The document discusses the concept of a combat mindset, emphasizing the importance of training and preparation in critical situations, such as responding to active shooter incidents. It references a gymnast's anecdote to illustrate that true performance stems from consistent practice rather than reliance on spontaneous excellence. The author argues that success in high-stakes environments relies on training and personal accountability, warning that simply meeting minimum training requirements is insufficient for survival.

1. A Combat Mindset
Marshall Bowen

2. Some time ago, I was reading an article on Steven Pressfield’s blog
http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2011/10/thats-what-i-want-to-do/
about a gymnast who was the first to win Gold for the country of
Greece.
I wish I could tell the story better than he did, but I could not.
What really stood out to me was when Hermes recounted the time
he bit his tongue in response to a reporter who asked how he felt
after his “performance of a lifetime.”
He politely didn’t say, “I have performed this floor exercise in practice
ten thousand times. Five thousand times I have done better than
this! I did not have to exceed myself or go beyond my limits. I have
trained for years to reach this level. This is it. This is what I am
capable of every day.”

3. After thinking about the quote a little deeper I figured it
was the same for the tactical athlete.
When an Active Shooter develops suddenly, there is a
moment, a crystal clear point in time, where you have
realized the gravity of the situation.
You have to act decisively to end the threat, now.

4. In that moment, are you going to feel prepared?
Will you be confident that the outcome won’t be left to The
Reaper?
Or will you instead be placing your faith in the fallacy that
you’ll rise to excellence?
Dave Grossman has a quote published that has always
been common sense and second nature in elite combat
units, “in combat you do not rise to the occasion, you sink
to the level of your training.”
http://www.killology.com/on_combat_ch2.htm

5. Being one gun with no back-up, it’s your responsibility and
duty to bring the fight to the shooter, force him outside his
plan and make him deviate any way you can
The goal is to put the screws to the shooter and divert his
fantasy
More often than not, this causes them to commit suicide
However, as was the case in the Carthage, NC nursing
home shooting http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/
4837676/ the lone officer got into a gunfight with the subject
He was wounded, but put the shooter in his place

6. Unfortunately, there is little time for quality training in many
departments and agencies, even when the budget allows it.
Without our own personal mindset of excellence, it wouldn’t matter
anyway.
It’s easy to show up for required training and go through the
motions, but its a lot harder to excel and go above and beyond with
your training.
Minimum requirements in any field are minimums for a reason, but
they don’t stack the odds in your favor.
The “onus” of survival and success is, ultimately, only on you.
Start training like it.

7. -Marshall Bowen
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