Alertness

Always be alert. "A commander may be forgiven for being wrong, but never for being surprised." Do not be surprised; always know what is behind you and pay particular attention to anything out of place, such as an unfamiliar car that stays too long or people hanging around with no purpose. Swing wide around corners, use window glass for rear views, and, when you stop walking, have something solid behind you. Eric Hartmann, a great fighter pilot of 1405 missions and 351 confirmed kills, felt he survived because of an "extremely sensitive back to his neck." Eighty percent of his victims never knew he was there.

Decisiveness

"To ponder is to perish." You must be able to take quick, decisive action to meet a violent attack at any time. "He who hesitates is lost." When under attack:

• Evaluate the situation
• Decide on a course of action
• Carry out the action with all the force you can bring to bear without delay
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