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Personal Safety Tips - a Soldier's Perspective

I'm Sergeant Lazo and I can tell you that from the first day you set foot at the MEPS station (Military Entrance Processing Station) until the last day in the Military, Safety is non-negotiable. Safety comes first in our line of work because lives are at stake. The same principles we are taught directly correlate to civilian life. Allow me to put forth the military principles under the letter M, civilian principles under the letter C and attacker principles under the letter A.

Basic Principles: Awareness

M: Regardless of where you are, stay alert and aware of your surroundings. In the military our #1 enemy is complacency. Complacency is a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy. In a combat environment we go through the same routines over and over again. Weapon on safe, clean your weapon, drink water, scan you sector, etc… It is easy to relax and let your guard down. You often forget about the dangers because you do it so often and you’re good at it. Before you know it something happens. Our worst enemy can be complacency.

C: Awareness is the key! An awareness of the reality of crime and violence, not to mention awareness of your environment, are the keys to your personal security. It is easy to say or think: “nothing will ever happen to me”. Until it does happen to you! Simple things like knowing that danger exists and looking around in your environment can deter an attacker.

A: The attacker will look for someone that is distracted and unaware. For example, someone talking on a phone, someone looking for keys, someone talking to others in a crowd or someone just daydreaming. “Stay Awake”

Basic Principles: Assurance and Confidence

M: Regardless of where you are, always appear calm and confident in your mannerism. A good example of this in the military is when you go before a promotion board. A promotion board is the process for which you go in order to achieve the next rank. You perform a series of tasks and answer questions before the board members. You must show that you are ready to lead soldiers in combat. You enter in your dress uniform and must appear calm and confident even if you feel like your going to soil yourself. You show no weakness and even if you answer something wrong you stick to your guns and say it’s write. The board members see that your knowledge, calmness and confidence even under stress are strong. Thus, recommend promotion to the next rank.

C: Assurance and confidence may seem like a simple thing, but for some it doesn’t come easy. It is proven that attackers look for certain clues that make a potential victim look like an easy target. Things you can do to not look like a potential target are: Walk at a steady pace, Stand straight with your shoulders back and head held up, look around you, don’t do other things while walking, pay attention, and act confident and self assured.

A: The attacker will look for clues that tell them that the possible victim is an easy target. Someone that walks with their head down, perhaps lost, maybe confused, shuffling along, and not paying attention to what is going on around them. “Don’t make yourself an easy target”

Basic Principles: Trust your Instincts

M: Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy about someone or a particular situation, remove yourself. In the military this is especially true. When in a combat environment you sometimes get a feeling or hear a little voice in the back of your head that tells you something is wrong. In such instances you proceed with caution and it sometimes saves your butt.

C: Learn to trust the weird feeling in your gut, the voice in your head and the lump in your throat. What do you do when your instincts are trying to tell you something? All your senses should come to life, your sight, your smell, your touch, your taste and your listening. You must now be ready to take action. Fight or Flight and you must decide fast! So… you were wrong, would you rather feel slightly embarrassed for 20 minutes or victimized for the rest of your life?

A: The attacker is looking to do one thing, Attack and in most cases the coward will come from behind. Be ready and “Trust your instincts, you can’t go wrong”

Basic Principles: Lights, People and Noise

M: Park in well-lit lots. If you have to work late or are shopping at night, consider having a security guard walk you to your car. Consider a co-worker walk you to your car. If in trouble make noise, scream or use the panic alarm from the car. In the military, whether state side or in a combat environment we practice the battle buddy system. Everywhere we go, we usually have someone with us. In our line of work we have safety in numbers.

C: While out and about remember your greatest allies are lights, people and noise. Attackers will look to stay away from such places. Attackers do not want to risk being seen or caught. Steer clear of dark areas and isolated places. Put the odds on your side.

A: Attackers will look for situation and places that are to their advantage. Dark places and no other people around but the victim. Remember to “Use good common sense”

Basic Principles: Be Prepared

M: Have your car keys or house keys ready prior to opening the door or even before going outside. A good example of this in the military would be your P.M.I.’s (pre-mission inspections). Regardless of the mission, it is a very good idea to make sure you have an over night bag in case you don’t make it to your destination. You need to have plenty of food and water. You need to make sure you have medical supplies that aren’t expired. You need to make sure your weapon is clean and functional. And don’t forget plenty of ammunition. One missing item can make for a long mission!

C: When walking from a building to your vehicle or vise versa, have your keys in your hand ready to go. Do this while still in the building or in your car. Don’t allow your looking for your keys be the distraction that the attacker is looking for. Be prepared, an easy weapon to protect yourself with are your car keys. If you decide to fight, place one key between each finger. You now have a powerful and painful weapon should someone try to attack you.

A: An attacker is looking for an opportunity to attack. Don’t be distracted be aware and prepared. The attacker will not expect you to be ready. The attacker works on the premise of catching the victim off guard and unprepared. Remember “almost anything can be a weapon”

Basic Principles: Locking your Doors

M: Always lock your doors, even if you are only going out for just a few minutes. This includes garage and cellar doors as well. Most of our young soldiers’ today live in barracks. You would think locking the doors would be the first thing they do. That is not often what happens. Today’s young soldiers are looking to party and more often then not, this includes alcohol which leads to bad decision making. An unlocked door is an invitation that screams to an attacker “easy victim”.

C: Keeping the windows and doors to your home, business and vehicle locked and secured, especially when you are alone. This can go a long way to preventing many types of attacks. Most attackers will not case your premises or vehicle before an attack. An attacker will look for the easiest way possible. Home security systems, personal alarms, working dead bolts and door locks and window locks are a must for your security and peace of mind.

A: Attackers look for easy victims! Victims that they observe are not practicing good personal safety principles. They want the element of surprise, they look for easy ways in, they don’t want to be seen or get caught and they want whatever you have.

Basic Principles: Phone and Numbers

M: Familiarize yourself with unit, community, and local emergency reporting procedures. Keep these phone numbers on your cell phone or next to your house phone on memory. When on a military installation or in combat environment, aside from notifying the proper authorities you most also notify your chain of command. This allows them to take the appropriate actions and assist.

C: Keep a cell phone or house phone handy and have emergency numbers in place. In an emergency: Who will help? Who will watch the house? Your dogs? Your children? Or elderly ? When in doubt 911!

A: Face it, the attacker is ultimately afraid of one thing, being caught by the police. As car chases on the six o’clock news have shown time and time again. “Scare them away”

An attacker can be just about anyone and sometimes people that you least expect. Take the current situation in Iraq for example. When the war began we had a clear enemy, they had uniforms, weapons and large machinery. Today we have the fog of war. We don’t know who is civilian and who the enemy is. There are no uniforms, they all carry weapons and pretend to be your friend. What does the enemy do? They wait for the victim, the soldier that is unaware. The soldier that appears lost and confused. The soldier that is distracted. What can the soldier do? Put the odds back in his favor, that’s what he can do! The same is true for you. Take control and put the odds back in your favor!

About the Author

Article Resource: Self Defense Corner
The above are only but a few basic principles that you can incorporate into your everyday life. To get a more in depth list of other personal safety tips and products visit us online at www.SelfDefenseCorner.com and find out how you can get a Free Key Chain Pepper Spray.

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