Sunday, April 4, 2010

SWAT live-fire scenario

When you examine the photographs of the training scene at the shooting range of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department (see www.mchenrycountyblog.com) you have to wonder what age we are living it. What kind of realistic training scenario is it, when a SWAT team busts into a "room" and finds a dirt floor and some hokey, wooden, stand-up, framed targets.

For all the money that must be spent every year on training, equipment, ammo, special SWAT uniforms, etc., is any spent on realistic training scenes? The "room" reminded me of a sheriff's department range in Iowa in 1962 - more than 45 years ago!

What do I mean? Where are the side and back walls of the "room"? Where's the furniture? You know; tables, chairs, bed, appliances. Is the training to just dash into a "room" and shoot at whatever is in it?

I haven't seen the entire range, so I don't know what is in place for moving targets, pop-up targets behind barriers, or training in shooting in any position other than standing up and fully exposed. Is there training for shooting from behind vehicles, posts or walls? Prone? Kneeling? Moving through a range from one position to another? Off-hand shooting? Qualifying with any second, or back-up, weapon carried? Re-loading with simulated injured hand or arm that prevents using it?

Just wondering...

3 comments:

Gus said...

I just read Zane Seipler's article today on www.MCSDExposed.blogspot.com, where he asks questions about "who shot at what?"

Zane was a member of the SWAT group at MCSD. He knows from first-hand experience how SWAT should function.

The explanations of exactly what happens and who did what is poorly reported in the reports originally prepared. For their own safety and training, the SWAT team members should get really loud about a careful analysis of what went wrong on March 15.

Deputy Woods was extremely lucky to suffer only the wounds that he did; it could have been much worse.

M.U.G. said...

What ever happened to the computerized training machine [$$$] MCSO once owned? It kind of showed a movie on a screen and the operator could change the scenario playing while the deputy reacted to the scene. That was suppose to be the future in realistic training.

That range out there has been neglected for years. You would think something as important as avoiding employee work comp, public lawsuits and training your men in the use of a sidearm would be very high on the list of to do things. What's more realistic than a mound of dirt!

They are very lucky McHenry County is still somewhat tame.

Gus said...

Maybe next time they want some live-fire action training, they could roll MARV out there. Put it to some good use.