WEEK 41
Practicing Situational Awareness
How observant are you in your day-to-day life? Many people, and preppers are no exception, walk around with “blinders” on and pay little attention to the world around them. This is something you’ll need to change about yourself if that’s the case with you.
In what seems like a lifetime ago, I spent about a decade working in retail security. I spent countless hours being paid fairly well to watch people, both on camera and from the sales floor. Because of this experience, I became adept at reading people and even anticipating their movements and actions. I also learned just how little attention people paid to what went on around them. Countless times I saw a shoplifter conceal merchandise in his or her coat or pocket within a few feet of other shoppers. These other people had absolutely no clue what was happening nearby while they were looking at the merchandise in front of them.
Colonel Jeff Cooper, one of the most well-respected firearms instructors our country has ever seen, developed what is known as the Cooper Color Code. It’s a way to refer to the level of awareness you have at any point in your daily life.
Condition White: You’re paying very little attention to the world around you. You’re relaxed and calm with little or no worries.
Condition Yellow: You’re aware of your surroundings, but there’s nothing going on of real significance. You’re alert to potential threats, but nothing concrete is on your radar.
Condition Orange: You’re alert to a specific potential threat, but thus far there’s no real danger. You’re still scanning for other threats, but there’s at least one that has caught your attention.
Condition Red: There’s a real, immediate threat, and you’re prepared to act against it. You may not have to physically react, yet you’re ready to do so if need be.
Here’s how these conditions could unfold in the real world. You and your spouse are sitting at home one evening. It’s around 9:00 p.m., and the two of you are deeply involved in the last act of a movie you picked up from Redbox. You’re currently at Condition White.
Then there’s a knock at the front door. You immediately shift to Condition Yellow. There’s no real threat at the moment, but you weren’t expecting any visitors, especially late at night.
You look out the window and see an adult male standing on the front porch. You’ve never seen him before, and he certainly doesn’t look like he’s there to ask whether you’ve been “saved” or not. You move into Condition Orange. You don’t know who he is, but he hasn’t made any overt threats. Could be he needs help, maybe his car broke down.
While standing away from the door, you call to him and ask what he wants. He tells you he’s there to read the water meter, an obvious lie. You’re now at Condition Red and take whatever action that you feel is necessary. If, on the other hand, he does say his car broke down, and he’s hoping to either borrow your phone or ask you to call a tow for him, then you’d stay at Condition Orange until he’s left the area.
Make sense?
It wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to get into the habit of telling yourself, nonverbally of course, when you move from one color to another. Doing so will help keep your mind focused.
Situational awareness is a key element of an overall safety and security plan. You absolutely cannot predict when trouble may visit you or your loved ones. It’s only through being vigilant and observing the world as you travel through it that you’ll be in a position to act quickly and decisively when it becomes necessary for you to do so.
It does take practice. Awareness is not a skill that you’ll develop overnight. Here are some practice exercises.
1. When you and your family are driving somewhere, make a mental note of the vehicles passing you in the opposite direction. Color, condition, that sort of thing. Quiz each other from time to time with questions like, “What color was the last vehicle that passed us?” Looking in the rearview mirror is cheating.
2. When on foot, make it a habit to “check your six” regularly. Checking your six is taking a look at whoever is behind you. At a mall or other similar location, this is easily done by stopping to look in a shop window, then glancing around behind you before you move on. Pay attention to anyone who seems to stop when you do over and over.
3. When you’re out shopping, make a point of always noticing who’s in the same aisle as you. Male or female, alone or with kids, attire, demeanor. Then quiz yourself or each other when you get a few aisles away. What color was his shirt? Did she have a boy and a girl or two boys?
The takeaway from this week’s lesson is to rip off the blinders and pay attention to what’s going on around you as much as possible.
WEEK 41 ASSIGNMENTS
TASKS
1. Practice the situational awareness exercises and develop a few more of your own. Kids can really get into this if you present it as a game.
2. If you’re active on any social media websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or message boards, take a hard look at your profile information. What are you telling the world about you? Be very aware of what people can find out about you by simply clicking a mouse.
SAVINGS
Add $10 to your Prepper Savings Account.
TOTAL PREPPER SAVINGS ACCOUNT: 
WATER STORAGE
One gallon (or two 2-liter bottles) per person or a case of bottled water for the household.
TOTAL WATER STORAGE:
GROCERY LIST
3 cans vegetables, your choice
2 cans fruit, your choice, but stick with those packed in water or juice, rather than syrup
1 can chili or stew, your choice
1 package or jar gravy mix, your choice
1 box granola bars, protein bars, or equivalent
1 lb dry beans, your choice
