"The more we sweat in training..."

When I was on active duty in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, my Department Head used to tell me, "The more we sweat in training, the less they bleed in war."  We used to run through various mass casualty and emergency scenarios at the Navy Hospital.  We were encouraged to take these training simulations as seriously as possible, and I always found them to be very realistic.  Practice may not always make perfect, but it certainly goes a long way towards preparedness.  

I was reminded of this phrase after watching a video that went viral on social media.  The video shows a Chinese police officer taking down an alleged perpetrator using what can only be described as a martial arts move.  It's very impressive!  The caption that went along with the video states that it was a training simulation for an active shooter or terrorist scenario.  What's just as impressive to me is how serious everyone in the video is taking the simulation.  I can't imagine what the "active shooter" was thinking when he was aggressively taken down.  Even if staged, it's clear that the Chinese police were adhering to the principle, "The more we sweat in training, the less they bleed in war."

If you are leading a training simulation or drill, make it as realistic as possible.  Similarly, if you are a participant in a training simulation or drill, take it very seriously.  "The more we sweat in training, the less they bleed in war."