Police1 has partnered with 5.11 Tactical to help bring Law Enforcement the 5.11 Challenge. Many Police1 members have registered for the challenge. The below report is designed to give you a sense of the how the Challenge is run and of how what officers who were chosen are experiencing.
For Challenge results, please visit http://www.511challenge.com/results/
The 5.11 Challenge has started out with a bang. Although we are keeping the details of the course of fire quiet, the first four weeks of teams have had a great time. All of the competitors have expressed nothing but praise and gratitude for the program. The range and course of fire has been working out very well. Each team has told the 5.11 Challenge staff that the way the course is set up has leveled the playing field, making the event very fair. Everyone has to adapt to new and unfamiliar conditions at our outback Montana Range. The fact that officers are shooting for a $100,000 prize is not as much stress when competitors come to the line as is the stress of competitive pride. Each team, when coming to the line, is representing their department as well as their personal professional pride. This pressure, more than the money, changes trigger control, sight alignment, grip and position. Officers find themselves struggling with the tactics of drawing the weapon from an unfamiliar holster, a new and different trigger and many other requirements during the different stages of fire. These unknown factors, similar to new encounters on the street, test the abilities of each officer. This event is a true Challenge.
After the shooting competition is over, there is a great sense of relief which brings these officers from different departments and parts of the country together in a special way. The evenings around the old pine table or on the porch overlooking the Big Horn River now takes on conversations of the difficult encounters on the street, humorous stories of strange encounters in our nations cities, counties and back country and discussions of the challenges facing officers on a daily basis. Stories of friends lost or injured in the line of duty, dangerous encounters during daily patrol and the difficulties of a changing society fill the air during the next two evenings after the shoot. Friends for life are made under the Big Sky of Montana.
The day of fishing on the Big Horn River finally cements the relationships that have been building over the weekend. When everyone steps off their drift boat with their professional fishing guide, everyone is happy and full of fish stories. The best thing about the Big Horn River is that you don’t have to exaggerate much. The fishing here is fantastic and the experience of floating 13 miles of this special place brings the competitors even closer.
On the final morning, there is a bit of complaining. “How about if we stay till the next teams have to be picked up?” “We’ll help you with the range; mow the grass, anything to stay for just a few more days.” “Please.”
As the director of the Challenge, it is difficult to describe the personal satisfaction of seeing these men and women of law enforcement being treated like they deserve to be treated. These officers are usually under recognized, under paid and under stress. This is their weekend; and win, lose or draw, they deserve special treatment.
We’ll keep everyone apprised of the progress of the 5.11 Challenge, but the sponsors of this event can only feel great about giving back to the people who give their lives to our safety and protection.
God Bless our Law Enforcement Professionals.
Bill Berry
Executive Director
5.11 Challenge