Any time I am away from home for whatever reason, I am always looking for the threats. On the road driving back and forth, at Walmart shopping for the next trend so my kid has the latest threads, at the grocery store picking up our weekly supplies…it never stops.
I am always looking for entrance and exit points, which shelf will provide cover and which one only provides concealment, which of the thousands of people out there we walk past every day might possibly wish to do us harm.
I have been involved in a few situations through the years, but my “Spidey Sense”, my situational awareness, has always provided me with advanced warning so I can make the decision to run, hide or go full frontal assault.
Situational awareness is typically categorized into two main frameworks:
the cognitive stages of how we process information and the color-coded levels of mental alertness
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1. The Three Cognitive Levels (Endsley’s Model)
Developed by Dr. Mica Endsley, this model describes the mental process of building awareness in complex environments like aviation or emergency response.
Level 1: Perception – Gathering data. This is the basic observation of elements in your environment, such as seeing people, objects, or hearing sounds.
Level 2: Comprehension – Understanding the data. You integrate those observations to understand what they mean in your current context.
Level 3: Projection – Predicting the future. The highest level, where you use your understanding to anticipate what might happen next and plan accordingly.
2. The Five Levels of Alertness (Cooper’s Color Code)
Originally created by Jeff Cooper for tactical readiness, this framework is now widely used for personal safety to describe your state of mind.
Global Guardian +1
Condition White (Unaware) – Completely oblivious to your surroundings, often “on autopilot” or distracted by a phone. This is the most vulnerable state.
Condition Yellow (Relaxed Alert) – A state of “relaxed awareness.” You are scanning your environment and would notice if something changed, but you aren’t expecting a specific threat.
Condition Orange (Focused Alert) – You have identified a specific potential threat or something that “feels off.” Your focus shifts to evaluating that specific person or situation.
Condition Red (Action) – A threat is confirmed and imminent. You are actively responding, whether by fleeing, de-escalating, or defending yourself.
Condition Black (Panic/Freeze) – Often added to the original list, this represents a mental breakdown or “freezing” under extreme stress where you can no longer function.
I’m assuming this is in reference to Lt. Col Jeff Cooper’s “State of mind” as taught by the instructors at Gunsite Academy. This was covered in classroom training during the Defensive 250 course I took.
He taught that mental preparation is more crucial than technical skills, advocating for a constant, relaxed awareness (Condition Yellow) to avoid being caught unprepared (Condition White).
Key Aspects of Cooper’s Mindset
Combat Mindset: Cooper believed that technical skill is useless without the mental capacity to use it under stress.
Situational Awareness: The necessity of constantly observing and evaluating the environment.
Defensive Philosophy: He taught that one should always be prepared to defend oneself, emphasizing a “prepared attitude” that is not panicked or reckless.
Mental Toughness: He was known for being a strong-willed, opinionated, and confident figure who despised “political correctness” and valued self-reliance.
call me whatever you want, i will continue to carry as long as i am breathing, to protect myself and my family. this gun thing has been blown way out of proportion by the left wing liberals
Global Guardian +1
EMR Safety and Health +7
