sighting in on: Emotionally Integrated Training
he experienced. Embarrassed, he literally had a blank spot in his memory. Other than he knew he had been hit a lot, it hurt, and that meant he was dead—he had no clue what his physical response was.
Helping him to emotionally reprogram is the
key. T is offi cer’s response was not due to a lack of skills or defi ciency of character. It was due to an overwhelming and inappropriate emo- tional programming. So we went back to the foundations of programming a positive physical response within his emotional experience. Intellectual Foundation: T is is a combi- nation of reinforcing his understanding of Early Orientation Markers,© or what threatening behavior looks like and how the body moves when the suspect is obtaining a deadly weapon or about to initiate an assault. It covered in depth the legal/policy basis for response. It also provided tactical suggestions such as movement and why that is often benefi cial. Emotional re- programming also included a discussion about mimicking the body’s startle response in train- ing and why that was important. Drills: Drills including seeing a ‘sus- pect’/coach access a hidden fi rearm dozens of times with the offi cer mimicking the startle response and moving appropriately. As soon as the offi cer was successful, the next step was to have the coach draw and fi re where the offi cer had been standing just a moment ago. T at was sped up until it was “at speed.” Force-on-Force Drills: With the coach self-initiating a hidden draw, the offi cer gasped and moved. At fi rst, the coach was tasked with fi ring around the offi cer (behind or in front) as the offi cer successfully moved and hit the coach. At one point, the offi cer became lackadaisical and arrogant in his movement because he wasn’t being hit. T e coach was quietly directed to hit the offi cer twice if it happened again. Two sharp hits to the offi cer reinforced the need to remain focused. After that happened, the offi cer was properly motivated and continued to move and hit. Finally, the two combatants were directed to work ‘at speed.’ Scenario Exercise: T e offi cer was able to complete the scenario satisfactorily. Cops aren’t machines, even though most of the training they undergo treats them as if
41 The Police Marksman Mar-Apr 2015
we just need to give them the correct num- ber of parts in a specifi c sequence and all will come together in a combative environment. Human beings are far more subject to their emotional programming than many care to admit. Everyone has some aspect of their life where emotional fl uency hampers their ef- fectiveness. When this negative emotional programming intersects their ability to competently respond with their skills on the street, it endangers their lives and the lives of offi cers and citizens.
Creating a training environment where
offi cers are able to condition themselves to operate competently through drills where the normal emotional response is tied to the proper physical reaction assists them in responding competently in dangerous, high-
risk situations. By simulating the physical response to overwhelming emotions, offi cers are better able to function and win. PM
George T. Williams is the Director of Training for Cutting Edge Training in Bellingham, Wash. He has been a Police Training Specialist for more than three decades, as well as an expert witness in federal and state courts nationwide and a widely published author for more than two decades. Mr. Williams develops and presents revolutionary concepts within integrated force training solutions through a problem-solving format, functionalizing police skills and tactical training. He may be contacted at
gtwilliams@cuttingedgetraining.org.
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