A method is disclosed for providing an observer with an intuitive sense of the tactical situation in an operational area that surrounds a point-of-interest. The observer is simultaneously presented a top-down view of the operational area that includes contact indicators for each of one or more contacts within the operational area, and a status display that indicates the instantaneous hostility assessment of one or more of these contacts. In addition, the operator is automatically presented historical information, including contact images, for each contact whose hostility assessment exceeds a threshold level. The operator, or a group of operators, is enabled to view all of the displayed information from a single vantage point, assess the relative hostility of numerous contacts simultaneously, and rapidly confirm the identity of apparently hostile contacts prior to engagement.