Maybe it's just me and how I was brought up as a kid, a young Marine, and how it was working at a Sheriff's Office, but for me to succeed, I had to invest in myself. Too often, I hear guys/gals say, "Well, they didn't pay for it or they won't send me to that training, so F&%K It, that's on them." Many folks say that it is a millennial thing. I disagree because I have heard it my whole career.
I was in the Marine Corps in the early to mid-'90s, and we were still getting issued Vietnam Era gear and equipment. For us to make things practical and work in the environment we worked in, we had to, well, as the old saying goes, "Adapt and Overcome." Back then, we got paid just enough that we couldn't afford to pay attention to it. If we needed certain things, we acquired them, paid for them, and re-engineered gear and equipment to make them practical for fieldwork and combat effectiveness.
I found it was similar while working as a deputy sheriff for 19 years in the LEO arena. Back in the day, if you wanted it, you bought it and used it on duty, or if there was training that I wanted to make myself better, I pulled it out of my pocket. Again, not able to afford to pay attention, I still knew that I had to invest in myself and make myself an asset and not a liability. I was blessed and was sent to many training courses on the company dime, but I was always eager to bring good info back and pass it on. But there were many things that I had to invest time, money, blood, sweat, and tears to better myself and be an asset.
What does investing in yourself mean? Let's break it down:
Physical Fitness
First, invest in your physical fitness levels to ensure you can endure a long day at work and violence if it comes. This doesn't mean you need to be a CrossFit superstar, an Olympic powerlifter, or a cross-country star. It just means keeping yourself healthy and in physical shape to endure what the job or life throws at you. It also means balancing cardio, strength, and endurance.
Knowledge
As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. Research good instructors and authors and read their books. Learn to sift through the trash and take in the good. Listen to Podcasts. Podcasts are a great way to find good information and good books. And there are a ton of them out there. Again, learn to sift through the trash.
Hand Combatives
Next, invest in some hand combat training and blade training. You don't have to be a black belt in anything, but you need to look at a few different disciplines and pick a couple of things that work from each. Then, incorporate them into your personal training sessions. We must be able to protect ourselves, and carrying a gun is only one tool and is not appropriate for everything.
Gear and Equipment
Invest in your gear and equipment. Let's talk about this. Many times, if you work for an organization, they will buy what some POG thinks is cool and flashy, but in all reality, it is junk. Something flashy that you can strap to your gun or body but has no real value or purpose other than just making you feel warm and fuzzy just adds weight. You must ensure what you're using works and is simple under stress and duress. If they don't provide the right shit, it's on you to dig in your pocket, pull out a little coin and produce what works. You don't need a $500 Gucci trigger to help you shoot better, you need training and repetition to help you shoot better. So spend your money, time, and effort on training, not gimmick gear. Check out this video from my friend Reid Henrichs of Valor Ridge about expensive triggers. The thing is to keep it simple and put in the work and practice. This is investing in yourself.
The bottom line is, if you get reliable equipment, notice I didn't say top-shelf expensive equipment or Gucci gear, and then spend your money and time training with that equipment, you will outshine the dude or chick who looks like they just crawled off the front page of a 5.11 catalog and has the $5K tricked out a rifle, and the $1500 Glock 19.
There is a lot of flashy stuff out there that salesmen will sell you. Once you put it to work, you find out it's really just extra weight and a pain in the ass.
Training
This is where we fall short. First, we would rather spend our time and money on gadgets than invest in learning and then put in the time to master those skills. I see police agencies all the time spend money on technical equipment but do not want to spend the time and money on training on how to utilize the equipment or skills efficiently and effectively. It's almost criminal in nature.
First, we need to find a good and reputable instructor with the background, experience, and skills to teach the selected skill or skills. Try to find an instructor who teaches fundamentals and practical/principle-based techniques, skills, and tactics that work on a broad spectrum. One that is humble and will explain why? There are some good ones out there, just as some bad ones. Once we learn the basics, we must invest our time and train those skills. We all have times when we get busy with life, I get it, but we need to make sure we invest a little into ourselves. I promise you, it will reap benefits over time.
Mindset
If we invest in ourselves and work to build and maintain individual skills, we will have the confidence to roam the earth and enjoy life. All of these things are part of the mindset.
As I was writing this, I came across an article written by Bill Rapier of American Tactical Shooting Solutions called "The Modern-Day Minute Man and Other Standards." If you get a chance, check it out. A minuteman is someone who is ready to go in a minute and has the skills to roll when asked. I have always tried to keep my skills up and maintained, so if someone called operationally or recreationally, I could say, "Yep, I'll be ready in a minute."
In the end, it's on us. When bad things happen, don't expect anyone to come to the rescue, at least not right away. We need to invest in ourselves. I know there is a lot out there. We need to balance out all the above areas. I have met guys who are great shooters over the years because they trained A LOT but could not run around the block if a bear was chasing them. Just as guys who were bigger, stronger, and faster but couldn't shoot, move, and communicate for their lives.
The bottom line is that we need balance. If you would like to train check with us, check us out at Enhanced Defense. It would be an honor to train with you. Hope to see you on the range.
Wilkie
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