"Holy *?!@," you say. "That's too dangerous, and it violates the three-eye principle." Yes, you are correct on both counts, but it is the best balance of risk for a single operator. Tactics must be flexible. The only alternatives to this either take much too long or ignore one of the extreme angles until entry is completed. Both of these other options are too dangerous to consider.
The immediate action drill for hostile contact is simple. If there is a hostile on the right and not on the left, the glance will only cost you one-tenth of a second because you execute it on the move. You will still be able to neutralize the adversary before he can react to you. If there is a threat to the left and not to the right, your glance will let you know about his presence there. Your continued diagonal movement toward the strong side will "clear" the right side of the doorway as you break the plane. Now, pivot 180 degrees toward the hostile on the left, drop into an unsupported kneeling position, and shoot him on an upward angle.
You cannot look at two places at once, so a quick glance over your shoulder is mandatory if you are operating alone.
If Murphy is working overtime and there are two hostiles on opposite sides, the same technique will work. As you move to the right, your glance will alert you to the presence of the hostile on the left, and your existing diagonal rush will take you to the point of contact with the hostile on the right. Shoot the hostile on the right, at contact distance-one time. Immediately, drop and pivot 180 degrees into an unsupported kneeling position and shoot the second man. What are the odds that you might also get shot? Well, there is always that possibility, but remember also that this is a proactive technique. This means that you are forcing the issue and making them/him react to you. This also means that your adversaries will already be behind the power curve in terms of their reactions. They may know you are there, but not specifically when you will penetrate their space. It will take them approximately two seconds to react to your assault. If you move quickly and decisively, you actually do have the advantage.
If you do not encounter a threat to the other side, continue your forward momentum and take control of the space beyond. If there is a threat to the front, you are in a good position to neutralize it.
If you encounter a threat when you execute your rearward safety check, your response is to continue your forward momentum, but convert it into a "drop and pivot" This will allow you to operate within your adversary's reaction time and shoot him before he shoots you.
If you are starting to realize that searching alone is very, very dangerous business, then I've gotten my point across. Remember, tactics are not a guarantee, only an insurance policy to minimize the risks. But when you search alone, it doesn't get minimized very much.
Operating with a long gun does not change the concept at all. You still clear as much of the space beyond as possible without committing to enter. Be careful that your muzzle does not protrude into the unsecured area!
Commit yourself to entering and execute the quick glance.
If your six o'clock position is clear, go on.
If you locate a threat at the execution of your quick glance, convert your forward momentum into a drop and pivot. Take the long gun from your shoulder and fire from the close-quarters (underarm assault) position.
The following diagrams illustrate the proper way to search corners and hallway intersections.
The angular search allows you to clear the unsecured area incrementally without overexposing yourself to danger.
If you locate a hostile, you will be able to see him before you are seen. This allows more options than a surprise encounter would.
Stay as far from the corner as the terrain will allow. Realize that the farther away from the apex of the corner the adversary is, the more room he will have available in which to hide. Look deep into the extreme corner as you clear the apex.
Avoid moving into the unsecured space beyond the apex of the corner.This space may be described as an imaginary extension of the far wall of the corner.
Don't crowd the corner! Not only will this give rounds greater penetration and ability to ricochet into you at the apex, but it will let your adversary know your whereabouts.
T-intersections are simply two opposing corners.
Clear one corner and then work into a position where you can clear the other corner as well.
Clear as much as you can of the extreme corner without committing yourself.
When you do commit yourself into the threshold, do it dynamically.The action begins at step 5; you clear the portal in step 6 (and take a quick glance to the other side in midstride). You then clear the extreme corner in step 7.
Four-way intersections are a bit more complicated because there are three danger areas instead of two.
This situation is handled the same as the T-intersection, except that you must divide your attention and keep an eye on the far hallway.
FOUR
BUILDING SEARCHES:
DOORS
We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us.
Among the most dangerous and difficult architectural features to clear are doors. Whether they are open or closed, you rarely know what is on the other side-and there is only one way in or out. Since you will likely begin your search through a door, you should pay particular attention to developing your door entry skills.
There are as many types of doors as there are types of pistols. If you are studying this text as a homeowner or businessperson, you must become familiar with the types of doors you find in your home or business. If you are a policeman or a tactical team member, you must learn about all types of doors. The types most often encountered are solid doors that open inward or outward, sliding doors, split-level doors, double doors, and spring-loaded doors.
Regardless of the type, there are certain principles to observe when facing a door. First, do not stand directly in front of the door, whether it is open or closed. The area directly in front of the door has often been called the "fatal funnel," and many who have dallied there have paid for their mistake with their lives. Note that when you clear a room visually from the outside, you will traverse this "funnel" momentarily. There is no alternative to this if you are to gain a visual scan of what lies beyond the door. It is a balance of risks, nothing more.
Doorway clearing is divided into three sections: (1) approaching and manipulating the door, (2) soft-checking the doorknob to see if it is locked or open, and (3) pulling the door briskly to the rear while stepping clear in case you make immediate contact.
Always "soft-check" the doorknob before trying to forcefully open the door. This will prevent rattling an already unlocked door and thus compromising your location.
Position yourself so that you will gain as much visibility as possible into the room beyond as soon as the door begins to open. An important consideration is to avoid leaning across the door to open it. This not only puts you into a position from which you cannot fight, but it also exposes you to substantially greater danger. The best compromise between visibility and safety is to position yourself on the side next to the doorknob. This way you will have immediate visibility into the next room if the door opens outward. You will have somewhat less visibility when the door opens inward, but that will change as you proceed with an angular search to the other side of the door.