 Media Credit: CHRIS SZAKOLCZAI Recruit White assembles his Sig P229 during the stress test while receiving motivation from Instructors Smith (left) and Demko (right)
|
|
 Media Credit: CHRIS SZAKOLCZAI Recruits Paglione (far right) Bascik (middle) Rutherford (left) and Latham (rear) react to an "Officer Down" call.
|
|
 Media Credit: CHRIS SZAKOLCZAI Above: the various handguns used by the recruits included a mixture of Glock's and Sig Sauer's depending on what their specific department used.
|
|
 Media Credit: CHRIS SZAKOLCZAI Firearms training continues for the recruits of Mercer County Police Academy class of 04-09, better known as "No Joke." At center Recruit Hopkins practices target shooting.
|
|
Following countless hours of training with practice firearms, the recruits of class 04-09 return to the range for the second time. Now they must master the proper way to quickly draw their weapon from a holster and be able to assemble their weapon even under stressful conditions.
Stress shooting is a drill in which recruits must sprint 100 yards, complete 25 pushups, then assemble their weapon while being deliberately distracted by screaming and other loud noises created by two instructors. When their weapon is assembled properly, the recruits are told to fire at a target in certain areas while the loud noises continue. Under such stressful conditions recruits learn to function effectively under fire.
Firearms training continues for the recruits as they practice room clearing at a local school. They must move together in teams of four to accomplish a successful building clear. Scenarios such as "officer down" and "shots fired" test the recruits' knowledge of proper procedure. The recruits must move down the hallway covering every angle while swiftly reaching their objective. In both situations, recruits must react immediately to the location of either the shots or the downed officer. In order to mimic real-life conditions instructors hide in the rooms posing as either the shooter or the downed officer to be found. To keep the recruits off guard, the instructors hide in the smallest of areas and the oddest places imaginable.
By now, the class of 04-09 is only a few weeks away from graduation. With the end in sight, some recruits experience a surge in energy even as fatigue threatens to over-take them.
Be the first to comment on this story