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Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.
The Tactical Shoulder Bag
By Phil
Elmore
Many office denizens tote their gear in briefcases. I
was one of them for years. Over time, however, I’ve come to believe that
a bag with a shoulder strap offers the martialist more advantages when on the
go and in times of emergency.
First and foremost, the shoulder strap of a good bag frees
your hands. It can be placed across your body, securing it but
permitting freedom of movement unlike a briefcase, which is locked into one
fist. Normally you should place the strap over your strong-side shoulder
so the bag rides on your weak side, leaving your strong side hand free to draw
a weapon carried in your pocket or behind your hip.
Carrying a bag means having a way to tote gear you might not
carry on your person. I know some of you carry so much stuff on your
belt that you might as well be Batman (Batmen?), but there’s an easier way.
Clip or strap items to your tactical office bag. I place my mobile phone
on my bag and have added a Xenon-bulb tactical light for emergencies.
The case for the light houses extra lithium batteries, too.
You must tailor the contents of your bag to your specific
needs. As a writer and a myope, I carry a tiny eyeglass repair kit and
extra eye drops. If you wear contact lenses, you should carry extra
contact lens solution. I also carry plenty of pens and pencils (which
can do double duty as stabbing implements), my camera and tape recorder, my
organizer, and numerous files and pads of paper.
If you take prescription medication, keep a supply of your
meds on hand in your bag. Plan ahead for emergencies and include all the
“consumables” of which you can think including any and all supplies you use
regularly and must replace.
While you’re doing that, make sure to include emergency
gadgetry. I have my Pock-Its
emergency kit and a great multi-tool knife that was a gift from my lovely
wife.
The tactical office bag is really just a function of common
sense. Do some planning and packing ahead of time and you’ll be glad
that you did. When you’re at the office, you’re away from home.
As commuters in New York City found out on September 11, there are times when
“home” seems impossibly far away. At those times, all you have on which
to rely is what you carried to the office that day.
Brainstorm, experiment, and pack your
tactical bag before you need it.