mercop
Member.
Knowing when to use your tools and skills is as important as possessing them. The example I have seen the most of is when young officers get out of the academy, they have the tools on the belt and the training in their mind but lack the experience that teaches when to use it. Instead of nipping things in the bud they have a habit of allowing them to escalate. This means they have to defend against a situation and are more likely to overreact as is the norm when you are playing catch up. In the beginning a veteran officer responds to something the rookie may not have even seen and has the situation well in hand. That is the idea of field training after the education at the academy.
After a while they realize that by immediately taking control of situations they can set the tone just by the use of good verbal skills and positioning. The most important lesson though is when they realize if force is going to be required, be the aggressor and make decisive actions. I have found that when aggressing you often end up using a much lower level of force for two primary reasons. One is that as you push the attack the enemy has to worry about defense and untrained people have a very hard time counter attacking while defending. The second is that most bad guys are used to being the aggressor and when the tables are turned usually do not have contingency plans. This is more likely to result in submission.
How does this translate to the citizen? I mean after all you don’t have the luxury from practicing over and over again like our rookie. First study any and every interpersonal altercation you can find. Whether it is video or real life. Watch things in detail, especially what happens just seconds before the altercation. Second, include verbal commands in your training and even when involved in physical training. You would be surprised how many people will respond to strong verbal commands. Next, realize when your good luck and awareness has failed you and an altercation is unavoidable. This seems to be the rub with a lot of well meaning formites. The last time you had a car accident, did you know that morning you were going to have it? Of course not. How then do you think that you can forecast a violent altercation? Lastly, when you are forced to use your tools and skills, be violent about it. Don’t hesitate, be the aggressor and respond with the appropriate level of force.
Too many well trained people are so shocked when the attack comes that they are frozen in place and unable to respond at all much less appropriately. The time, place and circumstances are not like those that they trained for and in that instant it is over and you are a victim.
The bottom line is that when you things go bad and you realize the time for talking is over, do something, anything, but just don’t stand there. Even if you choose to run away at least do so as fast as you can and don’t look over your shoulder. A sheepdog of course has a hardwired belief in never turning your back on a wolf, even a dead one.
After a while they realize that by immediately taking control of situations they can set the tone just by the use of good verbal skills and positioning. The most important lesson though is when they realize if force is going to be required, be the aggressor and make decisive actions. I have found that when aggressing you often end up using a much lower level of force for two primary reasons. One is that as you push the attack the enemy has to worry about defense and untrained people have a very hard time counter attacking while defending. The second is that most bad guys are used to being the aggressor and when the tables are turned usually do not have contingency plans. This is more likely to result in submission.
How does this translate to the citizen? I mean after all you don’t have the luxury from practicing over and over again like our rookie. First study any and every interpersonal altercation you can find. Whether it is video or real life. Watch things in detail, especially what happens just seconds before the altercation. Second, include verbal commands in your training and even when involved in physical training. You would be surprised how many people will respond to strong verbal commands. Next, realize when your good luck and awareness has failed you and an altercation is unavoidable. This seems to be the rub with a lot of well meaning formites. The last time you had a car accident, did you know that morning you were going to have it? Of course not. How then do you think that you can forecast a violent altercation? Lastly, when you are forced to use your tools and skills, be violent about it. Don’t hesitate, be the aggressor and respond with the appropriate level of force.
Too many well trained people are so shocked when the attack comes that they are frozen in place and unable to respond at all much less appropriately. The time, place and circumstances are not like those that they trained for and in that instant it is over and you are a victim.
The bottom line is that when you things go bad and you realize the time for talking is over, do something, anything, but just don’t stand there. Even if you choose to run away at least do so as fast as you can and don’t look over your shoulder. A sheepdog of course has a hardwired belief in never turning your back on a wolf, even a dead one.
