“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” - Mahatma Ghandi

What is your level of participation? This question is of vital importance for the combat arms soldier or street cop, especially those serving in a special operations capacity. It’s also of vital importance though for the armed citizen or hobbyist. Actually, regardless of the pursuit, this question is a central one. What is your level of participation? What amount of effort are you willing to put towards your goals?

All too often, people’s goals and expectations don’t line up with the efforts they are willing to contribute towards them. I’ve known martial artists who thought their academic knowledge could somehow make up for a lack of hard training or proper conditioning. Competitive shooters who seldom practice dry fire or live fire yet expect to place well in matches. SWAT cops who care more about their golf game than their shooting or tactics yet think they will somehow rise to the occasion when a critical incident occurs.

But we don’t rise to the occasion. The cliche is that we fall to the level of our training. The reality is though that we fall below our best abilities. Skill doesn’t magically appear when you need it. It’s the converse actually. Skill degradation is a very real thing. When I need it the most, the skill I have built will never be at its best. When I do my needs analysis, and decide what level of skill I have to have to be successful, I have to understand this, and plan my training accordingly.

What matters just as much as my needs analysis when I set my goals though is this. What is my level of participation? How much time and effort am I willing to put in? Deciding that I need or want a certain level of skill or accomplishment is meaningless without dedicating the amount of time and effort it will take to achieve it. And depending on your profession and goals, a lower level of participation can be ok. But be realistic about your expectations then. But if lives depend on your professional expertise, choose your level of participation accordingly or run the risk of forever regretting your choices when you are found wanting and lives are lost.