THE HUMAN FACTOR IN CONCEALED CARRY - NO.3
By: Dan Battreall

The Ultimate Decision

Carryconcealed.net

 Part 2 The Fog of Conflict

“Every time you step in a river it is a different river.” Chinese proverb.

Every potentially lethal conflict is different. Many factors are the same but many of the factors will be different. Some things are certain the lethal conflict will be fast, chaotic, bloody, violent and stressful. This is described as THE FOG OF CONFLICT.

The Fog of Conflict has 3 elements, danger, uncertainty and friction.

Dan Battreall Training and Consulting/MCS

Danger

There are hazards in everything we do but a lethal firearm conflict is a dangerous situation. There are additional dangers in a gunfight than there is a knife fight or a fist fight. A gunfight may endanger not just the primary people in the conflict but may endanger bystanders and property.

There is also the danger of the unknown. No one knows how they will behave during a lethal conflict. The overwhelming stress will take you into your subconscious, where you have never been.  Many people fear the worst and are prepared to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Others may be in denial, “That it will never happen to me.” Then others will maintain the confidence in themselves, training and experience. Danger will always exist but we can not let it consume us. When confronted with danger, hit it head on and never give up.

Uncertainty

In the Fog of Conflict you will find that uncertainty is certain and the abnormal is normal.

Uncertainty will enter into every facet of concealed carry, and this uncertainty will impact your ability to function in the Fog of Conflict.

You could be:

·        Uncertain of your firearm

·        Uncertain of your ammunition

·        Uncertain of your skills

·        Uncertain of your situational awareness

·        Uncertain if you are making the right decision

This uncertainty will lead to hesitation and hesitation will lead you deep into the Fog of Conflict. A simple, rehearsed and overwhelmingly aggressive plan can help mitigate these uncertainties.

Friction

Friction is the third element in the Fog of Conflict. Friction will come in the form of:

·        Conflicting personal values

·        Conflicting religious values

·        Cultural conflicts

·        Conflict on how you were trained and how you will perform

Coming to terms with Friction can be very difficult. Friction like Uncertainty can lead to hesitation which will lead you into the fog. Uncertainty has no place in a potentially lethal conflict.

Seeing in the fog

So how do we improve our vision in the Fog of Conflict? We improve by reducing the impacts of Danger, Uncertainty and Friction. Can these elements be eliminated? NO, but we can mitigate each one by understanding the reasons they occur.

First of all, clear intent of why we carry is absolutely essential. Only one answer to the question of why we carry will reduce the Fog of Conflict: To be able to immediately stop a lethal threat.

This is the bottom line. This must be the intent on why we carry, the only intent.

Second, we must eliminate some of the unknowns which will reduce uncertainty and friction which in return will reduce the danger.

To eliminate the unknowns we must try and increase our knowledge of the following:

·        Know yourself, your values, your strengths and your weaknesses.

·        Know your equipment, how to use it, know the capabilities and the limitations.

·        Know your surroundings

·        Know when to seek help

·        Know your escape routes at all times

·        Know what not to do

·        Know where not to go

Once we come to terms with ourselves and conduct our lives to try and mitigate any threat, we will then begin to prepare to enter the fog.

Remember that the FOG OF CONFLICT will always be there but emotionally driven training and experience can create those memory slides which will build confidence. Confidence will let you see your strengths and weaknesses. Your training and experience will determine how deep you can see into the FOG OF CONFLICT and this will make the difference between life and death.

 Comments or questions to: DAN@carryconcealed.net

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