Situational Awareness

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Situational awareness is best described, for our professional purposes, as being focused, undistracted and completely aware of what is happening around you and knowing what to look for. Good situational awareness means the difference between a dead client and spotting the would-be assassin as he enters your area, becoming suspicious, tracking him and neutralizing him - before he strikes.

 

It is sometimes said that one can't be taught to be aware and to some extent, this is true. Your ability to truly "see" what is actually going on is a skill you must possess and is something that can only be improved with experience. If you don't have it, don't get into the business. However, if you do, there is no reason why you can't begin practicing and improving this valuable skill.

 

After years of being in "the business" I just naturally see what is really going on around me. While others walk along in a daze, I see drug deals going down on street corners, I can read the body language of teenagers who are up to something, I can see when the thief is about to pocket the merchandise and I can see the person who is about to attack. I can also just as easily spot the private investigator, the surveillance officer, the undercover cop and the "covert" bodyguard. Why is it that I can see this when others can't?

 

People always give themselves away when they are up to something, whether good or bad. The inexperienced surveillant or covert protection officer can draw attention to themselves by fidgeting, looking around too much or just looking uncomfortable and acting out of place, not to mention talking into their sleeves. Macho security types or cops always look like what they are, regardless of their disguise. These same things can expose the thief or the would-be assassin; unusual bulges in clothing, nervousness or bravado, darting eyes, are all a give away - if you are looking for it. Situational awareness is closely tied to professionalism, tradecraft and role playing; the better you are, the harder you are to notice. Therefore, as a professional, I do my work with confidence, doing nothing to draw attention to myself while I search the crowds or dark alleys for activities that look out of place or unnatural. My biggest fear is the professional opponent; the guy who's situational awareness is as good or better than mine, and who picks me off and I don't detect him because his role playing and confidence is so good that he does nothing to arouse my suspicions until it is too late.

 

When you are doing other tasks, practice seeing. What is the guy sitting in front of the store doing there? Why is the girl on the pay phone staring down the street? Why are the two teenage boys standing by the nice car, glancing up and down the street? Watch them, and while you are doing so, consider what you are doing. How obvious and unnatural do you look? Practice.

 

Remember, the professional sees all; no one sees the professional.

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