Tag: military

Security

There are a number of levels of security classification. The higher the level of classification given to information, the higher the level of clearance required to see it and the higher the risk of damage if the information is disclosed.

When an individual is granted a security clearance, all of the information classified at that level is not shared with that person. It is compartmentalized and handled on a “need-to-know” basis – if they don’t need to know it, they won’t see it! In fact, clearances are usually downgraded when the individual is no longer working with the more highly classified information.

The procedures vary and I won’t get into that, but some things are common – an initial briefing, periodic briefings that reiterate the salient points of the initial briefing, and then an exit briefing. All of these briefings discuss the proper procedures for the handling of classified material and the potential consequences to you (if you’re the one being granted a clearance), your compadres, your family, and the country if the information is compromised. The consequences can be wide-ranging – everything from the destruction of the country, your death, or the deaths of other individuals (singly or on a large scale). The potential consequences for mishandling that information are also covered – criminal prosecution, jail, or execution in extreme circumstances. These are not briefings easily forgotten – partially because they are structured to reinforce their critical nature!

When your life and the lives of those around you are in the balance, you take security and classified material very seriously. Unless the proper protocols are followed, having unsecured classified information in your possession, risks compromising that material. Intent has no bearing! It is black or white – either it is secured or it isn’t. This is particularly true of electronic platforms because they are often easily hacked. It is also imperative to know if and/or when that information is compromised. When trying to determine if that data is erased, or wiped clean, it certainly deserves something other than a flippant, “Like with a rag…?”

The trigger for this post was the 3rd Presidential Debate – not the debate itself, but a statement made in the debate. Hillary Clinton stated as fact, that the response time for nuclear weapons is four minutes. I spent over 28 years in the US Army and I worked with nuclear weapons during part of that time and I don’t know if that is an accurate statement or not. I was not dealing with response times. I did not have a “need-to-know” and quite honestly, I didn’t want to know! My questions now become, is that information accurate, and did the whole world need to know that?

Military commanders do their best to get inside the decision cycle of their adversaries. There is a major advantage to knowing the timeline of their cycle because a commander can insert himself and the forces at his disposal to disrupt their decision-making ability. According to Mrs. Clinton, there is a four-minute window in which to compromise our national defenses. Again, if accurate, that is information I would only want those with a true need to know to possess.

As the election approaches, we have four choices. I will rule out the two third parties simply because there is no chance that either will win, and even if they do, they will be fighting both the Republicans and the Democrats in Congress. With a degree in Political Science, I can tell you – that is a recipe for gridlock like we’ve not seen. So that leaves two viable candidates.

I will state up front, Donald Trump is not my first choice for President. I do not like some of the things he has said which indicate some character flaws. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, also has some serious character flaws that I won’t get into at the moment.

So, who to vote for…?

First, to not vote is an abdication of personal responsibility for the future of this country and even the world. Second, to vote for someone who has no chance to win is, in effect, the same. If it is in protest, it will not get the attention of the major parties. (It is like spitting into the wind – the only one who notices and suffers the consequences is the one doing the spitting.) The net result of either of those options is the same – the future is determined by the vote of someone else.

A recent television ad highlights a former missile launch officer talking about when the order comes down to launch, the missile is launched. He goes on to say that he wouldn’t want Trump to make that decision. Obviously, Hillary Clinton approved that ad.

So again, who to vote for…?

What isn’t stated in the ad is that this officer alone cannot launch a missile. It requires additional personnel – to include a second launch officer acting in concert with the first. Further, he knows that, likewise, an order to launch is not made in a vacuum at the sole whim of the President. It is a deliberate act with many “moving parts” and fail-safes. The possible exception is the response to an imminent attack – and even then, within the “four-minute window” and beyond, the fail-safes are still in play.

While I have deep suspicions about the women coming forward to accuse Trump of unwanted advances, even if true, they do not directly compromise the security of this nation, nor endanger the lives of those who serve to protect us.

I will state that I cannot – I will not – vote for someone who has casually put our country, our servicemen, and others at great risk – intentionally or not! By her actions and cavalier approach to security, Hillary Clinton has already shown that she does not respect the lives and sacrifices of those of us who have answered the call to potentially put our lives on the line to serve our great nation! What could her future actions entail?

Trump may be temperamental and blusterous, but he has not compromised the safety of this nation through his actions, his email nor his speech. I see no other option for our security and the future of our country – I will vote for Mr. Trump and strongly urge you to do the same!

Relaxation Techniques

This entry is another departure from my story-telling posts. As such, it is a little longer and probably a little less entertaining, but hopefully…useful.

We live in a fast-paced, high-pressure society and we need to be effective in that environment. I’ve chosen to look at that from a military perspective because of the 24/7 nature of military operations and the potential for sleep-deprivation.

In addition to a proper knowledge base from which to draw, two things combat leaders must possess are the strength to keep up with the physical demands placed on them and the mental acuity to meet the intellectual challenges of developing plans, marshalling resources, directing subordinates, and disrupting the enemy’s decision cycle. While neither is easy, the first is somewhat straightforward – exercise and physical training will help prepare a leader for the potential rigors to be faced. The problem with the second is its direct correlation to the physicality of the battlefield. That battlefield may be literally in a field employing weapons, in a ship’s compartment, a room on the opposite side of the world controlling drones, or any number of other variations to include spaces like the surgical area of a field hospital. Wherever it is, maintaining mental sharpness is critical.

Today’s world is a pressure cooker not unlike a battlefield – albeit not usually as intense nor with as great a risk of terrible consequences in the event of failure! People still need ways to de-stress – whether in combat or not.

A number of years ago, as young combat arms officers, physical fitness was stressed, but we were also shown several techniques to relax and quickly reset our mental agility. There are other – maybe even better – techniques, but here are three that I’ve personally found to be effective:

1.     Very simple and part of all the other techniques…just breathe!

This works in numerous situations. For me, even though I’ve done it many times, addressing a large audience is a stressor, so I do this…

a.  Take a deep breath and let it out s-l-o-w-l-y.

b.  Repeat.

c.  Then…start the presentation.

d.  As an aside, I’ve since learned that this is also immediately effective in either, or both, reducing my heart rate and lowering my blood pressure.

A variation I’ve also used is to start with a joke. Just be sure it is a good one with a well-rehearsed delivery or it will increase the stress!

2.     This is a technique that can be done sitting in a vehicle or at a desk and takes as long as the time made available, but it is amazing what five minutes will do…

a.  I sit back comfortably, put my hands in my lap, relax (drop) my shoulders, and close my eyes.

b.  Then I’ll take just a moment and concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply.

c.  Starting at my feet, I’ll concentrate on relaxing each muscle group, one at a time. Thinking about my feet and ankles, without moving, I feel/sense the muscles and will them to relax. Then I move to my calves. Again, thinking about those muscles until I can feel them and will them to relax. I’ll then move to my thighs and repeat the process…working my way up to the top of my head for each muscle group.

d.  When I’ve done that – if still awake – I’ll clear any remaining thoughts and just sit in that relaxed state for the rest of the time allocated. Not a bad idea to set an alarm clock or timer…

If I have trouble concentrating on a particular muscle group, I’ll tense those muscles (and only those) and then relax them. It helps me identify the muscles in question. My facial and neck muscles are the easiest for me to identify, but the hardest to relax, so I try to start in a position with my head leaned back against something.

3.     If there is an opportunity to lie down, this method is particularly effective for quick, restful sleep:

a.  I’ll lay on my back, legs outstretched, hands by my sides. My head is usually slightly elevated, but not always. (I have also done this while lying on my side to limit snoring, but for me, it’s not as effective – my wife disagrees…)

b.  Without moving, I’ll start at the top of my head and work down to my feet using the muscle-group relaxation process described in #2 above.

c.  When all muscle-groups are mostly relaxed, I’ll clear my mind by imagining a heavy weight pushing me deeply into the surface of the bed, or whatever I’m lying on, but not restricting my breathing – I am still able to take slow, deep breaths…

d.  I am generally asleep, or very nearly so, within a minute, but certainly less than two.

The more time available, the better, but even the simplest of these for just a few seconds or minutes, will clear my mind and get my head back in the game!

These techniques will work for nearly everybody, but practice may be necessary. If reading this post puts you to sleep, then you’ve found another, obviously effective, relaxation technique…