Veteran US Air Force pilot John Boyd coined the OODA Loop that so many in the military, law enforcement, security, and even the business world use today.
Standing for: Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Boyd said the quicker you could complete those steps the more likely your outcome would be successful.
Let us use this example: It is the middle of the night and I hear my dogs lose their minds barking at something (observe). I walk outside towards the direction they are barking with a flashlight and rifle noticing a pair of eyes glowing back in the light beam (orient). Throwing the rifle to my shoulder I can see its a coyote next to the chickens, I want it protect the chickens (decide). The safety goes off and I shoot (act). The cycle now starts all over again because I need to assess if my action delivered the desired result.
If I can do this process fast enough then I will get the desired response, of a dead coyote and chickens who remain safe for another night. However, what could happen is the coyote hears the door open (observe). He looks in the direction of the house and sees me shining a flashlight (orient). He remembers the last time that happened when he was messing with a chicken coop, that someone shot at him, and he wants no part if it (decide). He hightails it out of there I settle in for a shot (act).
In this scenario Mr. Wiley Coyote wins. He completed the OODA Loop faster than I did. His OODA Loop was faster than mine, forcing me to reorient on a new observation. As I am starting the process over and never getting to the point where action is taken.
It sounds simple because it is in principle. It is when we put things in practice were we experience hang ups. Each of the four areas have actions you can take that could make you faster or slower. Early detection with rapid orientation, coupled with threshold decision making (a post on this is coming soon) and preplanned responses is a good recipe for success.
Proverbs 27:12 NLT A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Stay safe out there.
-Joseph
Outpost 95 