Pavel's Tactical Periodization article from Nate Morrison's Mil Fit online magazine from early on:
Tactical periodization is short term PT planning characterized by sharp and near random variation of intensity and volume. Its purpose is greater combat fitness, reduction of injuries, and simplification of the training process."
WORKOUT LOAD VARIATIONS
And their purpose
VOLUME/INTENSITY
Medium/medium workouts are the bread and butter of training.
High/high sessions tests toughness and leads to greater gains once followed by a taper.
Low/low sessions can either be used for active recovery or when you’re likely to go into combat. Easy workouts maintain strength and conditioning while keeping you fresh.
Low/highs set PRs.
High/lows build foundation for stable gains.
Near-random load variation will get you some strange workouts. Good, all volume/intensity combos serve their purposes.
Then there are medium/highs, low/mediums... Every combo has its purpose. This is a good time to dispel a popular in the West myth that the volume and intensity are inversely related -the higher the intensity, the lower the volume and vice versa. Smart men like US Armed Forces Powerlifting Champion Jack Reape and Belarusian kettlebell expert N. V. Galenchik stress that volume and intensity must be uncoupled. "Overall load [sets, reps, proximity to failure, rest between sets, the number and order of the exercises, the degree of recovery from the last PT session, the length of the session, etc.] must vary so that some days you barely leave and others you would love to do more but can't -the plan forbids."(Galenchik, 1999).
I repeat: the volume and intensity are random and not dependent on each other.
To sum up again, tactical periodization is short term PT planning characterized by sharp and near random variation of intensity and volume. Its purpose is greater combat fitness, reduction of injuries, and simplification of the training process.
The above definition gives you plenty of freedom and no headaches in planning your PT. To get you started, here is a sample tactical periodization week of 24kg kettlebell swings. The 'intensity' refers to the percentage of the PR. Try it on your team and drop me a line on the PowerByPavel.com forum.
WEEK 1
Monday 1x60%, 1x70%, 2x80%
Tuesday 3x50%
Wednesday no swings
Thursday 1x100%, 1x80%, 1x70%, 1x60%, 1x50%
Friday 1x40%
Saturday no swings
Sunday no swings
WEEK 2
Monday 1x50%
Tuesday 2x90%
Wednesday 3x70%
Thursday 1x30%
Friday no swings
Saturday 7x40%
Sunday no swings