October 27, 2011
I had the pleasure of spending a morning with half the recruits at the EPS outdoor range.
We started the morning by talking about their previous firearms training days, getting used to shooting a gun, and what they’d still like to work on. We even touched on how their families react to firearms.
From there we went out to the 16-bay range where the recruits practiced a variety of shooting skills. While they practice, the instructors watch and offer suggestions to improve their firearm skills.
A few observations:
- Safety is paramount. Neither the instructors nor the recruits joke around about safety. They follow all policy and procedures.
- The firearms training officers do a great job at keeping the recruits relaxed. Firearms training can be a stressful process that takes a lot of people out of their natural element. The training officers recognize that and try to maintain a comfortable atmosphere.
- Shooting is so much more than good aim. Stance and form, balance, breathing, and control of trigger are just a few of the other things the recruits practice for accurate shots.
I briefly interviewed three recruits about their firearms training. Watch the video.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at recruitblog@edmontonpolice.ca. I’ll answer the best I can.