Proper Planning Prevents Total Failure
When things go south, it’s good to have backup plans, 3 backup plans.
Author : Steve Hanafi (Silat Sharaf Practitioner, Malaysia)
Special forces are taught to have backup plans. A plan that backs up another plan that backs up the backup plan. Simply put, 3 backup plans. When things go wrong, it's nice to have plan a, b, c, and as much as it takes until the problem is solved. It is crucial that the plan is well constructed and is rehearsed. The P.A.C.E plan must be rehearsed and verified should there be any errors or mistakes so that they can be recognized beforehand. During the fight is not the time to test your plan for the first time. As the saying goes, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
From crime, natural disaster to social unrest and military coup, it’s best to be prepared
P.A.C.E
Primary
This is your main game plan. The primary plan must work. If it's all sunshine and rainbows, this will be the only plan that you’ll use as it is the most efficient and quickest way to get your mission accomplished.
Alternate
A slight variation from the primary planning. Maybe something came up or suddenly there’s an obstacle or something isn’t working well.
Contingency
It isn’t as great or as prompt as the primary and alternate plan, but it gets the mission done. The contingency plan might require you to take one or two extra steps to get the job done.
Emergency
The emergency plan is your last resort when all other options have failed. It might take more time, more effort and equipment, and it might need you to relocate or compromise your standard operation procedure, but it gets the job done. A fail-proof plan.
Special operations have multiple backup plans for times when a good sunny day gets rainy - raining bullets.
Featured: GGK Malaysia Operators communicating in the field during an exercise, picture courtesy of Rejimen Semboyan Diraja
The plan is usually used for communicating in combat environments, where the main method of communicating is cut out, either by being jammed, attacked or simply bad weather. When these happen, it all boils down to having a systematic approach for backup plan – 3 backup plans.
An example is their communication method. The primary plan is to use a TACSAT (Tactical Satellite), where it is secured and encrypted and passes via satellite. Their alternate plan is using an IMBITR (improved multiband inter-intra team radio). The contingency plan would be to use an FM unsecured channel. For emergencies, the Satellite Phone is their choice.
Source: Life is a Special Operation - What is a P.A.C.E. Plan? Primary - Alternate - Contingency - Emergency
Being with a well coordinated team will increase your chances of survival
We are aware that it’s military tactics, but as civilians, we can learn a thing or two and adapt it into our life. It’s no rocket science but it sure as hell an effective tool you can use to ensure that you get your job done and get through anything that comes in your way.
If you're with a team, whether it’s your colleagues, your spouse or your kids, they should be well-informed of the plan to ensure that they can coordinate and communicate well with the team members.
Civilian Applications
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye
For civilians, the applications are unlimited. It can be losing your phone during traveling, or your id and passport, maybe you have a copy of those two. It can be your car tire bursting out in the middle of nowhere, your plan can go from having a spare tire, calling the hotline, contacting any acquaintance that is nearby or walking to the closest gas station. As we said, the emergency isn’t the most efficient of all, but it gets the job done.
You might use the PACE planning in case there’s a home intruder, your primary would be to get everyone to safety, get outside, or it can be to fight off the intruder. It depends on your tools and preparation. It can be to experiencing a flash flood, the primary plan would be to go to the flood evacuation center by car, if not by foot, if not, call for rescuers.
Other examples that we can give is having multiple routes to work and back home, stashing extra cash in places around the house, looking for exit routes in case of emergency, having a backup cell phone, or a plan if your id or wallet gets stolen.
Whatever the situation is, you should have planned in your life. Make it a habit into your daily life to planning, to have multiple backup plans for everything, every situation that you can think of that could go wrong in a split second.