Surviving terrorism: shot five times by bank robbers, an Air Force officer tells his story, offering candid advice how to avoid being a victim of terrorists - Airman Consumer

Airman, Sept, 2002 by Danielle Burrows, Tim Barela

Another common sense tip is to carry a cell phone with emergency numbers.

"Or for military members, be proud of being in the military. but don't necessarily flaunt it," Bolasky said. "This has been the case overseas for a long time, but the fact is, why give a stranger more information about you than he needs?"

Bolasky said that you don't have to be an anti-terrorism expert to make a difference.

"Military people get plenty of realistic training that will help them in a terrorist situation," he said. "In a high-stress situation, we all revert back to the training we've had. That's why it's so important to train serious and hard. The brain works fast in a life or death situation, and you'll recall things you were taught. Your training will give you the ability to assess situations quickly and make better decisions."

In the end, it may help you avoid being a statistic on the 11 o clock news.

RELATED ARTICLE: Don't be a victim

* Preplan. Don't be paranoid, but don't keep your head in the sand, either. Stuff does happen, and it's not always to the other person. Carry a cell phone and first aid kit. Have emergency numbers available. And know where the nearest hospital is located.

* Be aware of your surroundings. If something doesn't look or feel right, it may not be. Take a few extra minutes to assess situations before walking headfirst into trouble.

* Don't be a soft target. Soft targets are people who are careless or look like an easy mark by being sloppy with their appearance. Military members have the advantage here. They're usually more alert and project a more competent appearance by dressing sharply. These are deterrents that make them "hard targets."

* Train. This is especially important for military members, who practice emergency response exercises. Don't take this training for granted. Train seriously; train hard.

* Keep up with times. World affairs could make for a higher-risk climate.

* Assess areas you frequent. What makes a good target for terrorism? Anything that can garner national recognition. Military installations, nuclear facilities and universities are just a few examples of places that might become terrorist targets.

Lt. Col. Glyn Bolasky