What do you consider competent? And what qualifies you to make that determination?
From the student manual of one of the main shooting schools I've taken classes at.
Five Levels Of Competence
INTENTIONALLY INCOMPETENT
Believe it or not, there are those who own and carry firearms that clearly know of their incompetence, but lack even the slightest bit of courage or motivation to improve their skills. The
II avoids training out of laziness and fear of further exposing his incompetence to others. Graveyards are filled with the
II. Sadly, the
II often take those who count on them most - partners, family, and team members - to the grave with him. Unfortunately, the
II cannot be helped to any substantial degree due to his lack of motivation to retain any training. Time wasted by coddling the
II is better spent on the student who wants to improve.
UNCONSCIOUSLY INCOMPETENT
The
UI does not know that he does not know. The
UI represents
approximately 95% of all gun owners and includes people
(police and military) who carry a gun for a living. The
UI is incompetent but does not know he is incompetent because he has had no training or poor training and has not yet experienced a tactical situation, which would clearly demonstrate his inadequacies. Examples of the
UI can be found everywhere.
The police officer that boasts that he has never had to draw his pistol in 10 years of duty is a lucky
UI.
The officer who only practices shooting his weapon a few times per year only to pass the POST or department mandatory range qualifications is
UI.
The gun owner who buys a gun and box of ammo, only attends mandatory CCW classes, fires a few shots at the range and then places the gun in his closet, confident he can use it effectively to protect himself is
UI.
The hunter who only attends mandatory hunter safety and only shoots once a year to sight-in his rifle before going hunting is
UI.
Military personnel who only shoot the same course of fire as in Basic training (even with an “Expert” qualification) are still
UI.
Unfortunately, the
UI often learns of his ineptitude for the first time under the most extreme stress situations. When the flag flies, the
UI’s first lesson may be his last. Any gun owner who has never attended an organized shooting
CONSCIOUSLY INCOMPETENT
If the UI survives his first lesson, and is smart enough to place the blame on the man in the mirror, the UI automatically graduates to the level of the
CI. The
CI now knows he does not know and seeks help in acquiring the proper skills in the use of his weapon. The
CI is a motivated student of weaponscraft. Although the
CI is still operating at a level of incompetence, the
CI recognizes his faults, and in doing so can focus his efforts toward reaching a level of competency.
CONSCIOUSLY COMPETENT
If the CI makes the effort to learn, through study, proper training and practice, the CI develops into the CC. The length of time needed to develop from CI to CC is directly related to the quality of the training and the motivation of the student. The
CC is able to manipulate his weapon and clear malfunctions in a safe and efficient manner. The
CC understands the principles of marksmanship, shot placement, and ammunition management. Quick assumptions of field positions and the use of cover are familiar concepts of the
CC. The
CC has adopted the combat mind set as his own. As the level indicates, the
CC is very quick and competent, but must constantly think about what he is doing. Every decision and action occurs as a result of an intricate thought process and has not yet reached a reflex response level. The
CC will respond effectively to most stress situations that do not require split second decisions or actions.
UNCONSCIOUSLY COMPETENT
As the fifth and ultimate level of competence implies, the
UC has programmed his mind and body (after thousands of repetitions) to react in a fraction of a second with constant responses that require no perceivable thought process. The
UC functions flawlessly even under stressful situations because the
UC’s extensive training overrides his conscious thought process. As you can imagine, the
UC is not common in today’s society. This sad fact is due more to lack of proper training than to lack of motivation. Here are a few examples of a
UC in action.
In the heat of a gun battle, a pistolero hears a “click” as his hammer falls on a defective round. He reflexively taps the magazine, rack-flips the action, and hammers two rounds into his adversary’s chest without consciously recognizing that his gun had malfunctioned.
Upon sighting a trophy, a hunter slings up as he drops into a steady sitting position. He fires, manipulates the bolt on recoil - without the rifle leaving his shoulder or his eyes leaving the game - producing a one shot kill and he does it all in less time than it takes to read this sentence.
The combat shotgunner, confronted with a rapidly deteriorating hostage situation at 10 yards, immediately aims his front sight at the outside ear of the gunman, and then confidently delivers half of the shotgun’s pattern to the gunman’s head.
