The 2006 edition of the "Law Enforcement Officers Killed & Assaulted" report—compiled annually by the U.S. Department of Justice-Federal Bureau of Investigation through field divisions, legal attaché offices, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program and other sources—provides shocking details on the line-of-duty felonious deaths of 48 sworn officers. Of particular significance is the time at which the majority of the events occurred. According to the findings, "more officers (7) were fatally injured in assaults that happened from 10:01 p.m. to midnight than during any other 2-hour time period." Further, 28, or 58 percent, of the incidents occurred between 6:01 p.m. and 6 a.m. The statistics reiterate the obvious: criminals prefer waning light or the cover of darkness to perform their dastardly deeds. As such, one must be adept at using a handheld flashlight in conjunction with a firearm.
To learn field-proven flashlight techniques, as well as practice them under the guidance of experienced instructors, last year I attended an abbreviated session of the SureFire Institute Low-Light Tactics Level One Operator/Trainer Course at Gunsite. I also attended the full 20-hour course alongside the New Jersey State Police in Cranbury, NJ. It was from these sessions, along with the "SureFire Institute Low-Light Tactics Level One Operator/Trainer Course" manual, that I gleaned the enlightening information for this article.
Flashlight Basics
Once regarded as a simple illumination device, the standard, handheld flashlight has evolved into a not-so-ordinary tool designed, and strategically employed, for self-defense during low-light conditions. However, proper utilization of a flashlight exceeds gripping the device and depressing a switch; it requires extensive practice to perfect—characterized by fluid, almost choreographed, movements in sync with those of the firearm.
While there are many handheld flashlight techniques, the SureFire Institute Low-Light Tactical Level One Operator/Trainer Course covers the six most commonly practiced handgun methods—Chapman, Ayoob, Harries, Rogers/SureFire, Modified FBI and Neck-Index—as well as the Modified FBI, Cross-Support and Lite-Touch, which are for use with long guns. The techniques are considered either "hands-together" or "hands-apart," with each having specific advantages and disadvantages. As such, no single method works for all situations.
In general, hands-together techniques provide marginally better accuracy due to the two-handed firing grip, but at the cost of flexibility in application. These methods also require the light to be positioned center-of-mass, and as SureFire Institute Lead Instructor, Low-Light and Firearms Training, Bill Murphy explained and vividly illustrated—via an expensive prototype SureFire flashlight with the tempered Pyrex window penetrated by a simulated ammunition round during a force-on-force training scenario—that flashlights make good "bullet magnets," thereby limiting their use to routine searches or for non-immediate threats.
Hands-together techniques typically align the flashlight beam with the firearm's muzzle, which can be beneficial. But muzzle flip upon firing can displace the beam from the point-of-aim and alter the firing grip, requiring readjustment at a most inconvenient time. If not aligned, attempting to do so can pull the firearm off target. Take heed, though, as just as when using a weapon-mounted light for searching, the alignment of the flashlight beam and the muzzle trains the loaded firearm on threatening targets and "no-shoots" alike. The proximity of the hands increases the likelihood of an accidental discharge through hand confusion during duress, and hasty execution can lead to the flashlight striking the firearm. Hands-together techniques are also difficult to use with an injured hand or arm.
Hands-apart techniques offer greater flexibility when shooting around cover, as well as improved lateral movement. The tradeoff is decreased accuracy due to the unsupported shooting hand. These approaches eliminate shifting of the flashlight beam or grip upon firing, as well as allow searching without alignment of the muzzle and beam—a safety concern for "no-shoots" one might encounter. Because of the proximity of the hands, there is less likely to be hand confusion and an accidental discharge during tense moments. The peripheral light offered by these techniques also provides illumination for the handgun's sights.
For the aforementioned reasons, in addition to those yet to be discussed, a shooter must be well versed at which flashlight techniques are best for given situations, as well as be able to change methods quickly as the situation dictates. To learn, a shooter must practice engaging targets at varying distances, where decisions must be made as to what technique works best. Now lets examine the most common handheld flashlight techniques.
Handgun Techniquesclick here
Long Gun Techniquesclick here
Things to Remember
• As a general rule, moving to the lowest level of light provides more concealment than operating in areas with higher levels of light.
• In a low-light environment you are most visible and vulnerable when backlit.
• Keeping the flashlight on continuously may make searching easier, as well as reassuring, but it also makes you a target while letting the aggressor know how far your are from his position, what direction your are coming from, and when you will be there.
• Activating the light away from centerline, at intermittent and irregular intervals, while alternating the light position from low to high, will confuse your opponent while making it harder for them to determine your position.
• In most cases—when searching for, or engaging a hostile subject—constant light should only be used in two situations: (1) when your are backlit and cannot move to a less backlit position, and (2) when your subject has been located and is not an immediate threat.
• When searching for or engaging a known-deadly force threat, your gun, flashlight and eyes should be aligned to the same point of focus.
—Excerpts from the "SureFire Institute Low-Light Tactics Level
One Operator/Trainer Course" manual.
Sourcebox
Gunsite
(928) 636-4565
www.gunsite.com
SureFire
(800) 828-8809
www.surefire.com
SureFire Institute
(714) 695-0163
www.surefireinstitute.com
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