Alertness and training.....

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From a newsletter I receive.

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Alertness and training pay off for this student of ours in CA:

"This morning I was at my desk in a corner of the lobby, as usual
sorting through papers. I noticed a slovenly-looking person approaching
my desk from the side. I didn't know whom he was, but I did know he
didn't belong there.

I quickly drew my flashlight as I stood up. I directed the beam at his
face as I arrested his forward progress with a strong, verbal
challenge. I then moved off the line of force. He started to ask a
question, but never completed his sentence. As he fumbled, I informed
him he was in a restricted zone and directed him out of the area. He
turned around and left, mumbling to himself.

My training with Dave Manning, Larry Nichols, and you really worked!
Even in daylight, my Surefire simultaneously disoriented him and forced
him to look away. When he recovered and attempted to resume the
conversation, he found himself addressing empty space! I was no longer
where he expected me to be. As he searched around trying to find me, I
seized the initiative and announced (loud enough for everyone to hear)
that he needed to leave. All this happened within a space of five
seconds. It was a 'natural' reaction for me, because I have repeated it
so often in training.

Some people at work used to tease me about being 'over-prepared.'
Today, after the incident, several of them came over and asked me if I
would train them!"

Comment: Many of the protective/interactive skills we teach don't even
involve irearms or weapons of any kind. Alertness and preparedness
should always be "turned on," regardless of the circumstances. People
who think they will be able to perform as smoothly as my student did in
the forgoing scenario without ever thinking about it in advance or
exposing themselves to serious training are naive fools.

One of my instructors puts it this way: "I expect myself and all my gear
to be the toughest in the fight, and I am determined to keep going until
I win. Toughness, durability, preparedness, and personal competence
matter. I don't plan to have to worry about myself, my equipment, or
anyone with me falling apart when things get exciting."

WILLINGNESS IS A STATE OF MIND. READINESS IS A STATEMENT OF FACT!