Situational Awareness: The OODA Loop in Action

This article is the perfect example of situational awareness. If you know anything about the OODA Loop you will see this as a great example. (see blog The OODA Loop: Combat Concept 3/20/14)
“Teens in a mob assault and rob Center City patrons
By Mike Newall
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
The two young women were sitting at a window table inside the Max Brenner restaurant on 15th Street, near Walnut, sharing chocolate fondue after some shopping. The streets were vibrant. The weather was nice. ”The city had a good vibe,” remembered one of the women, Maria, who requested her full name not be printed. But their night on the town was about to become frightening. Heading their way was a pack of teens roving through Center City after leaving a North Philadelphia music festival. They were part of about 100 or more young people who had left Saturday night’s event, police said, committing a series of violent assaults and robberies, including one against Maria, 25, of North Philadelphia, and her cousin Cecilia, 29, of Havertown….
…..Maria and Cecilia were enjoying their dessert at Max Brenner, with its large, open bay doors. Afterward, Maria, an interior and industrial designer, had planned to visit a Northern Liberties art exhibit. Cecilia was heading home. The women had spent the afternoon dress shopping. Maria is getting married soon. About 10 p.m., Maria said, she saw a shirtless teenager run past the restaurant. ”He was running in the middle of the street and looked like he was running away from someone,” she said. Maria tucked away her phone and wallet, which had been sitting on the table. She grew up in Brazil, she said, and was more street-smart than her cousin. Before she could tell Cecilia to put her cell phone away, another teen reached through the window and snatched it. Maria ran out after him. She was on the sidewalk, starting to scream “thief,” she said, when someone from behind punched her in the jaw. She said she turned, jaw throbbing, to see the girl who had hit her standing with five other teens. “What are you going to do?” she said the girl who had punched her yelled. The teens were laughing, she said. “They were fearless. It seemed like they weren’t taking anything serious.”…
See the OODA pattern? Maria’s OODA loop worked for her. Her cousin, not so much.
What was obvious to recognize is how quickly Maria observed the situation, oriented towards it, decided, and then acted to put her phone and wallet away. It’s impressive and uncommon in the US and it allowed her to protect her possessions.
How will you use situational awareness for your protection? Or maybe your families protection?
Implement the OODA Loop in your own life and teach it to your family. You and they will be better prepared.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn