Note:  The information appearing on this webpage was copied directly from FM 3-19.11, Special Reaction Teams (SRT) and only changed slightly.  FM 3-19.11 distribution is restricted and is authorized for U.S. Government law enforcement activities and Army special operations forces only.  The information on this page is an unclassified extract containing no sensitive information but should still be considered for Law Enforcement Use Only. 

 

This lesson discusses the various techniques that SRT members can use to retain their weapon (long gun and pistol) when a threat attempts to seize it.  The primary means of weapon retention, however, is a lethal backup.

 

LONG-GUN RETENTION

 

A long gun should be equipped with a sling to provide secure carrying and allow hands-free actions.  A long gun without a sling may become a liability to the team and others involved in a situation.  If you must enter an objective with a long gun that does not have a sling, avoid close proximity to the threat and keep both hands on your weapon. If you enter a room and the threat grabs your gun, assume that he intends to harm you.  If another team member can obtain target acquisition, he should eliminate the threat.

 

FRONT-KICK METHOD

During clearing operations, both hands are usually on your primary weapon.  If the threat advances too close or is noncompliant when ordered back, bring your primary weapon to the close-in-ready position.  Deliver a front kick, step forward or backward depending on the situation, and keep the kick below your waist.

 

PUSH-AND-PULL METHOD

Keep both hands on your weapon and control its direction.  Push into the threat, control the muzzle direction, and reverse momentum suddenly.  Try to remain standing and violently pull the stock into your body.  If necessary to control distance, deliver a kick immediately before or after contact.  Cover the threat, select the target area, and shoot until the threat is eliminated.  Be aware that the threat may be wearing body armor with a trauma plate (lead ricocheting off a trauma plate can injure the shooter).

 

STRIKE-AND-SHOOT METHOD

Strike the threat on the base of his chin with the palm of your support hand.  Push your hand upward and fully extend your arm.  The threat’s head will tilt back, and his balance will carry him away from you.  Try to remain standing and pull the weapon into your body by the pistol grip, causing the sling to tighten and the muzzle to point toward the threat. Consider the length of your arm compared to the length of your gun.  If your support arm is extended laterally to the front, the gun’s muzzle may have to be angled downward.  The muzzle may naturally aim low, but you must be aware of your arm and hand positions before shooting.  Direct the muzzle toward the threat’s groin, femoral artery, or hip and fire until he is eliminated.  Continue to push the threat away and withdraw to a safe, controlled distance.  This method may work best if the gun stock is tucked and squeezed under your armpit (close-in-ready position).

 

REDIRECT-AND-SHOOT METHOD

A room filled with clutter may cause you to lose your balance during a struggle.  If this happens, redirect the momentum in a circular direction to either side, away from the wall.  Use the wall to regain your balance and to stun the threat with a violent impact.  Do not resist the motion; accelerate it, which causes the threat to experience a whip-like effect.  Once the distance is correct, accelerate the threat’s momentum with a solid, front kick to increase the reactionary gap.  If another team member can obtain target acquisition, he should eliminate the threat.

 

DROP-AND-SHOOT METHOD

If you fall to the ground, keep your firing hand on the pistol grip.  Break the fall with your support hand by slapping the ground with the palm of your extended arm before your body strikes the ground.  While breaking the fall, kick the threat around his knees or waist.  This increases the distance and causes the sling to tighten.  When the middle sling keeper slides to the rear of the stock, the muzzle should be pointing at the threat.  Do not let the threat land on you; be prepared to kick him away, and fire until he is eliminated.

 

STEP-DRAW-SHOOT METHOD

Keep your support hand on the weapon and extend your arm.  Kneel back while drawing the pistol with your firing hand.  Bring the pistol to the close-in-ready position, shoot the threat in the pelvis, and fire until he is eliminated.  Be aware of where your hand is in relation to the muzzle of your primary weapon so that you do not shoot yourself.

 

CLOCK METHOD

If the threat grabs the muzzle end of your weapon, maintain a firm grip on the weapon.  The rear of the weapon can be controlled better than the muzzle.  Rotate the muzzle in a full circle, much like following the hands of a 2-foot-diameter clock.  The threat’s grip will be broken before the circle is complete.  Immediately following the circular motion, administer a kick or an open-hand strike to the threat’s face with your support hand.  Create distance and shoot if necessary.

 

WRIST-BREAKING J METHOD

If the threat grabs the muzzle end of your weapon, grab his hand and squeeze it tightly.  Twist his hand in a circular motion as described in the clock method above.  His hand will bend backward, and the barrel will cross his hand and wrist.  His wrist will break if downward pressure is applied, rendering him incapable of holding or controlling the muzzle of your weapon.  The J pattern starts downward and circles to the outside of the threat’s grasping arm in a quick, circular pattern to 12 o’clock.  As the barrel reaches its place on the ulna bone, jerk the muzzle straight downward to 6 o’clock.  Shoot as the muzzle travels across the threat’s body, and follow with a knee strike or a kick to increase the reactionary gap.

 

J METHOD

The J method is performed like the wrist-breaking method above, except you keep both hands on your weapon.  You shoot through the retention motion or snatch the weapon away.  Follow with a knee strike or a kick to increase the reactionary gap.  Remember, the higher the kick, the more likely you are to lose your balance and deliver a slower kick.

 

PISTOL RETENTION

 

Team members must keep in mind that these are last-resort methods.  They are used when a threat has surprised a team member and is attempting to grab the pistol from him.  Ideally, a team member does not let the threat get close enough to grab his weapon.

 

HOLSTER AND ALERT METHODS

All team members carry an M9 pistol as their primary or backup weapon.  The three basic carrying positions are holstered, low ready, and close-in ready.  When a pistol is out of the holster, it is usually carried in the low-ready or close-in-ready position.  It is not actually covering anyone, but it is ready if needed.  The first step is to get the attacker at least one arm’s length away.  This is called rock and block, and it enables the shooter to draw his weapon from the holster.

· If the attacker is unarmed, strike his upper chest, head, or face with the palm of your hand.

· If the attacker is armed, bring your arm up to the high-block position to block his blow and parry your weapon. Follow with a strike to his upper chest.

 

DISSOLVING METHOD

If the threat grabs your pistol, grab the slide with your support hand and do not let go.  Sound off and get back-up to eliminate the threat.

 

CIRCLE-AND-COUNTER METHOD

If backup is unavailable, head-butt the threat with your helmet and perform the J method.  If the struggle continues, shoot the threat with the first round in the chamber and drop the magazine from the weapon or vice versa.  Do not expect the weapon to cycle, and do not expect the threat to give up.  If this does not disengage the threat, stay close to him.  Do not let him point the muzzle at you, but press the weapon against his body with yours.

 

DROP-STRIPPING METHOD

Fire on the threat if your weapon is loaded and ready.  If your weapon is not ready, stun the threat with a stomp to his instep, a knee strike to his lower torso or outer thigh, or a kick to his leg.  If this does not work, jerk your weapon straight down the front of his body with the muzzle pointing up (body dynamics will cause him to release your weapon).

 

SRT Weapon Retention