Many trainers use force-on-force (FOF) training in scenario-based training. This type of training is necessary for the decision-making process of lethal force situations.
I use FOF for bolstering the development of technical skills within a tactical environment. These drills are easy to do in terms of time, but give a very good boost to officer performance as well as build confidence. I also use technical skills training with FOF in conjunction with qualification training, as a way to increase the effectiveness of the qualification.
Prior to doing qualification training at 3, 5 and 7 yards with live fire, try the following exercises at those distances with FOF. As with any FOF training, ensure proper safety precautions are adhered to at all times. You can do these drills with Airsoft or other markers.
Task Focus Drill: 3, 5 and 7 yards
Task focus is part of mindset. In its simplest form, it is the ability to stay focused on a task while under duress of some form. This drill allows the officer to acclimate to the stress of a close-range shooting incident and make the important mental shift from a general situational focus to task focus on visual processing and making fast, precise hits.
The student needs to stay focused on the execution of a good hit. They must shift from a general visual focus to using the focal continuum to see what they need to see to make a centerline hit. As the drill progresses, the trainer should question the student on visual recall and memory of the shot placement. As soon as good hits on centerline are being made, incorporate immediate movement off the X, in different directions with each repetition, to ensure tactical aspects of the situation are being addressed.
• Opponent has FOF weapon concealed behind body or in a pocket. Put a 12” strip of duct tape down the center of the opponent’s chest
• Officer stands with weapon at imminent threat position. Opponent initiates the action by bringing weapon around at 25 percent speed. Officer must respond with hits to the centerline of opponent’s body before opponent fires
• Initially, both the opponent and the officer remain still to reinforce the visual processes
• However, after two or three repetitions, movement should be incorporated into the exercise
• Repeat this exercise multiple times, having the officer moving left, right, diagonally, etc. Then have the opponent move as well. Incorporate verbal commands by the officer while the opponent initiates hostilities
• Really critique the movement of the officer’s firearm to threat, head position behind the sights, and their recall of the sights when they fire. Pay attention to finger on trigger prematurely as well
The purpose of this drill — along with the immediate action of movement while responding to sudden threat — is being able to go from the OODA loop to task focus, making good hits with visual processing.
With proper training and correct repetitions, the officer will increase their skill at bringing the firearm up much more precisely and calling shots very rapidly under gunfight conditions and make much better hits.
Increase the speed of the opponent’s attack to 50 percent, then 75 percent, then 90 to 100 percent speed.
FOF Cover Drill
The purpose of this drill is to train the officer in the importance of correct timing, minimizing the body behind cover, and commitment to the fight.
• Position the opponent at 5 to 7 yards, with FOF weapon out. Officer is behind a cover wall, FOF weapon out
• Officer is in a shooting situation and must make hits on the threat while under fire
• Officer must use cover appropriately and make good hits on opponent. As soon as officer comes around cover, he should be in position to fire and be firing, as opponent will fire at them. Officer will fire 1 or more shots and move behind cover, and then change position and do it again. The goal is to fire a shot and get behind cover before the opponent can make a hit on the officer
• Officer should be varying position both up and down and back and forth from the cover so the opponent cannot anticipate where the officer will appear from cover
• There are several variations of this drill that incorporate different strategies
This is a tough drill that requires speed, surprise, and correct timing to win the fight. Once the officer can do it off one side of the barrier, have them switch sides and do it from the opposite side.
Do enough repetitions that there is a meaningful training response. Vary the speed to suit the needs of the situation, but make it fast enough so that it is realistic and doesn’t build false confidence.
Time for Qualification Course
Now take the officers on a qualification course and have them shoot live-fire drills at the distances mentioned. They will take a much more realistic approach to shooting speed, movement and use of cover than if you do a standard qualification with them.
By doing these FOF exercises, you will move from closed motor skills training to a more open motor skills mode that is driven externally by the opponent.
By giving officers a training experience with FOF that replicates real life prior to qualification, they will take the qualification much more seriously and realize what they are supposed to be imagining as they are shooting, rather than just shooting for score.
While there are all kinds of FOF drills, these two will give you a great start. Try them out for yourself. I’m sure you will learn all kinds of things as you do them.
