I recently began exercising my 2nd amendment rights by purchasing a g17 rtf2. I am currently practicing my marksmanship at the local range before I go get my ccw. In addition to being able to use my firearm for defense, I want to train myself so I wont need to use it. I have heard a term called situational awareness but I am not sure what it means. Also I am curious on how does one go about spotting ccer's and plain clothes cop/security?
What is situtational awarness
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Read Cooper's "Principles of Self-Defense." It's a good start.
Get some training at a good school.
You'll be well on your way to understanding "situational awareness."
Get some training at a good school.
You'll be well on your way to understanding "situational awareness."
IMO: Situational awareness has nothing to do with CCing or spotting other CCers etc. It has to do with knowing what is around you. How many people are around you? What is their emotional state (anxious, uneasy, etc)? Basically I consider it like driving down a busy interstate. You check your mirrors, you know what is behind you, in front of you, and to the sides of you, you see the guy coming up fast on your rear, etc.
Just a general awareness of your surroundings. Things like if that guy is acting weird or if that lady is about to start a fight. You might want to keep an eye out for concealment, cover, and exits.
I always compare it to driving. When you drive, you try to be aware of where the other cars are in relation to you. You also notice when people are driving like crap so you can stay away.
Defensive driving = situation awareness.
I always compare it to driving. When you drive, you try to be aware of where the other cars are in relation to you. You also notice when people are driving like crap so you can stay away.
Defensive driving = situation awareness.
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It is being aware of the situation you are in at all times. Whether driving in your car, walking down the street or sitting in a restaurant. Do you know what is happening around you? Do you know where exits are? are you paying attention to the guy in the winter coat who just walked in the restaurant in the middle of July? if so you have situational awareness.
Some people are completely oblivious to their surroundings. They are the proverbial "sheep". The sheep dog has situational awareness and protects the flock.
Some people are completely oblivious to their surroundings. They are the proverbial "sheep". The sheep dog has situational awareness and protects the flock.
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Some very good replies here. It's basically being aware of your surroundings. What's going on around you. Who is around you. Observing body language is something that can come into play here. How people are acting, and sometimes anticipating their actions based on this as well. Preemptive strike has been one of my favorite mottos in life, basically making the first move, or taking action to avoid something altogether.
I can use myself as a perfect example. I'm a daily Starbucks patron. I go in the morning before work, and on my lunch break, and I usually sit there for a good 45 minutes while I enjoy my coffee. In my city, we have quite a few vagrants, as well as lots of pill addicts that have no jobs and basically live off of welfare and mooch whatever they can to feed their addiction. The Starbucks is right across the street from the hospital as well. Frequently these people like to use Starbucks as a place to sit, hang out, loider, mooch, etc. While walking in, I've already spotted the person who after I order and go outside to sit down, is going to ask me for a cigarette, and or a ride, and or to use my phone to make a call. I'd say about 85% my gut is dead on. This allows me to prepare to react ahead of time. My responses are usually that packs dont come with an extra cigarette, otherwise there would be 21 per pack. That I'm going the complete opposite direction. That my IPhone is out of minutes. They usually get the hint.
Situational awareness can be applied in many different ways. Always good to be aware of the world around you, especially if it could make the difference in saving your life.
OutdoorHub Mobile, the information engine of the outdoors.
I can use myself as a perfect example. I'm a daily Starbucks patron. I go in the morning before work, and on my lunch break, and I usually sit there for a good 45 minutes while I enjoy my coffee. In my city, we have quite a few vagrants, as well as lots of pill addicts that have no jobs and basically live off of welfare and mooch whatever they can to feed their addiction. The Starbucks is right across the street from the hospital as well. Frequently these people like to use Starbucks as a place to sit, hang out, loider, mooch, etc. While walking in, I've already spotted the person who after I order and go outside to sit down, is going to ask me for a cigarette, and or a ride, and or to use my phone to make a call. I'd say about 85% my gut is dead on. This allows me to prepare to react ahead of time. My responses are usually that packs dont come with an extra cigarette, otherwise there would be 21 per pack. That I'm going the complete opposite direction. That my IPhone is out of minutes. They usually get the hint.
Situational awareness can be applied in many different ways. Always good to be aware of the world around you, especially if it could make the difference in saving your life.
OutdoorHub Mobile, the information engine of the outdoors.
I've seen this covered before. I thought it had to do with the 5 stages of awareness.
White. Unprepared or Unaware. (ex. Walking down street with earbuds)
Yellow. Relaxed awareness. (ex. Noticing people around you, taking corner turns with a wide berth to the corner to prevent surprises)
Orange. Unspecified alert. Ready to go weapon accessible. (ex. People moving towards you, someone following)
Red. Armed encounter. Facing threat. (ex. do you really need one?)
Black. Lethal assault in process. (SHTF)
nc19
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White. Unprepared or Unaware. (ex. Walking down street with earbuds)
Yellow. Relaxed awareness. (ex. Noticing people around you, taking corner turns with a wide berth to the corner to prevent surprises)
Orange. Unspecified alert. Ready to go weapon accessible. (ex. People moving towards you, someone following)
Red. Armed encounter. Facing threat. (ex. do you really need one?)
Black. Lethal assault in process. (SHTF)
nc19
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The color code system is a way of describing and teaching situation awareness. There are a couple of versions of it. The first and most popular was developed by Col. Jeff Cooper.
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This is a good example of someone with limited situational awareness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt6mXicTOTY
Extrapolate.
Regards,
Happyguy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt6mXicTOTY
Extrapolate.
Regards,
Happyguy
One part of situational awareness that I didn't notice in the above responses is being aware of exit strategies and cover locations--formulating a plan should a perceived threat present itself. We do this, also, with our driving (or should!). As someone stated above, we need to be aware of the cars around us and the changing dynamics. But we also need to have a plan. "OK, if a deer runs in front of the car in front of me, he's gonna slam on his brakes. How could I avoid becoming involved in an accident should the unexpected arise."
Similarly, if I'm walking down the street and notice a person or persons that make me uncomfortable, I can attempt to avoid them by crossing the street. If they, then, cross the street, my threat level increases. Now I'm looking for escape routes (open stores, etc.) and cover locations from which I can shoot and be relatively protected should things escalate to that level.
I know this is kind of rambling, so please forgive me. But I think you get the idea.
Similarly, if I'm walking down the street and notice a person or persons that make me uncomfortable, I can attempt to avoid them by crossing the street. If they, then, cross the street, my threat level increases. Now I'm looking for escape routes (open stores, etc.) and cover locations from which I can shoot and be relatively protected should things escalate to that level.
I know this is kind of rambling, so please forgive me. But I think you get the idea.
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Exit strategy is important. The whole "have a plan to kill everyone in the room" does have some merit.
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The definition I use in my classes is the one developed by Dr. Mica Endsley:
"Situational awareness involves being aware of what is happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will impact your goals and objectives, both now and in the near future" - Dr. Mica Endsley
Goes on saying that there are 3 different levels of:
Perception:
the most basic level involves the processes of monitoring, and simple recognition, which lead to an awareness of multiple situational elements (objects, events, people, systems, environmental factors) and their current states (locations, conditions, modes, actions).
Comprehension
requires integrating this information to understand how it will impact upon the individual's goals and objectives. This includes developing a comprehensive picture of the world, or of that portion of the world of concern to the individual.
Projection
achieved through knowledge of the status and dynamics of the elements and comprehension of the situation, and then extrapolating this information forward in time to determine how it will affect future states of the operational environment.
To summarize I like to have students consider playing the "what if" game during normal daily activity. What if that guy is following me, what will I do? What if that person is tailing me on the roads, what will I do? What if there is a bank robbery while waiting for the next teller, what will I do?
Good Read shared with us during the DPS CHL Instructor Class: [FONT=TimesNewRoman,Bold][FONT=TimesNewRoman,Bold]On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman
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Be Safe,
Doc
"Situational awareness involves being aware of what is happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will impact your goals and objectives, both now and in the near future" - Dr. Mica Endsley
Goes on saying that there are 3 different levels of:
Perception:
the most basic level involves the processes of monitoring, and simple recognition, which lead to an awareness of multiple situational elements (objects, events, people, systems, environmental factors) and their current states (locations, conditions, modes, actions).
Comprehension
requires integrating this information to understand how it will impact upon the individual's goals and objectives. This includes developing a comprehensive picture of the world, or of that portion of the world of concern to the individual.
Projection
achieved through knowledge of the status and dynamics of the elements and comprehension of the situation, and then extrapolating this information forward in time to determine how it will affect future states of the operational environment.
To summarize I like to have students consider playing the "what if" game during normal daily activity. What if that guy is following me, what will I do? What if that person is tailing me on the roads, what will I do? What if there is a bank robbery while waiting for the next teller, what will I do?
Good Read shared with us during the DPS CHL Instructor Class: [FONT=TimesNewRoman,Bold][FONT=TimesNewRoman,Bold]On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman
[/FONT][/FONT]
Be Safe,
Doc
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If your situational awareness is up to snuff, and you're ever faced with an attack, you will have seen it coming and started taking the appropriate measures to try to survive/escape/evade before it ever happens.
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This is a lot easier to remember....
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I would see it as being "part of the environment you are in" as opposed to being a spectator, looking in from the outside (or not looking in at all!) and being "in the moment", rather than being in yesterday or tomorrow.
I have been practicing when walking my dog in the evening. How close is that jogger, coming up behind you, before you notice him? How close were you before you noticed the lady, sitting in the shadows of her porch talking on her cell phone, before you noticed her? How soon did you notice the chap coming around his house to get the lawn tools in the front yard?
I find that the distances keep getting longer and longer as I practice. I now pick up a jogger or bicyclist when they first turn onto the street, or at least a block away, even when behind me.
I also find that I am becoming more aware of the nice breezes upon my skin, the odors of flowers, and the stars in the sky too.
I have been practicing when walking my dog in the evening. How close is that jogger, coming up behind you, before you notice him? How close were you before you noticed the lady, sitting in the shadows of her porch talking on her cell phone, before you noticed her? How soon did you notice the chap coming around his house to get the lawn tools in the front yard?
I find that the distances keep getting longer and longer as I practice. I now pick up a jogger or bicyclist when they first turn onto the street, or at least a block away, even when behind me.
I also find that I am becoming more aware of the nice breezes upon my skin, the odors of flowers, and the stars in the sky too.
I ask this because I want to cap someone or I am paranoid. The whole reason why I am getting my ccw is the area around the university campus has been getting pretty unsafe the past few year and almost every week we get an email about someone who was mugged at gun/knife point or had their place broken into while they were home around campus. The latest one was at location across the street from where the campus is and I use to think that area was considered a "safe" part of the city and I would go to many of the stores in that area. I know I cannot carry on campus but I want to be able to avoid these situations if I can regardless if I am carrying or not. Alot of the things mentioned are habits I already do. I have had a share of encounters in the city that could have turned south very easily if I was caught off guard or as the naive as I looked being young.
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When you took drivers ed they talk about defensive driving, its like that. By being aware you are moving the decision loop process ahead. You recognize the threat earlier and can make a real decision rather than be forced into a hasty reaction. This has a lot of advantages. You can take evasive measures rather than be forced into a confrontation and if you do have to fight you know your options better and had time to think about it.
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