up your game and be the best you can be, get out to one of Dan’s classes and test your mettle.
