Originally Posted by
Dan Lehr
I'd enjoy LE instructors/officers (in particular, others welcome, of course) comments on my thoughts:
I think of qualification courses as 'driver's licenses' they certify you have the base line competence to drive the car, or, as in this example carry/shoot the pistol. From this perspective, aside from the scoring, I think the FBI course is adequate, with the caveat that bureau firearms training doesn't simply consist of practicing the qualification course.
HCM hit it square on the head in saying we are not training firearms enthusiasts, we are training cops in another thread (paraphrase). Agency firearms training is the beginning and end of firearms training for many officers. You may be an innovative firearms instructor, but the reality is that many firearms instructors are firearms watchers - they simple perform the administrative functions of blowing the whistle/turning the targets and ensuring basic safety. Most of the latter type instructors will simply run officers through the qual course, thinking they are truly innovative if they proclaim -today we are going to practice the 3 yard stage.
Since my opinion is what it is, as a prophylactic measure I feel that firearms qualification courses should contain rudimentary survival skills such as movement and use of cover. I figured long ago that I wasn't going to be riding the shoulders of the officers I trained as they worked the street. I couldn't control whether they are in condition white with their thumb up their rear when the shit hits the fan. What I could do, though, was try to ingrain an appropriate response to SHTF. In most cases that is movement off threat axis.
As it stands the FBI course doesn't do this, so in that respect it is deficient absent the caveat of additional tactical firearms training.
If the instructor is faced with a situation of not enough training resources (ammo, time, etc.) or a large number of weak shooters, one avenue might be to add movement or use of cover outside the stage of fire. Let me give an example using the FBI course:
3 Yards Draw and fire 3 rounds SHO, switch hands and fire 3 rounds WHO. 6 Seconds
'Shooters as the targets face you will have six seconds to draw and fire three rounds SHO, then transition and fire three rounds WHO, upon firing your sixth round you will cover the target as you move to the blue barrel, and using the barrel for cover....'(add what you want here, WHO reload, blood sweep and self-aid, radio, etc.)
5 Yards Draw and fire 3 rounds. 3 Seconds
'Shooters, you will begin with diver's license in support hand, slightly below eye level, as the target faces you will drop the driver's license, draw and fire 3 rounds, time limit 3 seconds.' (you might have them holding a pencil and pad)
All of the added action takes place outside the string of fire.
Additionally, the breakdown of rounds fired at differing distances may be appropriate for FBI agents, but for a patrol officer there are not enough rounds at intermediate - longer ranges.
That last string at 7 yards: 7 Yards From the ready, fire 5 rounds. 4 Seconds needs to be moved to the 10 yard line.
JMO