On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:25:51 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 18:45:02 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Gunner
Asch quickly quoth:

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:56:44 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

That's probably not the best attitude to have, Steve. You might want
to rethink that since you really don't ever want to -need- to use the
pistola on anyone. But we have them now for the day all Hell breaks
loose.

Indeed. Remove all thoughts of Rambo from your skull. And keep in
mind that that CCW is there as a last resort. Period. End program.
Full stop.

Right.


Walk softly, keep your mouth shut, be respectful, and never lose sight
of the fact someone can simply walk up behind you and crush your skull
with a brick.

Ayup. Above all else, Situational Awareness Rules!

Color Codes for Combat Readiness

Experts in defensive tactics use color codes to describe levels of
combat readiness. These levels represent how aware you are of threats
around you and your resulting ability to deal with those threats.

Popularized by pistol shooting guru Col. Jeff Cooper, the color codes
range from Condition White, where you are totally oblivious to your
surroundings, to Condition Red, where you are fighting. These color
codes are as follows:

Condition White: You are unaware of what's going on around you.
Perhaps you're tired, or worried about work or school. Maybe your
senses are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Either way, you are not
ready--for anything.

Condition Yellow: You are alert but calm and relaxed, scanning your
surroundings for threats. You know who's in front of you, to your
sides, and behind you. You don't think anyone will attack, but you are
mentally ready in case something happens.

Condition Orange: You sense that something is not right, and that you
might be attacked. Perhaps there's a number of suspicious men standing
around your car. Or in the classic Jeff Cooper example, a guy wearing
a raincoat comes into your shop on a sweltering summer day. What's
wrong with this picture?

In Orange, you are aware of the positions of all potentially hostile
people around you, as well as any weapons they may be able to use--in
their hands or within reach. You are developing a plan for dealing
with the potential hostiles: "...first I take out the guy with the
bat, then the big guy near the truck..." You have also identified
multiple escape routes, depending on what response you will use. In
addition to being mentally ready, you are physically ready as well.


Condition Red: The fight is on. Someone is assaulting you and you are
reacting to the attack and defending yourself. You are taking
immediate and decisive action to stop your opponent, flee, or get
help.

The original U.S. Marine Corps color codes are similar, except that in
the USMC version, Red is battle ready, and Black is "fight." However,
some pundits use Black to denote a state of fear overload: where you
are so overwhelmed by the situation that you are paralyzed by fear. I
personally feel that Red is the top level--in the USMC version, if
you're in Red, you're a kick, slash, or trigger press away from being
in a fight anyway.

Notice how each color state builds upon the previous one--if you are
already aware in Yellow, it is a simple matter to become prepared in
Orange. Then, if you have to progress into Red and fight, your tactics
are already ready and you have a much greater chance of survival.

In White, you will become a victim. Your inattentiveness makes you an
easy target, and that state will be noticed by an assailant. In
Yellow, your alertness is equally as evident, and marks you as someone
who won't be that easy to rob or assault.

As someone who grew up in a big city, I learned to live most of my
"outside" life in Yellow. Most of the street crime I witnessed as a
kid were on unsuspecting victims--people in Condition White. Always
being in Yellow was natural if you didn't want to get "jumped."

Naturally, in many places and situations you don't have to worry about
being assaulted. But in the city, in the stands at a football game, or
anywhere your environment and the people around you is beyond your
control, it makes sense to be aware. Being in Yellow can actually
prevent assaults, and as the ancient sage Sun Tzu said, to win without
fighting is best.

Check out these links for more information on these color codes and
combat readiness:
"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner