The value of a self-assessment
The United States government, through the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, tells citizens involved in a highly traumatic event, like an sctive Shooter, to do the following: Run-Hide-Fight. Schools, businesses, and houses of worship are all addressing this unique problem through some form of training or messaging.
The strategy as written is reactive, once the violence begins act. Professional security folks know there are a number of behaviors that are exhibited prior to the violence that serve as an early warning – but the warnings are only available to those people who are actually paying attention and are aware of their environment.
There are a number of questions that must be asked, but the first is: once the situation has reached a point where Run-Hide-Fight is required, can the person actually run or fight?
The answer to that critical question is found in a thorough self-assessment. Self-assessments are uncomfortable but very valuable. For purposes of this article, let’s look at four critical areas of a self-assessment to consider before you find yourself in a dangerous, or even violent situation: Commitment, Capability, Capacity, and Consequences.
Who is your commitment to? The answer should be yourself and your family members - if they are with you in the moment. This is very important to assess now and can seem callous but there are countless examples of highly traumatic events where people chose no action because the people they were with froze and they did not want to leave them behind. This is called mirroring and it can be deadly. There are people reading this who think they have a commitment to everyone, and they will save the day – this is admirable and very rare. Remember what the ancient Greek poet Archilochus said: “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.”
What is your capability? Perhaps you work out daily, are a triathlete, a boxer, a martial artist, or you do jiu jitsu. Excellent – you know your capability. Many reading this carry a pistol, train frequently, and are sure of their capability.
Unfavorably, some people carry firearms and have no idea how to use them or carry them and secretly pray they never have to use it. Perhaps you are reading this and think you have no capability, if this is you – reassess and find an area where your strength lies or work to improve something in this area.
What is your capacity to handle violence? Often, it is far higher than you can actually imagine. The human body can withstand a tremendous amount of damage and is one of the most impressive survival organisms ever developed. It is entirely designed to survive and avoid danger: listen to it and let it work for you.
What are the consequences of taking action? So many people just think of personal security as owning and carrying a firearm. There are so many situations where using or displaying a firearm is not only unfavorable – it is illegal. It is very important to educate oneself on the law - particularly the self-defense law in the State of South Carolina. There are consequences for taking action, criminal and civil trials, and there are consequences for doing nothing.
Be prepared. Think about these areas now and not in the moment.
James Hamilton is a nationally recognized executive protection expert and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent. With 18 years at the Bureau, he created its Close Protection School, served on the Director’s detail, and continues to advance protective security worldwide.
