Angle: The angle of visibility and tire obtained as an operator moves through a structure.
Angular Search: An inspection around an obstruction, such as a corner, focusing on the apex of the obstruction and then proceeding incrementally until the entire area beyond it is visible.
Area of Responsibility: The physical sector of coverage for a member of a tactical unit. Each area of responsibility may contain one or more danger areas. Areas of responsibility coincide with sectors of fire.
Breaking Planes: Geometric planes are encountered when reaching a threshold into unsecured areas (space). Breaking into a plane is the act of penetrating that unsecured space.
Combat Countermeasures: Alternative force techniques used by an armed operator to regain physical control of the situation when shooting is contraindicated.
Concealment: Anything that an operator can use to hide himself. Concealment is not bullet resistant.
Condition Orange: The mental state of specific alert.
Condition Red: The mental state of combat response, awaiting the mental trigger.
Condition White: The mental state of inattention.
Condition Yellow: The mental state of relaxed alertness.
Cover: Anything bullet resistant that an operator can hide behind to protect him from hostile gunfire. Cover may be used as concealment.
Danger Area: A location or position that is likely to conceal or contain a hostile.
Dividing Attention: The necessary division of focus by a lone operator between two danger areas located at opposite angles.
Extreme Angle: The unseen angle found along the walls on each side of a door as seen during an angular search from the outside.
Fatal Funneclass="underline" The area directly in front of a portal, such as a door, and also extending back from it for a few feet. Operators roust avoid lingering in this area because it allows a hostile in the danger area to shoot them at will.
Kill Zone: A circumscribed area under the control of hostile gunfire and limited by the skill of the adversary, the range of his weapon, and natural or manmade obstructions.
Mental Trigger: Any action or condition exhibited by the hostile and predetermined in a shooter's mind that will cause a reflexive lethal response.
Mr. Murphy: The mythical nemesis of all tacticians. Murphy is an imaginary being who is tasked with making sure that anything that can possibly go wrong, does… at the worst times imaginable.
Soft Check: A surreptitious check of a doorknob to ascertain its status (locked or unlocked) before getting committed to opening the door.
Soup Sandwich: A tactically incompetent individual (e.g., clam chowder on sourdough) (see Theorist).
Tactics: The art of maneuvering skillfully against an opponent and toward a desired objective.
Target Indicators: A term taken from the sniper discipline describing anything that may indicate the presence of a hostile inside a search area.
Theorist: One who thinks he knows about practical, handson tactics, but in reality knows nothing but untested classroom theories.
Three-Eye Principle: The concept of maintaining the position of your weapon's muzzle in accordance with the direction of your visual scan. This principle enhances your reactions to suddenly appearing threats.
Three Secrets: A term coined by Chuck Taylor that indicates the three imperative factors necessary for hitting your adversary under stress before he hits you: sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger control.
Vertical Method: The scanning method preferred for visually searching a danger area. It involves visually scanning along a vertical axis-in and out instead of side to side.
SOURCES FOR GEAR
AND TRAINING
Sure-Fire tactical flashlights and flashlight mounts for weapons. If you need a light, you can do no better than the Sure-Fire series.
World-class holsters and other tactical gear formed out of Kydex by folks who know what the armed professional really needs.
Radioactive night sights for all weapon types.
Internet Sales
Second Amendment Mall-http://www.2ndmall.com
The author is available for consulting, weapons and tactics training, or for speaking and lecturing engagements. He can be contacted in care of Paladin Press, P.O. Box 1307, Boulder, CO 80306.
SUGGESTED READING
Morrison, Gregory. The Modern Technique of the Pistol. Pauldin, Ariz.: Gunsite Press, 1991.
Musashi, Miyamoto. A Book of Five Rings. Translated by Victor Harris. New York: The Overlook Press, 1974.
Suarez, Gabriel. The Tactical Pistoclass="underline" Advanced Gun Fighting Concepts and Tactics. Boulder, Colo.: Paladin Press, 1995.
The Tactical Shotgun: The Best Techniques and Tactics for Employing the Shotgun in Personal Combat. Boulder, Colo.: Paladin Press, 1996.
Sun Tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Samuel B. Griffith. London: Oxford University Press, 1963.
Taylor, Chuck. The Combat Shotgun and Submachine Gun. Boulder, Colo.: Paladin Press, 1985.
The Complete Book of Combat Handgunning. El Dorado, Ark.: Desert Publications, 1982.
The Fighting Rifle. El Dorado, Ark.: Desert Publications, 1983.
The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery. Northbrook, Ill.: DBI Books, 1997.