What is clue awareness?
... being aware of your surroundings, the environment, and traces of the subject

What should I be looking for on my task?
Clues!!!

Why?
.. because there are more clues than subjects. Clues can consist of clothing, pocket articles, footprints, and even scent. (let the dogs look for the scent, though) Look for signs of passage such as broken sitcks and deformation in grass. Clues are often found: at the base of trees along the middle of paths don't forget to look up in the trees!
You are more likely to run into these than the subject themselves. Clues help indicate direction, mental condition, physical condition, and even the approximate time that the subject was in the area. Therefore, clues should be handled with care.

How do I handle a clue?
Don't! The first thing to do when you think you may have found a clue is to stop in your tracks. There could be valuable evidence in the immediate area. Call the attention of your field team leader (FTL) by yelling "STOP!". Other members on your team should also stop in their tracks so as not to disturb the area further. The FTL will instruct you to back out of your tracks in the direction you came from. He or she will then examine the clue and take appropriate notes or call base.

Base will instruct you to either:
Bag it - Turn a trash bag inside out to gether the clue without touching it. Carefully wrap the clue and place it in your field pack
Tag it- Mark the area the clue was found with flagging tape. Three flags are used to indicate a clue. Write the date, time, team designation, and coordinates from the map that the clue was found.
Bring it in- return the clue to base

-or-

Flag the clue and leave it in place to be followed up by a specialized team. Be very careful in the proximity of the clue.