May.07.2007
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Texas Sniper 1966

From Robert Schwenk in response to e-mail on “school survival:
Interesting thoughts… as a veteran of the Texas Sniper, I can relate to the concept of “…instant chaos can happen instantaneously and end almost as abruptly…”.  That day in Austin 1966 was just before I joined the Navy and I was on the U of Texas campus and about 200 yards from the base of the tower.  I actually parked my car on a street running directly to the base of the tower.  Got out and causally walked up the street about fifty yards to the student health center.  I was completely oblivious to the shooting sounds and was more preoccupied with the excuse I would give my girlfriend for being about an hour late in picking her up after her shift was over.  When I got to the corner of the building I was surprised to see a couple of students yelling at me to run!!!  Only then did I hear several “tuft” sounds in the grass nearby and realize someone     was shooting at me just as the students were warning me.  For some reason that marine expert rifleman missed me.  In less than a second, my calm world was now a life and death survival episode.  Strangely, I did not feel the panic those around me were exhibiting.  Rather, I volunteered to go up on the health center roof with an off duty state trooper with his deer rifle.  I used his binoculars to try and call his shots as the sniper popped up for another shot.  I saw the sniper multiple times but he was very quick to take cover after firing a shot.  Then quite suddenly it was over and quiet on the campus.
 
Later, I reflected that I was really pretty calm under the circumstances. Later as a Naval Aviator, I remember always practicing my emergency procedures over and over again in my mind while in the air.  That habit came helped me in a couple of “situations”.  As a nation, our leadership at one time had school children “duck and cover” in practice for an all out nuclear attack.  I don’t think many of our “baby boomers” became unstable because to the emergency exercises.  And we certainly did not have “trauma teams” come in to the classroom to counsel us on our feelings.  I can imagine the outcry of today’s parental protests if we were to ever try that again.  The frontier toughness was part of our history, and I fear is just that: part of our history…. not our current culture.  I guess as I write this I must still feel the trauma of that day, for the scene is very clear and vivid to me some many years latter.
 
You are right on.  The trauma of the Texas Sniper was felt by the students for a long, long time.   And the bad guys know that….
Bob S.

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Apr.26.2007
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Education for Adaptability Post Virginia Tech

Updated 26 April, Original 21 March, 2007

 In the wake of the Virginia Tech incident, must spend time thinking about the broader environment of their work place.

Some time ago, I was struck by author Alvin Toffler’s quote that the illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read nor write, but rather those who will not learn, unlearn, relearn.  My own work since 1999 and follow-on reading and research have led me to the question I proposed in announcing the website: “What if nothing leaders have ever been taught or experienced is sufficient to the problems of this new century?

(Results and application of scientific progress in information technology, impact of globalization, Mother Nature’s defense of her turf in response to man’s progression, and actions of the non-state fighters of fourth generation warfare)

The website focus is on the world of disaster response, whether to terrorism or Mother, with thoughts that we need to better educate our leaders AND our community to the seemingly unique demands of a new century if we are to survive, but consider further:  It is no longer true that the United States has the best educated workforce in the world. Yet, survival on our own terms in this century requires the most creative of thinkers. Where will they be?  Recently, the National Center on Education and the Economy released “Tough Choices or Tough Times” (Executive Summary attached) which proposes a radical overhaul of the U.S. education system, with one goal in mind – produce workers who can think creatively.

The center’s head, Marc Tucker, stated “One thing we know about creativity is that it typically occurs when people who have mastered two or more quite different fields use the framework in one to think about the other…That means revamping an education system designed in the 1900s for people to do routine work, and refocusing it on producing people who can imagine things that have never been available before, who can create ingenious marketing and sales campaigns, write books, build furniture, make movies and design software that will capture people’s imaginations and become indispensable for millions.”

A major theme for crisis and disaster response decision making must be adaptability and creativity as central to understanding and surviving in chaotic environments. Education, training, and learning are necessary tools. How do we get there from here?

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Apr.07.2007
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RED FRIDAYS

6 April, 2007 

Received by e-mail and posted by PWH

Will you give this to my Daddy?

As a Company, Southwest Airlines is supporting “Red Fridays.”

Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo’s, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I’m not alone. I’m not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and ho me without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said “hi,” the little girl then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn’t look any older than maybe 22, said he would try and “what did she want to give to her daddy?”

Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughters name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second.

Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, “I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.” He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying “your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.”

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it’s good to be an American.

RED FRIDAYS —– Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority”. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that..

Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is…We need your support and your prayers.

Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.

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Oct.24.2006
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Welcome to the Project White Horse Forum

22 Feb, 2007

The next step for this website will be to establish a forum for exchange of ideas. This will require development of “operational threads” for future editions.  The thrust is not the day-day of terrorism or HLS but rather questions regarding the long term implications to leaders and decision makers in light of a combined result dynamic possibly un-faced by civilization to date…
Question being: What if nothing leaders have ever been taught or experienced is sufficient to the problem? … Continue Reading »

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