S.W.A.T. December 2007 - McKeesport Police Department

BE A GOOD STUDENT
commands. They protect your ears better
than plugs, are affordable and recommended.
If your muffs have directional
microphones, turn them to the rear. The
target won’t talk to you, but your instructor
will.
You came to class to learn, not to just
do things the way you’ve always done
them. Some of the techniques will be
new or different. I ask students to work
with new techniques or tactics during
the class, then after giving them a chance,
they can make an educated choice.
Please don’t cop-out with “This is how
I’ve always done it and I can’t change
it now.” You can do anything if you
put your mind to it, which means slow
down and focus on what the instructor is
asking. After all, it may be a better technique
or tactic, and if lives depend on
your performance, wouldn’t you want
to be as good as possible? And don’t get
caught up comparing your performance
to other students. What they can do on
the range won’t matter in your fight.
When the instructor offers corrections
during a drill, it’s not the time to
get into a lengthy debate. Hold your
questions until a break and then get
clarification. After all, it’s your class,
and you shouldn’t leave with any
questions unanswered. Other students
will also have questions, however,
so don’t hog all the instructor’s time.
Please don’t take unnecessary risks or
participate in anything unsafe. Everyone
on the range, including you, is a safety
officer. If you see someone pointing a
muzzle in an unsafe direction, or anything
else dangerous, you need to correct
it immediately. Firearms are weapons,
weapons are dangerous and there is no
room for neglect or error. There are plenty
of ways to induce stress into training
without increasing risk, and personally I
don’t want to become comfortable with
something like bullets coming at me.
POST CLASS FOLLOW
THROUGH
After class is when the real work begins.
Training and practicing are two different
things. Training is the introduction
of new techniques and the reason you
attend class. Practice is when you actually
learn and refine your skills through
repetition. If you don’t practice, your
skills will deteriorate. A little work will
maintain your abilities, but improvement
takes regular practice. Practice is
also the time to experiment with new or
modified gear.
For your initial training, an instructor
will serve the purpose, but to continue
developing your skills, eventually you
will want to seek out a true teacher. An
Before class is the time to sort out
and make sure you have the proper
gear, plus any spare equipment you
may need. A simple first aid kit,
extra lights and batteries, elbow/
knee pads, and a basic cleaning kit
are helpful. Color coded small bags
separate everything and allow quick
access. Best to do this when the
wife is out.
instructor demonstrates and shows you
how to do specific tasks. A teacher goes
into detail on techniques and tactical
theories, explaining how and why you
do something a certain way, when and
where to do it, and options if that technique
or tactic won’t work. Scott Reitz,
Louis Awerbuck, and Clint Smith are
a few of the great teachers I’ve studied
under.
When you decide to invest in training,
you are entering into a contract. For
the school to do its part, you have hold
up your end of the deal. You can book a
class with the best teacher in the world,
but if you’re not prepared physically,
mentally and with the right equipment,
you’re wasting both parties’ time. You
can always make more money and buy
more ammo and gear, but time is a precious
commodity. Spend it wisely. §
[Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms
Academy and author of The Book of
Two Guns. www.shootrite.org, (256) 582-
4777.]
70 S.W.A.T. » DECEMBER 2007 SWATMAG.COM