This article you should not only save, but also burn it into your memory for the finer points mentioned. As you Guys and Gals out there in ReadyNutrition Land have deduced from the title, situational awareness is a topic covered before in many different articles and it is important all the time.
You must blend that situational awareness with actions to take immediately upon the perception that a situation has arrived. Notice I said “perception” and not confirmation. Know why? Because you need to react accordingly with the perception: the confirmation may be too late.
Scoffers are already picking this one apart, thinking “OK, well, you react…what if you overreact and nothing was really wrong?” Guess what? I wrote “accordingly with the perception,” meaning that if you are acting accordingly, you’re not overreacting and therefore not responding/taking action with more than what is necessary.
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React accordingly, and after you’re in the clear, then you can assess everything that has happened.
Here’s the reason I’m writing this article:
The other day I parked my vehicle and was getting ready to walk into an establishment. Just as I left the vehicle, two state troopers pulled up: one in front of my vehicle (head to head) and another slightly off to the first vehicle’s left, but facing mine as well. A trooper left each vehicle, and although they had sunglasses on their attention was riveted to me. They watched me and began to follow me as I walked toward the establishment.
Having nothing to worry about, I continued toward the building; however, my logic is that the time to worry is when there is nothing to worry about. This is a day and age when cops shoot first and ask questions later. Mistaken identity doesn’t bring a person back from the dead, and it’s better to err on the side of caution. As I walked toward the building, I angled my approach and immediately placed both of them in enfilade.
This means as I stepped in the front of one of them, both were lined up (in a “line,” if you will) before me. Neither had drawn a weapon, but the motion I made is instinctive…or “muscle memory” if you wish to label it. Both were, if it became necessary, in my line of fire, and the first one (closest to me) was masking the fire of the second if they wanted to play. “Masking” means to block another’s line of fire by (stupidly/unknowingly) placing yourself in between his fire and a potential enemy/target.
Now, obviously these two thought they “had something,” and from their movements and actions, it was also obvious that they soon realized I was not their quarry. Dismissing it and them (while keeping an eye on them), I entered the building. One of them poked his head inside the door, and the manager/proprietor looked at him.
“Don’t worry, what we’re looking for is not in here,” he said, and then left.
There was no incident, but I stress this to you: this was a situation.
For those who love law and order, do not take this as an indictment against those state troopers, but keep this in mind: the days of “Officer Friendly” are over. Sometimes warranted by fear (in the case of city cops constantly attacked by gangs and other miscreants), and sometimes unwarranted, many times they’ll pull the trigger and not mete out the force that is commensurate with the perceived threat. My thoughts? I’m not bothering anybody, but if I’m in the ground because of their mistake, I’m the one who really pays for that mistake, right?
It’s better to face a jury of 7 than to be carried by 6.
The situational awareness will help you to avoid complications. Be aware of your surroundings, and who is in those surroundings. My wife and I gassing up her vehicle, and as I pulled up to the pump, there were two young men and a young woman just acting stupidly…right in front of the door to the convenience store/gas station. My wife was going to go in and pay while I pumped the gas. I motioned for her to stay put while I both paid for and pumped the gas.
The men were carrying beer and the woman carousing with both while all played the fools. No matter. I kept my eye on them and paid for the gas, then came out and pumped it as they moved off (“staggered off” being a better term) across the parking lot.
Situational awareness. I didn’t have to say anything. I avoided a situation. Most of the times avoidance is the best answer. Move out of the area and away from the potential situation before it escalates. It will all be forgotten in no time. It is important in the moment for the threat it potentially poses, however, in the long term it is not even worth the time of day.
