Three Life Lessons Learned from CBS Series "The Unit"

Rarely does a television series reveal much useful information that could be applied in every day life. However, the CBS hit series, The Unit, does provide for an entertaining look inside elite Delta Force missions while even providing a few nuggets of information we can all take away and apply to our lives. The following are the top three lessons I've learned from following The Unit.

Have a Family Emergency Plan
The Unit series finale, "Paradise Lost" exemplified the need for a family emergency preparedness plan. Near the end of the episode team leader Jonas Blaine (played by Dennis Haysbert) is forced to flee the country to avoid capture by the CIA. He sends a coded message to his wife created by giving page, paragraph and word number references to a predetermined book from the bookshelf. For instance, a coded message for this article might read something like (1, 2, 8) - for page 1, paragraph 2, word 8, (1, 2, 12), (1, 2, 30), (1, 3, 23), or "The" "Family" "is" "Safe."

Put together a family survival kit substantial enough to provide for your family in the event of a major disaster. Have a safe meeting place designated for events that force you to evacuate your home. For instance, in the case of fire my children have been told to get out of the house and rendezvous next to the mailbox in front of our home. They have been told not to go with anyone, and not to approach anyone other than a neighbor that they are familiar with or rescue personnel (fireman, policeman, etc.). A home safe with $500-$1000 cash is also a good idea to incorporate as part of a larger emergency savings fund. In the event of a disaster computers may be down and so will major banking networks. For a limited time you could be operating on a cash-only basis.

Double Tap
I am a responsible gun owner and believe in the second amendment right to bear arms. If you find yourself in a life or death situation where you are forced to shoot to kill to protect the lives of you and your family then there is one tactical shooting skill to consider. The "double tap" is employed by many Special Forces and police units around the world. It involves two quick trigger pulls in rapid succession. The idea is that if your enemy has found cover that could be penetrated or weakened by a first shot, then the second shot could hit your ultimate target. Remember, ammunition conservation is still important and you should consider "double-tap" shots sparingly. The Unit members employed this tactic several times throughout the season, but it was most obvious in the episode, "Dark of the Moon." The episode featured an all-out assault by rebels on an Army support base in a remote area of Afghanistan. Jonas and his team were able to hold off the rebels and preserve the strategic position the support base provided allied forces.

Have a Confidant
The relationship between Jonas and his wife is the strongest of all the husbands and wives on the show, probably because Molly (Jonas' wife) seems to know the most about what's going on in The Unit. It's good to have a confidant that you can share things with and no one else. The fact that only the two of you know the details will strengthen your bond, and you can rest assured that your secret is safe with this person. My wife is my confidant. I tell her things that I would not tell anyone else, and we are committed to having no secrets.