Lots and LOTS
of VERY dynamic, fast paced, well structured, Force on Force simulation
scenarios (sorta like paintballs only hurts a *hell of a lot* more
when you get hit!).
Many of the
100% L.E. F. instructors making up the student body of this class
commented on the ability of the very experienced operator / instructors
to enlighten
us while *debriefing* us after each drill.
Many of you
know how critical a component this is to how effective Force on
Force is for students. Great instructors / de-briefers, all. Infra-red
Video taping the drills and then playing 'em back is a must do!
Former SpecWar
types, the instructors preferred the Armed Forces Trainers (AFT)
pistols and select fire "M4" carbines over Simunitions
as the prior allows for real close up struggles, if they occur,
and the potential for a student "getting carried away"
and delivering a contact muzzle shot to another player (which is
what happened to my upper back as a hostage taker attempting to
hold off other officers).
Real simple.
After grasping and using the TEAMWORK / *Use Of Light As A Force
Option* / communication techniques we were taught, a good guy was
able to effectively flank me and safely come up right behind me.
Am STILL hot in those three spots, right on top of the other! More
to the point, I won't soon forget what I did to allow the guy into
/ onto "my six" to begin with!
A minimum of
2-3 hours were spent each day reviewing principles of, and completing
techniques for, Defensive Training (DT) which included contact drills.
As an instructor
to many deputies of smaller stature and strength, I appreciated
the techniques as really requiring NO strength - that is NONE (less
really IS more)!
*Principles*
for both Low Light confrontations and D.T. included:
1. ALWAYS maintaining your balance (good shooting platform);
2. ALWAYS attacking the balance of your opponent, and;
3. ALWAYS "flanking" your opponent (getting up close and
very personal)
4. Your, and your opponents, "center of axis" (along the
spine) and the corresponding triangulation points.
Also, lots of
emphasis and practical work on sound, easy to retain and perform,
gun retention and disarming moves which were all safely controlled
and monitored by a minimum of 3 instructors at all times.
Definitely recommend
a HIGH level of physical fitness for this school.
The real "meat"
of the course; however; was served via the Force on Force scenarios.
Ken Good likened the human response (and sympathetic nervous) system
to a CD Rom . . . in order to be able to respond to a critical incident
in a desired way, instantaneously, it only makes sense to "record"
the stimulus involved in that incident onto your student's "on
board hard drives". You know, "burn it" onto the
"hard drives" we all carry with us through every waking
moment of every day.
Surefire sent
a total of 5 instructors up for this course which amounts to a small
fortune in expense to them. We typically started about 3pm each
day and went through til 2 am the following morning.
Very little
sleep and even less live fire compared to other schools. And I really
see why. My focus as an officer and as an instructor is now, more
than ever, on conducting good, effective, Force on Force training
for my students rather than just "teaching" others to
shoot static targets at the range, etc.
Don't get me
wrong, I'll NEVER stop enjoying shooting competitively, etc. It's
just that I will never again look at my ability to keep two ends
of a machine lined up while manipulating a third part as having
anything really all that meaningful to do with my ability to prevail
in (or all together avoid) a firefight!
My constant
reflection on what I experienced is exceeded only by my appreciation
for, and anticipation of, the opportunity to train with this staff
again!!! Stay Safe, all!
Cpl.
R. "THOR" Thorsen
Prince Georges County, MD Sheriffs Department |
