There is a reason law enforcement academies and the military employ sick and sadistic men and women who like to see cadets sweat and vomit. It is because, when called upon to act, they have to be ready to not only engage, but also to stay in the fight. Being able to win requires more than the latest in Tacti-Cool. It requires being able to stay in the fight and recover quickly, mentally and physically.
It wasn’t long ago that I wasn’t capable of staying in the fight. I, like a lot of other people out there, lost my tactical edge. I convinced myself that my mass would make up for my lack of capabilities in other areas, but it was taking its toll. Thankfully, my tenacious health care provider, and more importantly my friend, told me it was time to get my life back in order. With her help, patience, and determination, I lost over 100 pounds. I now feel like I have that edge back. There have been times on the job when I have been more than grateful to have regained my advantage.
If you choose to carry, if you have taken it upon yourself to be a “sheepdog,” are you ready for the fight? Are you ready to engage the wolf? Sure, you have your sweet XD, and it’s in that awesome kydex holster. You’ve watched the latest Clint Smith and Chris Costa videos on Youtube. Now, what are you doing to prepare for the mental and physical toll of being in a fight?
Joseph Wilcox showed there is a place for armed citizens in our community. When he saw the shooters enter Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, he retrieved his weapon and was ready to fight. A well-trained armed citizen may be the first or the only person available to stop an active shooter. The armed citizen may also need to focus on getting his family out of a hostile situation. In either situation, cardiovascular conditioning will play a primary role in safe decision-making, reaction, and during the engagement.
I’m not saying you need to be able run a marathon, or even a ten minute mile. What I am asking is this: Are you capable of operating in “condition red” or above for an extended period of time? Studies have shown that when operating in condition red, the heart is beating at about 140 bpm or faster. Fine motor skills are gone, and complex motor skills are starting to deteriorate. The ability to operate under this amount of stress requires the fighter to recover quickly. If you’re in this SHTF situation, remember you’re going to want to move quickly to cover, slow down your breathing, break up the tunnel vision, and most importantly, assess the situation; where are the threats? Where is back up? Can you reload? Lastly, are you hit?
There are many drills in which one can practice shooting under stress — not to mention activities like competitive shooting. Force-on-force training will also help you learn to engage the threat with the stress of being under fire. One drill I enjoyed at a recent training I attended had us leave our weapons with the instructors on the line. We walked down the hill about forty to fifty yards. During that time, the instructors put our weapons in different stages of malfunction, or had them field stripped. We were then told to sprint up to the firing line, ready the weapon and make a head shot. Try this with your shooting partners next time you’re at the range. Add competitiveness and fun by throwing in rewards. Never minding the fact everyone hates losing to their friends.
I’m sure many of you reading this will finish and quickly think of the several officers you have seen or known that aren’t in the best of shape. There is a reason why cops have a stereotype that involves donuts and coffee shops. I am well aware of this. Like I said, it wasn’t long ago that I wasn’t capable to operate at the level I should have been able to. It was wrong. I now take advantage of every chance to enjoy exercise. I do this knowing it not only helps me reduce my daily stress and live a healthier life, but it will help me stay in the fight longer and recover quicker.
It doesn’t take much to start. There are simple plans designed to help people get active. The most important thing is for you to start. Set small goals. Do what you can do, and most importantly, in more ways than one, it will save your life.
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