Introduction

“This book, our website, and now my company exist to fix that very

problem. No Marine or soldier should have to deploy without first leaning

how to find the enemy before he begins an attack. No police officer or

security guard should have to go on patrol without knowing how to

identify a criminal before he commits his crime. No person should have

to wait until they see a gun to know that there is a threat present.

Getting left of bang requires two things. The first is a mindset and

mentality to actively search your area for people that don’t fit in. The

second is the knowledge to know what causes someone to stand out from

the crowd. I hope this book and the webpages that accompany these

pages help provide you with what you need to do both.”

-Van Horne & Riley from “Left of Bang”

“Bang”

“Bang” is the attack. To be “left of bang” is to observe pre-

event indicators (such as hostile surveillance) and prevent

the attack from happening, by interrupting the process. To

be “right of bang,” would be to be reactive (the officer responding

to the scene, after the crime has been committed).

How do we prevent “bang?”

Answer: Combat Profiling

Combat Profiling

FundamentalsA prerequisite for proactively identifying threats based on human behavior (combat

profiling), is adequate situational awareness. Situational awareness is the process

of recognizing a threat at an early stage and taking measures to avoid it. The

first step in being aware, is for one to acknowledge that threats exist.

“Situational awareness...is best practiced at a balanced level referred to as ‘relaxed

awareness,’ a state of mind that can be maintained indefinitely without all the stress

associated with being on constant alert.” When one is in a state of relaxed

awareness, it if far easier to transition into an alert state and spring to action (in

contrast to being in a complacent state).

One of the challenges that combat profiling seeks to address, is this: how to narrow

down what information is most relevant in a situation, in order to make the best

determination. In response, combat profiling gives us tools for simplifying the

cognitive process of identifying threats. Simply put, the tools that combat profiling

provides us, are ways to identify anomalies.

Combat Profiling

Fundamentals Cont.Baselines & Anomalies

“Identifying threats means establishing a baseline and looking for anomalies. A baseline is what

is normal for an environment, situation, or individual. Generally, every environment, type of situation,

or individual exhibits normal patterns: patterns of movement, emotion, behavior, and interaction.”

“An anomaly is any variation from the baseline–and what we are primarily searching for is

anomalies. Anomalies are things that either do not happen but should, or that do happen, but

shouldn’t.”

Anomalies are indicators of changes in situations, and any changes in a situation need to be

considered with suspicion.“Situational awareness...is best practiced at a balanced level referred to

as ‘relaxed awareness,’ a state of mind that can be maintained indefinitely without all the stress

associated with being on constant alert.” When one is in a state of relaxed awareness, it if far easier to

transition into an alert state and spring to action (in contrast to being in a complacent state).

One of the challenges that combat profiling seeks to address, is this: how to narrow down what

information is most relevant in a situation, in order to make the best determination. In response,

combat profiling gives us tools for simplifying the cognitive process of identifying threats. Simply put,

the tools that combat profiling provides us, are ways to identify anomalies.

Nine Principles of

Human Nature“The foundation of combat profiling is the universal similarities in humans, despite cultural differences.”

1) Humans are creatures of habit: they follow simple patterns.

2) Humans are lazy: they will take the path of least resistance.

3) Humans are lousy liars: reliable nonverbal indicators will leak out.

4) Humans will run, fight, or freeze: autonomic functions will clue us in to how a person is feeling.

5) Humans telegraph their intentions: behaviors are driven by the subconscious.

6) Humans are predictable: we follow regular patterns.

7) Humans are not good at multitasking: when one’s attention is divided, behavior looks unnatural.

8) Humans are generally clueless: people rarely observe their surroundings, except for good guys and bad guys,

often checking their “six.”

9) Humans can’t do very many different things: human behavior is broken into six domains (more on this later).

The Limbic System

The most important part of the brain that directly affects

nonverbal behavior is the limbic system. It is focused on our

survival, and it reacts to the surrounding environment

automatically and outside our conscious awareness.

“Therefore, the limbic system is also the honest part of the

brain because it provides unmediated responses to external

stimuli.”

The limbic system can command three mutually exclusive

responses from the body: freeze, flight, or fight. These manifest

themselves in our behavioral cues as we will discuss later.

The Six DomainsKinesics

Critical to proactively identifying threats, this involves the communication of emotions (and future intentions)

through people’s conscious and subconscious body language.

“These subtle and subconscious acts, rather than obvious movements, matter most. When compared to the

behavioral baseline, smaller signals often provide the information needed to make smarter, faster decisions

in combat.”

Example

Identifying Key Leaders (M.A.D.E. Man) – Leaders can be identified using the acronym MADE. The leader’s

(E)ntourage (M)imics, (A)dores, and accepts (D)irection from the leader. These are the primary indicators for

identifying who is the leader of a group.

Biometric Cues

These are uncontrollable/automatic biological responses of the human body to stress. Biometric cues are

caused by emotional changes. Profilers are primarily concerned with negative emotions such as anger and

fear. Observable changes include increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, paling/reddening of the

face, increased blink rate, etc.

The Six Domains Cont.Proxemics

Allows us to identify relationships and social status (and ultimately the intentions of a person) based on

how people use the space around them. Distance between people reveals relationship, and movement

toward/away from something, indicates intention.

The physical distance between people reveals their relationship. As an example, only our intimate

friends typically stand within one arms distance of you.

Proxemic Pushes and Pulls - Using the Language of Combat Profiling

A proxemic push is when there is physical movement away from a person or object, likely caused by

things that are considered harmful, unappealing, and negative. A proxemic pull is the physical

movement toward a person or object, likely caused by things that are considered attractive, safe, and

positive.

Geographics

Involves how people move around their surroundings, also allowing us to identify those that are

familiar (or unfamiliar) with a location.

The Six Domains Cont.Iconography

“Iconography often communicates complex messages through simple pictures, symbols, and

writing...Combat profilers can observe iconography to understand what things are important in an

area to individuals and groups and what elements are influencing the people in an area.”

Iconography indicators appear on people (clothing, tattoos, etc.) and in geographical

environments (graffiti, flags, etc.).

*Tattoos have been shown to be linked to high-risk behavior, thus, a tattoo is an indicator which

may signal that a person is an anomaly for further observation.

Atmospherics

Focuses on the collective attitudes, moods, and behaviors in a given situation or a place. There

can be a positive or negative atmosphere. We are most concerned with negative atmospheres

because they can easily translate into a threat. Negative atmospherics would be characterized by

negative emotions in the people (anger, anxiety, nervousness, etc.), negative body language

(clenched fists, aggressive poses, etc.), negative proxemics (people distancing themselves from a

person or thing), negative iconography, and more…

ClustersOn Clusters

“...combat profiling relies on observing ‘clusters,’ which are groups of reinforcing gestures and other

nonverbal indicators that communicate the same message. These clusters are then compared to the

baseline to identify anomalies.” A cluster can give us more confidence in our judgement, than any

single indicator by itself. Once three indicators are observed, then the protector can judge that cluster

against the baseline established previously.

There are three themes of clusters that we are concerned with: dominant vs submissive;

uncomfortable vs comfortable; interested vs uninterested.

These clusters serve an important purpose. They allow us to take a few indicators, attach them to a set

a behaviors that we are familiar with, then make a more informed assessment.

Dominant Cluster

The rule used to classify dominant behavior is that someone is using their body to take up a greater

amount of space, such as gestures or postures to make a person look larger (to intimidate others).

Examples: arms spread out on an object; touching other people; standing with hands on hips, etc.

Clusters Cont.

Submissive Cluster

Submissive behavior is the opposite. It is characterized by behavior that causes a person to take up less

space (appearing smaller).

Example: Legs pulled under chair; armed pulled into body; averting eye contact.

The dominant cluster may indicate whether or not a person is likely to put up a fight if they are confronted.

Uncomfortable Cluster

When a person feels threatened, scared, nervous, or experiences other negative emotions, they will display

discomfort. Distancing behaviors, using barriers, and pacifying behaviors are clear indicators that someone

is uncomfortable.

Example: feet bouncing; arms crossed at chest; leaning away.

*Pacifying behaviors are behaviors to comfort oneself when under stress, such as rubbing hands on thighs,

rubbing bridge of nose; long drawn out exhalation, etc.

Clusters Cont.

Comfortable Cluster

The person will display behaviors that indicate comfort, vulnerability, and ease. They do not perceive any

threat to their survival.

Example: standing with crossed legs; body not positioned to defend itself; relaxed postures.

Interested Cluster

The guiding principle for identifying a person’s interest is in assessing WHERE the person’s attention is

focused. Is it on the subject with whom they’re interacting, or elsewhere?

Example: feet pointing at people in conversation; open body language; mimicking emotion of the group.

Uninterested Cluster

Any behavior demonstrating that they want to leave the situation.

Example: feet bouncing; person moving or rocking back and forth, etc.

The Language of Profiling

Having a common language (or set of terms) for describing

observable behavior allows the profiler to effectively explain a

decision to a team member or a client. In addition, they can be

confident that the decision they made was based on grounded

observations regarding a subject’s behavior, not just intuition.

Example: proxemic push, biometric cue, kinetic indicators, etc.

Anomalies – Specific

Threat BehaviorsThreat Behaviors

Behaviors in this category do not require a cluster. Whenever they are

identified, they require immediate action. One indicator, such as a

weapon, is sufficient. The profiler should start by viewing the hands of

his subject, this ensures they do not have a weapon, or are not

preparing to strike. Other threat behaviors include patting of a concealed

weapon, or “checking their six.”

Kinetic Slips

This occurs when a person’s nonverbal behavior betrays their words.

Weight should be given to the person’s behavior, rather than their

words.

Anomalies – Specific

Threat Behaviors Cont.Smuggling Behavior

“The behavior that smugglers exhibit is the same type of

behavior that suicide bombers, or someone carrying a weapon

into a place they are not supposed to, will exhibit.” They will

exhibit the physiological signs of distress and discomfort.

“Acting” Natural

PEOPLE ONLY LOOK “NATURAL,” WHEN THEY ARE DOING

SOMETHING NATURALLY. Otherwise, their movements are

jerky, over exaggerated, too slow/too fast, and unfocused.

Combat Rule of Three

“When you observe three anomalies or indicators, you must

make a decision. Do not wait for more information.”

The purpose of the Combat Rule of Three is to guard against

hesitation, over analysis, and the holding out for more

information. This gives the profiler a standard to follow. Once

three indicators are present, decisions need to be made!

The Three Decisions

The three decisions that a combat profiler may make are Kill,

Capture, or Contact the subject. However, when applying this to

executive protection, it will depend on the context, environment,

and situation. Regardless, it is important to note that “kill,” the

most drastic and lethal decision comes first. This is the first

possible decision because the profiler must be ready (mentally

and physically) to respond with violence if it is necessary.

If Kill is not the necessary decision, then the profiler moves down

a step to capture...then contact. I imagine that for many executive

protection specialists, they might use the following order rather

than Kill, Capture, Contact: (1) cover/evacuate (2) stop the threat

(3) contact.

Bringing it all TogetherSimply put, the combat profiling process flows like this: (1) Maintain situational awareness (2) Find

anomalies (3) Identify pre-event indicators and behavioral indicators (4) make the decision to act (Kill,

Capture, or Contact).

Homework

Van Horne and Riley provide the reader with advice for sharpening their combat profiling skills.

They suggest that the student of combat profiling choose an area that they can visit repeatedly, without

raising attention to their presence (such as a mall, coffee shop, etc.). First, they need to establish a baseline,

using the principals outlined in the previous pages. Then over time (repeated visits), they need to confirm

their baseline and build a base of knowledge about the location and its dynamics. Finally, once the student is

having success in their predictions for people in the area, and is able to communicate their observations

effectively, then they are ready to move to a different location.

One Final Note

Van Horne and Riley point out that it is beneficial for us to practice at locations that share common

characteristics with the places we will later find ourselves operating in. For example, a farmer’s market in Los

Angeles will share many characteristics (in terms of combat profiling) with a bazzar in Calcutta. Leverage the

use of analogy.

Final Thoughts“Left of Bang” is an eye opening book. The knowledge that it bestows can be useful for

the Marine patrolling in the Middle East, the executive protection specialist traveling with

their principal, or even the campus security officer. The ideas discussed here are not

complicated. It’s all about being aware and finding what is different about a situation,

person, etc. I encourage everyone to buy a copy of this book, and experience the full

breadth of wisdom that Van Horne and Riley have to share.

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