PMCI - May 2021

year’s TWAW FL State Shoot hosted by the OK Corral Gun Club
located in Okeechobee, FL. As our STG team were given full use of
the facility’s 360-degree range, we designed a course of fire that
would take full advantage of the space allotted. This course was
meant to teach shooters how to efficiently load, move, problem
solve, acquire correct targets and effectively shoot to score the best
possible shots on target given the changing variables presented
from target to target. The rifle platform used was open to what
would typically be used inside and around the home or property
distance such as short, barreled AK-47 and AR-15 to carbine variants
and some even some pistol caliber carbines.
After confirming zero, each line of shooters ran through skill
building exercises such as target identification and acquisition
drills before individually entering the final course of fire. During
this final individual drill, each shooter was escorted from stage to
stage featuring a barricade such as barrels stacked, aligned in a
serpentine path, PTS Barricades with multi-shooting port options
or simply orange cones to circle as they engage TAT3D-ATS targets
from as far away as 30 yards to up close and personal distances
of 5 to 7 yards. Each target was dressed in a white T shirt for the
instructors escorting each shooter to be able to call hits using the
dark lead marks left.
Here are the takeaways from what our team observed. The
clothing on the targets was loose enough fitted to allow the
slight wind constantly blowing over the range to cause the shirts
to move on and off the target’s chest as if they were breathing.
As this was the first experience most of these shooters had ever
experienced having a 3D humanoid target in their sights, it was a
bit overwhelming to some. As shooters raised up their sights on
target, some were observed pausing to take a deep breath before
continuing to forward with the exercise.
By positioning “No Shoot” targets in front of “Shoot” targets
in a hostage situation and using barricades to partially obstruct
traditional center of mass many have learned to sight in on, this
provided unique challenges to many shooters. Just by walking
through the course of fire they engaged Mario and his fellow target
models, Maria and Jackie, shooters arrived at the end of the course
shaking, sweating, and seriously pumped up on adrenaline. The
general consensus of each evolution of shooters who came through
our course was that “Things got real, really quick!”.
The survey provided the following week after the event further
reflected the excitement and shock shooters had from engaging
the TAT3D-ATS targets. Many went a step further and emailed
the Swanson Training Group directly to thank us for all our hard
work and to comment about how they felt better prepared to
defend their home with a rifle now. Several thanked our staff for
challenging them to think beyond paper targets and traditional
training to ease concerns and even some fears of going blank if
they ever had to defend themselves. Needless to say, the clear
evidence of truly giving them a better perspective and sense of
empowerment was worth all the hard work and sacrifice our staff
put into the weekend.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When it comes to the benefits of training with the TAT3DATS
targets, I honestly believe its only limited to your imagination.
With options such as steel plates to get immediate auditory
feedback and cardboard inserts to target your groupings as the
rounds pass through, many of the traditional basic skills can easily
and in some cases be better performed before even venturing into
the advanced skillset applications.
For armed professional units who regularly train in the dark,
the TAT3D-ATS targets give off a remarkably similar glow as a
human being when viewed through night-vision googles.
Traditional paper targets normally do not register well if at all
during this process. With the addition of real-world gear, prop guns
and other items, the reduced lighting conditions can really aid in
bringing these targets to life when training. Our team has seen
firsthand this effect on people during training in bright sunlight
outdoors and reduced lighting on indoor ranges.
Retailing for around US$349 with the basic set up (Mario,
Maria and Jackie) with target stand included, as well as the Bob
model with non-articulable arms retailing at US$215, in the big
picture, these are very affordable for most professional trainers
and agencies to have enough of these to set up valuable training
situations to propel training well beyond the two-dimensional
realm. Want even more from a target system? Not long ago, the
TAT3D-ATS team unveiled a motorized radio-controlled version
playfully referred to by the command staff as “Mario Cart”. Its
quick, menacing and charges like a raging bull to add even more
adrenaline to your system.
Before wrapping up this article, I would like to leave readers
with this final thought. According to the United States Department
of Veteran Affairs, experts estimate that up to 20% of Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, up to
10% of Gulf War veterans and over 30% of Vietnam War veterans
have experienced PTSD. The numbers of Law Enforcement and
Private Military Contractors are also steadily on the rise as our
world’s dynamic involving violence and direct-action increase. The
demand for PTSD treatment across the board continues to grow as
established training becomes defunded or stuck in a rut with its
evolution.
Based on my experience and time with these targets, I concur
with TAT3D-ATS company in seeing an opportunity to mitigate
the steep increase in PTSD through proper training and the
desensitization aspect of their system. Simply put, if these Tier 1
level targets are within your personal or commercial
budget, I highly recommend purchasing and training
with TAT3D-ATS. To find out more about Mario and the
rest of the next generation of training targets, visit
www.tat3dats.com (government sales available). Until
next issue, Train Hard. Continue the Fight!
TRAINING: TAT3D
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