Blog – Page 19 – SemperVerus

Inspiring Military Mottos

Image of a USA nickel bearing the words In God We Trust SemperVerus is Latin for Stay True, taking its significance from 1 Timothy 4:16 — “Stay true to what is right….”

We encourage you to use SemperVerus as your personal motto, the definition of which is a short phrase that encapsulates the ideals guiding an individual, family, or institution. To that end, we encourage you to wear the SemperVerus wristband at all times to remind you throughout your day to Stay True.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, SemperVerus and the Noble Foundation of Scouting ]

Having a personal motto is important to keep you directed toward your goals, remind you of your values, and help strengthen your character. A simple motto will help you jog your conscience to remember in an instant what’s really meaningful.

The United States official motto is In God We Trust, which fits so well with the SemperVerus ethos. That spurred us to create the following list of mottos used by the US Armed Forces (and a few other countries’ military units) that synchronize well with SemperVerus objectives. Consider them in light of your own personal goals.

Biblical Lessons to Learn De-Escalating Skills

You’ll always prevail against a threat if you’re able to avoid the threat. Proper execution of situational awareness positions you to be aware of warning signs in advance of perilous occurrences, which in turn allows you to maintain enough physical distance as much as possible to stay in control of the outcomes. In his ancient book, The Art of War, late 6th century BC Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher Sun Tzu wrote, “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of being Aware ]

Practicing situational awareness applies to the verbal confrontations you might face as much as to the physical surroundings you encounter every day. The oral skill-set required to keep a heated argument from becoming a deadly altercation is known as de-escalation. It involves knowing what to say and not say, when to say it, and how to say it. That means the coordinated use of our brains and tongues can be just as important in our self-defense strategy as performing defensive shooting drills at the range. An excellent article on the subject is “The Truth About De-Escalation” by John Bostain, president of Command Presence Training, published in Michigan Police Chiefs.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of spiritual fitness ]

The world’s most influential book, the Bible, has plenty to say about the words that come out of our mouths. Consider the following Scripture verses as a framework to help you in building your de-escalation mindset.

▶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue…. Proverbs 18:21

▶ Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19

▶ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:20

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Gentle Response De-Escalation Training for Church Security Teams ]

▶ Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:27

▶ Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

[ Read the SemperVerus article, on Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

Live Life Left of Bang

The principle of situational awareness is taken to a deeper level in the book Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life. Written for the US Marine Corps, the concept is just as applicable for everyone to apply for civilian self-defense against personal threats.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of being Aware ]

We encourage you to read the entire book and visit its website. In the meantime, here are a few lessons from it:

20 Reasons to Concealed Carry a Defensive Firearm

You may want to copy into your cell phone the following list of reasons why you feel it’s important to legally and responsibly concealed carry a defensive firearm and refer to the list often so you’re ready with an answer the next time a friend or family member asks. You may even want to read the list out loud every time before you holster your gun.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

      1. It’s my civil right as acknowledged by the Second Amendment.
      2. I support the right to life.
      3. No one has the right to take my life.
      4. Guns save lives.
      5. I love my family.
      6. My family needs me.
      7. I am committed to protect myself and my family.
      8. I am prepared.
      9. I am a realist.
    10. I choose to not be a victim.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 12 Reasons to Responsibly Carry a Defensive Gun Every Day ]

    11. Evil is real and life-ending threats abound.
    12. All that’s required for evil to prevail is for me to do nothing.
    13. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
    14. Criminals and terrorists don’t schedule appointments.
    15. Criminals and terrorists employ heartless and brutal tactics.
    16. Criminals and terrorists act without conscience in the ferocious harm they cause.
    17. When seconds count, rescue personnel are minutes away.
    18. Guns are productive tools in my hands because I’m a responsible law-abiding citizen.
    19. Guns are normal and normal people use guns.
    20. It’s better to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have it.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Worldviews and Emotional Assumptions in the Gun Civil Rights Debate ]

Invite SemperVerus^® to present its 5 life-changing success-generating components—prepare, aware, be, know, do—to your organization to inspire and motivate your members.

Join the SemperVerus Brotherhood™!