Protecting Our Way of Life

Every Memorial Day I hear from about 8 guys.  These 8 inform me about how they are doing mentally, physically, and spiritually.  They also offer connection with several others, additionally about their status.  By the end of the day, I have a pretty good picture about the 27 survivors of grid 4143 in Panama. 30 survived, 27 are left.  Last Memorial Day (2026) was no different and I had plenty of accounts.  As this group gets older there are stories of medical issues but for the most part all are doing well physically.  Mentally, there are only a few who aren’t affected as much as the majority.  There are several levels of PTSD because several of those 27 stayed in dangerous jobs.

But in communicating with one particular guy, I learned some interesting facts about our Panamanian vacation.

Jason “Jujubee” Davis (WIA)-6 years Air Force, Career PMC, Blackwater, MVM, and G4S.  Jason is an interesting guy.  He is quiet but intense.  Jason worked in intelligence in the Air Force and then had a career in government contract work.  He is from South Carolina and joined the military to get out of his small town, and the gigantic lumber mill that his entire family had worked for 3 generations.  He worked for 3 different PMC’s (private military contractor). 2 U.S. companies and a British company.

Juju was connected to, deployed with, and had even worked for (double dipped occasionally) the “Company” or the C.I.A.

He was over-the-top patriotic and did not play well with someone who was not.  He is a great proponent of freedom and standing up for the right.

I checked on his health, mental and physical, and he mentioned Panama and our central American vacation.  He mentioned how intelligence failed us in our adventure.  In 1987 and 1988 there were several incidents that would have pointed to a larger conflict that we experienced.  He also mentioned that intel knew we were going into an ambush.  The reason it was not such a devastating, overwhelming battle was the underestimation of the timing, and ferocity of our defense. They knew we were going to be surprised and estimated there would be an 80% loss and 20% capture rate.  They knew who they were sending and what training and experience was there and that there were only 34 of us.  They did not count on us being as good as we were.  They also didn’t count on the PDF being as bad as they were. He said the report gave specific details about the PDF.  There were 282 PDF troops including commanders.  They outnumbered us 8 to 1.  They had 1 50 caliber jeep mounted gun.  They had 1 120 mm mortar.  AK’s and Star and Taurus pistols. Several Soviet RPGs.   According to Juju’s contacts, the Army had the intel from the CIA but did not share it with the Air Force.  Once we were engaged, the Army told the Air Force what was supposed to happen.  The Army did authorize air support though they didn’t think they would need to provide it.  They thought we would not last the initial ambush and that we wouldn’t have enough time before being overrun to ask for support or exfil.  We did have the time, so they gave us Apache’s.  Had the weather cooperated, we would have been out of there pretty early in the fight.  Had we stayed longer than we did, we would have lost more guys.  Apparently, the government wanted to use this incident, us getting killed and captured, to further their plans to invade Panama and grab Noriega.  We were human fodder to carry out the plans of others.

I don’t know if I should be angry or offended.  I think I’ll just chalk this up to government garbage and not take it personally.  I can understand nut jobs that blow up buildings or shoot up government facilities.  I said I understood, not condoned.  The feeling of betrayal from the country you swear to protect is palpable.  I can see where the acts of well-meaning or evil men would spiral someone into anger and hate.  It doesn’t change the fact that I took an oath to support presidents, corrupt or otherwise, and allegiance to a country that allows me and my family freedoms very few in this world get.  If not for a superior force and great training the 27 of us who are left from the original 34 may not be here.  Many of us went on to serve this country with great honor.  Regardless of the plans of evil men, we were able to overcome their plans and continue on.  Most of those involved thrived in their lives with families, jobs, and living the American Dream.  I believe that being treated this way would have been disastrous in a lesser country than the United States of America.

Why do I tell this story?  It is a commentary on the crazy idea and experiment we call the United States of America.  I can say with a level of assuredness that the great freedoms that we enjoy in this country also gives evil people opportunities to do corrupting things to elevate their power or bank account.  I could be bitter about my experience.  I am sad about the loss of life on both sides.  But when you sign up to serve, you risk the chance that you may have to give your life.  You don’t ask why, that’s a question for others to ask.  I don’t like the idea of someone giving their life for an unjust cause.  But the guys we lost were helping their brothers to get home in one piece.  It may have been a waste, all war is a waste, but they did not die in vain.  They died for me.  And for you.

My point is, there are many instances where those who have sworn to do difficult and dangerous jobs, military, first responders, and others, give the ultimate sacrifice for those whom they serve.  Please remember this and know that this country is worth it.  Maybe not always our government is worthy, but the idea of this country is well worth it.  Many in this country don’t appreciate what they have or think other ideas or ideologies may be better.  I do not agree.  I’ve been to several other countries and have seen other ways to govern.  We have the best the world has to offer.  It is not perfect and with great freedom comes more risk of corruption and activities that are not lawful or good for people or the country.  I fought for the freedom that others have to promote ideas I may not agree with.  Let everyone be on notice: You can bring other ideas and ways you feel this country should be changed but know that people like me will fight you (legally not physically) to protect what we have and the freedoms we feel are gifts from God as did the founding fathers.  One particular thing that threatens our freedom is Sharia law.  This is something that I feel is a direct threat to our freedom and way of life.  

Learn what others are trying to propose and push that undermines our laws and country.  Fight against it legally and lawfully.  They exist and should be defeated.  Please be aware and active in safeguarding this country that I risked my life to protect.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn 

 

Training Value #6-Competition

Training Value 6-Competition

In competition there are several points that can help with your training.

Safe Gun Handling Becomes Second Nature

In competitive shooting, safety isn’t just a rule, it’s a culture. Under the constant supervision of a Range Officer (RO), every shooter is held to the highest safety standards. Only one person handles a loaded firearm at a time, and any lapse in safety results in an immediate disqualification. It’s a high-stakes lesson, and it sticks. You quickly learn to treat your firearm with unwavering respect, and the accountability of your shooting peers reinforces those habits. These safety skills don’t stay on the range; they follow you everywhere you carry.

You’ll Truly Know Your Gun and Gear

Competitive shooting forces you to live with your gear under pressure. You’ll learn exactly how your holster, magazines, and firearms perform when adrenaline’s high and every second counts. Even if you don’t compete with your carry gun, the insights you gain, like drawing technique, reload efficiency, and gear placement, translate directly to your daily setup. By the time you’ve run a few matches, your gear won’t just feel familiar, it’ll feel like an extension of you.

You’ll Build Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy

Let’s be clear: accuracy is everything. You can’t stop a threat (or win a match) if you can’t hit your target. Competitive shooting teaches you to prioritize precision under pressure, while also pushing you to develop the speed needed for tasks like drawing and reloading. You’ll learn when to go fast with a quick sight picture and when to slow down for that crucial shot. Through competition, you don’t just learn your limits, you expand them.

You can Master Movement and Learn to Use Cover

Real gunfights are fluid, fast, and chaotic. Standing still isn’t an option. That’s where competitive shooting shines. Sports like IDPA and USPSA demand smart movement, the effective use of cover, and split-second decision-making. You’ll learn how to navigate angles, corners, and barriers in ways that mimic real-life threats. And while match props aren’t real cover, the skills you build, like using terrain to your advantage, are as real as it gets.

Your Mindset Will Sharpen and So Will Your Decisions

Competition creates pressure and pressure builds character. Every match puts you in a situation where you must analyze, plan, execute, and adjust. You’ll learn to think fast, adapt quickly, and stay calm under stress. While self-defense scenarios are more chaotic, the mindset you cultivate in competition — focused, prepared, and decisive — can give you a critical edge when the stakes are real. And knowing your moral and legal boundaries before a crisis hit gives you the clarity to act decisively when it does.

Trigger Time is Time Well Spent

There’s no shortcut to skill. Whether you’re training for competition or self-defense, you need time behind the trigger. Competitive shooting gives you that time, but with a structure that challenges you, pushes your limits, and holds you accountable. With every match, you become safer, faster, and more precise. It’s not just practice; it’s performance under pressure. And that’s where real growth happens!

Competition can make you better if you let it.

While competition won’t replace self-defense training, it will make you significantly more prepared. 

At first glance, the two may look similar. Both involve a firearm. Both require safety, accuracy, speed, and gun handling.

That surface similarity can mislead people.

Competition shooting tests performance under match conditions. Self-defense firearms training prepares the armed citizen for lawful survival during a violent encounter. Those are very different goals.

A competition shooter may become very skilled with a firearm. Many competitive shooters handle guns extremely well. Their practice can improve speed, accuracy, movement, transitions, and confidence under pressure.

However, winning a match does not automatically prepare a person for a criminal attack. Match pressure and life-or-death pressure do not create the same problem.

Likewise, a self-defense student should not ignore skill-building drills. Hard skills matter. The question is not whether competition has value. The question is whether competition training and self-defense training solve the same problem.

They do not.

In competition, rules control the match. Break a rule and you may receive a penalty, lose points, or get disqualified.

That can feel disappointing, but you still go home.

In self-defense, the rules are laws. Break those laws and the consequences can change your life forever.

You may survive the attack and still face arrest, prosecution, civil litigation, bankruptcy, or prison. That is why defensive firearms training must include the legal side of force.

A responsible armed citizen must understand that deadly force requires more than fear. The facts must support the decision.

In many self-defense discussions, instructors refer to factors such as ability, opportunity, intent, and preclusion. Those concepts help students think through whether a threat is immediate, serious, and unavoidable.

The law matters before the gun comes out. It matters while the gun is out. Most importantly, it still matters after the threat stops.

Competition can be helpful.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

 

First Aid, it’s what’s first!

This is a reposted article. September is National Preparedness month. It is a good time to look at your preparedness plan and add to, or take away from. Use this article as a starting point. 

Recently we have been putting together our kids’ go bags. These 2 kids are in college and living away from home. As we came to their first aid kits, we weren’t real sure what we needed to include. I have a YouTube channel that I follow. Nutnfancy is the guy that makes videos about outdoor adventure. He reviews guns, knives, and other gear. I highly recommend his channel and videos. His POU (philosophy of use) and mine match up nicely. He did a few videos specifically on first aid kits. First, he did a video describing an experience he had with a bad car wreck. From that experience he vowed to never be unprepared in the first aid area again. He does two other video series on "level 1" and "level 2" kits. The level 1 kit is a one-to-two-person kit. It is small and compact but covers the items that are needed. He focuses on blood stoppers but goes beyond what a store-bought kit would be. Store bought kits usually have a lot of band-aids and maybe some aspirin. In his videos he explains why he included each item. I am not going to go through a list but will touch on a few things I feel are important. Like a go bag or 72-hour kit, first aid is up to the individual. Usually, the items you would include will match your capabilities and training. If you have had training putting in an IV, you would probably want that in your kit. If you know how to suture, you will probably have a suture kit. Make sure you have training and experience with the procedures you are planning for. If you have no training, I would strongly suggest you start with a Red Cross course in first aid and CPR. Get trained and stay current. If you have a friend who is a doctor or Nurse, ask them for training. Don’t get too technical but it is good to know when and why you should do a procedure. Learn what can go wrong and how to correct or treat the problem. As was mentioned, the Red Cross is a good source of training. Also mentioned were friends who are Doctors or Nurses, EMTs. A Boy Scout Troop might be another source. There are many good books, websites, and videos. Be careful about self-education. Ensure you have good information by checking with a credible source to verify what you’ve learned is actually how it is. Another good YouTube channel that I like is PatriotNurse. She is very informative and does not get too technical. She teaches in layman’s terms and realizes everyone hasn’t had several years of college courses concerning medicine. Also, if you know someone in the military they receive a lot of training in first aid procedures. A combat medic can teach some things that a doctor would not know. Most Doctors have an office or hospital with equipment and other professionals at their disposal. A combat medic is usually alone and is taught on a level that you and I may experience. If you come upon a car wreck, you won’t have a full staff and facility to use in treating the injured. I would highly recommend courses that focus on field first aid.  EMT’s and combat medics, first responders if you will; in my opinion have the most practical experience for survival or emergency medicine. As I said above, most doctors and nurses have experience in a controlled environment. Now I’m not saying those professionals are not trained in this type of medicine, many are but many have little or no experience in this type of medicine.   

As you put together your kit think about experiences you’ve had with first aid and what you need. Then look at your skills and training and add those items. Then, think of what you think you may need in the future and add those items. Then get the proper training to support those possible future events. Remember that it’s always better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Ask those who know about their gear. Find out what professionals use and try to obtain the same items that they use. Buying in bulk is always cheaper. If you need 3X3 surgical pads, find a good price on the internet and buy a bulk amount. You will need them for other kits. We have a kit in every go bag, then one in each vehicle or "get home" bag. You may want one at your place of work or school. There will always be a use for certain bulk items.

Pick a container that can meet your needs. For me it would always be contingent on SWB (size, weight, bulk). Also, how functional is the case, or box? Can you get to everything quickly? Can you find most things in it by sight, or do you have to dump out the whole container first? Is it easy to carry? Are things clearly labeled so someone unfamiliar with the kit can use it quickly and efficiently? Is it easily accessed or hard to find?  All this and more should be considered when choosing a kit container.

First aid skills will generally not change although some procedures do change, such as CPR.  Become trained and practice on occasion.  This could be a family activity.  To make it real and more fun, employ makeup for real looking wounds.  Stick to the basics and don’t try to practice medicine.  This is first aid after all.  Think of first responders and their job.  That is what you become, the first one on the scene.

Recently I was with a Scout troop who were training in first aid from the Scout manual.  Most of what was taught is very valuable.  I told the boys that they just received more first aid training that night than most Americans ever receive.  There was one thing that bothered me though.  I know the Boy Scouts of America have a liability problem, but I felt every part of this first aid training ended in seeking medical help.  I am definitely an advocate of seeking competent medical help whenever possible, but I feel more training can make you more self-sufficient.  Build your skills and kits around the possibility that medical help will not be available.  Two e-books that come to mind are“Where there is no Doctor”, and “Where there is no Dentist”.  These are geared toward the possibility that no help is available.  They are free in digital form if you do a search.

First Aid skills are probably more important than first aid materials, because you can improvise if you have the knowledge.  So, get trained.  But with that training make sure you know how to use your equipment and materials in your first aid kit.  Be familiar with how to use these items so you won’t fumble with them when you have to use them.  After your training you get your kit together so you have the items that will make your knowledge applicable to the emergency you are responding to. 

Put together a list that fits with your skills.  Remember that others may have some skills you may not have.  Once you get a list, start putting together the items in your container of choice.  When I did this, I considered SWB (size, weight, bulk).  If your budget doesn’t allow buying products all at once, put it together a little at a time.  Maybe a few items a month.  Make sure you write all this down and set your goal.  Then keep track of your progress.  In no time at all you will see kits being built.  You may want to put temporary items in your kit until you can purchase what you really want.  Such as scissors.  Put in what you have until you get what you want.

This is truly a labor of love because these first aid kits may save the life of you or your loved ones one day.

 

Semper Paratus

 

Burn

 

Gun Cleaning: When and How Often?

 As an instructor, I’m often asked this question: "How often do guns need to be cleaned?" or "When do you clean your guns?"

The answer to these questions depends on a number of factors, including the type of gun you own, how often you use it, and the environment in which you use it and the ammo you use. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you determine how often you need to clean your guns.

We’ll discuss the importance of gun cleaning, the different factors that affect how often you need to clean your guns, and the best practices for cleaning your guns.  

Whether you’re a new gun owner or you’ve been shooting for years, read on to learn more about how often you should clean your guns.

Gun Type	How Often to Clean	Reason
Handgun	After every use	To prevent rust and keep the gun in good working order
Rifle	After every 50 rounds	To prevent carbon build-up and keep the gun in good working order
Shotgun	After every 100 rounds	To prevent rust and keep the gun in good working order

 

Factors to Consider When Determining How Often to Clean a Gun

There are factors to consider when determining how often to clean a gun. These are:

• Type of gun: The type of gun you have will affect how often it needs to be cleaned. For example, a handgun that is used for self-defense may only need to be cleaned once a month, while a rifle that is used for hunting may need to be cleaned after every use.
• How often the gun is used: The more often a gun is used, the more often it will need to be cleaned. This is because the gun will accumulate more dirt, dust, and debris from being fired.
• Environment in which the gun is used: The environment in which a gun is used can also affect how often it needs to be cleaned. For example, a gun that is used in a dusty environment will need to be cleaned more often than a gun that is used in a clean environment.
• Ammunition used:  Are you using lead?  Or are you using jacketed bullets?  Lead is usually more dirty on a gun.  Some combination bullets a pretty dirty too.
• Level of maintenance required: The level of maintenance required for a gun will also affect how often it needs to be cleaned. A gun that is well-maintained and cared for will need to be cleaned less often than a gun that is not properly maintained.

It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often to clean a gun. The best way to determine how often to clean your gun is to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Recommended Cleaning Schedules for Different Types of Guns

The following is a general guide to recommended cleaning schedules for different types of guns:

• Handguns: Handguns should be cleaned after every use. This is because handguns are typically used for self-defense, and they may be exposed to dirt, dust, and debris when they are drawn from a holster.
• Rifles: Rifles should be cleaned after every three to five uses. This is because rifles are typically used for hunting, and they may be exposed to dirt, dust, and debris when they are used in the field.
• Shotguns: Shotguns should be cleaned after every five to ten uses. This is because shotguns are typically used for hunting and sporting clays, and they may be exposed to dirt, dust, and debris when they are used in the field.

It is important to note that these are just general guidelines. The specific cleaning schedule that you need to follow will depend on the type of gun you have, how often you use it, and the environment in which you use it.

Cleaning your gun is an important part of gun safety and maintenance. By following these suggestions, you can help to keep your gun in good working order.

Please don’t ask if I follow these suggestions.  I like to be honest!

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Use of Force Continuum and Concealed Carry

 An example of a use-of-force continuum follows:

• Officer Presence — No force is used. Considered the best way to resolve a situation.
o The mere presence of a law enforcement officer works to deter crime or diffuse a situation.
o Officers' attitudes are professional and nonthreatening.
• Verbalization — Force is not-physical.
o Officers issue calm, nonthreatening commands, such as "Let me see your identification and registration."
o Officers may increase their volume and shorten commands in an attempt to gain compliance. Short commands might include "Stop," or "Don't move."
• Empty-Hand Control — Officers use bodily force to gain control of a situation.
o Soft technique. Officers use grabs, holds and joint locks to restrain an individual.
o Hard technique. Officers use punches and kicks to restrain an individual.
• Less-Lethal Methods — Officers use less-lethal technologies to gain control of a situation.

o Blunt impact. Officers may use a baton or projectile to immobilize a combative person.
o Chemical. Officers may use chemical sprays or projectiles embedded with chemicals to restrain an individual (e.g., pepper spray).
o Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs). Officers may use CEDs to immobilize an individual. CEDs discharge a high-voltage, low-amperage jolt of electricity at a distance.
• Lethal Force — Officers use lethal weapons to gain control of a situation. Should only be used if a suspect poses a serious threat to the officer or another individual.
o Officers use deadly weapons such as firearms to stop an individual's actions.
Concealed Carry Use of Force Continuum

Unlike a police officer, the presence of a concealed carry civilian is not a deterrent. I think we should add a first step in place of “Officer presence” with “Get out of dodge”. If you can see something developing, violence, riot, a fight, have an exit strategy. You should be practicing good situational awareness and should be able to see something developing. Get yourself out of harms way.
Verbalization-Force is not physical.
You can calmly try to defuse the situation as a police officer might. If things escalate make sure your words are clear and concise.
Empty-hand control
As a civilian you really cannot grab someone. But if you think you can throw someone to deflect them and to escape, then do so.

Less-lethal methods
Cops are equipped with an array of weapons on their duty belts and are taught the "use of force continuum," which clarifies how to match the right tool to the threat level. For example, if a bad boy wants to grapple at close distance, the police can break him down with an impact weapon. If he squares off against an officer from 10-feet away, he could get a blast of pepper spray. And if he looks crazy or amped on dope, he will get a jolt with the Taser. The cops I know don't want to shoot anybody any more than you do. You might want to think about having a second, less-than-lethal weapon on your person whether you carry a firearm or not. Dual-force will give you additional response options and/or provide you with something in your hand that should be recognized by a street-wise criminal as a potential defensive weapon. Remembering a key point in risk avoidance, if you look like a hard target, predators are more likely to pass you by in favor of an easier mark.

Lethal force
You had better make sure there is a reason to use lethal force. Also make sure you issue commands that can be heard by witnesses or a 911 call. Remember also, you should not hesitate if faced with a risk to your life, but just pulling your gun doesn’t mean you have to shoot. Often the presence of a gun is similar to the presence of law enforcement. It can stop the situation and give you a chance to leave. But remember, this is your last resort, and there should be a clear and present threat. If you draw your weapon, you’d better be prepared to use it.  Don’t draw your gun and hope that’s enough.  If you must shoot, make sure your reason will convince a jury.  It may not come to that, but it could ultimately come to a trial.  Just saying “I feared for my life” may not be enough to keep you out of jail. If there is a threat do not hesitate, but be sure about a threat.

Using a similar adapted Use of Force Continuum is of benefit to any concealed carry participant. If you can learn these steps and review them, if the time comes you are better prepared to meet the challenge and come out on top. Being prepared for most contingencies is a mindset.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

Speed, Surprise , and Violence of Action

Speed, surprise, violence of action. The essence of close quarter battle. (CQB)  Often CQB is talked about with that 1000 yard stare.  It’s supposed to be the pinnacle of battle.  As one who has experienced it I’ll tell you nuts!  It’s no fun and very dangerous, I guess that’s why it’s made out to be so sexy.

I was a young man in a foreign country going through a combat experience.  At one point, two other guys and I were hauling ammo from our position to another.  We were experiencing a lull in firefights and were moving through a series of bunkers and berms with relative cover.  Another guy and I had the ammo in our hands and on our backs.  The third guy was security, and we were glad he was there.  We went around a corner and ran into a roving patrol of 9 enemy soldiers who were pretty lax in their patrol discipline.  We met them and it surprised us both.  But our security guy was doing his job and took out 3 enemy before we could drop our ammo and get our rifles on target.  Fortunately, it took the enemy a little longer to figure out that they just bumped into the enemy, and we neutralized them before they could get their rifles pointed in our direction.  But had our security man being a little hesitant, the story would have turned out different.  He was ready even though it was a surprise.  He closed the small distance between us and hit them with such a heavy force, and then as we followed, the enemy didn’t know what hit them.  This is classic violence of action.  In close quarter battle there are 3 principles that must be used without hesitation, without thinking, to win the short gun fight.  They are Speed, Surprise, and Violence of action.  In our case, we won this scary confrontation even though we were outnumbered.  We walked away without a scratch because these principles were adhered to.  Because of the security man’s speed, even though we too were surprised, the violence of action was successful.  

Violence of action is the principle by which we neutralize the threat as soon as possible. If I were to sum up the concept in one word, it would be dominance. We must dominate the enemy both physically and psychologically to prevent them from defending their position or mounting a counter-attack against us. When it comes to Violence of Action, overwhelming force is the name of the game. Think of it like this. You're watching a UFC or boxing match. You see one of the fighters launch a brutal series of punches into his opponent with the speed and ferocity of a machine gun. You can literally hear his fists smash into the other dude's head as he shreds him into a bloody pulp. The beaten fighter buckles under the unrelenting storm of punches, unable to fight back or protect himself. Eventually, the referee steps in to stop the fight before someone gets seriously hurt. The fight is over. Pitted against such overwhelming force, the other guy never had a chance. Can we apply that to CQB? If our goal is to overwhelm and dominate the enemy, there's a number of ways we can get that done. From a military or law enforcement perspective, we can begin by: using demolitions to breach the door, tossing a flash-bang into the room blasting holes or using a vehicle to ram open additional entry points into the wall.

Follow it up with a well trained team flooding the room with guns and that's violence of action in a perfect world.

But what about in a civilian context? Does violence of action apply to a security-minded citizen? Yes it can. If you have to clear your house or enter a shopping mall to retrieve a loved one during an active shooter event, violence of action is especially critical. And while you may not have breaching assets or demolitions handy, you can still establish violence of action. 

Utilizing fast, aggressive maneuver and fire superiority may be all you have. But if you do it right, it may be all you need. Anything that allows you to gain and maintain dominance over the enemy is what we're looking for.

In my combat experience there was a point where the enemy focused on my position.  There was a concentrated, overwhelming force heaped on my position to where I could not return fire in any way.  I had my friends firing from other positions but I just sat down behind 4 walls of sand bags and waited to be killed or over run.  I did have others come to my aid and a mortar team quickly neutralized my attackers who stopped the onslaught enough to where we could exchange fire.  I was the most scared I had been that day and thought this was how I was going to die.   

The principles of speed, surprise, and violence of action all have a synergistic relationship to the others. Gaining the element of surprise will help you with speed. Moving with speed will help you sustain violence of action. Speed and violence of action can help you gain the element of surprise. They all work together. But just like with speed and surprise, there are common mistakes shooters make when implementing violence of action. We could go down a large rabbit hole in talking about all this but let’s focus on three mistakes that can overturn all of these principles.

Failure to commit is the first mistake.

You know about the fatal funnel, usually a doorway or threshold you must cross to advance toward the threat.  These funnels are where you are the most vulnerable. Moving through them quickly is imperative but moving deliberately and quickly when you don’t know where the threat is. Because of this danger new shooters may freeze causing many problems.  A static target in a fatal funnel is or course very dangerous but also stops the other team members from entering.

Danger is danger.  If you are going into a place where you know a bad guy is, there will be danger. So, when you must go, go! Move in a controlled and aggressive manner.  Dominate the space.  Commit to move, and then work the plan.  You should be flexible because combat is often unpredictable.

The second mistake is inadequate weapon skills.  You must know your weapon if you are to take it into combat.  You need to be able to reload it in the dark.  You need to be able to clear it in a moment.  You should also know how to transition to a backup weapon.  When I taught tactics in the military, I found that even those with training and experience can fail at weapons manipulation, clearing malfunctions, and transitioning was always a hang up.  You must practice these three things until you have the muscle memory to do them without thinking or in your sleep.  This is no joke, I saw people die in combat because they could not clear a weapon! 

When training close quarter battle there are many things you may not be told will happen that can affect your performance.  The stress, fear, and overload of battle is something you need to think about and be ready for.  You should learn safety in battle such as: not flagging team members, keeping your finger off the trigger until you know what and who you are engaging, muzzle discipline.  Combat is a mess.  It’s usually quite loud. It can be very confusing in terms of where the enemy is, where rounds are coming from, and who should be shooting where.  You need to neutralize the bad guys, not our team mates, ourselves, or other friendlies. The point is we want to our weapon handling skills to be on point.  We need to also talk about malfunctions.  Shooting guns for a sustained period makes it hot.  When jams or malfunctions happen on a flat range without being fired upon, they are fairly easy to correct.  But in close quarters a malfunction can kill you.  You must have a plan of action of what to do and when.  I should be part of your personal training.

The sights, deafening sounds and even smells are different than anything you’ve experienced.

 The third mistake is targeting.  This happens in two parts, shot placement and target identification.  This why a good light must be in your EDC.  CQB is fast and furious.  You must see the room or space and shoot the enemy and not non combatants (bystanders if there are any) or team mates.  You can only move as fast as your eyes can process.  Move with controlled speed and controlled violence of action.  You will have to discriminate friend and foe.  Then there is shot placement.  Stopping the threat in CQB must be immediate.  Missing the target is no good, but wounding is almost as bad.  Dying threats are still a threat.  They can pull a trigger even while bleeding out.  Well placed head shots are a must.  I know, this isn’t a nice thing to talk about but the truth is, kill or be killed.  Many people practice for center of mass but make sure you do the full Mozambique drill. (Drill described at the end of this post) Make sure head shots are in your training.  It is not sick, it is reality.  Plus, body armor is not that difficult to obtain. Head shots aren't something we're accustomed to doing on the move. And while chest shots that enter the heart and lungs are normally fatal, it may take several seconds for the threat to expire. Again, that's enough time for him to return effective fire on you.

To gain immediate incapacitation, aim for the area approximately in the center of the face, below the middle of the forehead, but above the upper lip. That will "turn off the lights."
Can't we achieve incapacitation with a shot to the spinal column? Yes, a hit to the spinal column (anywhere below the jaw and the top of the sternum) can get it done, but that's a very narrow target. If you're off by even a few centimeters, you may leave him with enough gas in the tank to deliver a fatal shot to you. Train yourself to make well-placed head shots and you avoid the problem altogether. There is another way to approach the issue of shot placement.  I know of some units that don't train their personnel to take head shots per se.  Instead, they prefer to teach "shoot the threat center mass and continue shooting until the threat is down" approach.  That works too.

All of these are the very raw basics.  Practice, practice, practice!  There are nuances to CQB that you will learn with practice.  Read everything you can and watch everything you can get a hold of.  Be selective.  If you have a chance for “live fire” CQB, take it.  This would be paintball, airsoft, or simunition training.  The best training is force-on-force in a shoot house or other safe facility.  I know that’s not readily available but you may have an opportunity.  Remember that a flat range is not real tactical training.  Shooting from barriers, around things and corners is better than a weaver stance and paper.  Be creative, you don’t need to spend a lot of money if you can shoot around a shooting bench.

Good luck and keep on shooting.

The Mozambique Drill (or Failure To Stop drill)  was developed by my past instructor Jeff Cooper.

A mercenary named Mike Rousseau fought in the Mozambican War for Independence. He told a story to Jeff about rounding a corner and came face-to-face with an enemy and an AK. He raised his Browning Hi-Power and shot two 9mm rounds into the combatant's chest. But the man failed to fall or stop, and a wounded man with an AK-47 is still a very dangerous man. He quickly fired a third and final shot into the combatant. The round was aimed at his head but went through the neck, severing his spinal cord. This stopped the threat.

The Drill

Usually it's fired from a holstered position, but it's not required.

The drill involves firing two shots to the center of mass (chest) and one to the head.  

You can start the drill with a double-tap to the chest of the target.  Just so we’re clear, a double-tap is two rounds fired rapidly to the chest. Then two shots with a single sight picture.  This entire drill is a three-round string fired from 7 yards: two rounds to the center of the chest, then one deliberate round to the head.  It’s simple but all important for CQB.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn