Our soldiers need the newest and most effective techniques for fast shooting.

July 23, 2009-     I am doing extensive research into shooting methodologies of elite military and law enforcement units, Internationally.  I am a firm believer that our soldiers and elite units need to get the best and most efficient training so that they can win engagements.  I recently read the published US Army Field Manual- FM-3-23.35, Training with pistols M-9 and M-11 (public). 

I was disappointed because there are better techniques that work under stress and pressure.  I am concerned that the combat training that our troops receive on pistol deployment may not be enough for what they face on today's battlefield.  Tactics and techniques should evolve over time and today's dangers require a faster evolution.  Is our enemy fighting with more dynamic tactics than our forces employ?  

Section II. COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP

After a soldier becomes proficient in the fundamentals of marksmanship, he progresses to advanced techniques of combat marksmanship. The main use of the pistol is to engage the enemy at close range with quick, accurate fire. In shooting encounters, it is not the first round fired that wins the engagement, but the first accurately fired round. The soldier should use his sights when engaging the enemy unless this would place the weapon within arm's reach of the enemy.

2-7.     TECHNIQUES OF FIRING

Firing techniques include the use of hand-and-eye coordination, flash sight picture, quick-fire point shooting, and quick-fire sighting.

    a.     Hand-and-Eye Coordination. Hand-and-eye coordination is not a natural, instinctive ability for all soldiers. It is usually a learned skill obtained by practicing the use of a flash sight picture (see paragraph b below). The more a soldier practices raising the weapon to eye level and obtaining a flash sight picture, the more natural the relationship between soldier, sights, and target becomes. Eventually, proficiency elevates to a point so that the soldier can accurately engage targets in the dark. Each soldier must be aware of this trait and learn how to use it best. Poorly coordinated soldiers can achieve proficiency through close supervision from their trainers. Everyone has the ability to point at an object. Since pointing the forefinger at an object and extending the weapon toward a target are much the same, the combination of the two are natural. Making the soldier aware of this ability and teaching him how to apply it results in success when engaging enemy targets in combat.

    (1)     The eyes focus instinctively on the center of any object observed. After the object is sighted, the firer aligns his sights on the center of mass, focuses on the front sight, and applies proper trigger squeeze. Most crippling or killing hits result from maintaining the focus on the center of mass. The eyes must remain fixed on some part of the target throughout firing.

    (2)     When a soldier points, he instinctively points at the feature on the object on which his eyes are focused. An impulse from the brain causes the arm and hand to stop when the finger reaches the proper position. When the eyes are shifted to a new object or feature, the finger, hand, and arm also shift to this point. It is this inherent trait that can be used by the soldier to engage targets rapidly and accurately. This instinct is called hand-and-eye coordination.

    b.     Flash Sight Picture. Usually, when engaging an enemy at pistol range, the firer has little time to ensure a correct sight picture. The quick-kill (or natural point of aim) method does not always ensure a first-round hit. A compromise between a correct sight picture and the quick-kill method is known as a flash sight picture. As the soldier raises the weapon to eye level, his point of focus switches from the enemy to the front sight, ensuring that the front and rear sights are in proper alignment left and right, but not necessarily up and down. Pressure is applied to the trigger as the front sight is being acquired, and the hammer falls as the flash sight picture is confirmed. Initially, this method should be practiced slowly, with speed gained as proficiency increases.

    c.     Quick-Fire Point Shooting. This is for engaging an enemy at less than 5 yards and is also useful for night firing. Using a two-hand grip, the firer brings the weapon up close to the body until it reaches chin level. He then thrusts it forward until both arms are straight. The arms and body form a triangle, which can be aimed as a unit. In thrusting the weapon forward, the firer can imagine that there is a box between him and the enemy, and he is thrusting the weapon into the box. The trigger is smoothly squeezed to the rear as the elbows straighten.

    d.     Quick-Fire Sighting. This technique is for engaging an enemy at 5 to 10 yards away and only when there is no time available to get a full picture. The firing position is the same as for quick-fire point shooting. The sights are aligned left and right to save time, but not up and down. The firer must determine in practice what the sight picture will look like and where the front sight must be aimed to hit the enemy in the chest.

2-8.     TARGET ENGAGEMENT

In close combat, there is seldom time to precisely apply all of the fundamentals of marksmanship. When a soldier fires a round at the enemy, he often does not know if he hits his target. Therefore, two rounds should be fired at the target. This is called controlled pairs. If the enemy continues to attack, two more shots should be placed in the pelvic area to break the body's support structure, causing the enemy to fall.

I am not 'Monday quarterbacking' this FM or the tactics by any means.  I think that I can do better.  I give soldiers more 'tools for their toolbox' that they can use under stress in the common situations that they are encountering overseas- TODAY.

~Robb Hamic

robb@israelicombatshooting.com

 

Comments

[Joe Sanchez]

I am a soldier and I have contacted you for more training. I am at Ft. Hood. I am going to follow through with some of your weapons training before I get deployed. ICS looks like what I need.

[Jessica]

In your post you have written that hand eye co-ordination is a natural ability, but isn't it something that is taught to soldiers during training? In order to identify and shoot at a target, it isn't enough if you have superior hand eye co=ordination, you also need to have the power of deduction to determine whether you are dealing with an ally or foe.

[Robb Hamic]

I agree with you and I am not saying that the Army's FM is the best- just what is being taught to Army soldiers about firing handguns and combat shooting. I wanted to give a perspective to people about what is being taught to different services. I teach different methods and I send a lot of DVD's to Iraq and Afghanistan to troops. To me, this is a sign that they are trying to add to their bucket of skills. I am humbled to provide them with DVD's and additional training.