Mindset and Attitude: "Staying positive is a discipline"
I saw this article, "Staying positive is a discipline," written by Lt. Dan Marcou, in Blackwater Tactical Weekly and I wanted to pass it along. The target audience is law enforcement, but the advice could apply to a number of other professions represented on this forum. Marcou argues that maintaining a positive attitude is not contrary to staying sharp on the street. His message is to resist the seemingly natural worldview "that almost everyone you meet is a substance abuser, a social degenerate, or a criminal." For those operating in a COIN environment or in FID, maintaining the right attitude may not be easy when operating among the local population and with local partners. In this sense, we might substitute those domestic adversaries for "an insurgent, a Taliban supporter, or a terrorist." Ultimately, Marcou advise is to "[g]ive everyone your respect, but no one your trust."
Best,SWAT Officer
with Lt. Dan Marcou
September 22, 2010
Staying positive is a discipline
You do not need to abandon either your street intensity or your commitment to your physical survival in order to have a positive outlook on your chosen career
Most officers start their career as idealistic young rookies ready to catch bad guys and rescue damsels in distress. Inevitably, they’ll meet a cynical, time-scarred veteran who will tell them to “Slow down... you know you can’t make a difference.” He may even add an observation like, “A career in law enforcement is like putting your hand in a bucket of water and pulling it out. When you retire no one will even notice you were here.” This will be the rookie’s first (among countless) invitations to venture down the path of cynicism and negativity.
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Erich Simmers
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