Page 32 - July August 2019 TPA Journal

The Role of Practice in Tactical

Training

By
Dr. Tom Mijares, Detroit Police (Retired) - School of Criminal Justice, Texas State University
San Marcos, TX 78666

And

Erwin Ballarta, Texas Department of Public Safety (Retired) - Executive Director,
Texas Police Association

The importance of practice cannot be officer should practice the transitions needed to
overstated. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary go from one tactical function in any operation
defines practice as, “performance of (an to another. The purpose of practicing these
activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or changes is to eliminate extraneous movement,
regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s identify weak points, and maximize strong
proficiency.” The process requires repetition, points. It is the responsibility of the SWAT
discipline, and the watchful eye of a coach. In instructor and ultimately the organization’s
the context of tactical operations practice must management, to identify the topics that need
be done on an individual as well as a team attention through practice. This task requires a
basis. Tactical training practice usually refers to continuous analysis of performance levels
repetition of physical techniques such during training and a thorough and honest
shooting, building entry, team movement, and critique of previous operations to identify any
take-down techniques. Reaching a particular factors that presented a hindrance to the
level of proficiency in these techniques builds operation and prevented optimum
individual self-confidence, unit morale, pride performance.
in performance, and an overall sense of team
integrity that separates the SWAT team from Practice is enhanced when the trainer or
other entities in the law enforcement coach recognizes three related principles.
community and assures the public that it is Systematic desensitization (also known as
being protected properly by its law progressive desensitization and as graduated
enforcement personnel. exposure therapy) requires breaking down a
given task into its constituent parts, prioritizing
However, there are several less obvious the important aspects, re-assembling them
aspects of the SWAT assignment that must be gradually, and then performing the operation at
practiced regularly. For example, just as a progressively increasing levels of speed,
triathlete practices the necessary changes of efficiency of movement, and intensity. Once a
clothing and equipment to go from swimming trainer is satisfied with the performance at the
to cycling and finally to running, the SWAT basic level, increasing degrees of complexity

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