Terminology 2

We live in a world where there is a war going on in some place nearly all of the time. Now though it is not only the infantryman that has his frontline, now we all do. Law enforcement are on the frontline of crime and civilians have their own frontlines everyday when they leave their homes. Some frontlines though are easier to see than others.

So where is all this going with terminology? Well it is a mind-set game again I'm afraid. The soldier has always been familiar with the terms war, enemy, combat, tactics and deployment and all the other words associated with that profession.

The law enforcement officer has no 'warrior' connotation in any aspect of their job description.

The civilian (well most civilians) have no concept of seeing themselves as a 'warrior' because well, they are civilians.

The terminology associated with each group has been around as long as there have been soldiers, police officers and civilians. The terminology is also looked upon as if it belongs to that particular group and is not interchangeable. The terminology and vocabulary of what we do is all important for developing the correct mind-set!

How many times have you heard an instructor use these terms 'Self defence' 'opponent' 'adversary' 'criminal' 'survive'?

How confusing are these statements which politicians and police authorities like to throw out 'The war on terror' 'the war on drugs' 'the war on crime' 'the war on....well you get my drift, don't you need warriors to conduct wars?

One of the biggest drawbacks about changing our terminology and vocabulary when speaking to the uninitiated, or for confronting the PC brigade are that instructors are going to lose or not gain more students and police authorities may see this as a too aggressive mind-set for law enforcement personnel. After all we are nice people aren't we?

We all need to change our terminology to achieve the correct mindset, war, enemy, combat and winning are just a few of the terms we need to understand and implement because when someone is standing in front of you holding a knife, gun or threatening your loved ones you are going to have to go to war and by doing so you will be entering into combat with your enemy where you will have to win to live as you do now. There are no rounds, referees, judges or second chances when you have to protect yourself, your family or what you believe in.

I'm training for war, what are you training for?

Stay Dangerous

Rock