Commentary: Dear Governor: Many years ago, as a USAF avionics weapons system specialist, I would debrief fighter pilots when returning from a Red Flag training sortie. The term “Honor the Threat” was used periodically to drive home the point that one of the aircraft commanders did not take a simulated combat situation seriously, and was subsequently shot down.
The following excerpt is from the magazine Townhall, June 6, 2006.
It is a truism of aviation.
Lt. Russ Hellstern, flight safety officer at the USCG Air Station in Sitka, Alaska, says he learned it from Major John Christensen, USMC, who had used it many times to save his life.
“Here it is, "Honor the threat." That's it. Simple, poignant and the mother of all truisms … [it] encompasses the spirit behind bringing yourself and your crew back alive. Maybe the threat is the enemy, or the weather, or even your copilot with a head cold. Or maybe it is that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach telling you that something just isn’t right. Whatever it is, I have learned to view each potential hazard as a living breathing threat. Honor each threat with preparation, examination, and the principles of operational risk management. By doing so, I have avoided some situations that, after a beer at the club, have made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end with the thought of losing the SGLI sweepstakes
(For those who have not served in the US military, SGLI is the Serviceman's Group Life Insurance - the money paid to your beneficiary in the event of your death.)
Those persons and leaders who want to restart the economy by ignoring self-quarantine orders are not Honoring the Threat. Our country is experiencing a serious health crisis which directly affects the economy. Getting people back to work does nothing to alleviate the coronavirus danger, but has the very real potential of making the number of those infected grow exponentially. It is very apparent that the general population do not understand vector math.
The governors of Texas, Alabama and other states are beginning to reopen their businesses. There is little doubt that this action will result in more coronavirus infections and therefore, more unnecessary deaths. Their blood is unmistakably on their hands.
Personally, I would love to go to my favorite restaurant or get a haircut, but I am not going to jeopardize my life and of New Mexicans for something that trivial.
Please stand your ground and do not take the easy, populist was out of this situation.
Best Regards,
Russ Records
Las Cruces, New Mexico
PS: I just cancelled our plans to spend six days in San Antonio, Texas, over Labor Day. I Honor the Threat.