Tactical bases of fire training of cadets and students of educational organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Vasil'ev Mikhail Aleksandrovich Senior Lecturer at the Department of Special Training of the East Siberian Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 664074, Russia, Irkutskaya oblast', g. Irkutsk, ul. Lermontova, 110 vip.medved1983@list.ru Other publications by this author

Kleimenov Semen Yur'evich Teacher, Department of Fire Training, VSI of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 665789, Russia, Irkutsk, Lermonotova str., 110 semen@mail.ru

Fire training as a section of service and combat training and academic discipline in educational organizations of internal affairs bodies is a multi-level system. By its structure, fire training includes both theoretical and practical sections, which fully give an idea of the training system for cadets and trainees. The general algorithm of this training, according to the author of the scientific article, should be carried out according to the scheme:

studying the theory – practicing actions with firearms in idle mode – conducting live firing

This algorithm is actively used in conducting fire training classes by the teaching staff of the Department of Fire Training of the East Siberian Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. In the context of the implementation of work programs of the discipline "Fire training", cadets and students throughout the training period (5 years, 4 years, 2 years, 4 months), depending on their specialization, fully receive the necessary knowledge, consolidated in professional skills in handling firearms. At the same time, the above-mentioned training scheme is worked out during the training session, depending on the current educational tasks implemented by the teacher.

Based on the above provisions in the issue of training cadets and trainees, the author sets himself the goal of conducting scientific and practical research aimed at studying and developing practical foundations and the most effective tactical actions when handling firearms, as part of conducting fire training classes.

Tactical skills in handling firearms are defined as a set of proven actions with weapons aimed at their effective and safe use in the performance of educational and operational tasks ^[1].

By conducting classes with cadets and students, teachers follow the path of progress from the first to the final year of study and strive to complicate the educational task ^[2].  For example, this complication of the educational task within the framework of fire training classes can be considered in such an aspect as the transition in the performance of combat training by a trainee from a static to a dynamic state (from standing to kneeling or lying down, as well as the execution of movement elements to the firing line).

It is important to note that the primary task in the implementation of such complex tactical elements during combat shooting, first of all, is the implementation of security measures ^[3]. At its core, the tactical basics of handling firearms when performing combat training or performing operational and official tasks by a practical employee of the internal affairs bodies are aimed at saving the lives, safety and health of citizens, persons from among the employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation participating in these events, as well as the successful completion of the tasks being implemented.

An accurate shot when shooting is the goal of any shooter, but when considering the practical component, in addition to marksmanship, elements of a preparatory and accompanying nature should be used to support the shooter when performing complex shooting elements ^[6]. These elements are the tactical foundations in combat shooting.

Any shot must be prepared, while the shooter must know the tactical and technical characteristics of firearms, the specifics of the production of the shot, the specifics of shooting ^[7]. It is also necessary to take into account the very component of the actual reproduction of actions by the student, taking into account his physiological, psychological characteristics, etc. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the tactical basis of actions with firearms, as well as in general the methodology of training students should be carried out along the path of complicating the educational tasks performed, with elements of psychological stress. The trainee, knowing a clearly defined combat training task, must prepare his psyche for a situation when, while performing operational and official tasks, legitimate grounds for the use of firearms may arise.

Mastering the tactical basics of handling firearms should completely increase the level of preparedness of cadets and trainees during their training, expand their general understanding of the possibilities of using firearms in various operational and service situations. To increase the level of service discipline and self-organization of persons involved in conducting fire training classes.

Consideration and study of the tactical foundations of the student's interaction with firearms, as part of conducting fire training classes at the initial stage of training, should be considered from the position of mastering idle actions, using training weapons and ammunition. At the same time, students should begin to develop skills in observing safety measures when handling firearms and ammunition from the first lessons. The attitude towards training and unloaded weapons should be formed from the position that the weapon is loaded and poses a danger ^[4].

          In this case, the transition to the element of practical training goes beyond the basics of the theoretical section of fire training.

The Makarov pistol (PM) occupies a special position in the fire training system of the internal affairs bodies. Adopted in 1951, this pistol was widely used in the armed forces and law enforcement ministries and departments. In the modern period, the Makarov pistol is the basic firearm from which the personnel of cadets and students of educational organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia are trained.

According to the author of the scientific article, this type of firearm will not cease to be in demand in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the coming years, and therefore the specifics of the shooting training process for cadets and students of educational organizations will remain relevant in the future. At the same time, the training system should include not only basic shooting skills and their improvement, but also the basics of tactical training in handling firearms and in particular the Makarov pistol ^[5]. Skillful tactical support for the preparation of a shot is carried out through interaction according to the scheme:

The shooter is a weapon

This algorithm of action allows you to set tactical priorities for this interaction, where the person carrying out the shooting is the single center of decision–making on opening fire, the beginning of the action is its execution, bringing these actions to a logical conclusion, that is, until the end of the shooting. At the same time, the correct execution of tactical actions with a weapon can optimize the execution of the shooter's actions when shooting from a position of compliance with safety measures, as well as performing the most optimal actions with a weapon at all stages of handling it.

The basic elements of tactical training when handling a Makarov pistol are the simplest actions, which are introductory in nature for cadets and trainees. In this case, it should be noted that for the majority of trainees, especially at the initial stage, firearms are an item that has not previously been in everyday use. Accordingly, the psyche of the cadets and trainees involved in the training must adapt to the actions of handling it. Moreover, this element of training must be accompanied by strict implementation of security measures throughout the entire period of training. As well as the transition to performing actions with firearms idling should be carried out after the cadets and students have studied the theoretical section of fire training.

The basic basis of tactical training in handling a Makarov pistol for cadets and trainees is to perform introductory exercises with a weapon idling, at a predetermined training location. When performing these exercises, it is recommended to form a training subgroup consisting of five people to carry out better control by the person conducting this lesson.

Exercise number 1.

The fundamental tactical element of handling a Makarov pistol is the process of starting to work with a weapon, namely the element of properly checking the weapon for unloaded. An important component of this aspect is the observance of security measures, which is primarily observed by directing weapons in a safe direction, regardless of the conditions for performing a training or operational task. The correct algorithm for checking weapons for unloaded in the process of performing an educational task in the conditions of a training session is to work out these actions by cadets and students at a predetermined training place idling. The training place must be equipped with Makarov training pistols to perform these actions.

Directly when performing this training task aimed at developing the tactical foundations of safe interaction with firearms, it is especially necessary to pay attention to the location of weapons at the training site. Makarov's training pistols are arranged in one line, the barrels are pointed in a safe direction, the included safety flag of the pistol is visible. The safety flag turned on is a clear visual signal that students should remember from the first lesson. This element is also educational in nature aimed at developing discipline and a culture of handling firearms, the basis of which for the student should be the provision that it is possible to take a training or combat weapon as part of a training session only with the permission of the teacher conducting the training session (the head of shooting or his assistant).

The verification of the Makarov training pistol itself should be carried out using the algorithm:

The weapon is pointed in a safe direction – visual inspection of the weapon – performing tactical actions to check the pistol – the checked weapon is holstered.

Exercise number 2.

The basis for the development of initial tactical actions for handling a Makarov pistol is the actions to remove this pistol from its holster. At the same time, for a more in-depth study of this aspect of tactical training, it is necessary to consider the implementation of this action from three types of holsters that can potentially be used by an employee of internal affairs bodies when performing operational and official tasks, these are:

1 – standard closed-type belt holster for Makarov pistol;

2 – operational open-type belt holster for Makarov pistol;

3 – Operational concealed carry holster for Makarov pistol.

Considering the tactical elements of extracting a Makarov pistol from a standard closed-type belt holster, it is necessary to pay attention to the element of elaboration of the holster itself. Considering the material of manufacture of this type of holster, namely genuine leather, designed holsters are necessary to perform this tactical element.

Performing actions to remove the Makarov training pistol from the holster can be carried out in two main ways:

– extraction of the PM using the auxiliary holster strap;

– removing the PM without using the auxiliary holster strap.

An important component of the correct and fast execution of these tactical elements is the tight condition of the waist belt on which the holster is attached. The belt must be tightened to a tight state. Failure to comply with this feature does not allow you to quickly remove the Makarov pistol from the holster, since the loosely tightened waist belt does not allow you to fix the holster firmly and at the time of removing the weapon, the holster stretches towards the pistol, not allowing it to be completely removed in a short period of time. It is also important to note that when using the method of extracting weapons without using an auxiliary holster strap, an important technical component is the tight hold of the holster with the left hand (right-handed).

Exercise number 3.

This exercise is practiced by a subgroup of cadets and trainees at the training site using Makarov training pistols. This exercise is especially recommended to be performed at the stage of the first classes on practicing actions with weapons in idle mode for first-year cadets and students undergoing initial training programs.

A subgroup of trainees, located in a single line at the training site, against training targets, equipped in advance with a holster and a Makarov training pistol not equipped with training cartridges, located in a holster, occupies a stand convenient for performing the exercise.  At the command of the person conducting the training session, the trainees remove the training pistol from the holster while holding the weapon with one hand, aiming at a target previously selected against themselves in the direction of the target is performed. In this case, the imitation of sending a cartridge into the chamber is not carried out, the index finger of the hand performing these actions with the weapon is on the trigger guard or bolt. The current purpose of the exercise is to aim at a training target while holding the aiming devices of the Makarov pistol in an even state for 3 to 4 seconds, after aiming, the hand holding the pistol begins to move in the opposite direction to the shooter, at the midpoint of the movement of the hand holding the pistol, the Makarov pistol is transferred to the second hand of the shooter with the repetition of the same actions aiming and holding the weapon at the aiming point for 3 to 4 seconds. When performing this exercise, it is important to try to synchronize breathing with the elements of bringing the weapon to the aiming point and back. The aiming process itself, depending on the hand performing this action, is carried out with the appropriate right or left eye.

The systematic implementation of this exercise as part of the training sessions allows you to improve your performance in weapons handling techniques at the initial stage of training in the shortest possible time. It is safe to define this exercise as a "warm-up" before performing combat shooting.  That is, the initial formation of professional skills in handling firearms takes place, involving the simplest elements of tactical preparedness of cadets and trainees.

         It is important to pay attention to the relevance of the methods proposed in the scientific article on the development of tactical foundations in the handling of firearms in the modern period. These techniques are characterized by their simplicity and versatility in application during fire training classes. In general, there is a complete expansion and development of additional skills among employees who are able to improve performance in operational and performance activities.