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Realistic CQC Drills - Part 1,   Realistic CQC Drills - Part 2

Recently I examined the theory that should underlie realistic close-quarter combat (CQC) pistol training. To summarize, you need to rehearse countering a sudden (though not completely unexpected if your situational awareness skills are up to par) attack from any direction that dictates little reaction time and engagement at very short range, putting as many rounds as possible into the target without precision aiming.

In Part 1 of this series, I made some recommendations for training against live rather than static targets, using a partner and an Airsoft gun. To recap, these are available inexpensively in a wide range of fairly realistic models, and they can be employed safely for training with the use of ballistic-grade eye protection and heavy clothing.

This final set of CQC drills will address reactions to unexpected situations in a slightly different way. They are a variation on a time-honored martial arts training technique: the hooded drill. Though specifics vary, the hooded drill typically involves placing the trainee in a preset situation while he or she is blinded by a hood, blindfold, or similar device. Once the setting and opponents are positioned and prepared, the trainee is unmasked in the midst of the situation and expected to deal with what is presented.

Of the various CQC drills we’ve discussed in this series, the hooded drill is actually the best-suited for live fire on a range. In the live-fire setting, you will need sets of shoot/don’t shoot targets on stands that can be arranged in random configurations. A training assistant configures the range, and once it is ready the trainee is led in while hooded or blindfolded. The trainee is then unmasked without warning and must immediately engage the target set that appears.

The Airsoft version of this scenario replaces the targets with live opponents, who can be armed or not as the situation dictates. The main complication with this version is that you will ideally need several training assistants to present a large number of shoot/don’t shoot engagements, but if you can gather enough people, obviously you can all take turns playing “target” and shooter.

Using live opponents and Airsoft guns does present the opportunity to place cover and/or concealment throughout the engagement area for use by both the shooter and the targets. (On a live fire range, you can certainly provide cover for the shooter and require him or her to advance to cover prior to engaging, or at least provide that option.)

I will caution you that in the Airsoft version of training, if you choose to arm the opponents and provide cover it is all too easy for the scenario to degenerate into a fun-filled reenactment of the shootout at the O.K. Corral, but save that for after training is complete. The engagement (whether live-fire or Airsoft) should be timed to add pressure to the scenario.

All of the CQC training scenarios I have discussed in these three articles are designed to improve your ability to react to unexpected situations and to train you for the type of engagement you would be most likely to encounter in the real world, rather than on a firing range. I’ll next be discussing situational awareness, which can further improve your odds by giving you additional warning of a threat or enabling you to avoid a dangerous situation altogether.