React: Do something, react. This means you are relying on instinctive training, practiced- not just thought about. Actually getting out and practicing it.....
Return fire: Lay it down. Mad minute, volume of fire; shock the conscious of your attacker with your overwhelming aggression.
Cover: Move to cover if it is available.
Suppress: Lay it down, keep the enemy more worried about getting shot than they are about shooting you.
Maneuver: Move, maneuver while suppressing fires are keeping them busy. Move up or around to an assault position and rain down rapid yet accurate fires in order to win the fight. Suppressing fires will lift or shift. Maneuver element assaults through the objective.
Cover vs. Concealment: Don’t Let Cover Become Your Coffin
by Jeff Gonzales April 8, 2014
Asking for definitions of the word “cover” have more often than not, resulted in visceral responses of solid, robust and of course, bulletproof. That’s great that most folks know the difference between cover and concealment.
I suppose I would be remiss if I didn’t explain the difference for those just starting out in the art. Concealment obscuresyour position from the enemy, while cover absorbs the enemy’s bullets.
Cover, Cover All AroundWith that being said, how often do you find yourself near cover; true cover? Take a moment to think about your daily activities. How often do you find yourself near a reinforced wall or engine block? The problem I have is that while most folks understand what cover is, there’s this idea that cover will be readily available when you need it.
While teaching an advanced tactics class last month, many of the troopers had a hard time giving up their notion of cover. It took them a while to realize that cover isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, sometimes your cover can become your coffin. I don’t blame them at all, it seems indicative of today’s tactics being taught.
The Coffin TheoryIn my experience of teaching, many of the TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) discussed for active gunfights have a heavy emphasis on seeking cover. I get it, it’s easy to just lump the response into a simple concept. However, it’s much harder to apply in practical terms. Then there’s the whole issue of what to do once you’ve obtained cover.
This is where you get a lot of dumbfounded looks. Ok, so you’ve found cover, now what? If you’re not willing to maneuver/move on the bad guy, they will more than likely outmaneuver you and in doing so, that precious cover you held onto now has become the big “X” you were trying to avoid.
Vertical Fetal PositionSometimes folks get sucked into cover and it becomes what we call the “vertical fetal position.” You get right up on the corner with no room to do much of anything. The way you need to look at it is that cover is always temporary, I don’t care if you’re buried deep in some presidential bunker, it’s only temporary. Movement is life. If you don’t have a plan for what you’re going to do once you’re behind cover, then it’s only a matter of time before someone decides to take the fight to you. Add quick peeks and it’s just a major recipe for disaster. If you have reason to believe danger is around the corner, don’t do a quick peek. Ever.
Total CoverWe teach some simple concepts when working around cover. First, you have to understand what cover really is. It starts with your bullets, which are the best form of cover. If you’re putting the pain to the bad guy, it’s hard for them to do that to you. Next, you have your body armor to protect you against their bullets, followed by your buddy putting the pain to them. Last is ballistic protection, or what everyone thinks of as cover. See, it’s a lot more complicated that what most are led to believe.
It’s a major mindset shift, from a reactive measure of getting to cover, to employing tactics that emphasize total cover. Believe me, your reactionary gap when someone busts around the corner where you thought you were safe and sound, is too much to catch up from. And that’s how cover becomes a coffin.
Cover: Move to cover if it is available.
Suppress: Lay it down, keep the enemy more worried about getting shot than they are about shooting you.
Maneuver: Move, maneuver while suppressing fires are keeping them busy. Move up or around to an assault position and rain down rapid yet accurate fires in order to win the fight. Suppressing fires will lift or shift. Maneuver element assaults through the objective.
Cover vs. Concealment: Don’t Let Cover Become Your Coffin
by Jeff Gonzales April 8, 2014
Asking for definitions of the word “cover” have more often than not, resulted in visceral responses of solid, robust and of course, bulletproof. That’s great that most folks know the difference between cover and concealment.
I suppose I would be remiss if I didn’t explain the difference for those just starting out in the art. Concealment obscuresyour position from the enemy, while cover absorbs the enemy’s bullets.
Cover, Cover All AroundWith that being said, how often do you find yourself near cover; true cover? Take a moment to think about your daily activities. How often do you find yourself near a reinforced wall or engine block? The problem I have is that while most folks understand what cover is, there’s this idea that cover will be readily available when you need it.
While teaching an advanced tactics class last month, many of the troopers had a hard time giving up their notion of cover. It took them a while to realize that cover isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, sometimes your cover can become your coffin. I don’t blame them at all, it seems indicative of today’s tactics being taught.
The Coffin TheoryIn my experience of teaching, many of the TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) discussed for active gunfights have a heavy emphasis on seeking cover. I get it, it’s easy to just lump the response into a simple concept. However, it’s much harder to apply in practical terms. Then there’s the whole issue of what to do once you’ve obtained cover.
This is where you get a lot of dumbfounded looks. Ok, so you’ve found cover, now what? If you’re not willing to maneuver/move on the bad guy, they will more than likely outmaneuver you and in doing so, that precious cover you held onto now has become the big “X” you were trying to avoid.
Vertical Fetal PositionSometimes folks get sucked into cover and it becomes what we call the “vertical fetal position.” You get right up on the corner with no room to do much of anything. The way you need to look at it is that cover is always temporary, I don’t care if you’re buried deep in some presidential bunker, it’s only temporary. Movement is life. If you don’t have a plan for what you’re going to do once you’re behind cover, then it’s only a matter of time before someone decides to take the fight to you. Add quick peeks and it’s just a major recipe for disaster. If you have reason to believe danger is around the corner, don’t do a quick peek. Ever.
Total CoverWe teach some simple concepts when working around cover. First, you have to understand what cover really is. It starts with your bullets, which are the best form of cover. If you’re putting the pain to the bad guy, it’s hard for them to do that to you. Next, you have your body armor to protect you against their bullets, followed by your buddy putting the pain to them. Last is ballistic protection, or what everyone thinks of as cover. See, it’s a lot more complicated that what most are led to believe.
It’s a major mindset shift, from a reactive measure of getting to cover, to employing tactics that emphasize total cover. Believe me, your reactionary gap when someone busts around the corner where you thought you were safe and sound, is too much to catch up from. And that’s how cover becomes a coffin.
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