Defending The Church Online and Off

 My haters seem to ebb and flow.  It seems every 6 months or so I seem to get “hate mail” from those who disagree with me.  I’m a big boy, I can take it.  Sometimes they are respectful and other times I’d like to send an attack drone to take them out. (My violent side) But I feel I need to address their “fears” (I think they fear everything!)  I am not what they think I am.  Although, I may be exactly what they think I am.  It depends on how you see me.  I know that it doesn’t seem, but I really can’t worry about how you readers (or anyone else) view me. 

I’m a defender. I have experience with, and training in, violence.  I will defend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against all comers.  I’ve been compared to DezNat and Danites. I’ve got not problem with that. The following is by “JP Bellum” who founded the DezNat hashtag.

 

“By J.P. Bellum   

A user guide for the Faithful Latter-day Saint wading through Twitter and the purpose of #DezNat

Upon logging onto Twitter for the first time a faithful member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ is faced with a world of decisions. You have almost direct access to anyone in the world provided they also have a Twitter account. You might follow some of your favorite sports teams, your favorite actors, maybe some political leaders you side with, and of course, you’d follow the official Twitter account of Russell M. Nelson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then as you begin on this journey through social media you notice hashtags that fellow saints use to make their thoughts and opinions more accessible. 

Twitter’s algorithm accounts for the tweets you “like” and retweet and begins to make suggestions for new people you could follow. You like being part of a worldwide community of Saints, so you follow them. But then you notice something: not all of the voices you hear online in the church are saying the same thing. Some are disagreeing, and even worse, some are attacking the church and its leaders. Politics has been infused with the religious and devotional conversation on Latter-day Saint Twitter. People are taking stances against the doctrine and the Brethren leading the church, and murmuring is creeping in everywhere. You think to yourself, “Is this what everyone else thinks? Am I alone in my devotion to the principles of the gospel? Why are those most vocal against the Church getting the most likes and retweets?” You are then faced with a choice: you either adjust your testimony to fit in with the great and spacious criticism of the church online or you give up on that part of social media forever as lost to the Enemy. To the faithful still on Twitter, you were the reinforcements that never arrived

 

I was at that very crossroads in August of 2018. Something had to be done or I had to leave Twitter. As is usually the case sometimes we have to look backward to go forward. Deseret was the answer. When the Saints fled Nauvoo and eventually found their way to the Salt Lake Valley, they established a government and political boundary. They called it Deseret and used the beehive as its symbol. Their bid to become a state was rejected multiple times and the name Utah was given to them. Deseret was what could have been if the federal government had left the church, lead by Brigham Young, to rule themselves. It was to be a safe haven for members of the church and fellow believers in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. All were welcome as long as they recognized God’s authority and were willing to work together to build the Kingdom of God. This was my inspiration to start a new hashtag that would be welcoming to all who were willing to build the kingdom and defend the church and its leaders online. 

Before Twitter expanded the length of its tweets to 240 characters, hashtags had to be compact and succinct. Deseret Nation was shortened to “Dez,” as we all pronounce the “s” in Deseret as a “z,” and “Nat” for Nation. I was proud of my own pioneer heritage and wanted to honor them building a civilization in a difficult part of the national geography just as those who use the tag today are building an online community in a very hostile environment.  So, in August 2018, I began simply by sharing quotes, scriptures, pictures, and opinions supportive of the church, its leaders, and the Family Proclamation. It started slow, but as more and more noticed that I was supportive of the church and not backing down from defending it, #DezNat started to catch on and I was noticed not only by other faithful members but by some of the Church’s largest detractors.

#DezNat may not be to everyone’s taste. Those who use the hashtag can be combative, rude, crass, aggressive, even mean. However, one thing you will never have to worry about with #DezNat is that when the prophet speaks, we listen, and when he directs, we obey. We’ve been called Danites (this topic deserves its own blog post) and worse, but the truth of the matter is if we were asked to cease, we would do so immediately. There are many ways to use the tag. I still post quotes and scriptures that have fortified my faith and strengthened my testimony and I invite all who want to use the tag to support the Church and the Brethren to use it to share their faith on Twitter and elsewhere.

More than anything, #DezNat is a banner waving in the midst of a battle. The battlefield is Twitter and beyond and #DezNat was created for the purpose of being a rallying point and a symbol to the faithful and unapologetic and for those who are firm in the faith and are still out there fighting for what we believe to be right. 

#DezNat is not a movement, it is not political (especially not alt-right), racial, national, or sexual. It is simply a hashtag used by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are unapologetic about their belief in the restored Gospel, Christ as our Savior, Joseph Smith as the prophet of the Restoration, and Russell M Nelson as God’s current prophet, seer, and revelator on the earth today.

• We do not agitate for change within the Church but anxiously seek to submit our wills to that of the Lord — as revealed through His proper channels and authorities.
• We believe in and support The Family: A Proclamation to the World and recognize the family as the foundation of both earthly and celestial civilization.
• We are not limited by a one-dimensional, overly simplistic view of a Christ who teaches that only unconditional acceptance is true love. We know that Christ was both the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the “meek and lowly lamb” of the New. When He returns, we will see and know Him in all His power and glory.
• Those who use the hashtag will and do vary in our personalities, countries of origin, views of the world, family situations, goals, and ambitions — and we all gladly place any other desire or belief at the feet of the Lord.

While the questions, conditions, and problems of the world may be myriad, our response is simple — we follow the prophet.” 

On August 23, 2021 an Apostle, Elder Jeffery R Holland, gave a devotional at BYU Provo. He spoke about how BYU has changed and how it needs to be. I believe because of some members and non-members, BYU has had this change come about. Because liberal, or extreme left, ideologies have crept into this school, it is no longer what it used to be. BYU doesn’t always uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is in some areas with some professors and students. I believe it should be rooted out, and I believe Elder Holland agrees. This talk was very controversial. Many members (my guess is progmos and other left leaners) had a real problem with it. I believe Elder Holland wanted a change at BYU. He defended the gospel tirelessly. Detractors of the gospel already have hit Elder Holland and his “militant” attitudes.  In the words of WWII General Anthony McAuliffe “Nuts!”

I’m not concerned about detractors and progressive members of the church opinions.  They would call me a militant Mormon, violent, and inflexible.  I would agree with them.  Not really though I’m not militant or violent unless I have to be.  Inflexible?  Maybe.  But be that as it may, these are the same people who howled about Elder Gilbert being called as an Apostle because he was the one who straightened out some of the failed BYU policies that Elder Holland talked about in his talk.  These are also the ones who think letting sisters be Sunday School Presidencies is a step toward giving sisters the priesthood.  Yea, I know who they are.  I’m sure they follow Kate Kelly on “X” and have a lifetime subscription to the Salt Lake Tribune.  I guess what I’m trying to say is “Bring it the heck on!”  I’m not skeered of any buffoon that thinks they can attack the church’s policies and doctrines.  I’m certainly not scared of anyone who wants to attack the church physically. “Bring that on too!”  I think that persecution of the church will get worse and being prepared is essential. 

So, my haters can hate, and the church’s enemies can suck it!  Members of the church should take heed, prepare and train.  It will benefit you in many ways.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Casino Drill: Lots of Training Value

 If you want a drill that will keep you aware and keep sending you to random targets try the Casino Drill.

This drill comes from John Hearne. He has said:

“A lot of times when we go to shooting classes, I’m just performing a contrived drill… I know before the drill even starts exactly what I can do. I can prepare in my head exactly what I need to deliver and it’s much easier to access that motor program and just deliver. In the real world, I don’t know what motor program I’m going to need to deliver until the last possible moment…”

The Original Casino Drill

To shoot a proper Casino Drill, you need a specific target that’s sold by Action Target. It’s called the Discretionary Command Training Target Version 2. There are actually three variants of that target: 2A, 2B, and a 2C. If you don’t want to buy a special target just for this drill, Lucky Gunner has a free printable target you can use. It won’t technically be a Casino Drill, but it’s the same basic idea.

The “official” target has six shapes randomly numbered 1-6. The order is different depending on which variant of the target you have. The distance for this drill is five yards. Start with your pistol in the holster loaded with seven rounds only. You will also need two spare magazines loaded with seven rounds each.

At the signal, draw and fire one round on shape number 1, two rounds on 2, three on 3 and so on until you have six rounds on 6. Reload as needed. It’s called the Casino Drill because you have 21 rounds and the par time is 21 seconds. Add a one second penalty for every missed shot, or any rounds fired out of sequence or at the wrong target.

The two reloads are in there, not because emergency reloading is a super important skill for the real world. The reloads are to mess with your head. They’re there to force you to stop counting your shots and shift your attention to the gun, without forgetting which target you were shooting and how many rounds you have left to fire on it.

I just shot this target yesterday and I can say, it’s challenging.  I would suggest using all three targets and mix them up.  Don’t shoot the drill so often that you have all the targets memorized.  You can make a 4^th or 5^th target if the 3 get too memorized.  I love the distraction of running dry and reloading.  I almost had a flashback from combat when I ran dry then and had to get more magazines from a brother.  That was not a good feeling and I don’t like reliving it.  But it did distract me from counting shots.

I like this drill and will add it to my workout.  This has some real training value.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Church Policy Has Progressive's Going Nuts!

   

 This is just a quick comment on a change in church policy.

The Church just announced that Sunday School presidencies previously staffed by men, can now be filled by women.  This gives wards and branches the freedom to call sisters to these callings.  Usually, most wards or branches have more active women than men so this can help in keeping callings filled.  I don't think that was the reason for the change, but that's one of the results.  Many have touted that this change is the church moving closer to giving the priesthood to women.  I think that is a ludicrous conclusion.  Sunday school has little to do with ordinances, but everything to do with teaching.  I wanted to post this because there are some out there, including the rag newspaper The Salt Lake Tribune, who spin this change as a big deal.  I think it's good to have women's insight into the running of an organization and a women's touch and inspiration on teaching in the church.  I like the change, but I don't think it's what others say it is. The Trib said it has to do with equity, I don't agree.  Everything the Trib sees the church do has to do with social crap.  Not everything fits the Tribs view of woke baloney.  The Church does not think about feminism like some do. Some have seen this a "progressive" move.  I don't agree.  But then I don't usually agree with progressive thinking.

What does this have to do with guns?  Nothin'. But any chance I have to take a shot at the Trib is a good day!

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Hard Times Create Strong Men and Teaching Resilient Children

 Contrary to widespread belief, the quote “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times” is not an ancient proverb or classical philosophical insight. Instead, it originates from the mind of G. Michael Hopf, an American author and U.S. combat veteran born in 1970, who included this line in his 2016 post-apocalyptic novel “Those Who Remain,” the seventh book in his “New World” series.

In the early 1970s, scientist John B Calhoun conducted his famous “Universe 25” experiment, creating a “mouse utopia” with unlimited food, water, and shelter.  In these ideal conditions, the mouse population grew rapidly before collapsing as social behaviors deteriorated and reproduction ceased.  While not a literal prediction, the experiment serves as a powerful metaphor for how prosperity and social disconnection can erode purpose and cohesion in human societies.

American society is not yet in collapse, but fragmentation is evident: deep political polarization, eroded trust in institutions, and fading shared norms.  Many retreats into online echo chambers, curating realities that shield them from real-world friction.  This produces phenomena resembling Universe 25’s “isolated females” (seen in aggressive or entitled behaviors like “Karens”) and “beautiful males” (withdrawn, self-focused, feminized men).

Both on the left and the right, good times have allowed us to forget what we learned in the hard times that got us through those hard times into the good. Should we not soon turn back, both the left and right will have to relearn.

 

Hard times have a lot of complications for the weak that created them.  Particularly for the LDS priesthood holder.  It’s more than just being a wimp.  It’s being afraid of change and your shadow.  It’s dealing with “woke” ideas and becoming self-sufficient so that you can raise self-sufficient children.

 

Brothers it doesn’t take that much to change the men in the church.  Don’t accept woke ideas.  Call out those leaders who are trying to make this church like our government.  Remind everyone of the doctrine behind “The family a proclamation to the world.”  I’m not saying we should be unkind or mean, but we need to be bold about the truth and about our lives.

Years ago, I lived in a District and a Branch.  I was called to the District High Council.  I had a District President who was from Minnesota.  He and I did not agree politically.  But we were friends and enjoyed talking with each other to get that other view. In one particular meeting he would not stop talking about a particular political subject.  He wanted to debate and I kept telling him that this was not the time or place for such a discussion.  He would not let up and so I finally said some rude things that silenced the room.  (The good brother sitting next to me whispered to me, “Now you’ve done it!  Good job!”) Most people would not talk to a priesthood leader that way.  I would normally not talk that way to my priesthood leader either but I had to jar him back into reality so he would stop trying to talk about inappropriate things in a meeting where other things should be happening.  My tactic worked!  Later on, I apologized and he said, “You had to shock me back into reality.  I know you didn’t have a choice because I was not listening.”  I was glad he understood and our relationship was not damaged.  Over the years you have learned that you can stand up to a priesthood leader if you do it in a respectful and kind way.  Many people will not do this, but a left-leaning leader can do a lot of damage in a ward.  Politics doesn’t belong in Church.  But many people let their extreme views, left or right leaning, spill into their teaching and speaking at Church.  If that view is in opposition to gospel doctrine it must be corrected. The Church has solid stances on Gay marriage, abortion, and gender.  I don’t have a problem with the people that believe in opposition to this doctrine, but these points are non-negotiable.  And they have no place at Church.  Many believe the Church will “come around” concerning these doctrines and that the Church will change.  My contention is that will never happen.  Policy changes, doctrine does not.

Learning to be a man and then stepping into that role is something that seems to be lacking in some generations.  My kids were given responsibility early in their lives.  We have a large family and we all needed to help to care for ourselves, and our home.  Kids have an amazing capacity.  They can do a lot!  At 8 our kids learned, and were responsible for, their own laundry.  When our Grandkids visit they are given the same responsibility at the appropriate age.  Our kids also had chores they got allowance for but also some they had to do out of duty being a member of the family.  I made sure they understood that because we do have an obligation to each other as family members.

 

 Teaching boys to be men and raising resilient kids so they don’t have to take resilience classes should be every parent’s goal.  The Church now offers resiliency classes, I understand why.  It’s taught in seminary now. What the heck?  I’m an LDS Seminary graduate but I never had a class or a lesson in being resilient.  My Dad fought in WWII.  My parents went through that world war and through the Depression.  They could handle whatever was put before them. So, they raised us kids to weather whatever storm they were put through.  My wife and I were children of the 60’s and 70’s.  We were taught how to work and how to survive.  

 

The men of the church need to stop being “nice” and start being men. Being nice is not the same as being kind. We should be kind. Families need to be resilient because Christ is coming. Looking at the signs we know life is poised to be worse. Certain prophecies must be fulfilled and that means things will get worse in this world. We need men who will bear up the church and the gospel. We should be defenders of the faith. It’s hard to defend from a safe space. LDS men should be meek but not push overs. That’s why boys need to be taught to be men. 

 

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times”

 

We are moving into those “hard times”. LDS men and boys need to learn what the 3 P’s are from the Proclamation on the Family. 

What does it mean to preside, provide, and protect?

That’s what we can talk about and teach. Dirty Civilian focus on the Christian preparedness side. The LDS perspective is similar, but with the priesthood comes a higher responsibility.

Boys (and girls for that matter) need to learn physical work.  One of my sons is a computer developer.  One is a welder.  They grew up the same, but the welder likes physical work for his mind and body.  The developer takes care of himself and exercises, but he prefers the more cerebral work of working on software.  Both of them (and our daughters and other brothers) moved rocks.  When we bought our property there was a large pile of stone with rocks about the size of 2 bricks.  We seemed to need this rock pile moved for construction projects and other reasons to move the location of the stone.  So, our kids were given so many rocks to move when they got in trouble.  We did spank our kids but not that often and even less as they got older.  They were given work in addition to the chores they already had.  They were given other tasks sometimes and not always rock moving.  It was physically hard work, but they knew if they complained they could get more rocks.  All my kids know how to work.  It’s interesting because the guys my girls married aren’t necessarily DIY guys.  So, my girls have tool bags, and they work on things as they need to.  Their spouses are getting better, but my girls are hard workers.

One of our family’s sayings is actually from my son-in-law.  “Suck it up, cupcake!” With this mindset our children were not raised to need safe spaces and could handle most everything that has been thrown at them.  They are resilient. I believe it’s our responsibility as parents to bring up our children to handle life and what it throws at you.  To learn from adversity and to become stronger from trials.

There are generations that are soft because their parents wanted things better for them.  I understand that feeling but fight it and teach them how to navigate life themselves.

I had a Stake President growing up who was a millionaire.  His children did not know until they were young adults.  The kids had work at home and jobs to pay for cars and college.  Dad could have just paid for it all, but he and his wife wanted resilient, prepared children.

I hope the men in the church can figure this problem out and stop producing unprepared, dependent children.  I also hope they can change the way the church does things and stop being so timid about running the Lord’s Church.

 

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Gunshot Trauma: Reality of Shooting

 38 years ago, today I had my first combat experience.  I remember the day because it was my wife’s birthday. Great, huh?  The trauma has been minimized but the lessons have lived on.  We all have adversity in our lives.  We must ask God what He would have us learn from these experiences.  It helped me to mitigate the trauma.  One of the things I learned from this harrowing experience was how to manage gunshot wounds.  We experienced 200 to 300 against our 32.  We lost 4 but several were wounded.  It’s a miracle that many survived.  We had some top-notch medics that made a huge difference in minimizing lives lost. 

MARCH stands for Massive Hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation and Hypothermia.

Remember this acronym to be able to assess the life-giving aid needed

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

This is where the rubber meets the road.  Some people are not built for the gore and the emergency of a situation.  It does not have to be combat to be serious and life threatening.

Stay calm to assess the situation and make sure you and the injured person are in a safe place.

You can’t help if you’re in danger too. Once you’re sure it's safe, move quickly to the casualty.

Stop The Bleeding

Massive bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death in gunshot wounds. Your priority is to stop the bleeding, especially if it's from an arm or leg.

 

Related Medical Supplies:

• Tourniquet: If the bleeding is from a limb and it's severe, apply a tourniquet immediately. A good military gunshot wound kit will include a high-quality tourniquet which is ready to use and staged for fast application. Place it as high as possible and tighten as tight as possible.
• Compressed Gauze: If the wound is too high or too deep for a tourniquet (such as on the neck or torso), use compressed gauze to pack the wound. This helps stop internal

bleeding. Pack it tightly into the wound to put pressure on the bleeding vessel. After that, apply a trauma bandage to secure it in place.

·         Blood stoppers: Surgical pads are the best for stopping serious bleeding.  The pads that come in most first aid kits are woefully inadequate.  Several surgical pads have the thickness to stop bleeding.

Seal the Chest Wound

If the gunshot wound is in the chest, you need to act fast to seal the wound as soon as possible. Gunshot wounds to the chest can cause a condition called tension pneumothorax, air gets trapped in the chest cavity and collapses the lung.

 

Related Medical Supplies:

• Chest Seal for Gunshot Wound: Most gunshot wound first aid kits come with vented chest seals designed specifically for a chest open wound.

Apply the chest seal directly over the wound, making sure the edges are completely sealed to prevent air from getting in. There might be an exit wound on their back—so check and apply another chest seal if needed. The vented type is recommended because it lets air and blood escape through the channel while preventing air from re-entering.

Check Breathing and watch for Tension Pneumothorax

Once you’ve controlled the bleeding and sealed any chest wounds, it’s time to check the casualty's breath and look for signs of tension pneumothorax. If the Casualty is having increasing difficulty breathing, this might be what is happening.

• Signs of Tension Pneumothorax: Difficulty breathing, rapid shallow breaths, bluish skin (cyanosis), and chest pain.
• Action: Ensure the vented chest seal is functioning properly, allowing air to escape. If breathing becomes more difficult, you may need to perform a needle decompression (with proper training and equipment,) and prepare for rapid evacuation.

In many cases, the person who is injured won’t make it to the hospital without immediate care. That’s why having a gunshot wound first aid kit nearby is so important. Whether it’s in your vehicle, home, or on you during outdoor activities, being prepared means, you can provide lifesaving care.

 

 Gunshot Trauma Kit contents

· Bandage Scissors

· Curved Hemostat

· Venom Nitrile Gloves – No Latex

· Face Masks

· Alcohol Wipes

· Betadine Iodine

· Mylar Blanket – avoid shock

· Ammonia inhaler

· CPR Mask

· Red Marker

· Incident Report

· CAT Tourniquet

· H & H Dressing

· Adhesive Tape – Latex Free

· Israeli Bandage / Emergency Pressure Bandage

· #10 Scalpel

· Decompression Needle

· Roll Gauze

· Celox-A Sterile ABD Pads

· Double Chest Seal

 

• For Bleeding: Tourniquet, Compressed Gauze, Combat Gauze with Kaolin, gloves, trauma shears
• For Chest Wound: Chest Seal kit, gloves, trauma shears

 

It’s important to react quickly to a gunshot wound.  Some cases would be something that needs immediate attention even for a through-and-through or a nick.  Some may be minor blood loss but it’s not always clear what was hit inside the body.

It takes a little preparation in gear and learned skills that can mean the difference between life or death.  It’s not always that dire, until it is.  Get basic training and have the tools necessary to save a life if called upon.  I can tell you from personal experience that’s it’s not a good experience to watch someone die in front of you and feeling helpless.  Preparedness is the answer.  Be prepared!

Semper Paratus

Check6

Burn

"May You Live in Interesting Times" and Terrorism Awareness

 A Chinese curse is “May you live in interesting times.”  Well, we are living this curse now!  With a combat action going on in Iran it only follows that we will see more terrorist activity in the U.S.  We’ve had some shootings that have been radical Islamic connected.  We just had an attempted bombing in New York that was also extremist influenced.  I feel this is only the beginning and we experience more.

Each of us lives in different places with different environments. I live outside a small town that isn’t really known for crime, although there is some. I have a friend who lives in a metropolitan city with lots of crime. Each of you should do an honest assessment of where you live and work. I used to live in Arizona and lived outside of Phoenix. I worked in a few places on the South side of Phoenix which, at that time, was pretty rough. I knew that I did not stop unless I had to. I would generally not be there after the sun went down and even in daytime I’d stick to the main roads. I knew the convenience stores that would be prone to being robbed and those that were not. I’d go to work and then hit the freeway and get out of there as expeditiously as possible. I’d make sure my tires were good and my gas tank was full because I didn’t want to stop for anything.
If you know any law enforcement in the area you could ask them where you should and should not go, especially after dark. Or you could just stop a police officer that you see and ask him about the area. Tell him or her where you work and about the neighborhood. Law enforcement can tell you the troubled spots, stores, parks, and other areas you should stay away from.
More than good intel, you need to have your head on a swivel at all times. Be aware of what is going on around you. Practice good situational awareness. Keep your nose out of your cell phone or tablet. Watch people and constantly be going through the OODA loop.
Observe
Orient
Decide
Act
This is what we do all the time whether we know it or not. The most important parts of the OODA Loop is Observe and Act. If you are observing, you’re practicing good situational awareness.
In review the Cooper Color Code is:
Condition White
You feel secure, whether or not you are actually safe.
Condition Yellow
You are cautious. You should spend most of the time in this state.
You have a 360-degree peripheral awareness of such environmental danger spots as secluded doorways, entries, and alleys.
Condition Orange
You are in danger. You are aware of a potential threat.
Specific alert. A possible target has been identified. A particular situation that has drawn your attention and could present a major problem. Someone may be giving oral indicators such as direct threats or using suspicious language. Focus on the potential attacker.
Condition Red
You are in conflict.
Fight or flight. Flee, defend, or attack. You have evaluated the situation, and if there is a threat, you prepare to fight or run.
In this day and age in the United States of America I believe all people should be in Condition Yellow. It’s not a state of paranoia, but a state of awareness and readiness. If more people were in this state, they would be better prepared if a terrorist attack presented itself. Or at least they would better off.
 If you feel threatened and you are armed; you can have your hand on your weapon. Just remember that often distance is your friend. If you are aware of your environment, it is easier to see things that are wrong. Or you may see something coming.  At the least situational awareness could help you to see and avoid, an accident.
Being in Yellow will become a mindset and an everyday thing as you practice it and help others to look for it too. My family are so tired of me switching seats with them at a restaurant so that I can see the door. When they call me on it, I always say, “You want the one who’s armed to be able to see the front door and as many exits as possible, don’t you?” I think sometimes it’s a game that they play with me just to see if I’ll do it every time. I didn’t pick that seat one time and my wife called me on it. I told her, “Well you are armed tonight, aren’t you?” I noticed she wore her weapon that night, she doesn’t always. She said, “Yes”. I said, “Then tonight you have that responsibility of being aware.” She said later that by pointing out that she was armed and in the right position, this made her more aware of everyone coming in the restaurant.
Being in Yellow means you watch as you are approaching a store of who is “lurking” outside. It means you scan the convenience store to see what it looks like before you go in. It means you take note of the parking lot of that same convenience store as you go in so you know what’s different when you come out. It means that you don’t let anyone in your home door if you aren’t expecting them or don’t know them. It means you’re careful about what you put on the internet. It means you know where your children are and who they are with at all times. It means that you avoid dark alleys and deserted parking lots. You use common sense and you are scanning and assessing all the time. It’s not an obsession, but a mindset.
Really the only time you are in White is when you are asleep and even then you are only unaware.
I sincerely hope no one ever need use this state of awareness to fight or flight, but if you did need it, I would be glad you decided to practice Always In Yellow!
To maximize efficiency of situational awareness:
• Assume an optimal vantage point. If you’re in a crowd where a fight or riot could break out, for example, as odd as it might sound, climb up into a tree and observe from there.
• When possible place yourself within eyeshot of entrances to places like restaurants, courthouses, etc.
• Make sure you know where all the exits are from inside a building when possible.
• When standing in slow-moving lines, take time to observe people in the other lines.
• When using public transportation, look at everyone discreetly.
• Whenever you enter a new environment take note of the baseline environment for possible anomalies. For example, it’s not normal or routine for a person to be talking really loud at a quiet-type coffee house, but at a noisy bar and grill it is.
Situational awareness is more than just environment. The following guidelines are for reading people.
• Realize that a person who stands out in a group isn’t necessarily potentially harmful, such as an angry customer at a fast-food restaurant who got cheese on their burger when they ordered it without cheese. But do keep your eye on such individuals.
• If such a person, however, keeps looking around nervously, behind them, etc., that’s cause to raise your bar of awareness.
• A possible sign of threat is when someone is acting at ease when everyone else is panicking. For example, in video footage, the Boston Marathon bombers stood out like sore thumbs.
Plan of Action
• Great observation skills are great, but once you spot the threat, then what? Your plan, such as knowing all the exits, should already be in place.
• You can even have fun with this: Every time you’re out in public, imagine a dangerous situation and how you respond. What if a fire broke out? An errant car was headed for the window you’re standing near. Gunshots rang out? Or you felt something press against your waistline and heard a voice, “Come with me or I’ll shoot you”? Imagining how you’d respond will help you in a real-life situation.
Prevention Is the Best Medicine
• Don’t look like prey. I know a woman who, as she stands at her car late at night in a parking lot to unlock it, her feet are shoulder width apart, one fist on hip, and she looks all around first, shoulders square and chest puffed out—an “I dare you to mess with me” message.
Get a gun. Get trained. Be legal. If you don’t think a gun is an option carry pepper spray. But this is something you should also be trained in. Look like you are aware of everything around you. Walk with purpose. Look like someone who is in charge. The image you portray can make all the difference in the world. It’s easy to prevent being a victim if you pay particular attention and are aware of your surroundings.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn