Camouflage and Deception in Water

Camouflage and Deception in Water as part of the Military Style Education and Training at Milites Dei Academy.

Camouflage in water is an important skill at Milites Dei Academy. The reason is that security operatives need new ways of taking criminals to task. Criminals need to be surprised in an attempt to either gather evidence and/or make an arrest.

The French slang word camouflage came into common English usage during World War I when the concept of visual deception developed into an essential part of modern military tactics. In that war, long-range artillery and observation from the air combined to expand the field of fire, and camouflage was widely used to decrease the danger of being targeted or to enable surprise. As such, military camouflage is a form of military deception.

Camouflage was first practiced in simple form in the mid 18th century by jäger- or rifle units. Their tasks required them to be inconspicuous, and they were issued green and later other drab colour uniforms.

The Milites Dei Academy (MDA) Students had to practice using camouflage and then create the deception that there is no person in the foliage and/or water.

Deception, the employment of trickery or guile, is equal parts art and science. It is typically defined as “causing another to believe what is not true; to mislead or ensnare” (Webster’s, 1999).

Thus, when looking at the photographs below, one easily believe that you just see water or just see foliage, yet a student is actually just well-camouflaged and concealed.

Also see the MDA Facebook page for more exciting and absolutely brilliant skills included in the courses on offer.