The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study Of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

SEVEN TACTICAL MOVEMENT TO CONTACT AND SHOOTING ON THE MOVE

Being able to shoot as you move from one point or obstacle to the next is very important. The entire reason and purpose for any tactical maneuver, whether slow or quick, is to allow you to cover the next potential danger area with your gun muzzle. Sometimes, you must also shoot on the move as you advance toward another position. You may even wish to aggressively close on an adversary to shoot him on the advance, put him on the defensive, or enable you to execute a more precise shot.

As you search, you must adhere to the three-eye principle. This means that, except for specific situations, both your eyes and your gun muzzle must always be oriented in the same direction. They must, all three, be "looking" at the same thing. If you look up, your muzzle "looks" up also. If you look at the apex of a corner for a target indicator, your muzzle must be oriented toward that corner as well.

The objective is to be able to shoot any suddenly appearing hostile without hesitation, at all times-whether you are stationary, advancing, or passing him on the move.

When you are moving through an open area, you should use the tactical walk, where you avoid exaggerating any of your movements or body mechanics. Walk just as you would walk down the street except for a few accommodations to the firearm you hold. The weapon will be up and oriented toward the point you are approaching. Your knees will be slightly bent, and you will have a slightly aggressive forward lean. This in turn will help stabilize your upper body and allow a sort of rolling gait. The movement looks as if you are gliding, without any up and down motion, from one point to the next. Take smaller steps than you normally would to keep control of your feet and motion as you move. Most important, as one U.S. Marine Corps close-quarters battle instructor pointed out to me (as only a marine can), move only as fast as you can guarantee getting hits on the hostile. Do not break into a run unless you are already under fire because you cannot shoot effectively "on the run."

^{The most important thing to remember is that the shooting platform exists from the waist up. What the lower body and feet are doing is almost inconsequential to shooting.}

^{Advancing aggressively toward an adversary may be required in a tactical scenario.}

Moving forward is not the only technique you must learn. It may be necessary to move directly from one point to another while covering your flank with the muzzle of your weapon as you move.

Covering a potential danger area or shooting to your support side as you move along a straight line is easy; all that is required is for you to pivot your body at the waist to the support side and point your weapon as you need it.

^{When you decide to engage, do so dynamically. Control the action-do not let it control you.}

Covering a similar danger area or shooting to the strong side on the move is slightly more difficult because of the inflexibility of the human torso and the upper-body dynamics of most shooting positions. I've conducted some experiments to determine which method best solves this problem. The method I think is best, and which I use, is to turn the body enough to allow a comfortable shooting position toward the danger area. This will place you more square to the target than a "usual" Weaver stance. Now you simply move in a sideways shuffle as you cover the danger area with your weapon.

The most important thing to remember is that the shooting platform exists from the waist upward. What the lower body and the feet are doing is almost inconsequential to your shooting. Isolate the shooting platform from its transportation (i.e., the legs).

These same concepts are as useful for evacuating an area as they are for "assaulting." If you are in a situation where you want to get out of the area quickly but do not want to turn your back on danger areas, you can simply walk backward while keeping your weapon oriented toward the danger. Instead of walking "heel-toe," you reverse it and walk "toe-heel." This allows you to feel for unseen obstructions behind you as you move.

^{When closing on a potential danger area, do so with stealth and the ability to respond instantly. The Taylor-designed shuffle step will allow this.}

As you approach a particular danger area, such as a door or the apex of a corner, you must slow down considerably and alter your gait to the Chuck Taylor-designed shuffle step.

The advantage to this method is that it allows you to approach very carefully and slowly without compromising your stealth or ability to shoot. This method also discourages you from crossing your feet as you walk, which adversely affects your mobility in tight quarters as well as your ability to respond to various angles.

The shuffle step is equally useful for moving forward and backward as it is for moving laterally. It is similar to the type of footwork that would be employed by a Western boxer. The leg that is closest to the desired direction moves first and is followed by a catch-up step with the other leg. Beginning with a slightly bladed Weaver stance, the footwork patterns are as follows:

To move forward: Take a half-step forward with the supportside leg (front leg) and then catch up with a half-step with the strong-side leg.

To move rearward: Reverse the process and begin with a half-step rearward with the strong-side leg (rear leg), and then catch-up with a half-step with the support-side leg.

To move laterally right or left: The process is identical in concept.

To move to the strong side: Step to the strong side with the strong-side leg a. half-step, and then catch up with the support-side leg

To move to the support side: Reverse the process for the strong side.

^{If you must close distance quickly, the tactical walk will allow you to do so while retaining the ability to shoot en route.}

^{Engaging a hostile to the firing side is somewhat more complicated and involves a slight change in footwork.}

^{Engaging a hostile to the support side is easily accomplished on the move without altering the normal stride.}

When performing the shuffle step, do not allow your feet to touch at midstep. Keep a slight distance (one-half shoulder width) between the feet on each step.

A second common mistake is dragging the feet. Do not fall victim to this. Step with the toe first and then allow the heel to make contact with the deck. Remember that stealth is of the greatest importance when you are using this technique.

Along with stability and enhanced potential for quick movement, this type of footwork allows you to clear an area using the angular search method. The tactical walk and the shuffle step both have a valuable place in an ace tactician's "war bag"-so learn them.