Things to Avoid on the Operation

[Psychlonic]

Avoid overburdening yourself. Carry only what you know you'll need and possibly a few lighter items you might need. Extra weight and bulk is only going to slow you down and make individual movement techniques unnecessarily difficult.

Avoid becoming lazy. Compass the perimeter of new doors and windows every time and take the time necessary to employ good sensor evasion techniques. Complacent operatives have short careers. You're never too good to start ignoring the basics.

Avoid gimmicks. Some flashy techniques and equipment might be tempting to employ, but ask yourself if creating smoke screens or using throwing stars is really superior than just evading into the shadows. You're not Batman.

Avoid rushing yourself out the door. Before you begin the operation, mentally play it out in your head and make sure you've got everything you need on you. Visually confirm that all equipment is present.

Avoid letting your mind wander. During long walks you might start to day dream and mindlessly continue on your way. This can put you into dangerous situations that are easily avoidable.

Avoid making unnecessary sounds. Don't be a douche and start whistling dixie obviously, but also maintain strict noise discipline on zippers, velcro, the ground, and even the radio if applicable.

Avoid ingesting certain things before the operation. No large quantities of tea, beans, anything that's going to make you start pissing and shitting all over peoples' property within the hour. It's a waste of time, and you don't want to be the guy that got caught taking a shit while trespassing.

Avoid repeating the same mistake twice. Sometimes unexpected accidents can occur, such as creating a loud noise or walking where you shouldn't go. If anyone becomes aware of this mistake, often it is shrugged off and ignored. However, when the problem repeats itself, people begin to get suspicious and investigate.

Avoid shooting alarms. There are suggestions in even the most supposedly reliable sources online to shoot PIR sensors with a high velocity weapon such as a firearm and the like to disable them. The basic knowledge that most modern alarm systems are normally closed circuits should remind you that opening the circuit with a bullet is a very stupid idea.

[Xanatos]

Avoid stalking security guards and groundskeepers and the like unless it is vital to your objective. Sometimes it's tempting to see how close you can get without being seen, but one wrong step - and it will happen - can result in compromise at the very least.

Avoid confrontations of any kind. Just because you think you can kick someone's arse, doesn't mean you should.

Avoid being seen. Duh.

...that's all I can think of for now. Intense heat + sleep deprivation = low productivity.

[Ghost]

Avoid making assumptions. Assuming that you weren't seen when you may have been spotted, assuming that there won't be anyone at a certain location, assuming that certain security measures will be a certain way, or that certain environmental conditions will not change. Basing your decisions on fact only gives you a much greater chance of meeting any challenges you will run into.

Avoid relying on your gear. Yes, it's great to have, But everything breaks eventually. keep in mind that the only thing you can rely on 100% of the time is yourself. If you op long enough, there WILL be a time when a "vital" piece of your gear lets you down. like, for example, your trusted flashlight dieing while you're moving through the middle of a pitch black swamp. at night. in the rain.

Avoid falling into a routine. Many times, your ops will take you past a certain spot over and over again. if you continually cross the same spot the same way at the same time of night, people will eventually catch on. Try to vary the routes you take, even if the quickest route is the one you always use - too much activity in any area is a bad thing. This also applies to other things as well - by being unpredictable, you increase your chances of successful escape when confronted, not to mention you increase your chances of not being confronted in the first place.

Finally, avoid putting off your operations due to *insert reason here*. There are no excuses in opping - you either do it or you don't. It is always a choice, and by choosing not to op because of unforeseen circumstances, you allow your opping skill and personal resolve to weaken. Take all obstacles in stride, and find ways to work around your situation. succumbing to an obstacle makes you a weaker person, overcoming one makes you stronger. It's up to you to choose.

[Psychlonic]

Finally, avoid putting off your operations due to *Follow Psychlonic's Link Below*. There are no excuses in opping - you either do it or you don't.

http://night-ops.net/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 660f3aeed0

Couldn't agree more.