QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Liberty is not government’s gift
to man, it is the divine creator’s gift to mankind."
~President George W. Bush~
Tactical Low Light Combat!
Training and Equipment
The vast majority of violent encounters that law enforcement officers find
themselves in occur at CQB (Close Quarter Battle) that is, ten yards and in
with nearly 90 percent of those - at five to zero yards! They are explosive,
savage, and happen within a blink of an eye. Additionally, as national
statistics commonly reflect, nearly 70 percent of these incidents take place
in reduced light situations. Remember criminals, like most predatory
scavengers, are opportunists. Reduced light and shadows provide them the
ideal environment not only to conceal themselves but to hide their actions
as well. For the officer, it makes it difficult to determine how many there
are or if they are armed. Therefore it is no wonder that darkness remains
“The Eternal Enemy!”
So, armed with this information you would think most law enforcement
agencies would be ahead of the game when it comes to tactical low light
training, right? Not so! It is unfortunate but the bulk of tactical firearms
training for most agencies occurs during daylight hours. By neglecting to
provide adequate reduced light training an agency sets itself up for mission
failure while also raising serious liability issues. The mission failure for
the agency is twofold: first, it is failing to meet the tactical safety
needs of the officers; second, failing the community which it serves should
an officer become involved in an adverse shooting in reduced light. I would
strongly recommend everyone look at some of the research and studies
conducted by Tom Aveni, Police Policy Studies Council and
Dr. Paul Michel (OD), LAPD Reserves in regards to these issues. I would
also strongly recommend that 60% of overall firearms training should be
dedicated to tactical low light: (flashlight and mounted light techniques
under a variety of lighting conditions and tactics) and the other 40%
dedicated to moving and shooting, multiple threats, target identification
and decision making, malfunction drills and use of cover. Remember, low
light conditions exist 24 – 7 for an officer. Deployment and use of tactical
lighting could occur anytime or anywhere, at any moment!
As Tiger McKee of the Shootrite Firearms
Academy pointedly states, “…low light conditions exist 24 hours a day.
Step into one of the barns that surround the countryside of rural Alabama
where I live. It's going to take a while for your eyes to adjust, making it
difficult to see a snake lying in a corner, much less an attacker who's
trying to hide. Urban environments are rife with dark structures. Then there
are special circumstances like the New York City blackout of 2003. Even in
situations where carrying a weapon isn't feasible, a light should be part of
our gear - day and night.”
McKee is absolutely right in his assessment. There are two parts of his
statement that tactically stands out and makes the most sense, “…low light
conditions exist 24 hours a day.” and “…a light should be part of our gear –
day and night.” Not only should an officer have this piece of equipment
(tactical flashlight) but he should be training with it as well!
ATI: Asymmetric Tactical Illumination –
This concept is worth knowing and understanding
Most military and law enforcement personnel have heard the term “Asymmetric
Warfare.” It’s defined as: A military situation in which two belligerents of
unequal power interact and attempt to take advantage of their opponents'
weaknesses. Taking the word “asymmetric” by itself means: something that is
typically off-center or created with an odd or mismatched number of
disparate elements. It is out of balance.
Definition:
“When one opponent is capable of exercising superior use of his tactical
weapon illumination systems and redundant components, combined with solid
tactics which overwhelms and thoroughly dominates the opposing element in a
reduced light environment.”
Breaking It Down:
-
The application of ATI in reduced light fighting
is to create a total dominance overload against your opponent that
disrupts and disorients them.
-
This is achieved by incorporating, with modern
weapons, the technology of refined illumination systems. These systems
can be for everyday operational needs, or they can be more mission
specific: NV equipment, lasers, thermal imagining.
-
It is important to have redundant (backup) systems
should primary systems fail. Secondary light systems to switch over to
or by utilizing tactical flashlights with proper technique.
-
Using solid individual and team tactics through
weapon manipulation techniques, light system discipline, applying low
light principles and understanding night vision physiology.
-
Staying mission-focused / maintaining a combat
mindset by adhering to the principle of “Accelerating the Tactical
Loop.” Ret. M/Sgt. Paul Howe – CSAT – book: Leadership and
Training for the Fight
“Accelerating the Tactical Loop” - This concept was
first attributed to Col. John Boyd USAF: The key to victory is to be
able to create situations wherein one can make appropriate decisions more
quickly than one's opponent. There are four interrelated and overlapping
processes through which one cycles continuously: OODA - “Boyd’s
Cycle”
Observation: the collection of data by means of the senses
Orientation: the analysis and synthesis of data to form one's current
mental perspective
Decision: the determination of a course of action based on one's
current mental perspective
Action: the physical playing-out of decisions made
In other words OODA allows you to out guess, out think and out
perform your opponent and do it in faster reference of time! “Accelerating
the Tactical Loop!”
ATI - CONCLUSION:
It is the totality of all these elements that makes ATI – Asymmetric
Tactical Illumination, which allows you to overwhelm and dominate your
opponent in reduced light combat. To work, it requires equipment that can
consistently perform to mission standards, solid tactics, great training and
continuous practice.
Illumination Technology:
In today’s world, illumination technology has exploded
on the scene and the choices available to officers are almost overwhelming.
For law enforcement and military personnel that is good news. Some of the
notable brand names for tactical illumination systems are: Surefire,
Streamlight Pelican, Gerber, Pentagon, Night Ops, and Inova, to
name a few. Each of these are excellent quality products from mounted type
light systems for shoulder weapons and handguns, to the great small tactical
lights with rear ignition systems. The choices are greater still from
selecting bright incandescent flashlights to the spectacular LEDs! There are
light systems and flashlights to meet the mission needs of any agency or
military operation.
Prices, like the multitude of systems that are now
available on the market, vary greatly. Remember this, “Any light is
better than no light at all!” Figure out what you need and take the time
to shop around. It is recommended to have multiple light sources to work
with. The question you must ask yourself is, “In a gunfight at night what is
your life worth?”
Mounted Light Systems for the Patrol Officer’s Handgun:
YES or NO?
Some administrators and yes, even some firearm
instructors are uncomfortable with the thought of their people carrying
mounted light systems on the handgun. How do I know? Because I have
personally been approached and asked about this issue from more than one
person. One of the more common arguments I have heard is “What if they point
their weapon at someone just to use the light system when no threat exists?”
My answer? “If they are doing that, then what kind of low light firearms
training program are you running and what kind of written policies do you
have in place?” If you have officers doing something like that, then you as
an administrator or as an instructor are not doing your job. To use that
particular excuse as a concern not to allow your officers to carry mounted
light systems shows a lack of tactical low light understanding as well as
being misinformed. Most agencies have no problem letting SWAT, SRT or
Narcotic Units carry these systems for their specialized work. Yet with the
vast majority of police shootings clearly taking place in reduced light, why
wouldn’t you allow your patrol officers to have the use of a great piece of
tactical equipment, too? It is baffling to me that this should even be an
argument. Like any piece of equipment issued to officers you must set
certain expectations and parameters of use and then hold them to those
standards. Having mounted light systems never precludes the fact that the
officer still needs a handheld flashlight to work with in the field.
The advantages of a mounted light system like the Streamlight M3, TLR-2, or
the Surefire X-200, just to name a few, provide an officer with great
tactical illumination, allows him/her to shoot utilizing a strong two handed
grip on the weapon which also means more control of the weapon, and the
probability of better shot placement. Having a mounted light system
integrated with the weapon and being able to use both hands to grip, is so
much better than any of the combined techniques which use isometric support
and it is also less fatiguing. For officers it means they have the tactical
advantage over their opponent in a reduced light fight and that means ATI is
working for them.
In fairness I admit there are some initial
considerations which must be given if this is something an agency is
planning to do. For example, a written policy should be implemented along
with an adequate training program. A new holster will have to be considered
that will accommodate the light systems or at the very least getting a
tactical illumination carrier that mounts on the duty belt (but that means
taking the light system on and off). At least with a duty belt carrier they
can deploy and mount the light system as it is needed. As stated above,
officers will still need a standard flashlight to work with and use in the
field.
Conclusion
As stated at the beginning, the vast majority of
violent encounters law enforcement officers find themselves in occur at CQB
(Close Quarter Battle) that is, ten yards and in with nearly 90 percent of
those - at five to zero yards! They are explosive, savage, and happen within
a blink of an eye. Additionally, as national statistics commonly reflect,
nearly 70 to 77 percent of these incidents take place in reduced light
situations where stressors increase dramatically. Remember, criminals are
opportunistic and darkness provides them with a certain amount of
concealment that allows them to hide not only their actions but also make it
extremely difficult to detect any weapons they have in their possession.
Unfortunately, the bulk of tactical firearms training for most agencies
occurs during the daylight hours and this is something that must change in
the future.
Tactical low light firearms’ training is a critical skill that must be
learned and practiced in order to stay proficient and competent. Good
equipment coupled with physical and mental mindset, solid tactics and great
training are the elements to ATI – Asymmetrical Tactical Illumination.
Applying the total concept of ATI can make the difference between whether an
officer survives a lethal low light encounter or becomes a national law
enforcement statistic. Flashlights should be part of our everyday equipment.
Why? Because in that 24-hour period of a day in an urban environment,
officers will have to deal with reduced light, varying light intensities,
reflective lighting and areas where total darkness exist. Having a tactical
flashlight could mean the difference between living or dying.
Source References:
Tom Aveni ~ PPSC
Tiger McKee ~ Shootrite
Paul How ~ CSAT
James Yeager ~ Tactical Response
Ken J. Good ~ Strategos Intl.
Dr. Paul Michel ~ LAPD Rsv.
Strike Intl.
Jack C. Perritt
George F. Wiley
TOP GUN AT DALLAS!
The annual DPD “Top Gun – Shoot Off” was held July 26, 2007 at the FTC Range
facility at 3200 Mountain Creek Pkwy. in Dallas, Texas.
It was an incredible day of highly advance tactical drills mixed with Alpha
Dog personalities, and great competitive shooting by the top one percent
shooters of the Dallas Police Department. Just to make the cut-off and be
invited is an extraordinary accomplishment for these officers. All
competitors and the range staff who put this show on are to be congratulated
for making it such a great day. Also, a special thank you to all the
sponsors who contributed such great gift prizes, food, drinks and other
items. Well done all!
The three top shooters for this year were: Sgt. Gary Martin 1st, Richard
Pederson 2nd, and Seth Rosenberg 3rd - GREAT JOB GENTLEMEN!
Some of the prizes given away this year included: a Rock River AR-15,
Sigarms pistols, EoTech, combat knives, boots, bags, T-shirts, folding
knives, ammunition, plaques, scopes, binoculars, and …. lets just say
everyone walked away with something. Thank you again, Range staff, for an
outstanding show as usual.
Strike International would also like to commend the
staff for the touching ceremony held for Jackie Doyal (deceased instructor)
and for his family that attended. The permanent flag plaque dedicated to him
was perfect.
Jack C. Perritt
George F. Wiley
Strike International
