This is another “reprint” that falls in line with this weeks “Don’t Be a Gawdam Sheep” week. We’ll have a follow-up article from Freddy tomorrow.

Read The Blue Collar OODA Loop: http://tinyurl.com/ll4bxvk

Read Mindset: more than acronyms and color codes part 1: http://tinyurl.com/kv7678t

Read Fight Like a Girl: Practical EDC vs. Frumps & Rucks: http://tinyurl.com/loe2v5b

Read Are you a soft target? http://tinyurl.com/koxpne2

Read Every Day Carry vs. Every Day Ready: http://tinyurl.com/mjh58hk

We believe everyone bears primary responsibilty for the defense of themselves and their family. Situational Awareness (SA) is obviously a huge part of that. You can be the most physically capable predator on the planet, but if you’re cluless and tuned out you’re still just well-equipped prey. Here’s a few thoughts from Freddy Osuna of Greenside Training about visual perception, SA and why training as a tracker can help make you safer – trackers use their eyes differently. You may recognize the woman who is the inspiration for his example, by the way.

Visual Perception Your First Line of Protection

By Freddy Osuna

     When it comes to individuals who carry firearms everyday situational awareness (SA) training is every bit important as weapons manipulation or marksmanship. Situational awareness is not something you master but rather something to be practiced and maintained. Visual tracking is not only a proven force multiplier but an excellent skill which increases visual situational awareness. The processes described here are the same which trackers use to identify and follow a trail. Kim is a fictional subject who we are going to use as an example of visual situational awareness. We will cover her actions before, during, and after an event: pre-penetration, penetration and extract.

1.       Pre-penetration(before the event)

    A family is planning on attending a large public event in 2 days known as the 4^th Ave. Street Fair. As the provider and protector of her family Kim decides to visualize how this day will progress. “Where should we park to ensure a safe walk to the event, as well as a safe and traffic less departure.”” Will I be taking my family through an unsafe neighborhood on foot?” “What if someone tries to rob us?” “What if someone tries to take one of my children?”” What if someone wants to assault us?”” Will there be security there?” “Are there any planned protests, and of what nature?” What is the worst that can happen and can I live with the results? What Kim is doing is a common technique used my tactical commanders. She is weighing her perceived risks vs. gains. By objectively analyzing real risks rather than assumed risks we are better prepared to handle relevant situations. Kim finds it less likely to make unintended contact while at the event itself other than the occasional bumping into one another, a belligerent drunk, or pick pocket. This to her may be acceptable risks. The risks that present during the walk from the vehicle, to and from the event may not be acceptable. Visualizing your vehicle or foot mobile route to, during, and from the event in advance may help you to identify existing threats or possible points of friction.

2.       Penetration (during the event)

     Kim and her family have made it to the fair rather uneventfully. Kim has decided to carry concealed, and opted for the tie dye wolf shirt & jeans which allow her blend into the demographic. She wears a fanny pack with level 1 survival gear which include a small med kit, extra cash, map, compass, spare mag, light, and basic necessities. Her key set has chemical, impact, and cutting weapon capabilities. Her children (2) are in bright green shirts, which can be picked out quickly in a large crowd. They have been finger printed by the local PD and registered. Kim also has photos of her children’s shoe print patterns. As Kim navigates the fair she does so in a mental manner different than the consumers and vendors around her. She anticipates her movement further in advance, looking both near and far along her path. Most people just plow along expecting the other cattle to move out of their way while they look for whatever it is they came looking for. Kim moves from point to point avoiding chance contact. Chance contact is where friction occurs, chance contact is what the predators depend on to take something from you. By looking ahead Kim can see individuals in perched positions scouting for slow Gazelle. Kim’s goal is to see them so that she may best avoid this chance contact. She trusts her instincts which have been sharpened by motherhood, training, and experience. She knows that there is no limit to the violence of men. Understanding the truth of violent men helps her to be prepared.  This environment to her is easily managed, and in fact she is having a great time with her family. Her ability to read and anticipate human behavior is liberating and allows her and her family to enjoy occasions like this with less stress than the prey animal/consumers around her have.

3.       Extract (after the event)

     Complacency kills! We are most vulnerable to attack when we least expect it. Kim does not let her guard down just because the event is over. She must now determine on their walk back that they have not picked up any baggage. This process starts at the event. If someone identifies her family as a potential prey they have two choices to get what they want from them. The 1^st being influence and the 2^nd being by force. Kim unlike the prey around her not only navigates the terrain differently, but when she does it she is using her visual memory to identify potential threats. When Kim looks at a suspicious person she takes a mental snapshot of that person and a note through association of what that person was doing and why he stood out. When it’s time to leave Kim may have 3 or 4 of these visual and mental snapshots of potential threats to her family.  Before she leaves the safety of the crowd, Kim can “post up” at a non descript location to check her 6. She conducts fast in descript visual scans using both her central and peripheral vision to match the templates of suspicious characters in her mind. If she should make a match and that persons attention seems to be focused on her, than she will confirm by running a rabbit trail. She will change her route so drastically out of the regular pattern of movement than post up again. If Kim spots the individual again than, she can take appropriate action which is to notify the authorities or confirm again with another rabbit trail. Kim trusts her instincts and her experience, she is a predator animal herself, but she does not prey on the weak, she preys on the uncompassionate men of violence. In fact she’s so good at it that she makes a damn good living at it as an officer of the peace.

Freddy Osuna

You heard the man. Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Stay inside their OODA loop and keep them out of yours. Mad Duo

Mad Duo, Breach-Bang-CLEAR!

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