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Here is another topic with TONS of info, so lets see what we can come up with!
Situational awareness is basically being aware of your surroundings and knowing what is normal behavior for an area and what is not. For example in a lot of cities you have neighborhoods with a lot of people out and about on the streets day or night. If you notice that suddenly people are going inside then that should be a Red Flag that something is not right and to get yourself out of there as well.
One thing you can do is make a game out of it. When I was Stationed in D.C. I had to stand outside of the Commandant of the Marine Corps home because they were doing work on it and they had scaffolding up. Lets face it, that kind of post can get pretty boring just standing outside. For those of you who don't know his house is actually on a regular city street not inside of a base or anything.
Anyways one of the Sergeants of the Guard (SOG) told us to play what if games in our heads out there if we started getting bored as that would help us maintain vigilance. I remember seeing a vagrant walk by across the street on the side walk. As he was walking next to a car I thought to myself "what would I do if he broke into that car in front of me". I told myself that I would get on the radio with dispatch and inform them of the situation and keep an eye on it but only enough so that I did not get distracted from my main duty of guarding the front of the house. Sine the vagrant was across the street I knew I did not have any jurisdiction either.
Sure as Peshitta after going over that scenario in my head the vagrant came back with an umbrella. I thought it was odd since it was not raining out. He walked up the the car and I saw that the front passenger window was open a little bit. The vagrant took the umbrella with the strap still around it and inserted it into the window. he then hit the button to extend it but since the strap was on it didn't actually open up. He used the extended umbrella to hit the unlock button in car and then went into the back seat to lay down! I was shocked frankly that he did that and especially in front of me lol. This was like 10:30 am when it happened and I got on the radio and told dispatch so they could call the police. All the while the car alarm was now going off. Shortly after I was relieved to go to lunch and whenever they were giving status updates I could still hear the alarm going off lol.
Other things I noticed were vans working on houses nearby with license plates of states that weren't Maryland or Virginia so I reported those as well.
Another time in D.C. I was coming up out of the subway at night right before it closed and there was a guy standing at the top about 1.5 times my size at least. I saw him as I was nearing the top and there wasn't much I could do without running down the escalator not even knowing what type of threat he was lol. Anyways when I get to the top he grabbed my forearm pretty firmly and asked for money. Instead of freaking out or anything I told him that I couldn't check to see if I had any money while he was grabbing my arm so he let go. Once he did I quickly patted my pockets and said "Nope no money" and turned and walked in opposite direction of him.
Here are some general tips I know and look forward to seeing what the rest of you have.
First one is that when you go to a restaurant or other sit down type place your best to sit with your back to a wall so that no one can come up from behind you.
Only walk in well lit areas if possible.
If you are staying in a hotel try and stay between the 2nd and 7th floor. Reasoning being that you are safer from drive by shootings and other threats and most fire truck ladders can reach up to the 7th floor or so I was told.
If you are in armed services don't wear your uniform out in town, your only making yourself a target to terrorists or criminals that may commit a crime where you are.
Don't be afraid to make eye contact with people on the street. It shows that you are not afraid and not an easy target. That said don't stare at them like you have a problem with them lol.
Another idea I have had was that if I was approached by someone with a knife or firearm I would pretend to fake some sort of illness. I think that this may catch them off guard allowing you enough time to escape or at least draw your firearm to defend yourself.
So what do you got?
Situational awareness is basically being aware of your surroundings and knowing what is normal behavior for an area and what is not. For example in a lot of cities you have neighborhoods with a lot of people out and about on the streets day or night. If you notice that suddenly people are going inside then that should be a Red Flag that something is not right and to get yourself out of there as well.
One thing you can do is make a game out of it. When I was Stationed in D.C. I had to stand outside of the Commandant of the Marine Corps home because they were doing work on it and they had scaffolding up. Lets face it, that kind of post can get pretty boring just standing outside. For those of you who don't know his house is actually on a regular city street not inside of a base or anything.
Anyways one of the Sergeants of the Guard (SOG) told us to play what if games in our heads out there if we started getting bored as that would help us maintain vigilance. I remember seeing a vagrant walk by across the street on the side walk. As he was walking next to a car I thought to myself "what would I do if he broke into that car in front of me". I told myself that I would get on the radio with dispatch and inform them of the situation and keep an eye on it but only enough so that I did not get distracted from my main duty of guarding the front of the house. Sine the vagrant was across the street I knew I did not have any jurisdiction either.
Sure as Peshitta after going over that scenario in my head the vagrant came back with an umbrella. I thought it was odd since it was not raining out. He walked up the the car and I saw that the front passenger window was open a little bit. The vagrant took the umbrella with the strap still around it and inserted it into the window. he then hit the button to extend it but since the strap was on it didn't actually open up. He used the extended umbrella to hit the unlock button in car and then went into the back seat to lay down! I was shocked frankly that he did that and especially in front of me lol. This was like 10:30 am when it happened and I got on the radio and told dispatch so they could call the police. All the while the car alarm was now going off. Shortly after I was relieved to go to lunch and whenever they were giving status updates I could still hear the alarm going off lol.
Other things I noticed were vans working on houses nearby with license plates of states that weren't Maryland or Virginia so I reported those as well.
Another time in D.C. I was coming up out of the subway at night right before it closed and there was a guy standing at the top about 1.5 times my size at least. I saw him as I was nearing the top and there wasn't much I could do without running down the escalator not even knowing what type of threat he was lol. Anyways when I get to the top he grabbed my forearm pretty firmly and asked for money. Instead of freaking out or anything I told him that I couldn't check to see if I had any money while he was grabbing my arm so he let go. Once he did I quickly patted my pockets and said "Nope no money" and turned and walked in opposite direction of him.
Here are some general tips I know and look forward to seeing what the rest of you have.
First one is that when you go to a restaurant or other sit down type place your best to sit with your back to a wall so that no one can come up from behind you.
Only walk in well lit areas if possible.
If you are staying in a hotel try and stay between the 2nd and 7th floor. Reasoning being that you are safer from drive by shootings and other threats and most fire truck ladders can reach up to the 7th floor or so I was told.
If you are in armed services don't wear your uniform out in town, your only making yourself a target to terrorists or criminals that may commit a crime where you are.
Don't be afraid to make eye contact with people on the street. It shows that you are not afraid and not an easy target. That said don't stare at them like you have a problem with them lol.
Another idea I have had was that if I was approached by someone with a knife or firearm I would pretend to fake some sort of illness. I think that this may catch them off guard allowing you enough time to escape or at least draw your firearm to defend yourself.
So what do you got?
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