Familiarity Breeds Contempt — We Must Do Better
I stopped at my local gun store recently to check what they had in inventory. There was a newly released pistol underneath the glass; the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted to handle it. I said yes, so he bent down and retrieved it. He locked the slide to the rear and then offered the grip to me with the pistol pointing directly at his sternum. I’m not sure when this technique became [...]
The Walking Wounded
Stepping out of the car is the only viable option for drawing from a front pocket holster. I’m going to put you in a boot for a month,” the doctor said with a frown when she took her first look at my swollen ankle. Thus began my [...]
Six Shots For Six Sergeants
This came out of a scratch gathering of sergeants, discussing the drumbeat of petty details, the constant “white noise” and perpetual distractions that plague the job, and their worst effect: distracting them from the core elements of their responsibilities. One of their suggestions was to write up a simple “bullet [...]
Teacher Or Instructor … Which Are You?
Look back to your youth and ponder your school days. Did you have teachers you admired, who made the learning process fun and exciting? Could you see their passion for the subject and did they pass it on you? I did. Now think of the teachers you didn’t like — [...]
Some Simple Sergeant’s Rules
I was asked if I had some “simple rules” for success as a sergeant; dealing with issues other than training, tactics or administrative stuff. Many years ago, after reading Benjamin Franklin’s personal rules, I came up with sets of “Always” and “Never” statements, kept them close at hand, and tried [...]
LEARN TO LOVE THAT RUSH | Inoculate Yourself From STRESS
Stress is stress, though people look at it and handle it very differently. For many, stress limits their ability to perform. How can a pro golfer, who never misses a 3-foot putt in practice, not sink the same shot while leading a major tournament in the final round? What happened? [...]
Good Enough
One of the most beneficial soft skills one can develop is to complete a task well enough that it may ensure mission success. Whether it’s finishing a work project, going to the gym, or even doing laundry, when it comes to completing a task, how much effort is too much, [...]
Training Rule #2 and Don’t Shoots
Someone once said - know the rules well enough so that you can know when to break them. However, there are some rules we should not break. Gunsite's Four Safety Rules can be on signs like this all over the facility. With that said, let us discuss the [...]
STREET LEVEL | Morale Building: No Programs, Please!
Somewhere in the basement there’s a cigar box contain-ing military medals and commendations. The only mementos of that period on display in my home are the lone surviving photo of my best friend, killed on the DMZ in 1966, and a wooden boat paddle bearing a small plaque from 1st [...]
Managing Expectations
When learning any skill, it is incumbent upon you as an apprentice to also manage your expectations regarding how much and how long it will take to achieve the desired skill level. Before learning a new skill, whether a language, a musical instrument, sailing, golf, or tennis, one must first [...]
Is “Tactical” Overworked?
Is there anyone besides me who thinks we may have reached the point where “tactical” as a description of what we wear, carry and how we work is perhaps becoming just a bit overused? Or, in some cases, misused? Make no mistake of where I’m coming from. In addition to [...]