1. Demonstrate the six fundamentals of accurate pistol shooting.
2. Describe the physiological effects of acute stress on fine motor skills and vision.
3. Apply at least two stress-inoculation techniques to improve performance under pressure.
4. Execute the draw-stroke from a holster safely and efficiently using dry-fire practice.

1. Stance: Isosceles or Weaver — feet shoulder-width, slight forward lean, weight on the balls of feet. Body armor for the soul and the body begins with a stable platform.
2. Grip: High, firm, two-handed grip. Strong hand high on the backstrap; support hand fills the gap with 45° downward angle. 60–70% of grip pressure from support hand. Thumbs forward, both pointing at the target.
3. Sight Alignment: Front sight centered in rear sight notch — equal height, equal light on both sides. In a close-threat scenario, you may use point-shooting; at 10+ yards, sights matter.
4. Sight Picture: Aligned sights on target. Focus eye on the FRONT SIGHT — the target and rear sight will be slightly blurred. This is correct.
5. Trigger Control: Smooth, consistent rearward pressure. No slapping, jerking, or anticipating recoil. The shot should "surprise" you slightly when it breaks. Reset: let the trigger move forward only until you feel/hear the reset click, then prep for the next shot.
6. Follow-Through: Maintain sight picture through the shot. Don't drop the gun to see where you hit. Call your shot (know where the sights were when the gun fired). Assess — is the threat neutralized?

• White — Unaware, relaxed, unprepared (never be here while on duty)
• Yellow — Relaxed alertness; aware of surroundings; no specific threat
• Orange — Specific alert; potential threat identified; ready to respond
• Red — Active response; decision to act made; executing trained response

1. Repetition to Muscle Memory: Skills not drilled hundreds of times will fail under stress. Fundamentals must be automatic, not conscious.
2. Box Breathing (Combat Breathing): Inhale 4 counts → Hold 4 → Exhale 4 → Hold 4. Slows heart rate, restores fine motor control within 30–60 seconds. Practice this now and before range exercises.
3. Verbal Cues: Talk yourself through procedures: "Front sight, press." Verbal anchors bypass stress-induced mental shutdown.
4. Scenario Training: Train in conditions similar to real use — low light, realistic targets, time pressure. What you train is what you deploy.
5. Physical Exercise + Shooting: Perform 10 jumping jacks immediately before dry-fire drills to elevate heart rate. Practice shooting at elevated HR.

1. Grip: Establish full firing grip on holstered firearm — strong-hand thumb sweeps safety off (if equipped).
2. Clear: Straight up — clear the holster completely before moving the muzzle.
3. Click: Rotate muzzle to target; support hand meets at center of chest (retention position if threat is close).
4. Crush: Drive firearm out to full extension, support hand wrapping into full grip as gun extends.
5. Confirm: Sight alignment on target — confirm sight picture before pressing trigger.

1. Distinguish cover from concealment and identify examples of each in a typical worship facility.
2. Apply sector-of-responsibility principles to a church floor plan.
3. Describe appropriate armed response positioning during worship services.
4. Demonstrate proper communication protocol between armed and unarmed team members during an escalating incident.
5. Explain why de-escalation must precede any firearm presentation in all non-imminent-threat situations.

• Pews — concealment only. Wood will not stop handgun rounds.
• Pulpit/podium — concealment only unless stone/masonry.
• Exterior brick walls — may provide cover; interior drywall does not.
• Support columns — depends on construction. Masonry = cover. Hollow decorative = concealment.
• Children's classrooms — almost no cover; highest protection priority for evacuation.

1. Assign zones, not tasks. Each armed officer owns a geographic sector — everyone in that sector is their responsibility.
2. Position for both observation and response. An officer who can see a threat but cannot safely reach it to intervene is mispositioned.
3. Cover all entry points. Entrances/exits are highest-priority observation zones. Threats almost always enter through a door.
4. Stage along the perimeter, not in the aisle. Standing in center aisles creates visibility but eliminates response options and creates a "single point of failure" if incapacitated.
5. Protect the platform. One officer should always have a clear line to the platform/pastor — the highest-visibility target in the room.
6. Know the children's wing. Designate one team member specifically for the children's ministry area. They should be closest to that zone during all services.

• Do NOT stand at the back wall looking at the congregation's backs — this creates a reaction time deficit.
• Do NOT cluster with other officers — a single grenade or spray attack can eliminate your entire team.
• Do NOT position where you cannot engage a threat without shooting through a crowd.
• Do NOT sit in the congregation during a service. You are on duty — maintain a standing perimeter role.

1. Rung 1 — Observation: Monitor the situation from position. Alert team via radio. Do not escalate. Continue to assess.
2. Rung 2 — Presence: Move closer to the area of concern. Your visible presence may de-escalate the situation entirely.
3. Rung 3 — Communication: Speak calmly to the individual. Use LEAPS. Attempt verbal resolution. Unarmed team members assist if needed.
4. Rung 4 — Hands-On / Non-Firearm Control: Escort, guide, or physically guide the individual out if cooperative. Unarmed officers handle this where possible — keeping armed officers available for threat response.
5. Rung 5 — Firearm Ready (Not Drawn): ONLY if credible threat of violence is apparent. Hand moves to holster — weapon NOT drawn. Call for backup. Announce law enforcement response.
6. Rung 6 — Firearm Presented (Drawn): ONLY if AOJ criteria are fully met — Ability, Opportunity, Imminent Jeopardy. Clear announcement of intent. Minimize innocent exposure.
7. Rung 7 — Lethal Force: Firearm discharged ONLY as last resort to stop an imminent deadly threat that cannot be stopped any other way. You own every round.

• Unarmed officers handle front-line contact — greetings, access checks, initial verbal de-escalation. They are the first filter.
• Armed officers hold back and observe unless deadly force is on the table. They are the last resort — not the first responder.
• Unarmed-to-armed handoff: When an unarmed officer cannot control a situation, they radio the armed officer: "Post 2, I have a non-compliant male at the east entrance. Need presence."
• Armed officers do not announce their armed status unless operationally required. The element of surprise is a safety asset.
• Pre-service briefing ALWAYS includes: WHO is armed today, WHERE they are positioned, WHAT the protocol is for requesting armed support.

1. Explain why weapon retention is a primary survival skill for armed church security officers.
2. Demonstrate at least two weapon retention techniques against a simulated gun grab.
3. Describe considerations for safely drawing a firearm when in physical contact with an aggressor.
4. Identify when a firearm is NOT the appropriate response at close quarters and what alternatives exist.

• An armed security officer is the only armed person in the building (ideally). If your weapon is taken, the attacker now has a gun and you do not.
• In a church setting, you will be in physical proximity to thousands of people over your career. Any one of them could attempt to disarm you.
• Retention begins with holster selection: Level II or Level III retention holsters with active locking mechanisms are required for duty carry. A simple friction holster is inadequate.
• Retention ends with physical technique when holster security has been bypassed.

1. Awareness First: The best retention is never letting someone get their hands on your gun. Maintain distance from agitated individuals.
2. Body Position Second: Bladed stance (gun side away), elbow down protecting the holster, hand covering the grip if approached too closely.
3. Physical Defense Third: If someone grabs your firearm, your immediate response is explosive and non-negotiable — disengage before they strip it.

1. As soon as you feel a hand on your holstered firearm: bring your strong-hand elbow down hard onto the grabber's wrist/hand, pinning their grip.
2. Simultaneously step offline (away from their centerline) while driving your hip into them, breaking their balance.
3. With your off-hand, push their face or upper body away — creating distance.
4. Verbally command: "STOP! BACK AWAY!" — continue to assess.

1. If an attacker grabs your drawn firearm at the slide or barrel: rotate the muzzle toward their thumb — the weakest point of any grip. A rotation of 90° will break most grips.
2. Step back simultaneously to create distance.
3. Never let go of your own firearm — maintain your grip throughout.
4. If the attacker maintains grip: draw your firearm toward your own center-mass (retention shooting position) — they cannot follow without exposing themselves.

1. Draw to center-mass (elbow bent at 90°, firearm pressed against your hip/side).
2. Muzzle pointed toward the threat at contact distance.
3. Fire two rounds, step back, assess.
4. Note: This technique is for IMMINENT DEADLY FORCE situations ONLY — AOJ must be fully satisfied.

It takes approximately 1.5 seconds to draw from a Level II holster under ideal conditions. An attacker who begins moving toward you from 7 feet away can close that distance before you complete your draw.

At close quarters, if an attacker is already within arm's reach, drawing your firearm may create a weapon retention crisis rather than solve one. At sub-7-foot distances with an actively aggressive subject:

• Consider whether physical defense creates distance before drawing
• Consider whether a verbal command can create hesitation
• Draw only when you have a moment of control over the situation
• Never draw while in a grab struggle unless at retention-shooting position

1. Apply the AOJ standard (Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy) to real-world church scenarios.
2. Articulate why a specific scenario does or does not justify deadly force.
3. Demonstrate appropriate verbal commands during a force encounter.
4. Distinguish between scenarios requiring lethal force, non-lethal control, de-escalation, or observation only.
5. Identify the most common cognitive traps that lead to shoot/no-shoot errors.

1. Tunnel Vision Confirmation: Once you decide someone is a threat, your brain filters out information that contradicts that conclusion. Actively seek contradicting information before acting.
2. Action Bias Under Stress: The adrenalized brain prefers doing something over doing nothing, even when doing nothing is correct. "When in doubt, don't" is a valid rule for use of force.
3. Weapon Focus: You saw something that looked like a gun — your brain locks onto it and ignores everything else. Ask: Did I confirm it was actually a weapon, or did I assume?
4. "I Was Afraid" Justification: Fear alone does not justify deadly force. The threat must be objectively reasonable AND the force must be proportional. Would a reasonable person with your training have been in fear of imminent death?
5. Momentum of Events: Once things start moving fast, it feels impossible to stop. Build in deliberate mental "pause points" — "Is deadly force still justified RIGHT NOW, at this moment?"

1. Demonstrate safe firearm handling on a live-fire range throughout all qualification stages.
2. Achieve a qualifying score of 75% or better on the SSSF Armed Church Security Officer course of fire.
3. Successfully execute all required shooting stages including close-range, mid-range, weak-hand, and time-limited strings.
4. Demonstrate safe holster draw and re-holster procedures under range conditions.

1. All four universal firearms safety rules apply at all times on the range.
2. No firearm is loaded until the Range Safety Officer (RSO) gives the command "LOAD AND MAKE READY."
3. On command "CEASE FIRE" — ALL shooting stops immediately, fingers off triggers, firearms pointed downrange.
4. No firearm leaves the holster except on RSO command.
5. No one moves forward of the firing line without RSO authorization.
6. Eye protection and hearing protection are mandatory throughout all live-fire activities.
7. Any malfunction: keep firearm pointed downrange, raise non-shooting hand, wait for RSO.
8. Medical emergency word for the day: [INSTRUCTOR ASSIGNS] — shout it to stop all firing for medical response.

1. Describe the required immediate actions following any use-of-force incident.
2. Explain what to say (and NOT say) to law enforcement upon their arrival at a shooting scene.
3. Identify the legal requirement to preserve the scene and secure evidence.
4. Describe the psychological impact of critical incidents and when to seek peer support or professional help.
5. Pass the CACSO written certification assessment with a score of 75% or higher.

1. Scan: 360-degree scan for additional threats. The incident may not be over.
2. Assess: Are you injured? Is the threat neutralized?
3. Communicate: Radio your team: "THREAT DOWN — [location] — Send medical — Call 911."
4. Medical: If safe, provide immediate medical aid to the injured — including the threat if they are down. You are a protector, not an executioner.
5. Holster: When law enforcement arrives, holster immediately and follow their commands exactly. Do NOT have a firearm in your hand when police arrive — they do not know who the threat was.
6. Identify: As officers arrive: hands visible, verbally identify yourself as armed security and tell them you are holstering: "OFFICER — I AM ARMED SECURITY — I AM HOLSTERING."
7. Separate witnesses: Keep witnesses at the scene but separate from each other to preserve independent testimony.
8. Preserve the scene: Touch nothing that was not touched before. Casings, the threat's weapon, your expended magazine — all are evidence. Do NOT move them.
9. No confessions: Your immediate emotional state is unreliable. Do NOT make statements about what you were thinking, feeling, or deciding in the moment. You have the right to an attorney.
10. Request an attorney: You may say: "I was in fear for my life and the life of others. I will fully cooperate after I have spoken with my attorney." This is NOT evidence of guilt — it is evidence of legal awareness.
11. Notify your organization: Contact your security team leader, pastor, and (per your org's protocol) your liability insurer.
12. Document your own account: As soon as practical, write down everything you observed and decided, in sequence, while memory is fresh — but NOT at the scene and NOT before speaking with your attorney.

Law enforcement research consistently shows that officers involved in a critical use-of-force incident — even a legally justified and correct one — may experience:

• Acute Stress Response: Shaking, nausea, time distortion, replay of the incident in the hours immediately following.
• Delayed PTSD Symptoms: Nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance of places/sounds associated with the incident, emotional numbing — days to weeks later.
• Moral Injury: Even when an action was legally and tactically correct, it may feel deeply wrong. This is especially common for faith-centered individuals who hold life as sacred.
• Identity Disruption: "I came to church to protect people. How can what happened be part of that calling?"

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD): Structured peer-led group debrief within 24–72 hours. Do NOT use this as a legal testimony session — it is a psychological support tool.
• Peer Support: Speaking with a trusted colleague who has experienced similar events. Not therapy, but human connection.
• Professional Counseling: A licensed trauma therapist, preferably with law enforcement or first responder experience, can provide EMDR and other evidence-based trauma treatments.
• Pastoral Counsel: A pastor or chaplain can hold the spiritual weight of the event in a way that secular therapists may not. Faith integration is a strength — use it.
• Physical Exercise and Sleep: The body holds trauma. Regular physical activity and protected sleep are non-negotiable recovery supports.

1. Law enforcement investigation must be complete and officer cleared of criminal charges.
2. At least one CISD session completed.
3. Evaluation by a mental health professional confirming fitness for duty.
4. Requalification on the range (firearms proficiency must be re-confirmed).
5. Review meeting with the security team lead and pastoral leadership.
6. Documentation of all above steps retained in the officer's training file for 5 years.