We have recently expanded our services to include corporate facility threat assessments, review of current operations emergency plans and policy development.  A few short years ago Jose Medina was awarded an impressive contract in the development of the first ever Active Shooter Emergency Response Plan for the major tri-state area airports here on the east coast. It was a thorough detailed operational plan that included situational analysis of each airport terminal in which covered what would happen if an active shooter attacked one of the airports in the New York/New Jersey. Part of the planning process included the Port Authority Police Agency response to these types of critical events, airport staffing to include TSA, Border Protection, FBI and all the company owners such as the major airlines, the food and other shop vendors that are current tenants in the airports.  The plan was introduced to all the police administrators as well as feedback and collaborations with the owners of all the major shareholders involved in the day to day operations of the airports. These services are available for any corporation as well as for any law enforcement agency looking to create or enhance their current plans

In addition to that, we now provide private investigation services to include surveillance operations, background investigations, high profile protection consultation services. We have teamed with the international investigation firm ICI Companies who have multiple office locations around the globe.  Contact us at Info@apc360zone.com for any questions or comments about our services.  

What is the future of our world?  Do you ever pause and think to yourself: "if all hell breaks loose in our society, do I have what it takes to make it through any fight, disaster or chaos?  Are you just the free thinker and doer who will just "deal with it when it happens" type person?  I mean we do have many people who simply live life that way.  But when the wheels fall off the bus, that is the time when that free thinker may wish they had that plan ready to go.  Look around you.  Do you see or feel any tension in the air? 

Politics and our government have done one hell of a job on our society and this is not just an "American thing" but a "global thing." It has been going on for decades and this time around, its starting to feel like a large scale event is heading our way.  Oh yea its coming and with a vengeance.  You see our politicians appear to be getting exposed in so many corrupt dealings that our current leadership is slowly and methodically picking apart and exposing so many of the weak links to the point of the dam about to burst.  With these types of activities laid out on the news on a regular basis, it has created a pattern where many have grown so tired of hearing about it, they chose to shut down the news and avoid hearing any of the drama unfolding.  Unfortunately, if you are an adult living a hard working lifestyle regardless what you do for a living, you are part of the system that will possibly become victim if you do not put your awareness glasses on.

You see in the upcoming years we will probably see a rise in more civil disorder due to elections and politics, more active shooter incidents in perhaps larger scales and more people fighting against each other due to so many current issues that affect how we live today.  The government, particularly certain groups, are running in different directions while creating false narratives that become major blow back against our society.  For every word spoken in negativity about race, hate or the choice of party you which to support, the violence patterns are continuing to grow and we have only just begun.  The question always then needs to be asked:  Where will you be when the chaos arrives?  Will you be part of stopping the chaos? Will you run the other way? Will you fall prey to unwarranted attacks due to political and the so called "social injustice?"  The clock is ticking and the inevitable is coming.  They are pitting society against one another while other dangerous sources are planning their wave of evil against the innocent. Police departments are stretched thinned while being cast as racists and thugs. They are doing what they can but will they ever get the support they need from their administration?  Will you get the support you need in a time of crisis?  Only time will tell, but then again, time may be running out.

I know where I will be and I know what my awareness plan is.  Make sure to put yours in place just in case that "moment" comes.  Stay vigilant, Stay safe!

 The Charles Whitman University of Texas Shooting in 1966 was one of the first major documented active shooter incidents in our history. Yet many of us in society have lost major focus of the common denominator: Mental Illness and Firearms. Once again we have been dealt with yet another shooting which occurred at the Parkland Florida High School and once again the cries for guns and assault weapon bans are the feature headlines. Yet, nothing heavy and hard about the “conversation” or outcry of fixing the mental health issue. For over a decade plus, mental health facilities and treatment centers have been closed in many states pushing those suffering out into the streets with limited care or treatment. This situation alone has grown into an epidemic making police and social worker response methods even harder. Yet, a mass shooting happens and suddenly it is the gun that has pulled its own trigger yes?
Let me take you down the short horrible memory lane known as the “Active Shooter: Understanding Mindset History and the Killer Affect” which is part of our First Responder and Corporate Safety Training and Awareness Programs.

On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman went up into the tower of the University of Texas and began a rampage of killing 16 and wounding more than 32 others. He used knives in the slaying of his mother and his wife before heading to the University of Texas Tower and immediately killed 3 people . He then made his way to the tower's 28th floor observation deck, where he fired at random people for some 96 minutes, killing an additional eleven people and wounding 31 others before he was finally shot and killed by two Austin Police Officers. His carnage left 16 dead, and the 17th victim died some 35 years later from injuries sustained in the attack.

Did You Know: Charles Whitman had been a former enlisted serviceman of our armed forces? His life began with a happy prosperous career in the United States Marine Corps excelling in many levels to include sharpshooter skills and academics. He was honorably discharged from the service and began his civilian life where things suddenly took a drastic change for the worse. At one point of his life while he was helping his mother move to Austin Texas to get away from her abusive husband (Charle's father) at which time Charles began to use and abuse amphetamines due to the stress the issues his mother was going through and began to experience severe headaches. He later had described the headaches as being “tremendous.”  

During the abuse of this drug and his world slowly began crashing before him, he took a knife and killed both his mother and his wife who were in separate homes at the times of the killings. Charles had killed both is mother and wife the night before the shooting. Charles had begun to write a journal beginning from his Marine Corps time when he was facing his court martial hearings. After he killed his wife and mother he continued to write in his journal and on one occasion he requested that upon his death he wanted doctors perform an autopsy on his body and more importantly his brain to find out why he was experiencing the thoughts and pains in his head. He purchased and collected through time, a large arsenal of weapons and ammunition and on that fateful day arrived at the university and began his carnage.

The Point: This event occurred in 1966, and a demand from the killer to have his brain analyzed as to why the brain created these unknown thoughts in his head. Yet here we are today, scratching our heads blaming the guns but doing nothing to fix the mind. The Columbine Shooters also suffered from Mental illness. They activated fire alarms and entered the school as their shooting rampage began. The Virginia Tech shooter suffered from mental illness and walked into a university with two hand guns, NOT RIFLES, chaining some doors and mowed down 32 people before killing himself.

Do you see a pattern here?  The majority of these killers suffered from some type of mental interference. In many of these shootings the minds were in an altered state of some sort with the mystery of why and how these shooters chose to do what they did. Other shootings that have occurred in this country such as the San Bernardino and the Pulse night club shootings had shooters who also had some type of mind altering event such as being drawn into a terrorist inspired belief.
At the end of the day, we need to talk about both and not just one thing which is the
gun. A person can use a vehicle, a knife, a bomb to achieve their goals. It just seems that so many experts come out of the ground to preach about their “total correct” theories over really rolling up the sleeves and finding middle ground solutions.

Think about it: 1966 a mass shooting occurred yet Columbine is always the first one to be brought up as you never hear about the Texas Tower shooting. But this has to be brought up now as its relevance is critical now more than ever. What have we been doing since 1966? It continues to happen but at a minimum we must do a better job in the following areas:

Law Enforcement: better training, strategies, planning, communication and strong out reach to other first responder resources, schools and corporate entities as well as operational plans to assist in their response methods.
Additional first responders such as Fire and Ems: better training, strategies, planning, communication and strong out reach to other first responder resources, schools and corporate entities as well as operational plans to assist in their response methods.

Schools: Communication with law enforcement, additional first responders, training and limiting announcements of drills and specific activities as well as operational plans to assist in their response methods. Just don't rely on the governments RIDE, HIDE, FIGHT, concepts. You need to do more

Businesses: Communication with law enforcement, additional first responders, training and limiting announcements of drills and specific activities as well as operational plans to assist in their response methods. Just don't rely on the governments RIDE, HIDE, FIGHT, concepts. You need to do more

Summary: This is just a small segment of the many areas of training that we cover in our active shooter instructor programs for law enforcement, our dispatcher active shooter training as well as our integrated first responder training for active shooter. We also include these concepts and strategy talk in our school and corporate training Active Shooter-Hostile Intruder training and awareness programs. For more information contact us at Info@apc360zone.com

Have you ever considered what the situation would be if suddenly you were at work whether your own business or a company you work for and suddenly an attack occurred such as an active shooter situation?  How fast do you think the police would respond to an event and would you think they would have the right plan in place to help you and your fellow workers?  If you think so guess again.  The majority of the time police are trained to respond and react to the event as it happens. Very rarely are they able to intercept the suspect/s although there have been some good moments when it worked in the first responders favor.  But far and few between will that ever happen on a regular basis.  So my question will now be: have you put your own place together?  Have you thought about the possible liability of your company in the event a bad situation happened where there was a potential for loss of lives?  Immediate action plan?  RUN, HIDE, FIGHT? Great concept but when was the last time that was even practiced let alone whispered to anyone to include yourself at your place of work?  Its doesn't take much in the process of building a plan but if your, your business or place of work has not considered putting a plan together to include educating you and your staff, when will you start thinking about it?

"No Matter What....FINISH the FIGHT!"

You always want that nice sight picture, good stance and breathing control, control of motion and all the good base mechanics. We get that. The problem is during the advanced phases of firearms development, we tend to see more of the range mentality particularly in the law enforcement field. Getting through the basic scoring qualification course to meet the "basic standards" appears to be the norm. However, for many of the advanced training programs that officers attend with us, we emphasize the importance of the "combat mindset" and making your body pliable; flexible in movement, magazine changes, taking cover etc. Even for the home defense homeowner there are similar aspects to look at when training for the moment that many hope will never come. For example, when practicing training in a gunfight situation where there are areas of cover for that brief moment, it is okay to take a lower center of gravity when conducting a reload, making the changes safely and getting back into that fight as quickly and as smoothly as possible. There is no reason to stand erect and await the incoming rounds while possibly taking your eyes of your threat for a brief moment. You should and could actually squat low, or take a knee (depending on your current physical status such as knee injuries, recent surgeries, etc) and bend your body in assorted positions as to not take that incoming fire. Ever watch videos with police or even civilians in certain places where shots are fired? If you slow motion the videos you will see many times the officers and/or civilians take a sudden low center of gravity stance or move as they know the old saying: "the bullets have the right of way." Therefore, we owe it to ourselves to advance our training mindset in practicing body flexibility, body defense movement, strikes and counter strikes. When exercising and working the core elements of your body, make sure to add some assorted quick squats, turns, strikes and firearm weapon punch outs such as using kettlebells to achieve your goals. Finishing the fight in a deadly encounter with firearms should be a major goal and step in your training so stay educated, watch good videos of firearms situations and practice when you can even in your fitness training regiment. Stay tactical, STAY READY!

The world around us appears to be burning.  Our world is led by the world of technology. Looking around and I am totally amazed at the view I see: heads facing down at a device such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop.  No one spends time looking up, straight ahead direct to contact.  Why is that?  Perhaps the many experts that speak on the media talk shows such as shows hosted by Megyn Kelly, Brook Baldwin, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Don Lemon and many other shows that talk about how bad or good things are.  There you will find an "expert" in a suit/tie or professional dress giving their awesome spin on how the perfect future president should be designed, how they would do a better job in running our country, how if they were a police officer they would handle things a certain way, better than even how the cops will do it.  Then that information soaks into the brains of the masses and then it launches into the social media world. Ingredients such as racial divide combined with terrorism attacks, with a touch of political fire fuel, we then end up with what we call "Calamity Change." In this world the stress and chaos creates the spark that creates the flames of disaster pitting the world against each other while spiraling into yet another distraction event spinning our heads into fear, dispair and sadness.  You see black vs whites, protests against our country's ways, police use of force issues combined with upcoming elections in our country and the closing in of world war III, where does that leave us?  Never fear, there is always a bright side to all this gloom.  There are great people in the world who are trying to make a difference.  There are people who want to help make things better, to protect, serve, love and defend.  I have spent over 48 years in this world and during my life time, learned a lot, still learning every day and I have been able to travel the world where I have trained some of the best officers, warfighters and corporate entities.  These people were always inspired, focused and dedicated to their training, their jobs and their family lives.  I have been able to get an assorted perspective from many of these great people and I have to say, they understand the importance of looking UP and away from their devices.  They "get it"

Your plan: Do you have a plan when things go south?  Do you work in a place that many depend on you and what actions you will take to lead your people in the right direction?  What about your home life?  Is there an immediate action plan in the event disaster strikes?  Many people I know can act under stressful situations in amazing fashion while others, who have professed to be the "hero of the day" fold under pressure when shit hits the fan.  The cycle of human behavior is a fascinating thing simply because status quo keeps a person happy in their own skin.  It is when the stress kicks up into high gear even for a moment, that people do funny and weird things.  It is easy to talk "call of duty" talk but if you have never faced a real time critical situation, how will you ever know the response you will give?  Hopefully you know yourself well enough to make a believer out of yourself first and those who care about you second.

The news media has presented so much information to society that it then flows into the "social media world" where experts come out of the wood work giving their so called professional spins on how the president should do things, how cops should do things, how multiple races should do things; hell, how even YOU should do things.  Everyone is an expert  in chaos until put into a chaotic moment.  "Calamity Change": Terrorist attacks our soil, cop shoots a black man, a pro sport figure takes a knee during the National Anthem, riots break out in one city while peaceful protests takes place in another city and suddenly everyone loses their minds. 

For you, I simply want to make sure you understand the message here:  Look up, see the person in front of you.  See the good in others while at the same time learn to have that plan in the event that sunshine turns into a thunderstorm really fast.  That device may be an asset to you but will it let you see the the real world that sits in front of you?  Know your self defense.  Know that others may depend on you for answers, help or protection.  Get Ready, Stay Ready.  Lets Go!

What is your Investment Worth? The professional training industry is becoming more and more filled with "subject matter" experts along with the "inventors of life saving skills" all with attending someone else's program. Does that make you a viable trainer / instructor? No, not at all and dispute if you wish but look at your body of work. What have you done, who have you taught and what have you created to inspire others to appreciate the value of the training they received. In recent links, articles of re-direct blogs I have read, it is scary to hear to the whining and complaining of actual "great" training company spokespersons go on tirades of how "cyberbullying" by self defense instructors is a constant thing and one does not understand why. Bullying and "cyberbullying" for me does not bode well in the world of "self defense", fitness, tactical training, you get the drift. I guess it has been a while for me as I don't get too many disputing emails, messages or anger mails knocking my training concepts, philosophies, and tactics. Why? Well perhaps in what I teach, what I educate, I actually LIVE the experience, study in, mold it, then re-create the system to help prepare others to be better at what they do. If there is a dispute or a contradictory remark, its talked about and then we and the others disputing parties move on with no comments or perhaps a better working relationship.  Everyone deserves a fighting chance and if there is something to help another save a person's life then I support that training 100% as long as it does not compromise true education integrity.  Hell, the MMA world seems to be the most intense category of the so called "bullying" with constant MMA cat fighting going on between one "coach" to another "coach" simply for business. Or perhaps it is just certain programs that create the anger or resentment in the industry.  I highly respect and train with some amazing MMA trainers who teach me a ton but I would never step into their world trying to show them something they already taught me.  We are always learning...remember that.  Then there are the fitness czars, the Tacfits, the Crossfits, the MMA Fits, and so on. Video fitness, "the best ever" or if you don't perform a certain type of fitness then you are not "elite." People, there are so many issues going on right now in the world that we need to look at our lives as the most valuable thing on the planet. With family, it is the equivalent mindset. I see in our industry for example: Law Enforcement trainers who are given a title and suddenly they are an expert at teaching a tactical unit "land of make believe" scenarios and it is always the same mundane training. I see in our industry fitness guru's who profess that their system "works" all the time so use it. Nothing works all the time which is why you should seek out in the many menu's of tactical training and tactical fitness training, the ones that provide "options, not absolutes." Many people come out of the woodwork selling their backgrounds whether former cop, former military, former fitness champion etc. Yet, does a military operator know the law enforcement rules of engagement during use of force critical situations? Most of the time not; unless they are an active officer who is in a reserve unit. Otherwise, law enforcement may not be able to teach certain military tactics, as a fitness guru could not tell certain tactiticians how to move and shoot if they have never experienced it. Caveat the PRO-Fessional Trainer: We are in a business of good services to the public. Recent articles showing training attacks on trainers such as Tony Blauer teaching CrossFit Defense. I attended a few of his courses back in the day. Great instructor, knows his stuff. Yet the MMA world in certain small groups decided to jump on him and his course for whatever reason. Should it affect him or anyone aligned with him? No, but unforuntately that is what happens and the question remains: Why entertain it? This is just one example of many talented trainers who slow their time in trying to gain support and acceptance instead of even better and stronger products. If you are doing great, why bring it to the attention of others? I bring up this case simply for the fact that it shows some bridge of tactics thinking and fitness, bridging the small gap of tactical training. I say move on with your great stuff and let the masses support the great effort and inspiration we as trainers provide. There are many who are trying to grab your business. It is a free market to advertise, produce, create, in hope to generate more clients. The fact of the matter is if you let them get to you and / or your training system, what have you really taught your clients? I believe that the experiences you have gone through, the awesome product you have created as a professional trainer regardless of the fiels, will serve YOUR community of students, trainers, colleagues, family very well if you stay the course. You as the student looking for the higher education of fitness or tactics or both, do your homework. You owe it to yourself to get a "variety of great training" not just one way of training.  

 There is something to be said about having an excuse for everything that happens in our life.  Good, bad or indifferent we are breed that responds in a multitude of ways.  Every day there is a new situation that arises that will make us decide which path we will take in life that will make it good or bad, but either way we must make that decision.  

Fitness:  Your choice to be healthy, not diet healthy but HEALTHY..better choices in what we eat, how we train and how we unwind.  Movement makes things happen too

Mindset: "An established set of attitudes held by someone"  Something we all have and use on a regular basis however many use it for many negative things while others use it for many positive things and sometimes it can be a destructive force in our society.

Having a "Warrior Mindset" which is having the attitude of a soldier or a fighter is a phrase used by so many people in this world yet how many really have it at all?  Is it a catch phrase?  A cool slang?  This phrase is slowly being taught by many people in our society who have never experienced any type of battle that meets that criteria yet many buy into their concept like a new cell phone from Apple or Samsung that can make a frappucino.  

Teaching a person to be more confident behind a gun, for example, is a powerful thing in our industry. The same goes for being able to make a person more confident behind their mind and body is yet another amazing thing.  You see situations such as a shooting in a school or workplace has now become "do something and now" compared to back in 1999 when it was "wait for the police to arrive and we should be okay".  Having a good Trainer/Coach is important in this day in age and that person/s can be someone you love, a close friend, a colleague trained in these areas or even yourself.  Being that person who talks a big game and is nothing more than a BIG LAME is a dime a dozen thing.  In is human nature for many people to talk a good talk but not back it with walk while it is also human behavior to back what you say and say what you back.

Tomorrow may not come for some of us.  It is not promised. But if it is and you open your eyes the next day what will be your next positive influence in life?