Not a thick tarpaulin, just a normal non-durable material. As for tactical duty, someone got drunk describing such a possibility. Tactical duty means it's suitable for everyday holster carry. Not even close. A belt doesn't have the stiffness, structure, or strength to hold anything securely, including the buckle. That's right, while the buckle is the belt's strong point, the material is too flimsy to securely fasten.