Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors’ & Armorers’ Association

Firearms Instructor Development Course

LESSON PLAN

Course Title: Firearms Instructor (Pistol) Certification Course

Lesson Title: Flashlight & Dim Light Shooting Techniques

Author: Joseph Picariello Date Written: January 24, 2005 Date Revised:

Time Allocation: Classroom – 60 minutes; Range – 90 minutes

Lesson Plan #: PIST-010

Target Population: Law enforcement officers seeking instructor certification

Class Size: 24 or less

Goal:
To give the prospective instructor an understanding of and the ability to teach the dynamics of low light shooting
and use of a flashlight coordinated with a service weapon

Student Performance Objectives (SPO):

At the completion of this block of instruction the student will be able to:
1. Define dim light and darkness as related to a tactical environment;
2. Understand how the human eye works in low light and no light conditions;
3. Demonstrate and explain the advantages and disadvantages of several tactical flashlight techniques;
4. Demonstrate several flashlight techniques in live fire training scenarios;
5. Demonstrate shooting techniques for no light or back lit situations;
6. State the advantages and disadvantages of night sights, laser sights and optical sighting systems;
7. Understand and demonstrate tactics when shooting from cover with a light.

References:
1. Low Light Survival Shooting Instructor Program by O. Frank Repass, Streamlight Academy
2. MLEFIAA Firearms Instructors Course Manual – Dim Light Section

Training aids:
MLEFIAA Firearms Instructor Course Manual
Various types of flashlights commonly found in law enforcement usage

Preparation:
Review lesson plan and assure presence of teaching aids.

Prerequisites:
Instructional skills course

Training Environment:
Classroom setting with adequate desk space for students, room for chalkboards and projection

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Firearms Instructor Development Course

equipment and control of light level, electrical power.

Safety Considerations:
Clean floor
No protruding objects to fall upon

Instructor Qualifications:
Instructor must be a MLEFIAA Staff Instructor and Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council
certified instructor or equivalent.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This course is based directly on the “Low Light Survival Shooting Instructor Program”
conducted by O. Frank Repass at the Streamlight Academy

TOPIC OUTLINE
I. Introduction
A. Definitions
1. Natural Light – illumination provided by the sun; i.e. daylight.
2. Artificial Light – illumination provided by a mechanical means; i.e. light bulbs, chem lights
3. Dim Light – generally any light condition where natural or artificial lighting fails to
adequately
illuminate the area. May also be called “low light”.
4. Darkness – the absence of any natural or artificial light source.
5. Night Sights – any sighting system using a radioactive or chemical process to create
luminous reference marks which are used to obtain proper sight alignment in the dark.

B. Important Facts
1. In excess of 60% of all officer involved shootings occur between 1800 and 0600;
2. Every shift involves dim light or darkness conditions;
3. Very few officers carry a flashlight during the day;
4. Even fewer officers carry a backup or tactical flashlight as part of their equipment;
5. Few departments provide adequate flashlight or dim light shooting training;
6. In the dark, without a light, you are considered “legally blind”.

C. Mastering the Dark

1. Humans are diurnal (the operate better in daylight) rather than nocturnal
a. Sight is our dominant information receptor
b. When vision input is impaired, the mind augments what it cannot see with
assumptions
c. Criminals use the dark as a tactical advantage
2. Night vision and the Human Eye
a. Eye uses “rod cells” and “cone cells” to adjust to different degrees of light
b. Cones – primarily for daylight and bright light conditions
i. Located in central part of the retina
ii. Perceive color and detail
iii. Register depth of field and distance

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c. Rods – primarily used for dim light or darkness conditions

i. 1000 times more sensitive to light
ii. Perceive only shades of gray
iii. Lacks distance and depth perception, shapes or detail
d. Transition to Night Vision
i. Rods take over for cones
ii. Transition takes 20 to 40 minutes
iii. Once adjusted, you loose color and depth perception
iv. Blind spot dead ahead to about 5 or 10 degrees either side
v. Watch for movement or change with your peripheral vision

II. Flashlight Techniques

A. Why do we use a flashlight
1. Navigate – avoid bumping into things
2. Locate – search for threats or light switches
3. Identify – see detail
4. Engage – fight the threat
5. Sights – to see your sights if not equipped with night sights
6. Distract – to blind your opponent
7. Glare – to washout the glare of strobes or flashing emergency lights

B. Guidelines
1. Have a light at all times
a. Standard “Mag-Light” or “Streamlight” style
b. Back up light (small tactical style)
2. Use as much care in selecting your light as you would selecting a weapon
a. Is it bright enough to blind an opponent?
b. Is it easy to operate with one hand?
c. Is it designed to withstand the rigors of police use?
d. Does it have intermittent and constant on capability?
3. Light must be designed so you can use it in your non-dominant hand.

C. FBI Technique
1. Light held at arms length out to the side with off hand
a. Advantages
i. In theory the threat will shoot toward the light missing you
b. Disadvantages
i. Requires one hand shooting ability / no support to gun hand
ii. Does not illuminate the sights
iii. Opponent may miss the light and hit you

D. Harries and Modified Harries Technique

1. Flashlight hand wrist is used to support the shooting hand
a. Advantages
i. Weapon hand is supported
ii. Weapon and flashlight are aimed as a unit
b. Disadvantages

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i. Sights are not illuminated

ii. Requires push button side or back switch
iii. Tiring after extended time

E. Combat or Neck Hold Technique

1. Weapon is held out at arms length, light is held tight in to the cheek
a. Advantages
i. Illuminates the sights
ii. Light indexes with shooters head movement not weapon
iii. May be used with almost any style of light
b. Disadvantages
i. Weapon hand is unsupported
ii. Weapon is illuminated giving the opponent a target

F. Roger’s or Syringe Technique

1. Light is held between the fingers of the support hand while supporting the weapon
a. Advantages
i. Weapon and light are indexed
ii. Offers a conventional two hand hold
iii. May be used with either Weaver or Isosceles stance
b. Disadvantages
i. Requires the use of a small light with rear switch (ie Surefire 6P style)
ii. Does not illuminate the sights
iii. Rear button must protrude – not be recessed.

G. Ayoob Technique
1. Flashlight held next to weapon with bases of the thumbs are aligned with thumbs parallel
and pointed forward. The hands do not interlock. The natural positioning aligns the bore
axis
with the chest and the light beam towards the face.
a. Advantages
i. Weapon is supported to an extent
ii. Weapon and light are indexed
iii. Search can be made with light and weapon down at ready position
b. Disadvantages
i. If opponent shoots at light source, you are right behind it
ii. Will not work with rear mounted switch type lights

H. Chapman Technique
1. Index finger and thumb used to hold light with working the on/off button. Remaining fingers
used to support weapon hand.
a. Advantages
i. Weapon and light are indexed
ii. Weapon hand is supported
iii. Unit can be held close to body while searching to avoid fatigue
b. Disadvantages
i. Requires a light with side mounted on/off switch

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ii. Light is held in front of shooter

iii. Sights are not illuminated

III. Tactics
A. Shooting with a light
1. Turn light on to illuminate the target
a. Avoid searching with the light
i. Acts as a beacon to your location
ii. Ruins your night vision
2. Leave the light on for several seconds after firing
a. Follow through
i. Determine the effect of your shot(s)
3. Move laterally after firing in case the threat shoots back at your light

B. Avoid being back lit

1. When entering a doorway into a dark room from a lit space
a. Immediately move to the side
b. Standing in the door silhouettes you
c. Makes you a perfect target
2. Allow your eyes to adjust before moving if situation permits

C. Reloading with a flashlight

1. Tuck light in the armpit of the strong side
a. Use strong side
i. weapon stays tight to your body while off hand manipulates magazine
2. Place flashlight in belt
3. If using a small light, you may be able to reload with light in your hand
4. If light is equipped with a lanyard
a. drop the light and let it hang from lanyard

D. Flashlights with Cover (barricades)

1. Ensure light does not shine on barricade
a. Backsplash of light ruins night vision
b. Backsplash of light illuminates you
2. Place your flashlight past the edge of the cover
a. This contradicts how we teach use of cover with a weapon

E. Dedicated Weapon Mounted Lights

1. ITI M3, M6 type
a. Advantages
i. Light beam and line of sight aligned
ii. Reload/malfunction clearing easier and faster
iii. Allows weapon and light to be operated with one hand
iv. Permits off hand to be used for other tasks (injured officer, shield)
b. Disadvantages
i. Violation of Rule 2 (pointing loaded weapon at anything/anyone you
illuminate)

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ii. Requires searching with utility light and shooting with fighting light

IV. Prepare for Range Segment of class

A. Review Range/Gun Safety Rules
1. Treat all weapons as if they are loaded – all the time;
2. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times;
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until on target and you have decided to fire;
4. Know your target and what is behind it.

B. Review Range Commands

1. “Draw” – weapon drawn from holster, flashlight to center of chest
2. “Ready” – bring the light and weapon together (safely) and on target
3. “Light” – turn your light on
4. “Threat” – engage the threat
5. “Move” – move laterally

“This is the law: the purpose of fighting is to win!

There is no possible victory in defense.
The sword is more important than the shield;
and skill is more important than either.
The final weapon is the brain – all else is supplemental.”
John Steinbeck

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