Dangerous Old Men

Why the right Self-Defense Tools and Tactics are Vital at any age.

Story and Photos by Ash Hess

On April 19, 1775, a man named Samuel Whittemore directly engaged the 47th Regiment of Foot. Armed with a musket, dueling pistols and a saber, Whittemore caused them to deploy by killing three and forced them to execute actions on contact. He in turn was shot in the face, bayoneted, beaten and then left for dead. These actions slowed the advance of the Regulars and assisted colonial forces in the area along Battle Road. Whittemore was 78 years old and lived despite his wounds.

This month’s article is about “dangerous old men” like Whittemore. As an old man myself, I recognize the signs and see them in my friends and people around me. We all like to say we are dangerous old men, but are we really? Until recently, I can tell you that I was not. I was just an old man. Here is why. I spent time thinking about what it means to be dangerous. I tied it to the dangerous things that I could do back when I was in combat operations. I do not claim to be a high-tier, super-fit warfighter, but I was able to do all the tasks and actions that were required in combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. These included long movements in combat gear followed by sprints, fighting, shooting and basic medical tasks, all while having the mental capacity to make decisions. Combine this with days of minimal sleep plus nutrition that was based on space, time and weight choices.

FITNESS
Battles are not won by defense, so having an offensive capability is important to be dangerous. By this I mean the ability to go somewhere and conduct actions. You must be able to go up multiple stairs, clear rooms and be able to make good decisions when you get there. All day and all night. This requires a base level of fitness and stamina; in other words, there are some basic things you should be able to do. Now, this list is not all encompassing, but it is a good start to make my point.
• Do 100 yards of three- to five second rushes with no breaks, in kit, and be able to recover in 30 to 45 seconds at the end.
• Be able to carry 50 pounds in each hand for 50 yards.
• Run a mile in 10 minutes or less and recover in 90 seconds.
• Be able to lift and carry an adult male for at least 50 yards. • Walk indefinitely carrying your fighting and sustainment load.

These are just some basic things that are part of any modern fighting scenario and tactics set. There is way more to it, but if you cannot do these things, your value on a modern battlefield is limited in the offense. Sure, you can sit there and guard something, but I cannot think of any scenario that involves having a force where we can just sit around on guard all the time. You are going to have to move and fight at some point in this context. Additionally, you are only dangerous to those who wander into your line of sight.

Stamina during a fight is important. It does not matter if it’s hand-to-hand or a gunfight, your cardio and stamina will matter. If you run out of gas, an opponent with less skill and ability will be victorious. A spiked heart rate will affect your accuracy, decision-making capabilities and make you less effective. We have known this from the beginning of time and it’s not new. Fitness is a major component in combat and while the techniques have changed, this fact has not. Indeed, loads have gotten heavier, and speeds needed for things like sprints have increased. To be dangerous, you must work harder than ever.

TOOLS
Simply owning a firearm is not enough. There is no magic spell that you can turn to in times of danger to get the skills needed to win. You may get lucky and draw an opponent that is less prepared than you, but the odds of that happening twice are lower than getting rich in Vegas. You need to be able to hit short exposure targets in whatever environment you find yourself. In a fight everyone is moving, getting in and out of cover, and those targets that hang out a long time are dispatched quickly (see the fitness section above). You need to be able to shoot fast and accurately while moving in urban environments. Most of the population lives in proximity to one another and urban operations are going to be part of the deal in any scenario where you need to be dangerous. I also highly recommend getting some basic knife fighting skills under your belt. Knife fighting is a dangerous business, and you are simply not going to pull the blade from your kit and know what to do with it. If you carry a firearm or a knife in a protection role, you need the skills to go with it.

TACTICS
I am not going to spend a lot of time on tactics, but you should know the basic components of an attack, ambush and the defense. Most tactics are team-based and without some help, most are ineffective. Having an understanding will make you more dangerous if they are needed, though. If you look at many violent crimes committed by multiple perpetrators, they are using the components of an attack, so knowing these things will help you spot them.

CONCLUSION
Age is not an excuse for not being able to do these things. Humans have been required to be dangerous since the beginning. It doesn’t matter if it was a saber-toothed tiger or a different tribe attempting to gain resources, the need for powerful and dangerous men to oppose them has always been vital to our survival. Having the capabilities to bring controlled violence into the equation never goes out of style and will always be important. With our lifespans now reaching into the 80s, a 40-year-old man is still expected to be able to provide those capabilities. If you cannot, you are not an asset to your family/tribe/community – you are a liability. You are yet another mouth to feed in dangerous times. Worst of all, regardless of all the chest thumping and social media posts, you know you are not ready to fight today. In that moment of danger, you will not follow Sam Whittemore’s example and willingly oppose a superior force; you will cower and let someone impose their will upon you or your family.

Editor’s note: Ash Hess is a highly seasoned combat veteran of 22 years with four combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, totaling 52 months. His military training includes the US Army Master Marksman Trainer course, as well as rifle marksman instructor, urban combat leaders’, senior leaders’, army basic instructor, high-angle marksman and unit armor courses. He also wrote TC3-22.9, the Army’s marksmanship manual.