Question: how to improve situational awareness

[nmap]

Recent events in San Antonio have encouraged me to seek out ways and methods to improve my situational awareness; unfortunately, I haven't got a clue how to proceed.

Here's an example of what's motivating the question:

Police say a female bandit has struck again, this time holding up some girls at the Huebner Oaks shopping center just before 4 p.m. Wednesday.

It's the fourth such crime in a string of robberies at San Antonio shopping centers.

In the latest incident, three young girls had just left Starbucks and were approached by a woman they described as "nice" who appeared to be lost and was asking for directions.

The woman threatened the girls with a silver handgun right in front of Starbucks and demanded their purses.

LINK

This is just a sample of some of the events going on here; but the key issue is that someone approaches a group and asks directions. On the surface, it gives the appearance of being innocent, when in fact it is not.

I noticed on the "Team Sergeant's Baby Back Ribs" thread ( LINK ), reply #10, that x SF med noted the flooring in an image on post #9. Clearly, that's impressive situational awareness! I would have been far too busy inspecting the ribs to ever notice the floor.

By the way - I did a naive search on the keywords situational awareness, and did not come up with any specifics. Various items seem to refer to it, but they do not delve into the details of developing or improving it. NDD's thread on mindset is filled with a treasure trove of great information, but my question seems to be outside the details addressed there. I also did a wildcard search (situation* aware*) - the resulting 194 threads did not seem to address the particular issue any better than did the direct search. BMT's thread with the specific title ( LINK )was well worth reading, of course - but also wasn't exactly what I needed...

So - any hints or exercises for developing (or improving) SA? All thoughts and guidance appreciated.

[The Reaper]

You can work on your active SA, but your passive is much harder to learn.

I can tell you that if you go outside on a quiet night, close your eyes, and sit quietly while listening intently, and try to identify the sounds that you can hear, you will notice things that you did not even know you could detect, but again, that is an active SA thing.

Nature does a good job of this through Darwinism, and if society did not protect stupid and non-SA people, they would quickly cease to exist within a few generations. I would think that combat does the same thing for non-SA individuals, though God loves some fools anyway, and looks after them.

People who bop along through life obliviously, with an iPod on full blast and their head down walking or running on the streets are good examples.

Good luck.

TR

[RTK]

Kim's Games automatically come to mind in training the brain to be able to decipher what we see. I use them a lot in training scouts and new armor officers, though they don't know they're being tested at the time. After a while they begin to pickup on the more "mundane" details of the world around them.

[Pete]

They were sitting in a Starbucks chatting away.

Did any of them glance out the window at the parking lot and notice the woman standing out there? Yes or No? Was she standing or walking around? Yes or No? As they stepped out did she just appear from nowhere? Yes or No?

People don't just pop up out of nowhere. They come from someplace and go somewhere.

We've beaten the Mall Parking lot to death in a number of threads here. Far too many people coming out of stores look but do not see the people in the parking lot. Who was leaning on a wall and started on an intercept course to you? Who changed their direction as you walked into the parking lot. Do you change course and then they change thier course? Are they wearing cloths that mask their features - like a hood?


You have to start with the basics.

[mdb23]

When I first started police work, my FTO would be driving around, shooting the breeze with me, when he would suddenly stop the car..... "how many thugs were standing on the porch we just passed? What did they have on? Did you see the one dart inside as we drove by?"

He would do the same thing with cars....... "What was the plate on that car we passed? How many people were in it? Did they make eye contact? Did they look out of place?"

He constantly tested me, grilled me, got me in a habit of looking at everyone, pausing at all intersections and looking (really looking) all around before creeping through, driving with my windows down so I could listen to what was happening in the city (as opposed to the new breed of officer who drives around with his iPod plugged into the dash and A/C on).

Eight years later, I'm doing the same thing to rookies. It's a skill that takes development and practice.

For you, I would remember the following three things........ Hands, demeanor, clothes. Let me explain....

First of all, my head is always on the swivel. It drives my wife nuts, because I am always looking around whenever we are out. I try to observe everyone that is around me...... I don't talk on cell phones when I'm out walking around, no iPod, I'm observing. Nothing crazy, but I am looking for things out of the ordinary...... my goal is to see you before you see me --- always. What kind of car did you get out of? Did it have plates, or had they been removed (bad sign) was the wing window punched out of the car, or was the lock punched out of the trunk (stolen auto)? Is anyone waiting in the car? Did you park in an unusual place?

Next thing that look at are the hands of the people in my AO...... I want to see where your hands are, because they (in nearly every case) are what is going to hurt me.... hands are what punch, kick, stab, and pull triggers...... So I look for your hands..... are they out and swinging at your sides? Are they down the front of your pants? Tucked under a hoodie? In the pocket of a baggy coat? If I can't see your hands, then I keep a little closer eye on you, maybe create a little distance until I can assess the situation more...

I then check out the demeanor of the people...... most criminals aren't Cool Hand Luke...... they are scared sh*tless and/or are high on drugs or needing a fix...... so I take a look.... is one dude acting nervous, anxious, or stressed out? Is he sweating in the dead of winter? Does he look fidgety? Are his teeth rotted out ( a sign of meth use), or are his lips burned and chapped white (crack head)? Is he looking down or acting like he's trying to hide his face as he approaches? Do I see track marks anywhere on his arms? Or scabs that would indicate a habit? If so, I keep an eye on him... maybe start making a little mental plan about where I might take cover if he pulls a gun.... look at my surroundings..... just little things.

I also notice clothing...... are you wearing a hoodie in the middle of the summer? Are your clothes soiled or severly out dated (sign of drug addiction)? Are you wearing shorts and a wife beater in the dead of winter? Are you wearing clothes that could conceal a weapon? If so, I make a mental note. If not, then you are down a notch on my threat scale.

Considering that I am usually armed, I also give a quick glance to every building that I am in to decide where my "safe route" is going to be should the bullets start flying.....decide where I am going to put my family....... it only takes a second, and after a while, it is second nature. You do it without thinking.

The best thing that you can do is train yourself to stop, slow down, and just listen and look at what's going on around you. It's really that simple. Before you walk through that parking lot, pause and see if you hear anything moving, or see anyone walking around. Like Reaper said, we are biologically programmed to do this stuff, we just have to "get into the groove" of doing it.

Keep in mind, though, that I get 40-50 hours of practice per week doing this stuff at work...... it is second nature to do it when I am off. I honestly can't drive by a car without counting the people in it or looking for signs of a stolen ride. It's almost ADHD' esque. LOL

Hope this made sense....

[nmap]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

You can work on your active SA, but your passive is much harder to learn.

Thank you, Sir. I had not even realized that passive SA might exist. Perhaps it is developed as a subconscious skill through long practice, as mdb23 hints? I'll try the night sounds exercise - the city has a wealth of different sounds, some pleasant, some otherwise.

On the plus side, I'm not guilty of using ipods or cell-phones. I try to maintain some degree of alertness. But if any thoughts occur to you about how I might augment my abilities, I'd be grateful to hear them.

Originally Posted by RTK

Kim's Games automatically come to mind in training the brain to be able to decipher what we see.

I hadn't heard of Kim's games. That's an outstanding idea! I wonder if I could write a computer program that would accomplish the same end? That way, I wouldn't need a partner. Thank you, Sir!

Originally Posted by Pete

They were sitting in a Starbucks chatting away.

You make many good points, Sir, and I appreciate your thoughts. I hope to learn the general principles instead of focusing on specifics, such as the shopping malls you mention.

For example - one is sitting at home, reading posts on ProfessionalSoldiers.com. There is a knock at the door. Is it the neighbor bringing a pie from a restaurant in a neighboring town? Or, is it a pair of thugs intent on a home invasion? (I cheat. I use closed circuit video to check).

For example - one is asleep at home. One of the household members screams. A different person in the household grabs a firearm and finds an intruder inside; the intruder runs outside, then turns. The person with the firearm fires three shots, killing the intruder. As it turns out, the intruder was a 19 year old from a small town visiting San Antonio. He was unarmed and had no criminal history. He was visiting his sister who resides next door. Could SA have changed this? (By the way - this really happened. Here's a LINK )

I'll try to attend to the basics, as you suggest - but SA appears to be, at least partly, a learned skill. So any thoughts you might have about learning the basics would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by mdb23

For you, I would remember the following three things........ Hands, demeanor, clothes. Let me explain....

Sir, there is a wealth of information in your post! Many thanks. Everything makes perfect sense - I'll try to put it into practice as I get the opportunity.

One exercise I've been doing is trying to spot clothing that could conceal a firearm. I've had a concealed carry permit for some years - in fact, I got one right after they were made available in Texas. However, I rarely use it since I often have business on a University campus, and taking a firearm on campus is a serious crime. Anyway, it occurred to me that observing how others dressed might suggest how I should (or shouldn't) dress at those times I had the weapon with me.

So far, the optimum combination appears to be a Tommy Bahama style shirt, open, over a colored T-shirt, in combination with a pancake holster. Of course, I look a bit more closely at those sporting such clothing...


Again, thank you all for your thoughts and comments. I appreciate it very much.

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

Originally Posted by mdb23

When I first started police work, my FTO would be driving around, shooting the breeze with me, when he would suddenly stop the car..... "how many thugs were standing on the porch we just passed? What did they have on? Did you see the one dart inside as we drove by?"

He would do the same thing with cars....... "What was the plate on that car we passed? How many people were in it? Did they make eye contact? Did they look out of place?"

He constantly tested me, grilled me, got me in a habit of looking at everyone, pausing at all intersections and looking (really looking) all around before creeping through, driving with my windows down so I could listen to what was happening in the city (as opposed to the new breed of officer who drives around with his iPod plugged into the dash and A/C on).

Eight years later, I'm doing the same thing to rookies. It's a skill that takes development and practice.

For you, I would remember the following three things........ Hands, demeanor, clothes. Let me explain....

First of all, my head is always on the swivel. It drives my wife nuts, because I am always looking around whenever we are out. I try to observe everyone that is around me...... I don't talk on cell phones when I'm out walking around, no iPod, I'm observing. Nothing crazy, but I am looking for things out of the ordinary...... my goal is to see you before you see me --- always. What kind of car did you get out of? Did it have plates, or had they been removed (bad sign) was the wing window punched out of the car, or was the lock punched out of the trunk (stolen auto)? Is anyone waiting in the car? Did you park in an unusual place?

Next thing that look at are the hands of the people in my AO...... I want to see where your hands are, because they (in nearly every case) are what is going to hurt me.... hands are what punch, kick, stab, and pull triggers...... So I look for your hands..... are they out and swinging at your sides? Are they down the front of your pants? Tucked under a hoodie? In the pocket of a baggy coat? If I can't see your hands, then I keep a little closer eye on you, maybe create a little distance until I can assess the situation more...

I then check out the demeanor of the people...... most criminals aren't Cool Hand Luke...... they are scared sh*tless and/or are high on drugs or needing a fix...... so I take a look.... is one dude acting nervous, anxious, or stressed out? Is he sweating in the dead of winter? Does he look fidgety? Are his teeth rotted out ( a sign of meth use), or are his lips burned and chapped white (crack head)? Is he looking down or acting like he's trying to hide his face as he approaches? Do I see track marks anywhere on his arms? Or scabs that would indicate a habit? If so, I keep an eye on him... maybe start making a little mental plan about where I might take cover if he pulls a gun.... look at my surroundings..... just little things.

I also notice clothing...... are you wearing a hoodie in the middle of the summer? Are your clothes soiled or severly out dated (sign of drug addiction)? Are you wearing shorts and a wife beater in the dead of winter? Are you wearing clothes that could conceal a weapon? If so, I make a mental note. If not, then you are down a notch on my threat scale.

Considering that I am usually armed, I also give a quick glance to every building that I am in to decide where my "safe route" is going to be should the bullets start flying.....decide where I am going to put my family....... it only takes a second, and after a while, it is second nature. You do it without thinking.

The best thing that you can do is train yourself to stop, slow down, and just listen and look at what's going on around you. It's really that simple. Before you walk through that parking lot, pause and see if you hear anything moving, or see anyone walking around. Like Reaper said, we are biologically programmed to do this stuff, we just have to "get into the groove" of doing it.

Keep in mind, though, that I get 40-50 hours of practice per week doing this stuff at work...... it is second nature to do it when I am off. I honestly can't drive by a car without counting the people in it or looking for signs of a stolen ride. It's almost ADHD' esque. LOL

Hope this made sense....

I couldn't have said it any better! Heed this advice and you'll have a good chance to survive on the mean streets of any city!

BTW: mdb23, you had a great FTO!!

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by nmap

I hadn't heard of Kim's games. That's an outstanding idea! I wonder if I could write a computer program that would accomplish the same end? That way, I wouldn't need a partner. Thank you, Sir!

Start simple. Can you sit in your house and sketch your street, across left and right? Do you know where the potential points of C&C are? Can you do the same for your work route? Regular stops?

Test yourself by comparing what you remember to what is there.

The beginning of knowing what is out of place is knowing what is normal.

My .02

[NousDefionsDoc]

Great advice by very knowledgeable people.

Although I don't know shit, I will add in my two cents.

Basically what you have to do is eliminate the distractions. If you are walking - just walk. No talking on the cell phone, no reading, nothing but walking. Do one thing at a time and do it well. Pick your head up, open your eyes and see what you are seeing - not what you expect to see. Learn to tune out the crap. Focus on what you are doing.

All it takes is a conscious decision to do it and a little practice.

Most people walk around with their heads up their asses not paying attention. A lot of them have no balance - hell, some of them look like they are about to fall over with every step.

Another fun thing to do is sit somewhere and just watch them (I like bus stops). With a little effort you can pick out the bad guys. Some of the things you will see will astound and amaze you.

[nmap]

Originally Posted by Trip Wire

Heed this advice and you'll have a good chance to survive on the mean streets of any city!

Thank you, Sir. I will make a point of doing so.

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

Test yourself by comparing what you remember to what is there.

The beginning of knowing what is out of place is knowing what is normal.

Those are some great ideas! I'm embarrassed to say I couldn't do a very good job of sketching out the street, much less any of the other exercises. All too often I find myself wondering when some building or other was torn down - clearly, I have some work to do. Thank you, Sir.

Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc

Do one thing at a time and do it well. Pick your head up, open your eyes and see what you are seeing - not what you expect to see. Learn to tune out the crap. Focus on what you are doing.

I've found a lot of wisdom in your posts - your Mindset thread being one example - so I particularly appreciate your response. One of the challenges I face is internal dialog - thinking about whatever comes to mind instead of paying attention. That must surely be as bad as a cell phone.
So, I'll work on modifying my behavior.

Perhaps I'll even visit a bus stop. Thank you very much, Sir.


Clearly, I have some work to do if I am to develop SA. I think the goal is well worth the effort, and I appreciate the good advice and good counsel. Thank you all for the gift of time and knowledge your posts represent.

[Books]

I'm interested in the apparent fact that "practice makes perfect" in terms of developing SA. Furthermore, that the more one does it, the more unconcious the activity becomes. It is as though it all boils down to what a Zen Buddhist might say as, "Pay Attention!!" Which leads me to this. . . a bit of a stretch here. . .

There is some indication that Buddhist monks, folks who have thousands of hours of meditation under their belts, are able to develop pronounced changes in their brain waves. Here's an article about the Dalai Lama related to the subject.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.02/dalai.html

I've also read that meditation can be practiced wherever, whenever: doing the dishes, walking around the block, sitting, etc. What is important is the paying attention.

Ergo, is not working on SA a form of meditation, albeit a very practical form? Also, is it possible that the brainwaves of a seasoned cop or team guy change as well when either "switched on" or even walking about?

I appreciate the comments from everyone; this is good stuff for us FNGs

Books

[mdb23]

Originally Posted by Books

Also, is it possible that the brainwaves of a seasoned cop or team guy change as well when either "switched on" or even walking about?

I appreciate the comments from everyone; this is good stuff for us FNGs

Books

Speaking only for the "seasoned cop" contingent, I am going to speculate that my brain wave activity is probably within the "normal" range. We (cops) are merely gifted with a severe case of "I don't trust anyone but my mom, and half the time I wonder WTF she is up to."

In all seriousness, it just comes with deliberate practice. If you do it enough (for a living) you catch yourself doing it when you are at a bar, restaurant, etc....

There have been 4 cops shot (from my station house and the one south of it) within the past couple months. Bangers and dealers play hard, and we are often outnumbered on calls. You have to learn to assess threats quickly and effectively, or you can get hurt...... bad.

Practice makes perfect.... or at least "better" than you were before.

Best of luck.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Originally Posted by Books

I'm interested in the apparent fact that "practice makes perfect" in terms of developing SA. Furthermore, that the more one does it, the more unconcious the activity becomes. It is as though it all boils down to what a Zen Buddhist might say as, "Pay Attention!!" Which leads me to this. . . a bit of a stretch here. . .

There is some indication that Buddhist monks, folks who have thousands of hours of meditation under their belts, are able to develop pronounced changes in their brain waves. Here's an article about the Dalai Lama related to the subject.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.02/dalai.html

I've also read that meditation can be practiced wherever, whenever: doing the dishes, walking around the block, sitting, etc. What is important is the paying attention.

Ergo, is not working on SA a form of meditation, albeit a very practical form? Also, is it possible that the brainwaves of a seasoned cop or team guy change as well when either "switched on" or even walking about?

I appreciate the comments from everyone; this is good stuff for us FNGs

Books

A Soto Zen Master would smack the crap out of you for that post and yell at you to "Just sit!" or "FOCUS!"

[NousDefionsDoc]

Practice makes perfect..

Horse hockey. Perfect practice makes perfect. Crap practice makes crap.

[kachingchingpow]

Fine points all, and excellent level of detail mdb23. In teaching self defense, I've taught that posture, and an assertive appearance play an important role, and go hand in hand with SA. Head on a swivel, making eye contact, (all mentioned above) and not just looking like a target can often turn a potential attacker off, as their sizing up their target. I also passed some simple advice to everyone in our neighborhood via our homeowners newsletter. As your driving through your neighborhood, on the way out/in make eye contact and wave to everyone you see. Identification is very big deterrant to a potential theif. If you've made eye contact, and an effort to communicate with them via a wave, often they'll just move on.