The Enduring Need for Situational Awareness TrainingBy Ahmed Ateek What is Situational Awareness Training?It’s a set of skills and knowledge that allows individuals to be able to deal with the changing elements of a presently unknown environment or situation. Depending on the trainer and modules included, SAT may also be known as HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training).Who can benefit from SAT? The training is for those who need to know what to do and how to react when potentially critical situations go wrong: active shooter, knife stabbings, kidnapping, sexual harassment, and more.SAT teaches individuals to ask – and answer – fundamental questions: What should I do?Where should I go? What could happen to me? What is the most effective way to manage a dangerous situation?Until a few years ago, SAT was mainly relevant for NGOs -UN -TV crews but now it is also important for embassy staff, oil & gas companies, students who are studying abroad, business people, and tourists who like to travel solo to new places or where they may appear as high profile individuals. A high-profile individual is not only represented by what they wear or what car they drive, but potentially also by race / ethnicity, accent and even tone of voice.In 2022, I had the opportunity to engage young athletes from Germany who were traveling to different countries to represent their nation. SAT was necessary for them. I also engaged telecom engineers from Europe who were being sent as individuals to work at new stations in developing countries. SAT was necessary for them, too.Due to the impact of Covid-19, most HEAT and SAT courses are still being taught online and this comes with major limitations. While remote learning may be viewed as more convenient and oftentimes cheaper, in this case the risks far outweigh the benefits in my opinion. Real life simulations and practice are necessary to perfect our reactions in critical moments!“ While remote learning may be viewed as more convenient and oftentimes cheaper, in this case the risks far outweigh the benefits in my opinion.  What will you learn with SAT?SAT aims to teach everyone to be aware of their surroundings; methods and skills of survival; conflict avoidance – not only when visiting new places but also in the usual places of residence given the fluid nature of what we consider to be safe zones. For example, the current war between Russia and Ukraine has rendered the once safe Polish border as potentially unfamiliar and unsafe.Training is tailored mainly for individuals or teams who are being deployed to the Middle East. Training is offered in both English and Arabic.Expect to learn the basics of a language for non-native speakers, a few words that can save your life and build trust with a potential foe in order to de-escalate situations and survive more critical ones. For example, in our courses aimed at those deploying to the Middle East we put emphasis on simple greetings such as “Al Salamu Alaykum” (peace to you) and phrases such as “Shukran” (thank you) can build bridges with potential enemies by showing goodwill and understanding.Dress and behavior are also important factors. For example, certain countries, regions and areas of the Middle East are more conservative than others. As a female member of a TV crew or NGO, wearing a headscarf “hejab” may be a necessity, to show respect to the local people and avoid potential conflict.Linked to dress code and appropriate behavior is cultural and religious awareness, and the dos and don’ts in various countries when it comes to acts and words that may be considered offensive. This was covered in my article “Communication and Body Language for Executive Protection in the Middle East”, Issue 57. For example, certain hand gestures and pronunciation errors may cause offense, depending on the place.You will also be taught about advance security planning, risk assessment, contingency planning and evacuation. All stages focus on the importance of reflecting on the particulars of your journey before you travel.Risk assessment: • How safe is that place or the city or the country in general?• Are you traveling solo for the first time?• Do you know anyone at the destination who knows this place better than you?• What do you need to take with you and what shouldn’t you take?Advance security planning: • Do you need security support? This is especially relevant for individuals or teams who may be unfamiliar with the destination, yet are required to move around in a confident and familiar manner e.g. TV crews.Contingency planning and evacuation: • What type of hotel should you book – luxurious or standard? This would depend on the previous risk assessment to the place you are visiting. For example, the ratings of hotels in the Gulf (Dubai, Doha, Muscat) wouldn’t make much of a difference from a security perspective, however in countries like Yemen it could be a critical decision. Given Yemen is currently being ruled by 2 separate governments, with differing ethnicities in power, one could easily be profiled as an enemy by either depending on the mission of the trip e.g. news channel, NGO humanitarian aiders etc. 2-star hotels (with tight security measures including covert protection to keep the team or the individual low profile during their movement) may therefore be a better choice in such situations and not to attract attention to them.• Where are the nearest vital state buildings? These would include airports, police stations, embassies, hospitals, army bases etc. and could be considered as safe houses in case of any conflict.Other topics that we advocate for in our training: • Basic self-defense built on the principles of Krav Maga, an Israeli fighting system that advocates for simple moves and techniques that do not necessarily require high levels of fitness or performance. Krav Maga also focuses on mindset: for example, instead of freezing in threatening situations, taking a few seconds to think about what the best course of action could be - fight (stay, engage, confront the situation head-on) or flight (remove yourself from the danger / threat).• Tactical survival which focuses on survival techniques in situations where you may not have access to your phone, car, or the internet (lost in the desert scenario). You will also learn how to utilize basic tools for maximum benefit in different scenarios e.g. flashlight, tourniquet, tear gas wipes, water filtration system etc.• Manual search for eavesdropping and other surveillance devices in hotel rooms etc. This topic is especially relevant to journalists and TV crews who may be the target of spies (oftentimes covert intelligence operatives may well pose as journalists, hence the general suspicion surrounding this position). Multiple hotel rooms may be bugged by local government authorities, so requests to change rooms will not be helpful. To control this threat, you will be taught how to conduct manual search for illicit devices. You will also be made aware of Technical Surveillance Countermeasure (TSCM) providers in your area to sweep larger areas like rented villas on a regular basis.Ahmed Ateek is a Security professional from Egypt living in Dubai, UAE for the past 13 years. Ahmed has worked as Security Escort and Deportee Security in Aviation Security as well as CPO for UK organizations operating in the Middle East. He is a USA-certified ASP Instructor, European-certified EP as well as TSCM Operative, and Founder of Zero Click Limited with HQ in Warsaw. Contact him: info@zclick.pl