Counter Ambush Training

[Rob Pincus]

Hey everyone!  Over the past few weeks, we've run 2 Close Quarters Counter Ambush packages for military special operations personnel.... one of the reasons that I haven't been around much. During these courses, we often encounter a lot of "but we normally train THIS way" and "I'm used to doing it this way" type commentary. For individuals (from any background) who spend most of their time trying to perfect technique, control initiative and dominate their environment to shift perspectives to dealing with being off-balance, unprepared, overwhelmed and behind the curve can be a bit unnerving. Over the years, we refined our explanation of Why we train for the unexpected and why we train from compromised positions in order to help students get comfortable with the Counter Ambush Training Methodology that we use. The latest version is summarized as "In the real fight, exceptions to your training should be easier to deal with, not harder!" A couple months ago, I posted a low-res video of the complete explanation (including the "Chart of Doom") at our website. take a look and let's discuss:

http://www.icetraining.us/video_view.php?id=10

-RJP

[Pathfinder]

Hey everyone!  Over the past few weeks, we've run 2 Close Quarters Counter Ambush packages for military special operations personnel.... one of the reasons that I haven't been around much. During these courses, we often encounter a lot of "but we normally train THIS way" and "I'm used to doing it this way" type commentary. For individuals (from any background) who spend most of their time trying to perfect technique, control initiative and dominate their environment to shift perspectives to dealing with being off-balance, unprepared, overwhelmed and behind the curve can be a bit unnerving. Over the years, we refined our explanation of Why we train for the unexpected and why we train from compromised positions in order to help students get comfortable with the Counter Ambush Training Methodology that we use. The latest version is summarized as "In the real fight, exceptions to your training should be easier to deal with, not harder!" A couple months ago, I posted a low-res video of the complete explanation (including the "Chart of Doom") at our website. take a look and let's discuss:

http://www.icetraining.us/video_view.php?id=10

-RJP

As I recall reading, the first part of that sentence is a great summary of the current US military thinking - overwhelm. Good for you guys training operators for those times when that just ain't the case.

Is a civilian version of the class coming OUT?   

[Ping]

Very enlightening and very thorough. Kudo's Rob. The information/training you provided came across very well. The focus on controlled shooting situations was really clear and made perfect sense. Goes along perfectly with Force on Force Training and to be proactive along with reactive. There is a huge difference between plinking in the backyard or local range and a hostile situation where deadly force should be utilized and the "Chart of Doom" illustrates this. Excellent work.

[ellis4538]

Interesting video Rob.  Don't have the $$$$'s to attend your class and it's close too!  Drat.

Richard

[m25operator]

Train for the worst, and every thing else is easy, very good info and strategy, when I ran tactical matches, I was challenged a lot for my stages, many were for worst case but at that time, we were not thinking about getting off the X, wished I had that concept then, at that time it was squaring up and just beating your opposition to the punch. We did train for shooting off the ground, as if knocked down, but range rules changed and now it is considered too dangerous. It still very well may happen and you don't want to find out if you can handle it at that time.

Thanks Rob, great job, missed you in Phoenix.

[Sponsor]

[Rob Pincus]

Glad you guys liked it. I am working on an article for one of the big mags on the topic and will most likely use the concept as one of the essays in the 2nd Volume of The Training Log Book, which we hope to publish later this year.

***

It still very well may happen and you don't want to find out if you can handle it at that time.

That is the big part of the scenario stuff... we set it up so that the student ends up in an ambush: something that happens suddenly, is threatening and that they didn't expect. Once they are out of control, things usually spiral badly.... we then use in-role-coaching and very specific roleplaying to get them back into the fight and into control. In this way, we are hoping to develop a recognition level response to being off-balance. Without it, we often see freezing or repetition of the same failing actions (ie- two hands wrestling over a gun and getting tired out, instead of just controlling the weapon and fighting.

***

Is a civilian version of the class coming OUT?   

Actually, there was a "civilian version" before there was a .mil version. The first sessions were actually run for law enforcement back around 2000/2001. The problem was that SWAT Teams would (and mostly still do) go into shoot houses and have a shooting solution to a problem (paper target, sims, etc), but 99.9% of the time that a SWAT team really goes into a house, they have to deal with controlling a subject, not shooting one. The disparity in training time is mitigated by the seriousness of the small percentage of time that shooting is necessary, BUT, training for the runner or the guy who just shoves the first cop who tries to grab him is still very important. Those sessions mixed into SWAT training weeks built into the Extreme Close Quarters Tactics courses that were open enrollment at Valhalla. In those 2 or 3 day courses, students from a variety of backgrounds learned the fundamentals of close quarters striking, some basic grappling designed for immediate escape of control and shooting while in contact in a variety of positions. This course featured at least one full contact scenario using sim rounds and High Gear impact reduction suits. In addition to the home-grown shooting while in contact and scenario blocks, the curriculum drew from Blauer's SPEAR and Royce Gracie's G.R.A.C.I.E. programs. The core of the contact shooting block was released as a Training DVD last year in the PDV Series (Extreme Close Quarters Shooting).

In 2004, the first .mil courses were run for SF. The military assaulter mission has changed a lot over the last decade, with capturing people and dealing with non-combatants becoming standard, so the same type of training that the SWAT guys needed was needed in that community. We run a 4 or 5 day "Close Quarters Counter Ambush" package that includes Combat Focus Shooting, ECQT and scenarios that fit the mission of the team, which can vary greatly. Since that time, we have run the course for a variety of military special operations team at Valhalla, at military facilities and, most recently, using other private sector facilities as well.

Now that I have access to a couple of facilities that can support the program, I may list an Extreme Close Quarters Tactics course on the open enrollment schedule again as soon as this fall. As noted above, the scenarios are always tailored to the student so that the context fits, but the basic skill sets are all the same.

-RJP

[ellis4538]

Rob, where is your class going to be in Cleveland?  I may try to stop by and at least say howdi.

Richard

[John McCreery]

Rob,

That's good stuff.  So many of us trained to use the gun to answer all the questions.  I spent some time with Tom Sotis recently and had a great enlightening experience about handling the initial contact and controlling it before you have a chance to transition to a weapon. 

I'm always impressed with your knowledge and guys like you, Mr Janich, Mr. Suarez and Mr. Sotis for taking things to the next level.

[Rob Pincus]

Thanks, John!

Ellis,

I don't know!  The local contact for that course is Carmen Laquatra: cca1@ymail.com, he can fill you in if you'd like to join the course.

-RJP