EPISODE 77
Dealing with Fog and Friction when things go sideways

Some people call it Fog and Friction. Some people call it a Cluster $&#@. Here’s how to deal with it.
Some of you might have experienced a crisis that was later described as a “Charlie Foxtrot,” which is an acronym for the sort of situation known for being chaotic, overwhelming, and difficult to manage. Mike and Jim discuss the doctrinal definitions of fog and friction and talk about some coping strategies and training philosophies that will help you deal with these kinds of problems. This is not terribly different than managing stress, but often has to do more with groups than individuals. Listen to learn about ways to communicate and interact with your team and plan for when things get weird.
Aurora Colorado Shooting Police Radio Traffic
RAND Paper on Performance Under Stress
Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.
Intro music credit Bensound.com
Photo credit: Jorge Ortiz
CLICK BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE NOW ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! PLEASE GO CHECK THEM OUT
Recent Episodes
Teaching the Enemy: Lessons from The Dragons and the Snakes
From guerrilla warfare and liminal conflict to use-of-force doctrine and law enforcement tactics, this episode connects military theory to street-level realities. Are we in a new kind of war without even knowing it? And what are we teaching our opponents every time we act?
It’s Chess AND Checkers–Tactics and Strategy Unite!
Why do we focus so much on tactics and so little on strategy? In this episode, Mike and Jim tackle the divide between street-level action and big-picture thinking. Drawing on lessons from policing, the military, and community crime prevention, they explore how individual cops, community members, and leaders can influence criminal decision-making—not just react to it.
Topics include resource constraints, the Broken Windows theory, and strategies for shifting offender perceptions to prevent crime before it occurs.
0 Comments