Be Prepared: Emergency Readiness

It never hurts to be prepared. Despite many of us here being out of the military, many still train as we did while in. Sometimes even more intensely. Hitting the gym, taking boxing lessons, MMA or other classes, honing our skills with knife and pistol. Some folks ask why bother? Why? Because we'd like to be prepared. Nothing in this life is certain, including our safety. Take, for instance, the story of Deputy Sheriff Kristen Richmond.While on a call, Kristen was involved in an altercation with an athletic male who was by all accounts far stronger than her. He also happened to be higher than Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix combined. As she fought him nothing seemed to do the trick despite her hitting him with the baton, releasing her K9 (who performed her job admirably and courageously), exchanging punches knees, and what have you.For five long minutes, she fought for her life. Luckily her partners and backup arrived and put an end to the scuffle. Kristen didn't come out unscathed, but she did come out alive. She credits her after-hours training with keeping her alive. She knew the importance of being prepared.

Not many of you will ever find yourselves in the same position that Kristen did. Nor will you find yourself engaged in brutal house to house fighting, or pitched gun battles like we did in Iraq and Afghanistan (some of you have, we know). But you might be walking down a dark street one day and someone comes to you with a bone to pick for God knows why.Are you prepared?Have you taken the time to outlast and outfight and outsurvive someone who would do you harm? We wrote an article a while back praising the benefits of situational awareness. We also wrote an article talking about how self-defense classes were basically complete bullshit. They still are. If you use those tactics in a fight and win the day, head to Vegas because you're lucky as hell.As we were inspired by Kristen Richmond's story we deliver this daily dose of truth for you.

If you're not preparing, someone else out there is, and it's not going to end well for you should that day ever come.Be prepared. Also remember, if you get into a knife fight...you're going to get cut, that's just how the world works. Avoid it at all costs.Also, Kristen, if you see this. Way to kick ass and set the example.