MAJ Don Vandergriff and I presented our workshop to law enforcement and security officers at the Taunton Holiday Inn on Tuesday March 24th. The workshop was a great success in that the presentation through a series of “games” Tactical Decision Games or Decision Making Exercises brought out collaborative efforts within and between the three groups who participated. The lessons learned from the simple, yet not so simple getting a tennis ball (s) around a group circle competing for a better time to what equipment would you need if your group was marooned on a desert island, to the more complex of handling multiple threats from multiple locations were profound and of real world value.

Those that participated began the class a bit indecisive not because they were not competent, all were indeed very competent and true professionals with a vast array of experience, but because they were not comfortable in making decisions in front of fellow officers (peers) and that they have learned through a culture and climate that breeds process over proficiency.  Which in dynamic circumstances stifles insight, imagination, innovation and initiative. Deciding Under Pressure…and Fast goal is to breakdown those barriers and develop outstanding decision makers under pressure.

The lessons learned are we are very capable at making decisions if we are conditioned to do so. We can trust our judgment and assumptions about situations based on our experience and continued learning in our professions and across professional boundaries if we are open-minded to see the bigger picture  and possess the strength of character to communicate and work through problems both individually and as a team or group, as an organization.

Seven decision Making exercises were conducted on Tuesday with veteran law enforcement officers and a school principle. We all learned that through conditioning the mind to think and decide, not what to think but more appropriately and effectively how to think we can make our environments safer and deal with the changing face of conflict and crises and build true preparedness in ourselves and within our organizations.

Every time I am involved in or present one of these workshops it amazes me at how effective this type of experiential learning is at building better decision makers and adaptable individuals and organizations which ultimately leads to keeping the public we protect and ourselves safer from and dealing with conventional and unconventional threats and problems we face. As the late COL John Boyd said; “People, Ideas and Hardware…in that order.” Technology and improved hardware are all great tools to enhance our abilities. But the “human factor” is still to this day where the decisions get made. We must do everything we can to develop and condition this ability.

Don and I would like to thank all those students who dedicated there time, some on there own time, some who traveled hours to attend and participate in the workshop. Also the participation and eagerness to learn was outstanding.

Stay safe and remember: “Decisions without actions are pointless. Actions without decisions are reckless.” ~COL John Boyd

Comments about the Workshop:

Thank you very much for having us!! My son & I both thought the workshop was outstanding. It was nice to see, in a world so technology focused, that somebody out there realizes that the mind is a primary weapon. The training was simple, imaginative and applicable. It is an essential preparation of the "battle-mind." ~ LT Robert Mazur New Jersey State Police Special Operations Section/Deployment Services Bureau

Lieutenant Leland: Sergeant Michael Gould thoroughly enjoyed the training; please keep us posted on any other training when I becomes available. ~DEP Chief Daniel Coyle North Attleboro PD