Bang Bang, You’re Dead…
August 16, 2005
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Posted by Aubrey Turner
I was shot by a member of the Keller PD Tactical Team last night. No, not for real. It was part of a training exercise and I was a volunteer hostage-taker. I was holed-up in a back bedroom of a house with a fake gun, while two more of my cohorts were holding a hostage in another part of the house. What’s amazing is that while we all knew they were coming* we didn’t know they were there until they were in the house. I don’t want to say much more than that, though, lest I inadvertently give away some of their secrets.
Since this exercise was done in a house that they didn’t want to damage and it was near other houses, they didn’t use any flash-bangs or simunitions. However, I’m told that they may want volunteers for a full-scale exercise next month that will include these elements. I may be weird, but for some reason that actually sounds like fun. If my schedule allows it I’m definitely interested in being there.
*The scenario for last night was that we had taken a hostage for ransom and were holding her in this house. We weren’t supposed to know that the Tac Team was coming (i.e. we were supposed to be somewhat off-guard). Of course, being a training scenario, we had advance knowledge that they were coming, which I suspect affected the scenario in some ways. For example, I could have gotten off at least one round on the first officer through the door of the room I was in (if it had been for real) before he got me. However, in real life someone in that situation would not likely already have a gun in hand (unless he were extremely paranoid). And if someone was asleep in that room, he’d wake up to a lot of yelling and bright lights and wouldn’t have a chance to do much of anything.
Categories: Random Ramblings
Welcome to the wonderful world of “Designated Bad Guys”. I often say I’ve been in more shootouts than most any LEO or civilian after all the scenarios I participate in. It’s addictive for sure. I get the pleasure of working with mostly TxCHLs but every so often a PD is looking for experienced role players and I make my schedule fit becuase they are so fun and such a learning experience. Once you’ve had a training flashbang thrown at you then four guys with MP5’s rush in firing simunitions, you’ll never want to go back to standing and shooting paper targets. I highly recommend jumping at the chance to train with PD whenever you can. Just make sure they are following all the safety rules against real steel and don’t be afraid to speak up if you are not comfortable with something they’re doing.
John,
The safety rules were definitely something we asked about before the exercise. They seemed to be good, with strict rules that no live ammunition is brought into the exercise and that each firearm is triple-checked.
I’m really curious about what protective measures they’ll take for the flash bangs and simunitions.
Training Flash Bangs are barely up to the level of a firecracker. For Simunitions, a full face/head mask that is rated for Sims and a couple heavy layers of cloths will sufice. I always wear my body armor just in case a live gun gets in somehow and usually find soe way to wear paintball gloves as I get shot in the hand ALOT. Beyond live ammo though, no knives, Pepperspray, batons etc. Snce under stress they might get put into play out of reflex action.