On my way to shoot with a student this afternoon, I noticed several people walking in the park. These people were glued to their cell phones and had no idea what was going on around them. I see it in the grocery store parking lot when I go to the store. What is it about be aware of your surroundings that people do not understand. The color code of awareness serves as a way to pay attention to possible threats. As developed originally By Col. Jeff Cooper they are as follows:
White: Unaware and unprepared. If attacked in Condition White, the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy or ineptitude of your attacker.
Yellow: Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that “today could be the day I may have to defend myself”. You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
Orange: Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has your attention. Your radar has picked up a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat Staying in Orange can be a bit of a mental strain, but you can stay in it for as long as you need to. If the threat proves to be nothing, you shift back to Condition Yellow.
Red: Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger (established back in Condition Orange) has been tripped. “If ‘X’ happens I will have to do ‘Y’.
The tragedy that happened in Orlando could not have been stopped by any of these codes, but it might have saved a life or two. We are living in a dangerous world and you need to remember that typical “soft targets” are civilian sites where people congregate in large numbers; examples include national monuments, parades, hospitals, schools, sporting arenas, hotels, cultural centers, movie theaters, cafes and restaurants, places of worship, nightclubs, shopping centers, and transportation sites (such as railway stations, buses, rail systems, and ferries).
I am not suggesting that you should be afraid or change the things you like to do. I am suggesting that you can be more aware of your surroundings and be prepared to act appropriately. That could mean defending yourself or your family, or it could mean avoiding or removing yourself from the threat or situation altogether. John Farnam a nationally known firearm instructor coined the phrase don’t have stupid friends, don’t go stupid places, and don’t do stupid things.
Training is available for those that wish to defend themselves and their families contact me to arrange a program that works for you.