---

Developing a Use of Force Education

Part III of III

By:  Skip Gochenour

 

 

COMPETITION VS. TRAINING

Organized dynamic shooting competition can be useful in a training regimen. Competition shapes behavior. In order for a practitioner of tactics to reach the goals of a competition, he must engage in behavior that is not in keeping with sound tactical judgment. It is up to the practitioner and his personal discipline to use the competition environment with out sacrificing his training goals.

MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

In bureaucratically driven shooting competition a system is devised to mathematically compute individual rankings of participants. The system is always tied directly to the numbers of points scored on a paper target. Occasionally some attempt is made to recognize conditions under which the gun may be used. So long as the operating bureaucracy promotes the "score" as the measurement device for individual ranking, decisions made by the shooter about equipment and shooting behavior will be driven by a desire to increase his score. Attempts by event organizers to incorporate sound tactical behavior will be ineffectual because it will interfere with the ability to get a better score. Target generated numerical scores also lead to all manner of silliness in arbitrary rule making in the name of "fairness". A notable example is restricting the number of rounds that can be put in an auto pistol so that there is no unfair advantage over a revolver. Fairness is a concept debated only by grade schoolers and liberal democrats. Tacticians find the concept loathsome. They understand that real environments are dynamic and constantly changing. They understand that the most dangerous weapon they posses is their mind. That weapon system will allow them to prevail in a fight, more certainly than any prowess at shooting a higher numerical score.

It is important to do some training on a paper target that has scoring zones. It is very important to do a lot of training on a reactive target system that is calibrated to fall only when struck with sufficient accuracy and power to replicate what would reasonably fall an adversary. Find a competitive organization that uses reactive targets extensively. The training value of shooting a target until it visually leaves the fight cannot be over estimated. A reactive target system does not lend itself handily to scoring and ranking systems, but such matters are only of interest to those who are ego driven and of little interest to those practitioners who care about their family's well being.

There are in most sections of this country small groups who meet regularly to compete, using sound tactical principles. They take the form of study groups more than competitions. Find such a group and join them. If you cannot find one, start one. There are plenty of graduates of schools such as John Farnam's, Thunder Ranch, Gunsite and Greg Hamilton's InSights, who could serve as the nucleus and study director. If you have formed or do form such a group - let us know- we will list your group on our web site so that others can find you.

Measurement systems are useful in developing your training. Those systems that recognize that dynamic environments change, requiring the practitioner to think his way through, are the most valuable and instructive. Measurement systems, used in such an event are subjective.

Objective scoring is used for ranking purposes. It encourages behavior that flies in the face of sound tactics. Score is about public ranking - public ranking is about ego - ego is about personal glory, not life saving skills

GUNHANDLING SKILLS

I.P.S.C. shooters show an extraordinary ability at moving over, around and through difficult environmental obstructions while managing deployed weapons. To the very great credit of Dave Arnold, the I.P.S.C. Range Officer program is the finest safety instruction systems in the dynamic shooting sports. A good training regimen would include sometime spent at I.P.S.C. events. The practitioner can get the most benefit by using the weapon and carry system that is his daily wear. Shooting each exercise can be approached tactically if you are willing to accept the penalties assessed by the bureaucracy. Ignore the I.P.S.C. scoring system. I.P.S.C. and other dynamic shooting competition can offer useful exercise at gun handling skills. Tell the Range Officer that you intend to approach the problem tactically, shoot it as a training drill, and ignore the score sheet

Train and study hard. Then come and test yourself at N.T.I.