“For a military cop, going into a bar is like a batter stepping up to the plate. It’s his place of business.”
Count the exits (there are usually three).
Work out which exits you can use.
Look at the crowd—where are the knots of trouble, who falls silent, who stares.
Look for weapons—antique revolvers, bottles, or—better—pool cues.
Stare everyone down.
Sit with your back to the wall, even if there are plenty of mirrors.
Call 911—the other guys are going to need an ambulance …
“It was a long, long time since he’d lost a two-on-one bar fight.”
A MEDLEY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS
ACU Army Combat Uniform
ALICE All-Purpose Lightweight Carrying Equipment
APFSDS Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot
ATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
BDU Battle Dress Uniform
COS Chief of Staff
CYA Cover Your Ass
DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
DIA Defense Intelligence Agency
DOD Department of Defense
HET Heavy Equipment Transporter
HRT Hostage Rescue Team
JAG Judge Advocate General
KIA Killed In Action
LAV Light Armored Vehicle
LGH Let’s Go Home
MASH Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
MIA Missing In Action
MPBN Military Police Battalion
MRE Meal, Ready to Eat
NCIC National Crime Information Center
PASGT Personal Armor System, Ground Troops
PH Public House
RIF Reduction In Force
RPG Rocket-Propelled Grenade
RTAFA Rotational Torque-Adjustable Fastener Applicators
SAC Special Agent in Charge
SEAL Sea Air and Land (U.S. Navy SEALs)
SOC Special Operations Capable
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SSDD Same Shit, Different Day
SWAG Scientific Wild-Ass Guess
UNSUB Unknown Subject
USA PATRIOT ACT Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act
WTF Whisky Tango Foxtrot …
