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The Strike Report - April 2006
Quote of the month:
“This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to
dare and endure.”
Winston Churchill
Report:
Safety: In the arena of firearms training, it is an issue that should be
routinely discussed, evaluated and improved upon. The main priority of any
firearms program is having solid safety standards in place whether it is
conducting dry-fire drills, live-fire or force-on-force Simmunition type
training. Additionally, the expanse of range safety these days extends well
beyond what occurs just in the classroom or on the firing line. Firearm
instructors must take into account other issues such as: the overall
physical health of their students, the weather’s impact on training, other
environmental issues and the impact your programs are having on the community.
One of the things agencies could do to help themselves is to formulate regular
quality control meetings by staff personnel. These meetings should be held at
least once a month with a proprietary agenda dedicated to training and safety
issues. Document what you cover and what action you are taking. By taking this
proactive approach, you will tighten up and maintain your own programs better;
it also shows that you do not have a haphazard approach to problem solving.
Remember the name of this game is CYA.
All of us have heard horror stories of negligent shootings at training exercises
where no live ammunition was suppose to be, right? The questions, “What went
wrong?” and “How did that happen?” when answered, usually fall fully and
squarely on the shoulders of the instructors running the exercise! One of the
best things an agency can do is to create the WSO (Weapon Safety Officer) even
though you may have other instructors present. The WSO is solely responsible for
all the loading and unloading of weapons at the exercise. The WSO is the
ultimate authority and has total say so on what goes on. The WSO is also in
charge of the physical environment of the location as well. The WSO may hurt
some feelings and other instructors may have their egos stung a little but in
the end it is better to be safe than sorry. One serious incident can have
lasting and tragic consequences, and cause an agency to lose a great program.
Tactical Tip:
Tactical Reloads: Most of the ones we see are ugly. Half the magazines are
dumped on the ground, some don’t remember what a tactical reload is, others have
forgotten how to manipulate the weapon properly. First, GET THE NEW MAGAZINE IN
YOUR HAND FIRST! Second, remember that smoothness equates with speed! The
Tactical Reload is usually performed when there is a tactical pause in the fight
and you need to get a fresh magazine in the weapon but the other magazine is not
empty yet. REMEMBER - THIS IS NOT A COMBAT RELOAD!
I have wrestled over the years with just which way is the best way to teach the
Tactical Reload. I have found without question that there are certain factors
which directly have an effect on how most people do it. Those factors are:
hand size, weapon size and manipulation skills. In the stresses of an ongoing
fight a sudden tactical pause occurs, and you decide that NOW is the best time
to get a fresh magazine in the weapon. Just get it done! Be smooth
doing it! Stay alert to the immediate threat in front of you and maintain
target acquisition at all times! Try to save the magazine you just took
out, you might just need those few extra bullets down the road.
Jack C. Perritt
George F. Wiley
Strike International, Inc.
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