| One of the most popular police dramas on TV to is | | | | Specialist Abby Sciuto also are typical of the agencies' |
| NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service which is | | | | support personnel. Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David |
| often referred to by is acronym NCIS. Each week | | | | on the other hand is pure fantasy, and no intelligence |
| millions of viewers tune in to watch Mark Harmon and | | | | agency has foreign agents even from a friendly |
| the rest of the cast take on criminals, terrorists, and | | | | nation on staff. The agency requires its agents to |
| traitors in Washington D.C. and around the globe. | | | | have a bachelor degree and backgrounds very from |
| While there is plenty of action and intrigue how much | | | | law enforcement to journalism. |
| of what happens on the show actually goes on in a | | | | The show is accurate to a point, but it also important |
| typical NCIS agent's day? Now of coarse any TV | | | | to know that the agents also show some reality in |
| show greatly exaggerates any real life situation, but | | | | how they fight. When the team has to take down a |
| is everything the fictional agents of NCIS completely | | | | steroid crazed marine they don't use any fancy |
| fantasy? While NCIS isn't overly technical and by no | | | | techniques, they just overwhelm him with numbers |
| means a documentary of the agency it does get a | | | | and effective brute force. They weren't afraid to get |
| lot right, and they do know how to fight. | | | | hurt, and they knew normal techniques wouldn't |
| Prior to the Korean War Office of Naval Intelligence | | | | work in that situation. In one episode when Gibbs and |
| (ONI) handled many of the duties NCIS handles | | | | DiNozzo are working out in the boxing ring Tony asks |
| today, but in the 1950's more civilians began joining | | | | if Gibbs learned how to box in the Marines, Gibbs |
| the force and by 1969 they were their own separate | | | | than catches Tony's arm and takes him to the |
| unit. The mission of the real NCIS is protect the | | | | ground with a combat judo take down and says, |
| families and assets of the Navy and Marines, and is | | | | "they teach you fighting in the Marines not boxing." |
| summed up in their three strategic priorities, Prevent | | | | When Abby has to deal with a hit man on her own |
| Terrorism, Protect Secrets, and Reduce Crime. While | | | | she uses mace and a tazer to defend her self until |
| the list is short it keeps the over 1,000 agents in 14 | | | | help arrives. At the end of season 6 agent DiNozzo |
| field offices and 140 locations around the world very | | | | uses one of the few possible defenses against a rear |
| busy. In recent years NCIS agents caught spy | | | | choke when he is fighting for his life against a rogue |
| Jonathan Pollard, and after September 11, agents | | | | Israeli agent's in Ziva's apartment. |
| were deployed to Cairo to protect shipping in the | | | | There are other examples of NCIS members using |
| Suez Canal, and agents have uncovered billions in | | | | correct techniques in combat, but in the end they fall |
| fraud. The agency protects Navy and Marines | | | | victim to what many fictional characters experience. |
| personnel so they're better able to fulfill their duties. | | | | Reality isn't exciting enough for entertaining purposes. |
| If you talk to anyone about NCIS you'll probably soon | | | | In many episodes a fight could have been cut short |
| realize the show is character driven, and because of | | | | by a simple strike to the throat or even the groin, |
| that there isn't as much focus on the technical side | | | | and if an officers feels threatened they will shoot, |
| of things. Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro | | | | but that wouldn't give you dramatic moments and |
| Gibbs a former marine and agents Anthony DiNozzo, | | | | intense fights. Any real NCIS agent will try to end a |
| Timothy McGee, and Caitlin "Kate" Todd are all good | | | | fight as quickly as possible and will use what ever |
| examples of NCIS agents with backgrounds in law | | | | means they can to win. So sit back and enjoy the |
| enforcement the military, and computers. Medical | | | | show, but remember you need a better source for |
| Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard and Forensic | | | | your self defense and martial arts training. |