AAR: Dynamic Shooting Systems / Council Bluffs, IA / July 2015
5 W's / 1 H:
• Who: Dynamic Shooting Systems - Shawn Claussen.
• What: Low to No Light Carbine, Low to No Light Pistol, Advanced Pistol and Reality Based Scenarios.
• When: July 24-25, 2015
• Where: LHGK - Council Bluffs, IA.
• Why: High probability of deadly force encounter during hours of darkness.
• How: Lecture and Practical (range time).
Instructor - Shawn Claussen:
• Mil - Service as an NCO with the Marine Security Guard Battalion during the 90's, the MSGBN is responsible for US Embassy protection.
• LE -Active Police Officer with 15+ years of experience; majority of that time on the night shift. Special assignments include: Head of the Firearms Training Unit, ERU Marksman/Observer, Entry Team Member, and Assistant Team Leader.
• Additional Info - Guest Instructor at the 2010 International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor's Annual Training Conference in San Antonio, TX. USPSA Production Division - Class "B".
Students:
• Civilians, Current / former MIL, former PSD with overseas time.
Equipment:
• Carbines: BCMs, Bushmaster, several "Frankenstein" carbines - Bushmaster had feeding issues after it became fouled with mud.
• Pistols: Glocks, HKVP9 - No problems noted.
• Lights: Surefire , Streamlight, Inforce (Handheld and Firearms mounted) - No problems noted.
Weather:
• Day 1: Sunny, temperatures into the 90's with high humidity and rain.
• Day 2: Sunny, temperatures into the 90's with high humidity.
Course Format:
• Day 1 - Low to No Light Carbine: 7pm - 1am
• Day 2 - Low to No Light Pistol: 8am - 5pm
• Day 2.5 - Low to No Light Pistol: 7pm - 12am
Low to No Light Carbine Content:
• DSS Philosophy/Training Methodology - 4M's.
• Eye Anatomy/Physiology.
• Realities of Deadly Force Engagements - Low to No Light.
• Purpose of Lights.
• Differences between LE / MIL / CIV outlooks on white light, NODS, IR.
• Selection / Set up of Lights for Carbines and home defense Carbine use.
• All things Lights to include Quality, Durability, Batteries, Output, Activation options.
• Use of Lights out to 100 yards and identification abilities at distance - with/without lights.
• Carbine Presentations and Manipulations to include shooting positions.
• Movement, Use of Barricades.
Advanced Pistol and Reality Based Scenarios Content:
• DSS Philosophy / Training Methodology- 4M's
• Realities of Deadly Force Engagements.
• Ballistics Demonstration on Vehicles - mid 90's Chevy 1/2 Ton pickup.
• Presentations / Manipulations from Two Hand / One Hand shooting platforms - Standing.
• Presentations / Manipulations from Two Hand / One Hand shooting platforms - Seated.
• Concepts / Myths of working inside of vehicles.
• Presentation / Manipulations / Engagement in / Around vehicles - Individual and Team.
• Reality Based Scenarios - Two scenarios involving vehicles while using simunitions.
Low to No Light Pistol Content:
• DSS Philosophy / Training Methodology - 4M's.
• Eye Anatomy / Physiology.
• Realities of Deadly Force Engagements and Low Light Statistics.
• Purpose of Lights.
• Differences between LE / MIL / CIV and their use for / of white light.
• Selection / Set up of Lights for Pistols and positives/negatives of Pistol Mounted lights.
• All things lights to include Quality, Durability, Battery options, Light Activation options.
• Positive / Negatives of high / low light output.
• Presentation and Manipulations pistols / lights - Pistol Mounted and Handheld.
• Movement.
• Target Identification and Engagement sequences.
Summary:
• Light Manipulation and Usage with firearms can be tough...even tougher when you don't practice it on a normal basis. Not everyone has the opportunity to get range time in during low light and this course helped expose some strengths and weaknesses for all involved...if you get the chance to get in a dedicated low light course, it's worth it. There was a Target Identification drill at the end of the course that included multiple targets at varying distances all with something in their hands...this proved challenging, time consuming and downright humbling for some of us!
• The Ballistics Demonstration was worth the price of admission alone! We worked a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup over with a variety of rounds to include 9, 40, 45 (Ball and Hollow Point), 7.62X51, 7.62X39, 5.56, 12Ggauge (Slug, 00Buck, Birdshot). Areas of engagement were as follows: Front of Vehicle - Through the Engine Compartment into Passenger Compartment, Front of Vehicle - Through the Engine Compartment from Side to Side, Front of Vehicle - Skipping rounds off the Hood into multiple targets, Front of Vehicle - Skipped rounds off the hood into the "V" (A-Pillar and an Open Door), Rear of Vehicle - Through the Tailgate into the Passenger Compartment, Rear of Vehicle - Through the Truck Bed from Side to Side, A-Pillar - Through the front side of the A-Pillar into the Passenger Compartment, Doors - Through the Passenger Doors, Truck Bed - Through the Truck bed from Side to Side, Windshield - Through the Windshield INTO the Passenger Compartment, Windshield - Through the Windshield OUT OF the Passenger Compartment. Shawn had targets set up at varying heights and distances to show how bullets traveled following full and partial (skipping) after contact with surfaces. Outstanding block of instruction!
• Reality Based Scenarios...AWESOME! I could work through scenarios over and over again if I had the opportunity as they are phenomenal learning experiences. Shawn has a different twist on his scenarios where he uses individuals not taking the course as role players adding in another level of stress and anxiety as the students aren't expecting to see someone who wasn't in the course shooting at them. It also gives the role payers the ability to really work on, and get into their role adding to the realism of the scenario. The scenarios we used during this course involved innocent bystanders with cell phones, a car wreck, two armed intruders...one fleeing the scene of a crime, and a home invasion with your family inside. Tough stuff to work through when you are ramped up, and though I "failed", it wasn't a failure as I learned something!
• All that said, these were the 7th, 8th, 9th DSS courses I've hosted to date and I can say that Shawn continues to bring a ton of relevant, practical, and worthwhile information to the table. There are no gimmicks in Shawn's courses, he provides solid explanation, demonstration and feedback during blocks of instruction and supports all of his material through a variety of sources. Lastly, it's very obvious that Shawn not only "cares" about helping students learn what it takes to win on the street, but he also cares about helping them learn what it takes to win on the stand...you had better be thinking about what you are doing and be able to articulate it, because he will ask you! Be ready!
V/r - Rob
