Firearms training after COVID-19 shutdowns
It’s time to get officers back on the range to dust off their marksmanship and weapon-handling skills
This article is part of a year-long series for Police1 registered members from Todd Fletcher titled "Police Firearms: Discussion, Drills & Demos." Todd will write about current hot topics related to police firearms training, outline firearms training drills and demonstrate shooting techniques on video. If you have a topic you would like Todd to cover, or a training problem you need to solve, email editor@police1.com.
Firearms trainers around the country have some catching up to do after most training was effectively shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unless your officers have diligently performed dry fire practice drills on their own, their firearms skills have atrophied. It’s time to get officers back on the range to dust off those marksmanship and weapon-handling skills.
There are some crucial skills officers need to work on that are fundamental to their ability to carry a firearm safely and effectively. A proven method for increasing confidence and proficiency is to improve weapon-handling skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re practicing with a patrol rifle, shotgun, or handgun, improving an officer’s ability to get on target, reload and clear malfunctions will build confidence. Increased confidence may result in an increased willingness to practice, and more practice will result in significantly improved skills.