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View Full Version : Revamping agency's Firearms training.



redbeard1
01-25-2015, 11:50 AM
I have to be honest, my agency's firearms "training" is pretty lame. In fact it shouldn't be called training because we shoot the state course once a year (25 rounds), followed by a different course of fire 3 other times throughout the year. As always ammo is skinny and I guess I should be thankful we shoot 4 times a year. Anyways, I notice that a lot of guys and gals I work with struggle passing the state course every year. I've recommended that they revamp the "training" to include basic firearm manipulation along with drill that improve combat accuracy and etc. My recommendations have fallen on deaf ears.

Any suggestions on how to sell this idea would be extremely helpful.

KeeFus
01-25-2015, 12:34 PM
I have to be honest, my agency's firearms "training" is pretty lame. In fact it shouldn't be called training because we shoot the state course once a year (25 rounds), followed by a different course of fire 3 other times throughout the year. As always ammo is skinny and I guess I should be thankful we shoot 4 times a year. Anyways, I notice that a lot of guys and gals I work with struggle passing the state course every year. I've recommended that they revamp the "training" to include basic firearm manipulation along with drill that improve combat accuracy and etc. My recommendations have fallen on deaf ears.

Any suggestions on how to sell this idea would be extremely helpful.

IME, if your chief doesn't place a high priority on it then it most likely wont happen. You aren't alone...we qualify once per calendar year. Yes you read that right...we could literally qualify in January and not qualify again until December of the following year. Our last time span between qualifications was 18 months.

I do think that we are beginning to change that by adding an extra range day between quals. It's not enough by any stretch but it's better than the alternative.

jlw
01-25-2015, 12:46 PM
Unfortunately, training devolving into simply qualifying is a frequent occurrence.

Thankfully, I have a great boss who sent me to some of the top trainers out there and then gave me a free hand with our firearms training. I can't claim that I am getting it 100% correct, but I can tell you what I am doing.

First, qualifying is an administrative hoop. Spend as little time and ammo on it that is needed to check the box. Then concentrate on the actual skills.

This past year, I put all of our guys through a class that focussed purely on speed, specifically draw speed and getting on target faster. Then I did another class where everything had to be done with the support hand.

For 2015, I am designing a number of 50 round sessions that will be held frequently during the year in hopes of keeping their skills "recent". I have assigned one of our other instructors to hold a low light course prior to the time changing back. I am developing a discretionary course, and we have some rifle training planned.

The 50 round sessions mentioned above will be doing things like shooting the Rangemaster Core Pistol Skills test, the FAST combined with the Casino Drill, putting together some things like the Hackathorn Head Shots with the Bill Drill and the like. Basically, it will be things reinforce a speed and accuracy standard.

I also presented several options for moving forward to our personnel, and they unanimously voted for dividing personnel up into groups based upon skill level so that the hard chargers can go full speed ahead while those that need more work on the fundamentals get the time they need.

Finally, I am trying to get our other instructors exposed to better training so that it trickles down into their teaching. Last year I was able to get a few through a Givens class. A couple went on their own dime for a class with Frank Proctor, and one went to a class with Farnham. I have Givens coming back this year as well as SouthNarc.

Chuck Haggard
01-25-2015, 12:46 PM
You are asking for advice on an age old question that everyone in the industry fights on a day-to-day basis.

41magfan
01-25-2015, 01:26 PM
The truth is, there are only a handful of things that motivate any of us to do anything. You know your Bosses better than anyone, so tailor your proposals to scratch them where they itch. Some Bosses fear liability, some like looking "progressive" to their peers. In all circumstances, give them options (all of which will be acceptable to you) so they feel like some of it is their idea.

Regardless of your ultimate goals in training, accept that notion that incremental change will likely be your only option, so start small and be patient. If funding is a barrier, I would also suggest that you do things initially that don't costs much and slowly worm your way into getting them to spend money.

I've worked in an environment where I was given free reign and I've also worked at an agency where progress was tedious at times. The important thing to do is just get started doing something to get things moving in the desired direction. As the saying goes; Rome wasn't conquered in a day.

gtmtnbiker98
01-25-2015, 01:39 PM
25-rounds, sounds like Ohio. My agency just overcame the "no training required" mindset. We train quarterly now with both carbine and pistol. Many of the officers enjoy it while the other half tolerates it. If it wasn't mandatory, I'd wager that 1/3 would opt out of the training. It is really sad.

I am good friends with the gentleman who came up with most of the Ohio qualification standards and whenever the topic comes up, it gets rather heated. In these times, we should all be somewhat proficient, but when I hear of some agencies only requiring the 25-rounds per year, that is gross negligence!

My big argument when I took over our firearms training is that it isn't "if" but "when" and you either mitigate the liability or litigate the outcome. We used to be a 25-rounds per year agency with over 16,000 rounds of duty ammo on hand for the sidearms and 20,000 rounds of 5.56 for the carbines. The excuse was always ammo availability and cost. Really? Thank God we got a new proactive Chief.

Paul
01-25-2015, 01:43 PM
Some "leadership" is very resistant to anything that didn't originate in the void between their ears, in that case don't make recommendations, try to plant ideas. If you can get the higher ups to think that they have a great idea, they're usually a little more motivated to see it come to life. Finding the right way to subtly push people can achieve amazing results.

Try to figure out what the hot topic is and put it in those terms. Sometimes putting things in terms of "increasing transparency", "reducing agency liability", "reducing likelihood of DOJ investigation", and "reducing the likelihood of a high profile media event", tends to spur a different kind of urgency than "officer safety and survival".

jnc36rcpd
01-25-2015, 05:54 PM
I won't repeat the well-thought out ideas mentioned above, but I'll add some suggestions.

If you have any discretion on the qualification course, design one that tests what you consider the most important skills. While qualification isn't training, you want to get as much value from it as possible.

Don't try to go too far too fast. If command staff lengthens the leash, it is tempting to try to train in every skill you're read or attended training in. You're better off with a couple of good exercises rather than five poorly orchestrated ones.

In my experience, the troops invest in and enjoy exercises that are relevant to their world. If the purpose of the drill seems rather opaque to the masses, explain its relevance. For instance, a box drill makes no tactical sense and the non-gun savvy people may have no idea why you're having them perform this ballistic ballet unless you explain it to them.

Try to make at least one exercise exciting and fun. (I realize "exciting" can be a bad thing on a range, but you know what I mean.) It never hurts is you mention that this drill is done by HRT/SOG/D Platoon/Agents of SHIELD.

Ensure safety. The troops get turned off if they think an exercise is dangerous on the range or would be reckless if done on the street.

Paul
01-25-2015, 06:21 PM
Ensure safety. The troops get turned off if they think an exercise is dangerous on the range or would be reckless if done on the street.

That's one worth repeating.....A workers comp claim can kill a training program in its tracks.

redbeard1
01-25-2015, 07:25 PM
Yep, North Central Ohio.

redbeard1
01-25-2015, 07:29 PM
Thanks, guys. I was able to convince the previous admin to allow officers on the indoor range without a range instructor so that the ones who wanted to shoot more could do so. The bad part is we have to bring our own ammo. I consider this a win and will keep inching toward changing things over time.

Sabre07
01-31-2015, 11:02 AM
We hit a training jackpot with the state adopting a new DT system, a couple of eye-opening critical incidents and a new state requirement for active shooter training. That set us up for 80 hours of in-service training in TY2015. Our guys are getting 2 different blocks of 40 hours each. Part of Block 1 is 16 hours of tactical firearms, followed by an 8 hour active shooter class. The tac firearms is heavy on manipulation and movement that supports the active shooter mission. The AS class is all force on force and that supports the firearms training (nothing is stand-alone). The fact we have a patrol commander that wants all Patrol Officers trained to respond, not merely support means we are a busy training division.

I don't really like the term tactical firearms, by the way...never seen any training called "admin firearms".

CanineCombatives
02-03-2015, 10:37 PM
Sweet, some great instructors in your state.

jondoe297
02-04-2015, 11:35 AM
I'm jealous of you guys that have agencies that give you better than average training. My department is a once-yearly state mandated qualification (50 rounds), and that's it. Personnel that want additional trigger time can come to qualifications and shoot the course if they want. There isn't much in the way remedial training. Our people that can't pass the quals are coached just to the point to get them to pass.
We're given 50 rounds of ammo a month to "train" with, but I'd say only about 25% of our sworn personnel even bother to stop by training and get their ammo.

Eagle1*
02-15-2015, 07:45 AM
I am lucky enough to have a Chief (and previous Chiefs) that leave this up to me, the primary firearms instructor of my agency. When I was hired, it was once a year quals with 1 open range day for any officer to show up and shoot what he wanted, no actual real world worth at all for LE in my book. Once I took over in 2004, I have implemented at least 1 firearms shoot with shooting drills and starting this year we are at 2 extra shooting days other than the Ohio qual day. Problem with my agency and a lot of others is that my dept does not have its own range and we are at the mercy of the county agency to actually get a few days a year to shoot as there are over 20-30 local agencies trying to do the same at the same range. Now if my city could build me our own range, we would shoot once a month!

And as stated above, 2/3 of my dept wants to be there and the others could care less. Its really sad that there are still officers in this day and age of our job that do not take this portion of our jobs seriously. I always tell and show that shooting is a perishable skill and if you don't get behind that gun enough, you will forget the muscle mechanics of it and have to retrain yourself if it has been awhile. And an OIS is not the time to have to retrain yourself or be "lacking" as it may just cost you your life. Keep pushing through but knowing what your administration is most concerned with would be a great avenue for the approach as it has always worked for me.

Another idea is to do FATS training as we also do this once a year. I know that this is not actual shooting but it seems to work really well to see where each one of your officers is on his ability to apply what force is needed. We do multiple scenarios that make the officer choose what use of force is the best (if any), not every scenario has to be a OIS drill. If that is how you run your FATS, it just becomes a video game at that point. Good Luck...

Jeff22
03-22-2015, 02:40 AM
Steady incremental change can accomplish a lot, but you have to be patient.

First thing to do is improve everybody's basic skills so that they can pass any mandated qualification course consistently on the first attempt.

Then you can get into more advanced skills like low light applications and multiple target engagement and incorporating lateral movement on the draw and etc.

Budget and scheduling and lack of interest from admin/some of your students will be your biggest obstacles to implementing change.