Greg Shaffer - Stay Safe: Security Secrets for Todays Dangerous World

G reg Shaffer served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for twenty years, including six years on their elite Hostage Rescue Team or HRT.

Mr. Shaffer supervised, developed, and implemented the security plan for the 2011 NFL Super Bowl hosted in Dallas, Texas, while assigned as a supervisor on the FBIs North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. His FBI career also included assignments in the San Francisco Field Office, where he was a member of their SWAT team and assigned to a multi-agency drug task force. He also served at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in McLean, Virginia, and was selected by the Director of the FBI to be the first FBI Legal Attach assigned to the US Embassy in Budapest, Hungary.

Mr. Shaffer started his professional career as a line-officer in the United States Coast Guard where he served for eleven years and commanded the Coast Guard Cutter Point Steele. He also served as the Commandants Liaison Officer to the US House of Representatives, and a Deck Watch Officer aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter CHASE (WHEC 718).

He holds a bachelor of science degree in management from the United States Coast Guard Academy, as well as a masters certificate from the Australian Institute of Police Management, and he is a graduate of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Mr. Shaffer currently is the founding partner in SHAFFER SECURITY GROUP (www.shaffersecuritygroup.com), a global security and tactical training specialty firm based in Dallas, Texas.

Author: Greg Shaffer; Photo Credit: Jake Felts Photography

S pecial thanks goes out to all the men and women who selfishly put on a uniform, military and law enforcement, and put their lives on the line each day as they keep watch over us and protects us from the evils of this world. And to the moms and dads who raised their children to be selfless, honorable, and swear an oath to protect and serve.

Thank you to all the FBI special agents in the field conducting investigations, interviews, surveillances, managing informants, and arresting those who wish to do us harm. You are living the Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity code of the greatest law enforcement agency in the worldthe FBI.

Thanks to the men of the FBIs Hostage Rescue Teamno greater group of warriors exists on the face of the planet. Your selfless dedication, courage under fire, quiet professionalism, and bravery exhibited in the Global War on Terror are qualities few will ever know. I am humbled and honored to have been your teammate. Servare Vitas!

Thank you to Tony Jeary (the Results Guy) and his staff for helping me make this project a reality, along with Ben, John, and Ayesha.

To Larry Carpenter and his staff at Carpenters Son Publishing for their outstanding work in making this into something you can hold.

To Betsy Wilder, the finest editor I never had to pay, and the best mother-in-law a man could wish for. Thank you for all your advice, counsel, and edits to make this book so very much better.

To the men and women who train daily to maintain their skill set and to keep their edge sharp to help defend those in need when the Wolves come to visit the Sheep. Knowing you and the thousands of others like you are among us, to defend the helpless, allows me to sleep soundly in my bed. Warriors like Chris Dutch Moyer, Brian Harpole, Chris Grollnek, Steve Moses, Allan McBee, Justin Davis, Brad Tuttle, Chris Mills, Dan Flood, Charlie Sanchez, Jeff Muller, Brig Barker, Danny Coulson, Kevin Kolbye, Dave Shellenberger, Derek Bailey, Matt Morgan, Whit Darnell, Scott Ward, Jim Smith, Mario Verna, Tim Denny, Tony Smith, and too many others to namebut you know who you are. These men and those like them are always at the ready to bring violence upon those who wish to do us harm.

To the amazing (and quite large) Shaffer Familythe love and special bond we all share is a rare and unique gift. I thank God each day for the love from this amazing family and the support you have shown throughout my entire life. I love each and every one of you!

Finally to my wife, Dottythe most beautiful and amazing woman I know. She suffered through my years on HRT with midnight callouts taking me to places where she knew Id be in harms way. Her courage, commitment, and loyalty are unmatched. This book would not be possible without her encouragement, support, and unwavering love. My wife and the millions of other spouses who have cried themselves to sleep never knowing if and when their loved ones would returnthey are the true Warriors and the bravest of all.

God bless our peacekeepers! Stay Safe.

SSG: Survival is not a skill set; its a mindset. To survive a violent encounter or a high-risk, high-threat situation your mental attitude is more important than the weapon you have on hand.

SSG: Get Off the XAction is survival; inaction is death. The best thing you can do if youre caught in a violent encounter is, Move! Walk away! Run! Get off the X! If you find yourself in the middle of an active shooter event or a violent encounter, running is your best chance to survive.

SSG: Trust your gut instinct. You are not paranoid. Do not ignore that inner voice that is warning you, something is not right!

SSG: If a predator has a gun and youre not under his control, always RUN! The chance of him hitting a running target (you) is 4 in 100 shots (4 percent); even then, it probably wont be a fatal wound. Run, preferably in a zigzag pattern, away from the threat. You have a 96 percent chance of not being shot!

SSG: Violence is almost never the answer, but when it is, its the only answer! (Tim Larkin).

SSG: Random violence happens! We do not have to embrace it, condone it, like it, or even understand it; but we must accept that it is a part of our lives. People hurt other people, sometimes fatally. Evil exists.

SSG: Those who survive violent encounters do so because they have the mindset and the intent to do real harm to another human-being when real harm is whats required.

SSG: Having good Situational Awareness is the best thing to avoid any crisis or violent encounter.

SSG: The way you carry yourself can determine if you will be singled out or ruled out as a target for violent criminals! Walk with a purposehead high, shoulders back, aware of your surroundings.

SSG: Have a Code Word that tells your children danger is near and for them to evacuate the area and call 911. Have another Code Word that indicates you are under duress. If you use this duress word in a phone conversation, the receiver will know you need immediate help.

SSG: The three must-have items on you at all times: a flashlight, multi-tool, and a tactical pen.

SSG: Have a Go-Bag in your home in case of emergency. Pack it with water, food (freeze-dried camp meals or military-style MREs), fixed-blade knife, flashlight, fire starter, Chem-Lights, lighter, 550 cord, hand axe, medical kit (to include a good tourniquet and blood clotter), pen/paper, change of clothes, and cash.

SSG: It is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! This philosophy can be the difference between staying safe or being a victim.

SSG: If a robber asks for your wallet or pursedo NOT just hand it to them. Throw it towards them, but far enough away that he has to move. Chances are he is more interested in your money, than in you. When he goes to pick it upRUN. Its very difficult to hit a moving target with a handgun.

SSG: Always keep a tactical flashlight with you and use it at night. Having a light allows you to see better in the darkness, but it can also be a deterrent to would-be criminals. Because law enforcement officers are usually the only ones shining flashlights down alleys and under cars, if youre shining your light as you walk to your destination or back to your car, the bad guys will probably think youre a cop. If worst comes to worst and you do get jumped, you can use the tactical flashlight as a defensive tool by shining the powerful beam of light into his eyes, momentarily blinding him, or even by hitting him with the beveled edge.