When in a crowd, do you find yourself planning for what you would do in an emergency such as if a crazed shooter were to occur?

I've done this since 1980. Trust me...there was a time, were we in any large city/town with us on the sidewalk and someone double parks a car so they can run in and grab a pack of smokes you would see PO1 hauling ass in any direction but towards that double parked car. You'd probably have to send out an armed search party for me too - cuz I might not have been in anything other than "fight" mode for a while..... Let's just say there was a time PO1 and large public gatherings just didn't come together......even now I've got my head on a swivel and I know at LEAST two and probably four exits, NOT including the windows.

As a DOD employee I get annual security training and it must really work. I checked into a hotel last month and right away I started checking out everything there: fire escapes, escape routes what I can use to barricade the door. As a sailor I always avoided the places that sailors went to. After a couple of months out at sea why do sailors want to go to the same club and hang out together?

Peter Wang, a JROTC cadet at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla the scene of this past week’s school shooting, was helping more than a dozen Teacher’s and students to escape gunfire at the school and was shot and killed by the assailant. His selfless and heroic act was far above and beyond what was ever expected of any children in a life and death situation and he saved countless innocent lives paying the ultimate sacrifice. Peter motivated by the U.S. Military wanted to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Although his dream has ended, I challenge any military veteran organization or active duty unit or individual to look upon this brave young man as one of our own. A gesture of comradery by volunteering time to honor a real hero. A small price for such an unselfish act. His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20 and will be laid to rest at Bailey Memorial Gardens in North Lauderdale, Fla. Let us demonstrate to our communities that as members of the military, we know how difficult times like these are and we will always support our own and, in this case, support the family of Peter Wang.

This is a total no-brainer. I scope out ways out of WalMart at midnight.

I used to be a lot worse but I still recon the exits, and formulate a plan in my head. I also still people watch and keep my situational awareness.

Yesterday was a bit of a milestone. We were seated in a crowded cafe for a wonderful breakfast with a close friend yesterday morning. I didn't get to the booth first.

My wife asked "Are you sure you want to sit with your back to the restaurant?"

"No problem. I can handle it."

Really enjoyed the meal.

I'm always vigilant and planning a worst case scenario event everywhere I go. Whether I'm in a crowd or by my self.

I do this all the time. Drives my kids nuts. They know where to sit so I can see the room and watch people as we eat. Its not a bad thing!

If I am going to a restaurant or movie theatre, I actually visit the place the day before and take notes of the cross streets, the type of neighbourhood, closest hospital and police precinct. In a restaurant, I usually sit in an area that gives me coverage of the front-door and at least one of the exits and make a mental note of the customers by reading body language, how they are dressed, and assume that they may be armed. I have a CCW permit so I dress appropriately so as not to arouse attention. In a movie theatre, I sit near an exit and in a corner. In my car, I usually keep my first responder bag in the trunk in case, (God forbid) I have to treat injured patrons or myself.My ex-wife thought I was crazy when I went into the bathroom of a restaurant and searched it for an alternate escape route and weapons.

I always look for an alternate route