LP/OP #13

Welcome back to the LP/OP friend.

This newsletter shares insights from the highly pragmatic military methodologies learned throughout my 20 years spent in the military and private sector.

We do so briefly and clearly with respect for your time to give you an edge over your competitors, adversaries, and enemies.

Every edition we cover new…

• Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)

• Inspirational Exemplars

This week, we cover three tactical concepts that turn defense into dominance:

Active Defense, Counter-Attack, and Forward Defense.

These aren’t just ethereal ideas. These are concepts I’ve learned and used to propel me in my career and business. Anyone can apply these to gain an edge in any vocation or walk of life.

Tactic: Active Defense

Active defense doesn’t mean passively waiting to be attacked. Anticipating threats and striking first to control the engagement is how you execute active defense.

Someone is positioning to attack your credibility, your project, or your resources. You see it coming but haven't been hit yet. Most wait to react after the damage is done. The formidable move ahead with bold trust for their instincts.

In military operations, active defense means detecting threats early and disrupting them before they can fully develop. In business and life, this means addressing challenges proactively, clarifying your position before they twist it, reinforcing weak points before they're exploited, and setting the narrative before others do.

What has been forming in your life recently that fits this descriptor?

When you see a threat forming, don't wait for the attack. Act decisively to neutralize it on your terms.

Technique: Counter-Attack

The best response to an attack is hitting back harder and faster than they expected. Once the fight is on, you may as well be the one fighting the hardest.

You've been challenged publicly…

Someone questioned your competence, undermined your authority, or tried to sabotage your momentum. If you only defend, you look weak. If you ignore it, you lose ground. The formidable strike back with precision.

Counter-attack exploits the enemy's momentum against them - waiting for them to commit, then striking their exposed weakness.

In business and life, this means responding with evidence that not only disproves their attack but demonstrates their incompetence. Don't just defend your position, expose their flaws, redirect attention to their failures, and make them regret engaging.

Simply mirroring their behavior is often enough to defeat them, as they’re not used to having their tactics turned against them.

A well-executed counter-attack doesn't just protect you, it destroys their credibility.

Some will prey on your decency. It takes resolve to remember they were the aggressor.

DO NOT LET OTHERS PREY ON YOUR DECENCY.

Procedure: Forward Defense

The strongest defense is projected out, it's positioned where the enemy has to fight on your terms, far from what you're protecting.

You're protecting a project, reputation, or strategic advantage.

Instead of waiting for problems to reach you, you want to intercept them early, before they gain momentum and before they threaten what matters most.

In military strategy, forward defense positions forces at the perimeter, far from the main objective, so threats are neutralized before they reach critical assets.

In business and life, this means establishing boundaries, monitoring for threats early, and addressing challenges while they're still manageable. Set clear expectations with stakeholders, build tripwires that alert you to trouble, and engage problems at the periphery, not at your core.

By defending forward, you keep battles away from what you value most.

FIGHT WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT. NOT WHERE YOU’RE FORCED TO. 

Inspiration: General George S. Patton

General George S. Patton, one of the most aggressive and successful American commanders in World War II, believed that "the best defense is a good offense."

His philosophy centered on maintaining offensive momentum and never allowing the enemy to dictate the terms of engagement. Patton emphasized speed, audacity, and relentless forward movement. He understood that staying on the offensive kept the enemy off balance and prevented them from organizing effective counter-attacks. His rapid advances through France and Germany in 1944-1945 demonstrated how aggressive action could serve as the ultimate form of defense.

Patton’ s philosophy shows that true strength isn't found in aggression alone, but in the disciplined readiness to respond with overwhelming capability when necessary.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Director of Instruction, Cavalry School (August 1937 – July 1938)

• Commander, 5th Cavalry (July–December 1938)

• Commander, 3rd Cavalry (December 1938 – July 1940)

• Commander, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division (16 Jul 1940 – Nov 1940)

• Commanding General, 2nd Armored Division (Nov 1940 to 14 Jan 1942)

• Commanding General, I Armored Corps (15 January – 5 August 1942)

• Commanding General, London Base Command (6 August – 7 November 1942)

• Commanding General, Western Task Force – (8 Nov 1942 – 8 Jan 1943)

• Commanding General, I Armored Corps (9 January – 3 March 1943)

• Commanding General, II Corps (4 March – 14 April 1943)

• Commanding General, I Armored Corps (15 April – 9 July 1943)

• Commanding General, 7th Army (10 July 1943 – 25 January 1944)

• Commanding General, 3rd Army (26 January 1944 – 6 October 1945)

• Commanding General, 15th Army (7 October – 21 December 1945)

Outbrief

*Anticipate threats early with Active Defense.

*Strike back decisively with Counter-Attack.

*Keep threats at bay with Forward Defense.

General Patton's legacy reminds us that the best defense is an aggressive one - built on anticipation, decisive action, and the willingness to engage threats before they threaten what matters. By applying these principles, you'll maintain control of every engagement and keep your adversaries off balance.

Stay direct. Stay focused. Stay formidable.

*Starting a business is easier than you think with the right hep. I offer full consulting and launch services for new solopreneurs and one-person businesses. Visit formidablefunction.net - we get you into business in days, not weeks, saving you precious time and money. We build your complete Minimum Viable Infrastructure (MVI) including website, custom domain, business email, payment setup, social media presence, newsletter, and MVP launch.

You can also email me at [email protected] 

**And if you’re looking for a practical tool to keep your notes, plans, and strategies sharp and organized, I recommend picking up the Lockebook - a minimalist, military-inspired notebook designed to streamline your thinking and keep your goals front and center. You can find it here.

Thank you very much for reading.

Genuinely,

Ryan “DQ” DeQuiroz