Seal Survival Guide

by Cade Courtley

  3. Yell loudly and shout for help as you are running. Just make sure you are not doing it so much that it slows your pace. Your lungs and legs need this oxygen to keep you moving. If your pursuer is an attacker, you might be able to alert the police or get people to see your plight and intervene.

  4. Make last-minute changes in direction (easier if you know the area you are in). For example, if you know of an open-ended alley ahead, make it seem as if you are running straight, then dodge suddenly, without indicating that you will make an abrupt turn.

  5. Keep alert to the environment, and be particularly observant of objects or items in your path, such as trash cans, which you could use as obstacles to slow your pursuer. If you do not know the area, be alert not to turn onto streets or alleys that could be dead ends.

  6. Run toward large crowds or public places where there will likely be people, such as malls or bus stations. You want to attract witnesses, since most attackers don’t want to be seen.

  7. If you are in a wooded area, look for concealment, since your pursuer could be in as good or better physical condition than you, and you can only outrun him for so long.

  8. If your pursuer doesn’t care about being rolled up, when you make it to a public place, try to quickly blend in. You want to get lost in the crowd by taking off your jacket, for example, or “borrowing” a pair of sunglasses from a passerby.

  In The Fugitive, Harrison Ford presented a dozen ways to lose pursuers, with multiple changes in his evasion tactics. At one point he borrowed a stranger’s coat, threw on a green hat, and joined a crowd of proud Irishmen as part of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, becoming invisible in a sea of green.

  GANG VIOLENCE

  Law enforcement monitors the activities of the nearly 25,000 gangs in the United States, which currently have an approximate membership of more than 950,000 in active status. Nearly all gangs are territorial and, in many instances, much more ruthless than other groups of organized crime. In general, U.S. gangs’ primary business is illegal drugs. Most gang violence is directed toward other gangs, but there is little regard for non–gang members caught in the crossfire. Due to gang activity, homicide is the leading cause of death among people aged fifteen to twenty-four in U.S. urban areas. For example, in 2009, eight children and teens were killed in gang-related drive-by shootings in Chicago during one twenty-four-hour period.

  In Washington, D.C., in April 2002, a woman and her boyfriend were driving to dinner and communicating in sign language when another car, carrying gang members, stopped at the same traffic light. The gang thought the woman was flashing a rival gang’s signs and shot her in the face. Neither the woman nor her boyfriend, both of whom were deaf, was a gang member.

  Wrong Place, Wrong Time

  In general, it’s being in the wrong place at the wrong time that increases your odds of having a confrontation with gangs. Most homicides do not occur due to the random violence of a single angry stranger. In fact, most murders are committed by someone the victim knows. When random acts of violence do occur, however, they are often committed by groups or gangs. So if you find yourself in an area where gang activity is noted, your best course of action is to avoid and evacuate. If you plan to drive in a city you are unfamiliar with, it should be part of your pre-mission planning to know where the areas with the highest crime rates are located and avoid them.

  In 2010, a couple visiting Los Angeles unknowingly drove into a part of town controlled by gangs. They had forgotten to turn the rental car’s headlights on, and gang members, fearing an attack by rivals, ran up to the car and fired ten rounds through the windshield.

  Keep Your Distance and De-escalate

  If you find yourself in a situation where interaction is inevitable, be agreeable and de-escalate. “Kiss my ass” is not de-escalation and will be taken as a threat, or disrespect, and considered a challenge. The very foundation of gang mentality is respect and intimidation. In this situation, you really want to be what we commonly call “the gray man” (see also “Torture and Being Held Hostage,” page 280, and “Trouble in a Foreign Country,” page 286). You must present yourself as someone merely passing through, not knowing or caring who these people are or what they are doing. Don’t try to buddy up, pretending you know gang signs or gang language, either. Likewise, you do not want to show fear or weakness, for any of the above reactions will cause immediate confrontation.

  If members of the gang attempt to start a conversation, for the purposes of sizing you up, repeat a phrase such as “I have to go.” You will also want to be alert to avenues of escape and be ready to bypass a gang hanging around a street corner, for example, by moving out of range. Depending on the number of gang members you are confronted by, flight could be the best choice, which will rapidly de-escalate the situation. Chances are they are merely looking for an easy victim and will not pursue. But at all costs, do not let yourself get surrounded or cornered, or get close enough for one of them to grab you. Gangs operate with a pack mentality, which often enables individual cowards to become emboldened when backed by the power of their numbers. You may be a hell of a fighter, but it is extremely difficult to defeat a group of simultaneous attackers. Let them have their space, or whatever they perceive as their territory, even if you have to cross the street or take a longer route to where you were headed.

  Punch and Run: Fight and Flight

  When physical contact is a foregone conclusion, you need to do everything you can to limit personal injury. Make no mistake: A ten-on-one fight scenario is not only purely defensive, it is one of mere survival. Don’t wait until you are jumped. That is way too late to act. Bolt from the group. You have to do everything in your power to remain on your feet and continue moving. Your chances of minimizing injury are far better if you are engaging individuals while on your feet than trying to square off against an entire group, especially if you end up on the ground. Violence of action is a must. However, this is no time to initiate a plan of cleaning up the streets and ridding neighborhoods of the plague of gang violence. Not without community support, at least. In this situation, your violence of action and physical response are used to gain time to get free and escape. Oftentimes, the courage displayed by a group will rapidly dissipate as their numbers thin out. If you drop the right guy, or outrun some of them, the others could give up or quit.

  During a down weekend while with SEAL Team One, several of us decided to go drinking at a beach bar in San Diego. Things started to get rowdy, as they often do, and eventually the shit-talking began with one of the locals. Well, we didn’t realize the obnoxious local was there with forty of his closest friends. The hornet’s nest erupted onto the street outside the front of the bar, with the five of us circled up back-to-back, dealing with the swarm. SEALs are tough . . . but not forty-against-five tough. Pretty funny how the whole thing shut down once we took out the big guy of the group. Almost instantly, this de-energized the rest of them. We were lucky to get out of that with just a few scrapes—and ahead of the cops.

  HIJACKING

  Unlike wresting control of a vessel from a ship’s captain, which has been going on throughout naval history and still is, taking over an aircraft while in flight is more or less a new form of crime. Between 1940 and 1970 there were only a dozen incidents. From 1970 to 2000, there were nearly sixty such “skyjackings” or “sky-controlling” incidents, or what are now commonly known as hijackings. The motive for ship seizures is usually robbery, but the majority of aircraft hijackings are for political reasons, or to hold passengers hostage as collateral, or to use the plane as a weapon, as was the case in the 9/11 attacks. In most scenarios, the pilot is forcibly made to fly the plane to where the hijackers demand; in only some incidents do hijackers actually take over flying.

  Previous to 9/11, airlines trained pilots primarily to cooperate and attempt to de-escalate the situation. The plan was to stall and gain as much as time as possible, and see what delays could be used while seemingly complying with the demands of the hijackers.
Most hijackings ended, in general, with few casualties. In addition, there were very few preventive security measures in place. The cockpit door was rarely locked; flight personnel entered and left the cockpit with no more than a knock.

  After 9/11, airlines took a dramatic turn and adopted entirely new tactics to thwart unlawful seizure of an aircraft. Time was your friend in the old days of hijacking, and the chances of getting out alive were very good. Not anymore.

  With vastly tightened security measures and an overhaul in intelligence efforts, only the most sophisticated operations will have a chance to take over control of an airplane. So understand that if you find yourself involved in a hijacking, you are likely dealing with a highly trained individual or group.

  Before You Even Board

  The Israeli airline El Al has one of the best safety records in the industry, primarily because they were the first to realize that security starts before passengers even get to the airport. The use of an ever-growing database of names, which includes genders, birth dates, and people’s flying history, is now in place. “No-fly” and watch lists, including lists of those with suspected ties to terrorist groups, lists of the names of known criminals, and other intelligence reports, are now used as the first net of security. The next phase of prevention is surveillance, both audio and visual, which consists of actively monitoring passengers as they arrive at the airport. When arriving at a terminal, crank up your situational awareness to very high. You are surrounded by people from all over the world with vastly different backgrounds and beliefs.

  Focus on the basics:

  • Does something or someone ready to board your flight seem out of place?

  • Body language is a great indicator—does anyone seem unusually nervous or stressed?

  If you notice anything during the situational awareness drill while boarding an airplane that causes an instinctual reaction, do not ignore it. Do not hesitate to voice your concerns to airport security (TSA) or someone connected with the airline.

  Settling In

  As you board the plane, start assessing the situation, as described in “Airplane Crash” (page 58). Look at all the passengers you pass and make mental notes of the ones who, again, seem out of place in some way; remember their location in relation to your seat. Also make a metal note of passengers who might seem capable of assisting in the event of trouble.

  • Always try to get an aisle seat, because it will enable you to get to your feet immediately and be more ready to deal with any situation.

  • Stow all of your belongings in the overhead bin. Make sure there is nothing below your feet that could in any way impede your movement.

  • Also remove or tuck in any loose clothing; keep your shoes on and ensure they are tied. This isn’t the time to get comfortable for your flight—not yet.

  • Once seated, continue your visual sweep of the plane. Take note of passengers who could be a potential problem or threat.

  • Identify passengers in your immediate vicinity who you feel would be either an asset or a liability if a conflict were to arise.

  • Rehearse in your mind what you would do if someone in front of, behind, or next to you starts trouble.

  Threat Assessment

  If air marshals are onboard, it will become immediately apparent in the event of an incident. Air marshals are trained for handgun accuracy, investigative work, and operating independently, and know tactics for subduing assailants quickly. Don’t get in their way, but help if asked or if you can. However, you can’t assume they’re on your flight, so don’t wait for them, and perform your own threat assessment.

  • Who is attempting the hijacking? Is this a terrorist mission or an individual who seems deranged or psychotic? How quickly can they execute their intention?

  • How many hijackers are there? Multiple hijackers are clearly going to require a greater number of responders. It also indicates that this is a very sophisticated operation.

  • What types of weapons are being used? Given the heightened security measures at all airports, it is unlikely these terrorists were able to smuggle anything advanced like a firearm onto the plane. That said, remember what terrorists with box cutters were able to accomplish in 2001.

  SEALs say: “Greater good for the greater number.”

  Charge!

  When you see that someone clearly has the intent to harm or kill you and everyone else on board, you must make a decision. You may take a few seconds to several minutes to contemplate and assess all variables, but it will surely come down to a physical confrontation. If you are in such a situation, it’s time to pull the trigger! If at such a crossroads, the use of violence of action could never be more appropriate.

  In this situation, if I can prevent the plane from crashing, even if it means that I might get swiped with a knife, then let’s roll. Gather the troops from the passengers you previously marked, and formulate a plan.

  I urge you to lead the charge. For most people, fighting is a very unnatural thing, and many want to avoid it. But in life-threatening situations, it takes only one person to initiate an action, and others will follow. Step up and be that person. I always say that if I’m going to die, let it be on my feet, fighting for my life and giving it 1,000 percent effort.

  The More, the Better

  Quickly coordinate your efforts with as many passengers as possible to overwhelm the hijackers. Flood them with bodies, attacking them from all directions. Try to have at least a 3:1 ratio—that is, three passengers for every hijacker—when initiating your assault. Again, more is better.

  Improvised Weapons

  (See also “Gear,” page 295, and “Fighting,” page 146.) You can increase the odds of making your attack successful by utilizing some of the things in your immediate area as weapons. Most anything can be used to help in the fight. But let me reiterate, no matter what you choose as a weapon, it must be employed with violence of action. Half an effort will not work. Possible weapons include:

  • Car keys between your fingers

  • A belt

  • A tightly rolled-up magazine

  • A high-heeled shoe

  • A laptop computer or cell phone

  • A seat-bottom cushion, to use as a shield

  • A coat, wrapped around your lead arm to cushion a blow

  • A ballpoint pen

  Possible Explosives

  If you think the hijackers may be carrying some type of explosive device, then you must act immediately. Attempt to get them to the floor, preferably away from the wings, where the fuel is stored. Try to spread their arms and legs apart, and keep their hands over their head. A manual explosive device will probably require their hand to detonate it. Remove their ability to do so. If, however, you don’t feel in immediate danger, you could have a brief amount of time to formulate a different response.

  Search, Handle, Restrain

  If all goes well, you will have physically subdued the hijacker(s), but you’re not done yet.

  1. Have several people position the hijacker facedown, with arms overhead and spread and palms facing down. Also spread his legs wide. Keep a knee in the middle of his back. Have one of your passenger team control the back of the assailant’s neck, forcing the head tight against and into the floor. Have others straddle each leg.

  2. It is very important to perform a quick search of the hijacker. If you find an explosive device, the danger is far from over. Whether to attempt to remove the device or not will be a difficult decision. Generally, it is best to leave the device alone. If, however, you believe the device may have a timer or there is a chance the terrorist will still have the ability to detonate it, you should consider removing it. If you are able to remove the device, it should be jettisoned from the aircraft. This must be coordinated with the pilot or flight crew.

  • In recent times, many airlines have installed doors that allow for a controlled detonation, since there may be insufficient time to jettison the explosive. Airlines have retrofitted and fortified particula
r exit doors that are sturdy enough to sustain a small to medium explosion without damaging any of the plane’s operating systems. Usually this is the aft starboard door, the farthest rear door on the right side when facing the front of the plane. The key to this is to place the explosive against the door and build a makeshift bunker around it. Use carry-on bags, blankets . . . anything that will help to contain the explosion, such that the majority of the explosion’s force is against the door.

  3. If no explosive is discovered during the search, the next thing to do is move the hijacker to the galley at the rear of the plane. This should be done using what we call prisoner-handling techniques.

  • Again, maintain control with a 3:1 ratio.

  • Place both the hijacker’s arms behind their back, and create an arm bar by placing your arm under theirs and cranking their arms up high behind their back.

  • Have someone control both their neck and their waist.

  • Slowly pull the hijacker up from the ground while maintaining positive and aggressive force on them.

  • Keep the hijacker lower than you. They can make the trip to the rear of the plane on their knees. If they get feisty, slam their face right back down to the deck of the aircraft. Remember, this person will still try to kill you and everyone else if given the chance.

  4. Once you have the hijacker in the rear galley, you are going to want to restrain them for the rest of the flight. Utilize anything you can find—belts, ties, shoelaces, carry-on-bag straps—to bind their arms behind their back and tightly secure their feet and knees together.