On March 1, HSTV brings you an exclusive case study of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. This program follows every step of one of the most meticulously planned and executed terrorist attacks since 9/11.

Starts March 1 at 9:00 am ET.

“Planning is great but plans are useless.” These words uttered by General George Patton should speak loudly and clearly to those of us whose job it is to protect and serve. Planning does help us in setting the finer details of a particular mission.

Over on Massachusetts Police Legal News Attorney/COP Ron Sellon offers some valuable insight into the lessons learned from the after action review released last month on the Oakland PD March 21st incident that left 4 police officers dead in a  2 hour time frame.  In the end failure to critique  our responses in a candid and honest way leads to more deaths and doing things the same way we always have.

“Because of the zero-defects mentality officers will often use caution when admitting mistakes or allowing others to criticize them; the AAR can turn into a ‘who shot whom’ if not properly facilitated.” ~Don Vandergriff

Don’s at it again in his candid and frank no holds bared way, on the topic of leadership and rhetoric verses reality. Leads to the question of what Don calls cheerleading and the cheerleader effect. Not exactly what your thinking so read on.

Columbine. Mumbai. Fort Hood. Whether you've responded to one or heard about them on the evening news, active shooter incidents are terrifying and difficult to foresee. We can, however, train to handle these incidents in a way that limits injury and loss of life. 

“The culture will become one that rewards leaders and Soldiers who act, and penalizes those who do not. Today’s culture needs to evolve so that the greater burden rests on all superior officers, who have to nurture—teach, trust, support, and correct—the student who now enters the force with the ability to adapt.” ~Don Vandergriff 

My good friend Don Vandergriff has an outstanding article out on bottom-up training and leadership. The approach is outcome based and works at developing both cognitive decision making abilities and physical skills sets necessary to accomplish today's complex problems.

Marines are developing their awareness and critical decision making skills with a digital trainer called the “Combat Hunter.” The devise was developed to help give Marines more time to exercise their Boyd Cycles and develop their decision making under pressure .