Gibbs Rules and You

One of the longest running TV series that started in September 2003 is “NCIS” which is a spinoff from the popular “JAG” series. Currently NCIS has entered its tentieth season. The main character is Leroy Jethro Gibbs played by actor Mark Harmon. Gibbs is a retired Marine Sniper. Over his time as a Marine and a NCIS agent he develops “rules” to live by. Here are the basic rules. Rule #1: Never let suspects stay together. Rule #1: Never screw over your partner. Rule #2: Always wear gloves at a crime scene. Rule #3: Don't believe what you're told. Double check. Rule #3: Never be unreachable. Rule #4: The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself. Second best? Tell one other person - if you must. There is no third best. Rule #5: You don't waste good. Rule #6: Never say you're sorry. It's a sign of weakness. Rule #7: Always be specific when you lie. Rule #8: Never take anything for granted. Rule #8a: Never assume. Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife. Rule #10: Never get personally involved in a case. Rule #11: When the job is done, walk away. Rule #12: Never date a co-worker. Rule #13: Never, ever involve a lawyer. Rule #14: Bend the Line, do not ever Break It Rule #15: Always work as a team. Rule #16: If someone thinks they have the upper hand, break it. Rule #18: It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. Rule #20: Always look under. Rule #22: Never, ever bother Gibbs in interrogation. Rule #23: Never mess with a Marine's coffee... if you want to live. Rule #27: There are two ways to follow someone. First way, they never notice you. Second way, they only notice you. Rule #28: You need help, ask. Rule #35: Always watch the watchers. Rule #36: If you feel like you are being played, you probably are. Rule #38: Your case, your lead. Rule #39: There is no such thing as coincidence. Rule #39a There is no such thing as a small world. Rule #40: If it seems someone is out to get you, they are. Rule #42: Never accept an apology from someone who just sucker punched you. Rule #44: First things first, hide the women and children. Rule #45: Clean up the mess that you make. Rule #51: Sometimes - you're wrong. Rule #62: Always give people space when they get off the elevator. Rule #69: Never trust a woman who doesn't trust her man. I like some of Gibbs’ rules but feel there are way too many for anyone to remember. When my kids were small I developed what I call “Rules of Engagement” or rules to live your life by. I’ve tried to maintain these rules throughout my life. They are: 1. God, family, country Always in that order 2. Family should never fight alone 3. Service and Charity never faileth 4. Avoid debt like you would disease 5. Ain’t no one happy unless Mama’s happy 6. Never give up if the task is just 7. Work smarter, not harder 8. Trust but verify 9. A soldiers way saves the day 10. Distraction kills 11. Don’t leave home without a knife or a gun 12. Be hard to offend or anger I would suggest developing your own “rules of engagement”. Write them down and live by them. Share them with your children and friends. Become better if you can! Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn

Tactical Breathing

I deal with PTSD. The incident that triggered this stress happened many years ago in a far-off place. I have worked through this and it doesn't effect me as it did long ago. But it still does effect me. Anxiety for no reason some times messes with my head and hypervigilance goes with it. I have medigated this problem and have found that breathing helps. I learned many years ago about the effects of breathing. In a course given by the state department on situational awareness I first learned about tactical breathing. I used it in teaching shooting as an instructor and had success. I used it again in a combat situation and found it helped a lot to calm down and concentrate on what was going on. After my combat experience I use it often with the effects of PTSD. This is an article by the HPRC. Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) is a team of scientists and specialists who translate research into evidence-based resources to help Service Members and their families optimize their performance and reach total fitness. They explain it, and the science behind it, better than I ever could. https://www.hprc-online.org/mental-fitness/sleep-stress/tactical-breathing-military Tactical breathing is a method of using your breath to change how you feel physically and emotionally to focus your attention and improve your performance. Breathing is one of the most basic human activities, and learning to control it strategically can lower your stress, manage unhelpful emotions, and improve your long-term health. When your emotions aren’t helpful, you can actually decrease or increase their intensity through your breathing. Think of the last time a powerful feeling such as anxiety or anger made it hard to do something you needed to do, such as clearing a room, staying vigilant while out on patrol, or having a tough conversation. It can be difficult to change these intense feelings using thoughts alone, so learning to control your breath can become a very effective tool. Instead of talking (or thinking) your way out of your emotions, you can learn to breathe your way through them. Your breathing is connected—through your brain and nervous system—to how you feel physically and emotionally. It’s because your autonomic nervous system, or ANS—the part of your overall nervous system that controls your breathing—also helps regulate every other system in your body, including your endocrine (hormone), cardiovascular, immune, and digestive systems. Like the pedals in your car, your ANS can either speed up or slow down your systems. ANS generally runs on autopilot and is managed by two complementary systems: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Your SNS works like the gas pedal in your car, accelerating your breathing to help you pursue goals and avoid threats. This “fight or flight” system turns on and can be helpful when you need to react and respond quickly. However, getting stuck in this gear wears you down, and it can lead to poor sleep, decreased sex drive, indigestion, constipation, and higher risk of infections. When your SNS runs in overdrive, it can leave you feeling stressed, fatigued, irritated, anxious, or depressed. Your PNS controls your relaxation response, slows you down, and quiets your SNS. One way to take your body off autopilot is to control your breathing. You can slow your breathing with steady, full breaths and longer exhales. Doing this activates your PNS, which relaxes your muscles and sends feedback to your brain that “all is well.” When you’re relaxed, it’s hard to feel stressed or upset. In fact, your relaxation response slows the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure to healthy levels. Not only does this response counterbalance stress, it also can boost immunity, increase alertness, and improve your metabolism. Controlled breathing practices also can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Stress can take its toll on your mental and physical health, including your heart health, but there are breathing techniques to buffer yourself from it. When you’re less focused on your breathing, it’s typical to breathe erratically, especially when you face the stressors of day-to-day life. In turn, your heart rate can become less rhythmic and cause your heart to not function as well. But when you have longer, slower exhales—breathing at about 4-second-inhale and 6-second-exhale paces—your heart rate rhythmically fluctuates up and down. This rhythmic varibility in heart rate mirrors your inhales and exhales so that you have maximum heart rate at the end of the inhale and minimum heart rate at the end of the exhale. More importantly, this physiological shift might help you feel less stressed, anxious, or depressed—and experience better heart health. Practice tactical breathing regularly, and you’ll form good habits over time, just like any other skill you practice regularly. Use the guided mediation below to try out tactical breathing. You’ll be guided with the tune for a few breaths at this more optimal pace. As you hear the tone get louder, breathe in, and as you hear it soften, exhale. After practicing, take a moment to reflect on how you feel now compared to how you felt before you began reading this article. You breathe all the time, but usually you go through the motions of breathing while absorbed in your own thoughts. Instead, you took notice of your breathing, intentionally controlled it, and noticed other body sensations. Regularly tuning in to your breathing and body sensations can help you feel more resilient and ready to: • Adapt to change • Deal with whatever comes your way • See the brighter, or funnier, side of problems • Overcome stress • Tolerate unpleasant feelings • Bounce back after illness, failures, or other hardships • Meet your goals • Stay focused under pressure • Feel stronger I can atest to this technique and how well it can work! Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn

Keeping Your Nose Clean

I've been asked how to get through one of these checks for a government job. I just went through a security clearance update. I’ve been through many of these and even more background checks. A security clearance is similar to an extensive background check. When I was in the military, I held a Top Secret security clearance. All this means is that more time and deeper checking goes on than the Secret clearance that I hold now. Organizations that require security clearances like members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormons) because they usually can pass these checks easily. Not that some members would not have financial problems, but usually there is no substance use problems. Usually there are no problems in the area of sexual behavior either. There are plenty of others that are not members that pass these checks. The criteria for holding Secret and Top Secret clearances is roughly: 1. Allegiance to the United States 2. Foreign Influence 3. Foreign Preference 4. Sexual Behavior 5. Personal Conduct 6. Financial Considerations 7. Alcohol Consumption 8. Drug Involvement 9. Psychological Conditions 10. Criminal Conduct 11. Handling Protected Information 12. Outside Activities 13. Use of Information Technology Systems I say roughly because different agencies have different requirements so some of the above criteria may be slightly different. Department of Defense uses the above criteria. They also require a background check just to get on the installation and to work. Some military bases will let those who are already working on that base sponsor visitors on the installation. There are always places that not just anyone can go. Flightlines are usually a hotspot. Aircraft, and even more so, the equipment on different aircraft, can be very sensitive. Usually communications buildings, command posts, and other command and control buildings are off limits to those who have no business in that area or building. DOD is notorious for securing areas and being quite strict in its enforcement. Nothing did my heart good than to see a jerk of a person get jacked up crossing a red line. I know that’s not nice but usually it was deserved. There were a few times I found myself in “no mans land” and luckily did not get caught. Military security is pretty serious. National security eligibility determinations take into account a person’s: Stability, Trustworthiness, Reliability, Discretion, Character, Honesty, Judgment, Unquestionable loyalty to the U.S. Those who wish to overthrow or undermine the government by unconstitutional or violent means; terrorist groups; and individuals who: May be susceptible to pressure or improper influence; Have shown dishonesty or lack of integrity which casts doubt upon their reliability; Have demonstrated behavior or are subject to circumstances which may otherwise indicate unreliability. Security concerns might include supporting sedition or applying for citizenship in another country. Investigators also look out for a pattern of high-risk sexual behavior or a history of not meeting financial obligations. A single instance of concern in any area will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. The reviewers also consider the applicant's response to the concern. Was it truthful, complete, and voluntary? Has the applicant shown positive behavior changes since the concerning incident? So, if you are applying for a government job, remember to be open and honest with your answers. If you fudge the truth on this application and it is found out at any time in your career, you will be fired. You will be escorted off the installation or worse. I had a supervisor who was just accused of a crime (which he was eventually convicted of), and the commander had him escorted off his base. Base or Wing, or Battalion, etc. Commanders are “God” on their Post or Base. What they say goes. It is their small kingdom. This Commander did not want to wait for any due process, and he was not required to. So, remember that. The military doesn’t have much tolerance for impropriety. Be careful in your behavior including your uploaded content. Pictures and comments have gotten people fired from government jobs. Is it fair? Maybe not. Civilians usually are looked at with more scrutiny than military members. The reason is, commanders can do more to military members than they can civilians. How impeccable is your reputation? Could it pass government scrutiny? Staying off the radar or being the “gray man” is advantageous in this day and age. Not only is it smart for privacy reasons, but security reasons also. Be invisible if you can. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn