The Fear of the Unknown

There is always fear of the unknown. We are made with that instinctual reaction to something that we don't understand. I think that if our default setting were something different, there would not be many humans left on this planet! (Oh look, a little bug with 8 legs and an hourglass on it's backside... I think I'll tickle it!) The problem with this fear, this fight or flight ability, is its tendency to paralyze our decision-making process and hamper life from moving forward. Have you ever been so scared (stressed) you couldn't move, talk, or think?

In my current profession, they identify these stress-induced conditions by color:
Condition White: Everything is A-OK. You are on a beach with a book, lost to time and your surroundings.
Condition Yellow: There is cause for concern. Your senses are heightened to your surroundings, on the lookout for an unknown threat.
Condition Red: The threat has been identified and assessed. It is time to address the threat, or run (fight or flight)
Condition Black: Full lock down. Physiological response to overwhelming and unexpected stress. Your body shuts you out and you can do nothing your mind wants to. You are paralyzed by panic.

In my job, we function somewhere between Yellow and Red while at work. We try never to allow ourselves to fall to White, even in our private lives. Black should never occur to someone who is vigilant, and vigilance is the essence of Condition Yellow. I've heard it said that once you do what I have done, you never lose that awareness. I hope that it is true.

Based on this understanding of how the mind and body react to a stressful environment, it is my goal to bring this understanding to the World of International Missions. I'm sure you can understand the benefits:
1. Many of these people live and work in an area hostile to their life and their message.
2. Many operate on a questionable income, relying on the generosity of others.
3. Some have faced violent crime, abductions, extortion and intimidation.
4. Disease and injury are more dangerous without adequate health care.
5. Cultural differences create communication barriers and hinder progress.
Learning to live with, and work through, a high-stress environment is a key component of remote missions work. Even so, there comes a point for every person or organization where safety concerns have hindered progress of the work, even to the point that the essential mission of the organization or team is no longer a viable option. Evacuation or resolution of conflict is now necessary.

So what if we could make it easier and more safe to operate in these types of environments? What if we could maintain the security of the operations without hindering the essential goals of the mission, and avoid reaching the point of halting operations? Furthermore, what if a crisis does arise? Do we have the resources and knowledge to handle it?

Security teams, response teams, negotiation teams, guard services, training for mission teams are all part of the picture. They can all be put to use internationally in missions, just as private sector companies are using them. The methods will be different because the goals are different, but the common need remains.

Security for international missions personnel and resources provides a unique set of challenges for the private security industry. It is to this field that I go, to serve one organization, but to develop skills to help them all. I hope to reduce the fear, and build the awareness and security.