Is the focus in your skills and tactics training on Technique or Principles and Concepts?
While an understanding of technique is important, I believe fundamental principles and concepts (i.e. balance, power and mobility) are more important to focus on.
Why do I believe principles and concepts are more important to focus on?
Technique often requires a specific set of conditions in order to be applied properly. Principles and concepts can be applied across a broad range of environmental factors, situations and conditions.
Technique often breaks down under time pressure and stress. Principles and concepts can be applied under time pressure and stress.
Another question to consider in this discussion is, “Are you training your people for critical thinking or compliance?”
Technique is based on compliance to set rules and conditions. Principles and concepts allow for, and teach, critical thinking, decision-making and problem solving.
The officers you have the honour and privilege to train, live and work in a world that requires them to think critically, make decisions and solve problems, often in compressed time frames.
Principles and concepts can be applied in different planes, varying environments and across different weapons platforms.
While there are similarities between calls, no two calls are ever the same. The situations officers face are often fluid and continually changing and evolving through the call.
You have limited training time with your officers. Use that time to focus more on principles, concepts, critical thinking and decision-making and allow them to apply those principles and concepts in context in varying environments. Create situations where they have to think critically and allow them to work through and solve problems. This will enhance both their competence and confidence. Competent, confident officers will perform better, and more professionally in the field.
Take care.
Brian Willis
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