How to improve your observation skills during difficult searches

While not much has been written about it, a volunteer searcher using binoculars to scan Nevada's mountainous terrain is credited with spotting the overturned Jeep belonging to a missing family of 6—including 4 children between the ages of 3 and 10—in a rugged canyon. They had been missing in snowy, sub-zero weather for two days.

The group was found safe in an area called Trinity Canyon, according to the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. They were discovered from a distance by a volunteer searcher using binoculars to scan mountainsides, the sheriff's office said. —CNN, December 10, 2013

If it were not for this volunteer's observation skills, this search may have had a different outcome.

To sharpen our observation skills—both with the unaided eye and when using optics—we can draw on the training our war fighters currently receive.

Source: This article was adapted from the Combat Observation and Decision-Making in Irregular and Ambiguous Conflicts (CODIAC) Manual, by Greg Williams and David Scott-Donelan, 2010. This training program was inspired by the US Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program and was published by the US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) & Joint Task Force North (JTF–N).

According to the Combat Observation and Decision-Making in Irregular and Ambiguous Conflicts (CODIAC) Manual, when a team enters a search area, observers should be assigned to cover overlapping fields of observation and conduct searches of their visual fields.

A hasty visual search should be conducted before a detailed search

The Hasty Search: In a hasty search, the observer quickly glances at specific points, terrain features, or other areas that could conceal the enemy. He/she does not sweep his/her eyes across the entire terrain, because that is less effective at detecting movement. Instead, the observer should start the search by viewing the area closest to his/her position and then working out. Searches should be conducted by looking from right-to-left (because this goes against most people’s natural tendency to read from left-to-right). If able, personnel should use binoculars, rather than higher powered optics, during a hasty search. Binoculars give the observer a wider field of view, thereby increasing the efficiency of the search. If a threat is detected, the observer should transition to a higher power optic, if available.

The Detailed Search: After completing a hasty search, the observer should initiate a detailed search using the overlapping strip method. Normally, the area nearest the observer offers the greatest danger; therefore, the search should begin there. The observer systematically searches the terrain, starting at the right flank and then moving his/her observation towards the left in a 180˚ arc. Each visual arc should include about 50 meters of depth. After reaching the left flank, the observer searches the next swath nearest to his/her post. Each visual arc should overlap the previous search area by at least 10 meters in order to ensure total visual coverage of the area. Also, the search should extend as far back as the observer can see, and it should always encompass the areas of interest that were identified during the hasty search.

Observation cycles

Surveillance teams should repeat this cycle of hasty-then-detailed searches every 15 to 20 minutes, depending upon the terrain and specific responsibilities. When maintaining observation over time, personnel should keep their head and body movements to a minimum. They should also take special note of key terrain features and observe them closely during each visual search.

Key Terrain Features

With each consecutive visual pass over an area, personnel should take note of prominent terrain features (positive space) as well as any areas that may offer cover or concealment to the enemy (negative space). This way, observers become familiar with the terrain.

• Positive Space: Positive space has mass; it includes solid objects such as buildings, trees, signs, or vehicles. Personnel cannot typically see through positive space, but it naturally attracts the human eye. People are inclined to look from positive space to positive space.

• Negative Space: Negative space falls between positive spaces. These areas of shadow and background may be overlooked by untrained observers, which explains why good camouflage resembles negative space. Personnel must consciously observe negative spaces.

• Other Key Features: Personnel must remember to pay particular attention to possible anchor points, habitual areas, and natural lines of drift. Additionally, the acronym “KOCCOA” can help warfighters and law enforcement remember the specific terrain features to observe.

KOCCOA (pronounced “co-CO-uh”) helps you remember the high priority terrain features, these are:
K = Key terrain features
O = Observation points
C = Cover
C = Concealment
O = Obstacles
A = Avenues of approach

Light and Shadow

Due to constantly changing clouds and the sun’s positions, light is a changing factor in observation. Observers should carefully watch the changing contrast and shadows. An area that the observer first thought held no enemy may reveal an adversary when the light changes.

Rotation

To minimize fatigue and reduce the likelihood of change blindness, team members should reassign observation duty approximately every 30 minutes.

Variety of Optics

Many factors (such as distance, light level, and obstacles) affect what personnel can see with their naked eyes and/or particular optical devices. When possible, a tactical team should simultaneously employ
a range of optical devices and naked-eye viewing. By using a variety of observation tools, personnel have a greater likelihood of identifying a target.