Situational Awareness Series: Developing Skills

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on situational awareness, an important topic whether we’re thinking about it in our day-to-day lives. First, we discussed the OODA Loop and how we can work the loop faster. Then we covered the different levels of awareness using the color coding system. Most recently, we talked about using observations to help us recognize threats faster. Now we’re discussing a few practical exercises to increase our situational awareness.

Vision

Since it has been estimated that around 80% of our sensory input comes from vision, it’s little wonder that most of the exercises tend to be centered on our sense of vision. We see things constantly. Even if we are hearing, smelling or feeling something, we often see it as well.

But just seeing something and actually observing it aren’t the same thing. For example, we may stop at a light and see the car in front of us and maybe one in the lanes on either side. But a mere 90 seconds later, how much could you tell someone about the car on the left? You saw, but what did you actually observe? Ever look at your watch, then have to look at it again 10 seconds later because you saw the watch but didn’t really observe the time? Yeah, me too.

Practical Exercises for Vision

One exercise is to try to see what you can tell about a person. This can be done while observing people or their cars. In the car, we can observe things like what the driver is doing inside the car? Are they looking around or just straight ahead? Texting? Fixing make-up? What do the stickers on the car tell us?   Do the tires match?

People-watching is a favorite. What can we learn by watching them? What do their clothes tell us? What is their body language saying? Are they staring at a phone in Condition White or are they observing people too? How many things can you observe?

Another simple exercise is to simply pick an object for the day as you drive. For example, decide you are going to count billboards on the way to work. How many do you see? This may sound too simple at first, but there’s a method to it. The more we actively observe, the more we passively notice too. In addition, when we intentionally make it a point to observe, it starts becoming a habit and it gets easier over time to gather more and more information.

Don’t believe me? Think about when you bought a new car. Maybe you bought a new white Ford. All of a sudden, you see white Fords everywhere. Ford didn’t suddenly start selling more white cars, you just became more aware of them.

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Include Family or Friends

Another exercise can be played with other adults, or your kids, as you train them to be observers. When you go into a restaurant or store, look at the exits, how many people are behind the counter, what were the people at the next table wearing, things like that. On the drive home, see who can remember the most stuff. Kids will get into it and be learning good habits at the same time.

 A Note on Kim’s Game

Quite often when this topic comes up, someone brings up Kim’s Game. This is an observational exercise portrayed in Rudyard Kipling’s novel Kim, where the main character uses this exercise as part of his training as a spy.

Here’s how it works:  A variety of small objects, usually 10 to 20, are placed on a tray or table. The objects should be distinct from one another and can include items like keys, coins, toys, or household items. Participants are given a specific amount of time, typically between 30 seconds to a few minutes, to observe the objects. During this time, they should try to memorize as many details as possible, including the type, color, shape, and arrangement of the items. Then the items are removed from view and the participant has to write down all the items.

It has merit, but I think it has achieved some mythical status. Look at what I suggested for family and friends. Same principle. However, it is done in real-time and anywhere you want. Personally, I find that more effective and more likely to be done regularly. But make your own choices.

Don’t Forget the Other Senses

Situational awareness isn’t just visual. What are you hearing? Can you track movement by listening? What can you tell about something just by the sound? What do you smell? Is there something unusual? What can the smell alert you to? 

When I was on patrol, I had a habit of leaving my window down (sometimes a struggle in the South Florida heat) because I heard and smelled things that I may have otherwise missed. Hearing an argument in the distance, smelling marijuana smoke or hearing breaking glass all lead to arrests that probably wouldn’t have happened with the windows up and AC on high.

A Good Start

These are just a few suggestions. You can probably come up with your own games and exercises. Or maybe you already have. If you have, please tell us about them in the comment section.

These are a good start, but they are just a start. Good observation skills need to be exercised frequently to be effective. The ultimate goal is to get to the point where you are constantly observing without effort. If you’d like to get information about having Better Protectors do Situational Awareness training for your group, contact us.

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