JimConway
Instructor
Editor's Notebook: Tactics
by Rich Grassi
I was recently privy to a conversation where the term "tactics" was said to be "all the stuff you tried to do when awareness, disengagement and skill at arms failed", or words to that effect. As this is the "tactical" wire, I thought it appropriate to examine the term and its use.
According to the internet dictionary, tactics is the "art or science of disposing military or naval forces for battle and maneuvering them in battle" and "any mode or procedure for gaining advantage or success." Strategy is "a plan, method or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result."
Traditionally, tactics has been discussed as a cluster of behaviors that, when employed, gains success in battle. For us (as well as for nations) the best battle is the one seen in advance and avoided. If our tactics fail us there, our tactics in battle are designed to give us the victory.
I prefer to see tactics in degrees or stages. The first stage, macro-tactics, amounts to a way of life. We study the predator by viewing at every opportunity surveillance videos and photos of criminals just prior to and actually engaging in assaultive robbery behaviors. It comes from interviewing predators behind bars or reading studies of convicted felons giving us a look into their mindset. It's remarkably unchanged over decades.
Examine the potential victim, sizing him/her up. Look the area over for cops or Samaritans. Make your approach. You have to get in close. Distract, usually with a request for help, asking for the time, for a match. Wait for that moment of indecision, then rush in. Strike, order the money, watch, jewelry. Snatch the purse. Run to the area you've already reconnoitered. Get far enough out, check the score.
The best victim is self-engaged. Texting, talking on a cell phone is good. Walking, head down looking at the pavement, shoulders slumped is even better. Unawareness is sweet victory for the predator.
The macro-tactician knows this and weighs every stop, every stroll with potentials. Preparation doesn't end and goes along with that stage above unawareness, Yellow. In Yellow, the smart "victim" is actually a predator. You're looking for much of the same he does and you're looking to see who notices. Avoid places that attract victims; victims attract predators. Don't go "looking for trouble" - in the sense of having a chip on your shoulder. When you go, look for trouble so you can slip past unnoticed.
Over the years, I've gotten to see the ritual. Sometimes it was practiced on me. Once, I saw the panhandler a long time before he turned to start for me. It was so obvious, I'd seen it so many times. I couldn't see his partner though. Was he alone?
One "tactic" is the "one-plus" rule. It gets pretty extensive in a custodial situation but for here it suffices that, if you identify one potential threat you start looking for his partner. Like their counterparts in the animal kingdom, human predators often travel in packs.
As he got to the Dead Line - the closest point I would allow him, my non-gun hand went up. It looked like I was directing traffic and his lane was "Stop." I knew he'd speak, but he was late.
"Go ON!" I barked. "I can't help you!"
It was disgust on his face. He swore, got a word out.
"MOVE ON!"
He wasted no more time. A few acted like they noticed the exchange, but went back to the forage, wagging their tails like the others. He'd nail someone before the day was out.
Macro-tactics is planning, preparation and playing "what if?". Micro tactics covers the approach to a scene, contact if it's unavoidable, and disengagement.
For a very good look at this topic, check the blog Kitlear, Kilo India Tango, at http://kitlear.com/?p=420. The title is "Street Robberies and You." It's an extremely well-written piece and a good primer into the world around you.
It's your life. Being wary isn't wearying; it's seeing the world around you. That includes the beauty and the bad.
by Rich Grassi
Is his mind on his surroundings? Would it be difficult to rob this person? |
According to the internet dictionary, tactics is the "art or science of disposing military or naval forces for battle and maneuvering them in battle" and "any mode or procedure for gaining advantage or success." Strategy is "a plan, method or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result."
Traditionally, tactics has been discussed as a cluster of behaviors that, when employed, gains success in battle. For us (as well as for nations) the best battle is the one seen in advance and avoided. If our tactics fail us there, our tactics in battle are designed to give us the victory.
I prefer to see tactics in degrees or stages. The first stage, macro-tactics, amounts to a way of life. We study the predator by viewing at every opportunity surveillance videos and photos of criminals just prior to and actually engaging in assaultive robbery behaviors. It comes from interviewing predators behind bars or reading studies of convicted felons giving us a look into their mindset. It's remarkably unchanged over decades.
This is how we get ready? We know shooting is in the offing, note the ball cap, ear- and eye-pro! |
The best victim is self-engaged. Texting, talking on a cell phone is good. Walking, head down looking at the pavement, shoulders slumped is even better. Unawareness is sweet victory for the predator.
The macro-tactician knows this and weighs every stop, every stroll with potentials. Preparation doesn't end and goes along with that stage above unawareness, Yellow. In Yellow, the smart "victim" is actually a predator. You're looking for much of the same he does and you're looking to see who notices. Avoid places that attract victims; victims attract predators. Don't go "looking for trouble" - in the sense of having a chip on your shoulder. When you go, look for trouble so you can slip past unnoticed.
Over the years, I've gotten to see the ritual. Sometimes it was practiced on me. Once, I saw the panhandler a long time before he turned to start for me. It was so obvious, I'd seen it so many times. I couldn't see his partner though. Was he alone?
One "tactic" is the "one-plus" rule. It gets pretty extensive in a custodial situation but for here it suffices that, if you identify one potential threat you start looking for his partner. Like their counterparts in the animal kingdom, human predators often travel in packs.
As he got to the Dead Line - the closest point I would allow him, my non-gun hand went up. It looked like I was directing traffic and his lane was "Stop." I knew he'd speak, but he was late.
"Go ON!" I barked. "I can't help you!"
It was disgust on his face. He swore, got a word out.
Have things changed since 1980? We do much the same to "prepare," but what are we preparing for? |
He wasted no more time. A few acted like they noticed the exchange, but went back to the forage, wagging their tails like the others. He'd nail someone before the day was out.
Macro-tactics is planning, preparation and playing "what if?". Micro tactics covers the approach to a scene, contact if it's unavoidable, and disengagement.
For a very good look at this topic, check the blog Kitlear, Kilo India Tango, at http://kitlear.com/?p=420. The title is "Street Robberies and You." It's an extremely well-written piece and a good primer into the world around you.
It's your life. Being wary isn't wearying; it's seeing the world around you. That includes the beauty and the bad.