Most criminals are opportunistic predators. They select their victims based on several cues from their vast experience of perpetrating crimes. But it is nearly impossible to be on “high alert” all the time. If you are well versed in staying in tune with your environment, the opportunity to pick up on pre-attack cues can provide a major tactical advantage. This can be summed up into what I call advanced situational awareness, a critical skill for enhancing personal safety, particularly in the current state of high crime nationwide. It involves more than just being aware of your surroundings; it requires the ability to anticipate potential threats and respond appropriately. Here are some advanced techniques to help you stay safe and maintain control in challenging environments.
- Cooper Color Code of Awareness
- Modern Methods of Scanning
- The Need to Act and How
- Better Understanding Human Behavior
- Tips for Honing Your Situational Awareness Skills
While on active duty traveling throughout the world to various hot spots or combat zones, it was implied to always be on high alert. I’m skeptical it can be sustained for long durations, but in these environments, there is no real choice. The benefit to being exposed to danger at an early age was developing a lifelong habit of keeping my “head on a swivel.” The cycle was simple enough, once outside-the-compound instinct took over. It started with a realization danger existed, almost everywhere. We moved through the battlespace anticipating an ambush based off our past experiences. As we would get closer to the target, the threat of ambush would increase; our posture would increase to match. Once on target, it was full bore at full speed. As we departed the target from a successful hit, the party was just getting started since everyone knew the Americans were in the neighborhood. Fighting our way back to basecamp seemed to be the most stressful and it wasn’t until we were safe or safer in our compound could we relax. Today’s armed citizen cycles through a similar process, albeit without the threat of bombs and RPGs.
The Basics of Awareness
I was formally introduced to the Cooper Color Code system as an instructor at the famed Gunsite Academy in Arizona. It was here I first heard the Color Code brief developed by Jeff Cooper. It was an organized system that categorizes levels of awareness into four stages. The colors start with white, then move to yellow, orange and finish at red. As the colors move closer to red, the urgency and danger is increasing. While this may be the first time some are learning about the Color Codes, I can promise it has been used in some form or another by just about everyone. Think of the colors like a light, starting with white being closest to candlelight. Yellow is closer to a flood beam; Orange is a spotlight and Red is a laser. Condition White is referenced as unaware and unprepared, a state of complete relaxation and generally unsafe in public spaces. Yellow is referenced as relaxed awareness, a broad awareness of the surroundings to identify anything unusual. Orange is focused awareness, a potential threat or anomaly has been identified and preparation to act if necessary is being loaded. Red is high, fixated alert, a specific threat has been identified with a coiled readiness to immediately act. It is a good idea to strive to be in Condition Yellow when in public, transitioning to Orange or Red as the situation dictates.
Establishing Baselines to Identify Anomalies
Now that we have a system, how do we employ said system in the wild? We use environmental scanning techniques. Environmental scanning involves systematically observing your surroundings to identify potential threats. For this to be successful, a baseline needs to be established with what is considered normal for the environment and typically includes behaviors, sounds and activities. With these baselines in place it allows us to look for any deviations or anomalies. This would include unusual behaviors, out of place objects or anything that doesn’t fit. It is these anomalies that will raise the alert level. Anomalies are not the only thing we are looking for during these scans. Look for escape routes, ballistic cover or a place to hide with the goal of constantly improving the position. Don’t forget, the best escape route or cover might be to the rear. Scanning is a physical skill, but seeing is a learned skill. Knowing what to look for or good positions in case of danger takes time to develop.
How To Use the OODA Loop
Advanced scanning techniques are only one cog in our wheel; there is still the need to act. Probably the hardest concept to teach is not how to act, but when—when do you move to cover, use escape route or hide. It may seem simple in theory, but it still requires awareness. A good tool to incorporate is the OODA Loop, a tool developed by military strategist John Boyd. It stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. This decision-making process can be applied to enhance situational awareness. The loop is in a perpetual cycle, almost never ending. Of major importance is to understand that the bad guys are processing through their own loop. Typically they are in the “act” phase, when the victim is in the “observe” phase. The trick is to reverse the roles. To do so means understanding them a bit more.
- Observe. Gather information from your surroundings using all senses.
- Orient. Quickly analyze and synthesize the information to understand the situation.
- Decide. Make a decision based on the analysis. This could range from taking no action to evasive maneuvers.
- Act. Swiftly and decisively implant the plan.
If you go back to the Color Code, paying attention to the environment will generally start in yellow. As the data is studied, it is either discarded as unharmful or the alert level is ascended to orange. As more data is gathered, the optimal choices are loaded with the primary being the go-to decision. Condition red is the action in the OODA Loop. As a potential victim, not only is the goal to avoid danger, but recognize it early and then take steps to reverse the rolls and put the attacker in the observation role. This can be accomplished with almost anything they were not expecting and therefore must reorganize to the new situation.
Instincts and Body Language
At a certain point, trusting instincts is the best tool. The subconscious mind often picks up on danger before the conscious mind does. Trust the gut feelings and instincts. If something feels off, act. It is also helpful to understand a bit about behavioral analysis. Understanding human behavior is key to anticipating potential threats. Start by studying and recognizing the cues such as body language, micro-expressions and proxemics. Nervous behavior— fidgeting, avoiding eye contact or scanning the area—can indicate malicious intent. Micro-expressions include brief, involuntary facial expressions revealing a person’s true feelings, even if they are trying to hide them. Proxemics is the big one. Be leery of how people move within your personal space. Someone moving too close without a valid reason should be considered a threat until proven otherwise. The action taken to thwart an attack starts by recognizing proximity. Keeping a safe distance will not only help, but those who continue to encroach move from possible, to probable attackers.
Practicing Observation Skills
Believe it or not, regularly practicing situational awareness in various environments is not too difficult. Grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down with a newspaper is a great way to people watch. Observing behavior, body language and their wardrobe can be a great way to speed up this process. The more times observations skills are utilized, the more honed they become. It is helpful to practice various threat scenarios and your reaction. Talking them out load can help identify the various steps within the OODA Loop. This alone can reduce your reaction time and improve the accuracy of your decision making. When I’m asked what I think is the single greatest response to a deadly force threat, it is almost impossible to provide a single answer. Over the years I’ve evolved my thinking, and physical fitness is the best answer I can provide. Maintaining a high level of physical fitness will ensure a quick and timely response. Not to mention the ability to move quickly, carry objects or loved ones and navigate obstacles. Outside of criminal threats, one of the greatest threats to Americans is being unhealthy. There is so much value in making fitness a priority outside of self-defense, but it is one of the least likely strategies. Basic body weight movements and sprinting make up the simplest activities that will go a long way towards improving your survivability across the board.
Integrating these advanced situational awareness techniques into the daily routine, can significantly enhance personal safety. Remember, the goal is to stay alert, anticipate potential threats and be prepared to act if necessary. Understanding the Cooper Color Code system can provide a proportionate method for responding to an unknown threat. Understanding the OODA Loop and the attack cycle gives the intended victim the opportunity to flip the scenario. Relying on instincts of what “feels” bad has a lot to do with understanding human behavior. Observing body language and proximity provide the opportunity to anticipate next actions. Stay vigilant and proactive in protecting yourself and your loved ones.
