It's Time to Level Up
The Domestic Internal Defense™ (DID) mission is centered around enabling property owners, their loved ones, and (hopefully) their neighbors to identify threats and respond appropriately. Just as an FID mission overseas doesn't happen overnight, the process of transforming a rural property from being vulnerable to all manner of threats to being hardened enough to withstand significant stress takes time (and significant resources).
Phase 1: Threat Assessment
The entry point into Mercury DID services is our Threat Assessment engagement. The objective of this is to identify potential threats and then assess the property's vulnerability to each of those threats. To do this, our consultant(s) visit the property and spend as much time as necessary (depending upon the size) to develop a full understanding of the situation.
As they are among the world's foremost experts on direct action (i.e. assault, ambush, etc.) as well as covert operations, our consultants are able to prioritize threats based upon likelihood of occurrence. This requires analysis not only of the client's property and level of preparedness, but also of the crime trends in the area, tactics frequently used by would-be criminals, environmental threats (flooding, for example), and the security/preparedness posture of neighbors and the community at large. This is a multi-factorial problem that must be clearly understood before improvement can begin.
The engagement ends with the delivery and presentation of our Mercury DID Threat Assessment Report. This is a mix of text-based, slide-based, and video/animated content. This report is a distillation of everything we learned during the engagement, and it is prepared to serve as a stand-alone set of artifacts that can be referenced at any time in the future. Of course, all of our notes and raw data are also made available at the conclusion of the Threat Assessment engagement.
Following the delivery of the report, our clients arrive at Decision Point 1: Proceed to the Defensive Plan stage, or conclude the engagements.
Phase 1: Threat Assessment
The entry point into Mercury DID services is our Threat Assessment engagement. The objective of this is to identify potential threats and then assess the property's vulnerability to each of those threats. To do this, our consultant(s) visit the property and spend as much time as necessary (depending upon the size) to develop a full understanding of the situation.
As they are among the world's foremost experts on direct action (i.e. assault, ambush, etc.) as well as covert operations, our consultants are able to prioritize threats based upon likelihood of occurrence. This requires analysis not only of the client's property and level of preparedness, but also of the crime trends in the area, tactics frequently used by would-be criminals, environmental threats (flooding, for example), and the security/preparedness posture of neighbors and the community at large. This is a multi-factorial problem that must be clearly understood before improvement can begin.
The engagement ends with the delivery and presentation of our Mercury DID Threat Assessment Report. This is a mix of text-based, slide-based, and video/animated content. This report is a distillation of everything we learned during the engagement, and it is prepared to serve as a stand-alone set of artifacts that can be referenced at any time in the future. Of course, all of our notes and raw data are also made available at the conclusion of the Threat Assessment engagement.
Following the delivery of the report, our clients arrive at Decision Point 1: Proceed to the Defensive Plan stage, or conclude the engagements.
Phase 2: Defensive Plan
With the Threat Assessment complete, our attention turns to determining what level of security is attainable for this particular client. We use the concept of Attainable Security to refer to the highest level of security that can be attained within the constraints that exist. Beyond the obvious constraints, such as money, time, geography, etc,, there are constraints that are largely psychological. How far will the client and the people with the client go to keep themselves safe? How much has the client internalized the threats that exist? (One who pays lip service to threats will generally be less diligent in preparing than one who is legitimately worried about safety.)
When we have agreed upon what Attainable Security means for the client, then we can get to work on putting together a defensive strategy, which really drives the development of our Operational Playbook. This is the practical 'what to do when X happens' manual that will cover all aspects of the defensive plan. It is also the Training Manual for everyone, so it covers all of the skills that need to be developed as well as mechanisms for assessing progress and maintaining accountability.
30/90/180-day Goals and Associated Plans
Based upon the Defensive Strategy, a plan will be developed to address threats progressively over time as facilities are being hardened, resources and gear are being acquired, and skills are being developed. What do you need to build, buy, learn, fix, etc. right now and for the next six months - in prioritized order?
Supplies and Sourcing
Hardening a property and the people on it is gear and resource intensive. It's unavoidable. Yes, you need cameras, but which ones? How many? Yes, you need guns, but which guns? How many? What is needed and where to get it is actually one of the most challenging aspects of DID. Fortunately, our consultants are unapologetic gear nerds with interests ranging from backpacks to generators to RFID sniffing devices. And, of course, guns and tactical gear are a given.
Our clients, therefore, receive Shopping Lists as part of their "playbook." These lists are very specific and will either include links to purchase the items online or at local retailers or we will provide guidance on the best way to acquire the items. (In many cases, it will make the most sense to just let us source the items for you.) These shopping lists are organized and presented to align with the goals/plans that have been developed.
Training and Daily Routines
You can have all of the guns and gear and hardened facilities you want, but if the people on the property are not well-trained, all of it will end up being taken from you. Again, the experiences of our consultants overseas inform our stance on the realities of DID.
Training is everything, and it starts with the mind. Specifically, the mindset. That's why our "playbook" includes a good bit of detail around training, which includes training the mind to be ready for whatever is coming. This also includes physical training - fitness matters in times like these - and skills training. We want our clients to have a clear plan for every day that is moving them toward the goals we establish together.
Training Resources
In addition to the aforementioned, our playbook includes training/how-to videos for things that don't happen frequently but require technical competency. Examples include working with radios, spinning up a generator, and things like that.
Our clients that engage us for Defensive Plans also have access to our vast network of specialists who can provide training on anything related to survival, preparedness, and security. Need to learn to shoot accurately at over 1000 meters as part of your Defensive Plan? We have current and retired SF and Marine Scout Snipers on our roster who will be happy to train you (and geek out with you over rifles, scopes, ammo, etc.).
Ongoing Support
While the objective of a DID Defensive Plan is to render our clients fully capable of securing their loved ones and property on their own, we are in a dynamic situation these days. When the ground shifts beneath us, we need to step back and re-evaluate our threat assessments and the actions we've taken to address those threats. Once you're a Mercury DID client, you always have access to us to ask questions and get advice. If you need something more, we have options for ongoing support. This is Decision Point 2: Sign up for ongoing services or not.
With the Threat Assessment complete, our attention turns to determining what level of security is attainable for this particular client. We use the concept of Attainable Security to refer to the highest level of security that can be attained within the constraints that exist. Beyond the obvious constraints, such as money, time, geography, etc,, there are constraints that are largely psychological. How far will the client and the people with the client go to keep themselves safe? How much has the client internalized the threats that exist? (One who pays lip service to threats will generally be less diligent in preparing than one who is legitimately worried about safety.)
When we have agreed upon what Attainable Security means for the client, then we can get to work on putting together a defensive strategy, which really drives the development of our Operational Playbook. This is the practical 'what to do when X happens' manual that will cover all aspects of the defensive plan. It is also the Training Manual for everyone, so it covers all of the skills that need to be developed as well as mechanisms for assessing progress and maintaining accountability.
30/90/180-day Goals and Associated Plans
Based upon the Defensive Strategy, a plan will be developed to address threats progressively over time as facilities are being hardened, resources and gear are being acquired, and skills are being developed. What do you need to build, buy, learn, fix, etc. right now and for the next six months - in prioritized order?
Supplies and Sourcing
Hardening a property and the people on it is gear and resource intensive. It's unavoidable. Yes, you need cameras, but which ones? How many? Yes, you need guns, but which guns? How many? What is needed and where to get it is actually one of the most challenging aspects of DID. Fortunately, our consultants are unapologetic gear nerds with interests ranging from backpacks to generators to RFID sniffing devices. And, of course, guns and tactical gear are a given.
Our clients, therefore, receive Shopping Lists as part of their "playbook." These lists are very specific and will either include links to purchase the items online or at local retailers or we will provide guidance on the best way to acquire the items. (In many cases, it will make the most sense to just let us source the items for you.) These shopping lists are organized and presented to align with the goals/plans that have been developed.
Training and Daily Routines
You can have all of the guns and gear and hardened facilities you want, but if the people on the property are not well-trained, all of it will end up being taken from you. Again, the experiences of our consultants overseas inform our stance on the realities of DID.
Training is everything, and it starts with the mind. Specifically, the mindset. That's why our "playbook" includes a good bit of detail around training, which includes training the mind to be ready for whatever is coming. This also includes physical training - fitness matters in times like these - and skills training. We want our clients to have a clear plan for every day that is moving them toward the goals we establish together.
Training Resources
In addition to the aforementioned, our playbook includes training/how-to videos for things that don't happen frequently but require technical competency. Examples include working with radios, spinning up a generator, and things like that.
Our clients that engage us for Defensive Plans also have access to our vast network of specialists who can provide training on anything related to survival, preparedness, and security. Need to learn to shoot accurately at over 1000 meters as part of your Defensive Plan? We have current and retired SF and Marine Scout Snipers on our roster who will be happy to train you (and geek out with you over rifles, scopes, ammo, etc.).
Ongoing Support
While the objective of a DID Defensive Plan is to render our clients fully capable of securing their loved ones and property on their own, we are in a dynamic situation these days. When the ground shifts beneath us, we need to step back and re-evaluate our threat assessments and the actions we've taken to address those threats. Once you're a Mercury DID client, you always have access to us to ask questions and get advice. If you need something more, we have options for ongoing support. This is Decision Point 2: Sign up for ongoing services or not.