True situational awareness goes beyond superficial details like clothing or physical features; it is about mastering the art of reading behavior.
A powerful way to sharpen this skill is through a five-minute daily drill I learned from Yousef Badou, one of the original instructors of the Marine Hunter Program.
To begin, take a deep breath to clear your mind of any preconceived judgments and focus on those closest to you.
First, starting with the people closest to you, observe their hands to see if they are visible, concealed, or holding objects, which trains you to instinctively clear potential threats.
Next, evaluate their attention by noting who or what they are focused on and whether they appear to have a clear destination.
Finally, scan for signs of nervous energy such as fidgeting, heavy breathing, or a flushed face.
Consistently practicing this behavioral analysis will help you build genuine pattern recognition and identify anomalies before they become problems.