‘’Train as you fight! Training with a shot timer is not realistic!’’ – There is an ongoing misconception that just because a drill begins with a *BEEP* it is not a realistic drill. While this assumption does not fall short of the truth, it is largely misleading. Very.
So, here’s the deal.
The onset of a drill, or basically in our context, the sensory input which marks the beginning of an action can, and should, be either Auditory, Visual or by the interference of both. This largely depends on what the trainer objective actually is. Consider the following:
Auditory onset such as a beeper, gunshot, verbal command or a whistle, may be faster and simpler to both do and respond to. In contrast to responding to a shot timer, a visual onset such as the need to identify a target based on context - may require ‘’more effort’’ in both how we set the environment, and how it promotes the shooter response, which subsequently leads to more effective outcomes. The choice depends on the trainer's objective and may affect the speed and effectiveness of the response. An auditory onset is easier and faster, while a visual onset requires more effort but can lead to more effective outcomes.
So, what does this basically mean in contrast to the video context?
Auditory onset.
auditory cue provides a clear and consistent signal to the trainee. And for the instructor – it´s extremely easy to setup. In CQB after all, time and proper conduct of actions are often critical to success. For example: a split-second delay in the timing of a movement can result in rounds off target or even worse – being too late. By using an auditory cue to initiate a movement, we can set our trainee to success by focusing solely on their actions in a more measurable settings, such as time.
Visual Onset.
If hearing is ‘’something is there’’, seeing is ‘’what is it over there…’’ – Vision is context and thus a more detailed processing of the environment. For the officer or soldier problem solving, identification and other common tasks are obviously very visual driven. To solve something appropriately, one need to first understand where and what to look at. To a variable based problem, visual onset can help to better reinforce the stimulus response in a way that allows the individual to respond, in a more adaptive way. One must also consider, that setting up drills that are visual cue driven, requires more effort on both the trainee and trainer.
It all comes down to knowing what is it, that we want to achieve with our training, with who, and why.