Kyle Lamb

Meet the Longtime Delta Force Operator and current Viking Tactics owner and World-Class Firearms Trainer

The Combat Applications Group, Task Force Green, 1st SFOD-D, Army Compartmented Element – these are all given names to the US Army’s most elite counterterrorist unit, comprising the world’s greatest warriors, better known as Delta Force. Loosely modeled after the organized structure of the British 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, Delta Force has a four-man team as its smallest unit. Four or five teams, along with a small headquarters element, make up a troop. Two troops – an assault troop and a sniper troop – form a squadron. Delta Force operators are highly skilled soldiers specializing in reconnaissance, climbing, rappelling, rigging, explosives and tactical breaching. They are elite soldiers capable of infiltrating enemy territory, blending in, working with local citizens, sabotaging enemy installations, disrupting enemy operations, gathering intelligence, and, if needed, assassinating enemy leaders.
They are also the best tactical shooters in the world. A Delta Force operator will shoot around 200,000 rounds a year in handgun ammunition alone; this does not account for shotgun ammunition, rifle ammunition or any other type of weapon systems that they may use in performing their duties. It is said that what makes the men of Delta Force larger than life are their hearts, minds, belief in the American way of life and dedication to preserving it. The operators tend to be predominantly conservative men who put God, country and family first. They are motivated by the glory of combat, unafraid to fight and eager to go into battle because they are empowered by righteousness, courage, training and honor.

DELTA FORCE USUALLY recruits from the military’s top combat units, like the Rangers and Special Forces, members of which have already undergone some of the most physically demanding and rigorous training in their fields. Delta Force always selects the best of the best in their military field. To become an operator, one first has to pass several demanding physical training tests within a set time limit. Some examples include a 40-yard inverted crawl in 25 seconds, 37 sit-ups and 33 push-ups each within a minute, a 2-mile run in no more than 16 minutes and 30 seconds, and a 100-meter lake swim fully dressed, including wearing jump boots.

After passing these tests, potential recruits enter the “stress phase,” where they are required to endure long forced marches over rough terrain against the clock. The march is estimated to cover between 40 to 45 miles in 24 hours, with the potential candidate wearing a rucksack weighing an estimated 55 pounds. The mental aspect of this challenge is that while the candidates know there is a time limit, they do not know what it is. Each individual has to push himself as hard and as long as he can. Delta is looking for men who can tap into qualities they barely know they possess, similar to a marathoner hitting the wall when they’re burned out and have nothing left, yet continue to push themselves, testing their willpower. This is what selection is all about.

If the potential operator passes the stress phase, they will then undergo an intense psychological exam and a grueling question-and-answer session lasting hours with senior members of the unit. Selected recruits then are sent to an Operator Training Course, which is a six-month program that offers the most comprehensive and in-depth instruction of its kind, developing skills to make the best counterterrorist fighters on the face of the Earth. It is said that an individual has a better chance of making it into the National Football League than into Delta Force. It has also been claimed that members of Delta Force are Olympic combat athletes.

NOW IMAGINE, IF you can, climbing the ladder in Delta Force: becoming an assault team leader, a sniper team leader, a troop sergeant major, a combat development sergeant major, and a task force sergeant major. That is exactly what retired Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb did throughout his career. Lamb served for more than 21 years in the United States Army, including 15 years with Delta Force. While on active duty, Lamb took part in combat operations across multiple theaters, such as Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and others. However, he received numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, for his role in the Battle of Mogadishu, which later inspired the bestselling book and movie Black Hawk Down.

Lamb was a member of C Squadron. I have had many mentors who have been with Delta Force, but the men from C Squadron hold a very special place in my heart. Like many of his fellow Delta Force operators, Lamb is a very normal, down-to-earth man devoid of ego. Lamb has nothing to prove because he’s a been-there-done that kind of man; however, he is incredibly kind to everyone he interacts with. He is a devoted husband and a role model father – the kind of father his father was.

Lamb is also an author, and I strongly recommend his books, Stay in the Fight!! Warriors Guide to the Combat Pistol and Green Eyes & Black Rifles: Warriors Guide to the Combat Carbine. There are many excellent books on shooting pistols and rifles, but you can save a lot of money by simply buying these two books. Lamb has always been a passionate hunter, competitive shooter and firearms instructor. After retiring from service, he and his wife Melynda Lamb founded Viking Tactics (vikingtactics.com), a top-tier firearms training organization known for its high quality and innovative instruction. VTAC also produces innovative gear, including one of the top tactical slings for AR rifles on the market, the Viking Tactics Sling.

AS A WORLD-CLASS firearms trainer, author, guest lecturer and equipment innovator, Lamb is a giant in the shooting industry in every capacity. He also gives back to the community, as he and his wife are founders of the veterans nonprofit group Stay in the Fight Foundation. Its mission is to deliver time-sensitive funding for assistance with food, clothing, shelter or healthcare needs to individuals facing unexpected crises. Kyle Lamb is a highly compassionate individual, a man of God, and it’s evident in every area where he dedicates his efforts. He is a role model of the highest standards.
And that’s my two cents!★

Editor’s note: Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert. For his realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics.com.