NCJ Number
209428
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 62-64
Date Published
March 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the force-on-force training with the use of paintball, simunitions, and Airsoft guns simulating realistic scenarios in order to build up weak tactical skills and increase law enforcement officer safety.
Abstract
In order for an officer to react appropriately and safely in an armed conflict, he/she must immediately be able to recognize patterns found in real contacts with subjects. The reactions of an officer are maximized when the learning arenas of seeing, hearing, and doing are combined. However, in the past firearms training was a linear exercise where marksmanship skills were tested and practiced creating a reasonably skilled, but stress-free shooter. In a fast-evolving, crisis-filled situation, an officer must recognize the pattern of the event without conscious thought and take an immediate course of action. The force-on-force training scenario program attempts to create realistic situations, so that an officer undergoing training can recognize a pattern of behavior on the part of the offender. The scenario must be well-scripted and contain role players who will not lose control. Within these training scenarios, paintball, simunitions and the alternative Airsoft guns (gas-operated guns that work and feel just like real firearms) can be utilized. In conclusion, conducting quality force-on-force training develops naturalistic decisionmaking officers using their personal experience to make decisions in a field setting.