Don’t be a Victim
There is an old saying we used in the Marine Corps – “Complacency Kills”. It’s becoming more apparent in our society, this day and age, that with modern technology and the fast pace lifestyle people are less aware of their environment. This effect can and has led to the increase of persons falling victim to potentially avoidable situations. Here are a few things that can help us better understand our environment and allow us to make better decisions in our lives.
Criminal Profiling: Accomplished by proactively identifying criminals through behavior pattern analysis. This identifies criminal’s personality and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP’s) displayed prior, during, and after a violent event. Ultimately it allows to detect a threat and make a LEGAL, MORAL, and ETHICAL decision.
Establish a Baseline by detailed observation. Look for matches of ‘profiles’ or threat indicators based on known or predicted methods of criminal activity. A baseline is a basis for comparison; a reference point which other things can be evaluated. (cultures, neighborhoods, and environments). Don’t just occupy space, understand your environment.
Identify Anomalies which are a deviation from the common rule (s), type (s), arrangement (s), or form (s). What should be in my baseline that is missing and what is in my baseline that should not be. These anomalies are typically accompanied by the “Spidey Sense” a vague but strong sense of something being wrong i.e. hairs standing up on the back of your neck.
Have Context, understand a number of elements, such as Cultural normalcy, religious normalcy, gender, location, space, and time. Take into consideration all the factors surrounding the situation.
Have Relevance on how the context relates to what you are seeing. You must have the context and relevance in order to detect an anomaly accurately.
Modes of Awareness: These color codes can be used as a reference and serve as a guide as to where our sense of awareness should be in real life. I understand that this method is debatable amongst professionals in the industry, but this method has shown to be useful in the context of awareness.
(1) White – No perceived threat, completely unaware. You are unprepared and unready to take lethal action. (watching TV, daydreaming, sleeping, under the influence of alcohol, or those fancy phones everyone seems to be so highly attached to). If you are attacked in White, you will most likely become a victim unless your adversary is totally inept.
(2) Yellow – Relaxed awareness, functioning in public and aware of surroundings. You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary. Establish a solid baseline in order to identify anomalies. Minimal acceptable level when in public especially when carrying a firearm.
(3) Orange – In condition orange an anomaly is present, and you have become aware of a potential problem. While it may be nothing, it has caught your attention and increased your level of alertness. Your mind is running through a series of possible “what-if” scenarios and actively searching for actions to take if something happens (mental trigger). If said situation turns out to be nothing, then go back to yellow.
- Avoidance: The action of keeping away from or not doing something. If we encounter a situation we might have to avoid, we want to go back to the baseline. Having context and relevance, determine if the anomaly really falls out of the baseline. If so, I might ask myself Should I stay or go? Does it feel right? Is the juice worth the squeeze? Trust your instinct and decide. Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry even more so when your love ones are present.
(4) Red – In condition red your mental trigger has been tripped and you are ready to act based on your predetermined response. In this condition you are prepared to fight if need be.
(5) Black – This is a product of living life in the condition white when a life-threatening encounter happens. Panic sets in and breakdown of physical and mental performance. Complete shutdown. Proper training and mindset could keep us from ever being in the black and falling victim to whatever is happening. Not a place you want to be.
Live in the yellow. Be ready to fight and have a plan. Don’t be a victim.
Stop into Rainier Arms Firearms Academy and let us help out with your all your personal defense needs. Our expert staff will assist you with finding the right carry gun, accessories and training. Stay Safe.
Train Hard Live Long
Andy C. Padilla “Gunny”
Director of Training
Rainier Arms Firearms Academy
