By: Ricky Casner
Answer: Quite possibly your life.
Reality based firearms training (RBT) better prepares individuals to survive actual life-threatening situations but how do different people value this type of training?
For military and law enforcement personnel, it is so important that private companies and the U.S. military have spent millions in developing training technologies that allow firearms training to be taken to a heightened level of realism. Now, this particularly includes the costly development of man-marking projectiles to enable the ability receive a “pain penalty” every time trainees are struck by a round. You may not be a soldier or law enforcement officer, but do you carry a firearm for self-defense?
If you are an everyday gun carrying civilian, it is still your responsibility to train with your carry firearm in a way that will protect innocent bystanders from receiving injuries inflicted by your stray rounds. At the same time, you will want to train with live opponents that will shoot back at you. Why?
So what can pain do for you?
Numerous studies, all based in testing law enforcement officers, have found that traditional target practice does not adequately prepare people for actual force-on-force situations2. Conversely, RBT training provides participants with the possibility of receiving injury, thus helping them develop skills of stress management, situational awareness, movement, shot placement/accuracy, use of cover/concealment, and gaze control3.
In prior posts, I have discussed the dynamic movements and defense tactics that can only be developed during RBT. Yet, man-marking rounds are also essential components to RBT, making them indispensable for preparing individuals to survive actual life-threatening situations. So no matter what you may do for a living, if you carry a firearm for self-defense, seek reality based training from qualified professionals. One way you can know your training will be effective when it matters is its incorporation of man-marking rounds.
Please enjoy the following video further illustrating this point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mGmf9gbo8
References
- Redbeard Combatives. (2016, August 9). Benefits of force on force over flat range mentality. Retrieved 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mGmf9gbo8
- Taverniers, J., Smeets, T., Ruysseveldt, J. V., Syroit, J., & Grumbkow, J. V. (2011). The risk of being shot at: Stress, cortisol secretion, and their impact on memory and perceived learning during reality-based practice for armed officers. International Journal of Stress Management, 18(2), 113-132 .
- Vickers, J. N., & Lewinski, W. (2012, February). Performing under pressure: Gaze control, decision making and shooting performance of elite and rookie police officers. Human Movement Science, 31(1), 101-117.
About Ricky Casner
In 2008, following a two year ecclesiastical mission, Ricky chose to focus his professional endeavors on firearms and firearms education. In 2010, Ricky graduated from the Colorado School of Trades with an associate degree in Gunsmithing. Since that time, Ricky has practiced as a gunsmith, built machine guns for foreign and domestic militaries, and owned and operated a Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) business in Colorado. Currently, Ricky is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Idaho in Recreation, Tourism, and Sports Management and is the Marketing Director for Forward Movement Training Center in Meridian, Idaho.
