So, You Think You’re a Shooter

When it comes to firearms you must not only know how to properly and safety shoot the weapon but you must thoroughly know and understand tactics. This aspect of training is often neglected which is a huge mistake. Being able to hit your target accurately under stress is important but this is only one part of firearms skills. Unfortunately, a lot of individuals fail to train in tactics which is an extremely important component. If your firearms’ training is held on a static range then you are not adequately prepared. If you think that playing paintball on the weekends is training you for real life violence then you are fooling yourself. Actually, you may be developing bad skills that will not benefit you in a gunfight. Fortunately, there are now a lot of shooting schools that offer marksmanship, as well as, tactical training. This is one area that you really should spend the money and get quality training from a qualified instructor. Being able to hit a target on a static range is the foundation for you to build upon. Marksmanship is the basics and it is important to master the basics before moving on to more advanced skills. Do not rush to the sexy tactical training until you become very proficient with marksmanship. 

In addition to proficient marksmanship skills you must train the following skills:

• Mindset
• Verbal De-escalation skills
• The ability to shoot and move
• Use cover and concealment
• Know how to clear malfunctions and be able to do it one handed if necessary
• Know the difference between shoot/no shoot situations
• Shoot in low-light conditions
• Know how to use a flashlight and/or laser
• Understand the use of light and shadows
• How to shoot and communicate
• How to maintain noise discipline
• Team tactics
• Structure clearing
• Downed person rescue 

 When you look at the above list, which is not necessarily a complete list, it should become clear that there is a lot more to shooting than standing on the 15 yard line and hitting a non-moving, non-threatening target that cannot shoot back and harm you. Obtaining proficient marksmanship and tactical skills requires time, consistency, discipline, patience, and practice. There are no shortcuts.

In addition to the above list I believe that it is critical that you participate in scenario based training that is filmed for later viewing with a qualified instructor. Too often what students think they do during a scenario is dramatically different from what they actually do. There is a wide chasm between their perceived skills and reality. 

So, are you really a shooter?

 
TC

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