Situational Awareness – Part 1
Copyright 2009 by James M. Floyd, Jr. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION
You have probably heard and/or read many times that you need to be situationally aware of your surroundings. But is that enough?
Being aware does not mean that you comprehend what is, or is about to, happen(ing). You must also be able to assess the situational and behavioral cues being presented.
According to Merriam-Webster online, awareness is defined as: “having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge.” Assessing is defined by the same website as: “to determine the importance, size, or value of <assess a problem>”
For example, you observe that a person is carrying a concealed handgun in a holster on his right hip. This is situational awareness. However, knowing and mentally processing the information from a recent study of armed offenders reveals they almost never carry in a holster, and that their preferred carry location is the front waistband, is conducting situational assessment. In this case the percentages favor that the person is a LEO or a legally armed citizen. Of course this does not mean you lower your guard, but instead it means that you may not automatically escalate your readiness condition to a higher state.
In this series we will review how to attain and maintain situational awareness, and then will move into the area of situational assessment using techniques such as threat kinesics.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Situational Awareness (SA) is utilized by public safety, military, and aviation professionals to maintain a high state of alert perception of their internal and external environments.
Many people go through life oblivious to what is going on around them in the world. They are engaging in internal dialogue, or are otherwise preoccupied. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and others refer to these people as “the sheep” (I call them “sheeple”) as they are content to just graze their way through life without perception of the wolf who is lurking in the shadows.
The transition from sheep to sheep dog begins with a change in your mindset or mental conditioning.
Mental Conditioning is practicing a conscious state of awareness, which prepares you to pull the trigger on another human being in a lethal force situation.
Criminals seek out the unaware, lackadaisical, non-confident victim as they are not seeking a fight, but rather an easy score.
Proper mental conditioning can assist you in preventing or defusing a situation before deadly force becomes necessary.
THE COLOR CODE SYSTEM
The United State Marine Corps (USMC) utilizes a color code system to teach mental conditioning. The system was adopted and modified by the late Col. Jeff Cooper and there are several variations espoused in books, classes and on the internet. The following version is taken from current USMC curriculum:
Condition White. Condition White is a state during which a person is totally vulnerable and is unaware of his surroundings. You cannot afford to be caught in this condition. It is easy to become complacent, especially when you have been on alert for months and nothing has occurred. Being caught in this mind set at the onset of an engagement will increase your chances of experiencing total panic characterized by the total inability to logically think or react.
Condition Yellow. Condition Yellow is a state of nonspecific alert. You are aware of everything going on around you and should the need arise you are prepared to act. Without practice, staying in this state of alert can become fatiguing. (NOTE: The key is to be RELAXED, BUT ALERT!)
Condition Orange. Condition Orange is a state of specific alert. You identified a dangerous situation. You have decided that a course of action is warranted. One of the rules of deadly force was met and you are prepared to respond.
Condition Red. Condition red is the state of being decisively engaged with a specific threat. The decisions have been made and the determined course of action is being taking.
CONCLUSION
Situational awareness, like firearms proficiency, is a perishable skill. To maintain your abilities you need to practice. The next time you are in public, try this exercise:
Look at every person who walks by you and determine the following 3 things…
Regards,
Jim
Copyright 2009 by James M. Floyd, Jr. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION
You have probably heard and/or read many times that you need to be situationally aware of your surroundings. But is that enough?
Being aware does not mean that you comprehend what is, or is about to, happen(ing). You must also be able to assess the situational and behavioral cues being presented.
According to Merriam-Webster online, awareness is defined as: “having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge.” Assessing is defined by the same website as: “to determine the importance, size, or value of <assess a problem>”
For example, you observe that a person is carrying a concealed handgun in a holster on his right hip. This is situational awareness. However, knowing and mentally processing the information from a recent study of armed offenders reveals they almost never carry in a holster, and that their preferred carry location is the front waistband, is conducting situational assessment. In this case the percentages favor that the person is a LEO or a legally armed citizen. Of course this does not mean you lower your guard, but instead it means that you may not automatically escalate your readiness condition to a higher state.
In this series we will review how to attain and maintain situational awareness, and then will move into the area of situational assessment using techniques such as threat kinesics.
Rule # 1: Action is always faster than reaction.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Situational Awareness (SA) is utilized by public safety, military, and aviation professionals to maintain a high state of alert perception of their internal and external environments.
Many people go through life oblivious to what is going on around them in the world. They are engaging in internal dialogue, or are otherwise preoccupied. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and others refer to these people as “the sheep” (I call them “sheeple”) as they are content to just graze their way through life without perception of the wolf who is lurking in the shadows.
The transition from sheep to sheep dog begins with a change in your mindset or mental conditioning.
Mental Conditioning is practicing a conscious state of awareness, which prepares you to pull the trigger on another human being in a lethal force situation.
Criminals seek out the unaware, lackadaisical, non-confident victim as they are not seeking a fight, but rather an easy score.
Proper mental conditioning can assist you in preventing or defusing a situation before deadly force becomes necessary.
“Fright often occurs, caused by the unexpected.”
- Miyamoto Musashi
- Miyamoto Musashi
THE COLOR CODE SYSTEM
The United State Marine Corps (USMC) utilizes a color code system to teach mental conditioning. The system was adopted and modified by the late Col. Jeff Cooper and there are several variations espoused in books, classes and on the internet. The following version is taken from current USMC curriculum:
Condition White. Condition White is a state during which a person is totally vulnerable and is unaware of his surroundings. You cannot afford to be caught in this condition. It is easy to become complacent, especially when you have been on alert for months and nothing has occurred. Being caught in this mind set at the onset of an engagement will increase your chances of experiencing total panic characterized by the total inability to logically think or react.
Condition Yellow. Condition Yellow is a state of nonspecific alert. You are aware of everything going on around you and should the need arise you are prepared to act. Without practice, staying in this state of alert can become fatiguing. (NOTE: The key is to be RELAXED, BUT ALERT!)
Condition Orange. Condition Orange is a state of specific alert. You identified a dangerous situation. You have decided that a course of action is warranted. One of the rules of deadly force was met and you are prepared to respond.
Condition Red. Condition red is the state of being decisively engaged with a specific threat. The decisions have been made and the determined course of action is being taking.
“You Should Always Be in a YELLOW State of Mind, at the Least, When In Public!"
CONCLUSION
Situational awareness, like firearms proficiency, is a perishable skill. To maintain your abilities you need to practice. The next time you are in public, try this exercise:
Look at every person who walks by you and determine the following 3 things…
- Is the person carrying a gun and/or a knife? If so, where?
- Is the person left or right hand dominant?
- Does the person appear relaxed or tense?
Regards,
Jim
