Ed Monk’s Active Shooter Instructor Course
REACTIVE TARGET SCENARIO
I have been an active shooter instructor for civilian responders for years now. As an ALICE, ALERRT, and AVERT instructor, I noticed that the primary focuses of those approaches were flawed because in essence, they’ve been training people to die.
The various versions of Run, Hide, Fight that these three approaches promote put “fighting” as a last resort option, many times seeing organizations penalize their staff for fighting, effectively increasing the risk of lame duck victims putting hide before fight. That can be a death sentence for people because it trains them to increase their vulnerability leading to their death.
If more civilians were given both the tools and permission to fight first, that will decrease casualty numbers during active shooter events and deter active killers in the future knowing that more defenders out there WILL fight back and refuse to be a victim.
In Ed Monk’s active shooter instructor course, we were given that toolkit to focus on training civilians and concealed carriers to do just that.
If more committed civilians ran towards the threat instead of away from it while the seconds tick away, the likelihood of an active shooter being stopped right away instead of waiting on the delayed dispatch and response of law enforcement, increases dramatically.
When seconds count, ruthlessly aggressive and offensive action toward an active killer threat is a much more successful response than running and hiding. No, this is not the best option for everyone, but even if one more person than is trained and willing to now can commit, the casualty rate will be positively affected and more people will live. Especially if the response is an armed response.
Are you willing to be that one or more person? Contact me to set up a training for you and your friends or you and your organization.
#firearmsinstructor #activeshootertraining #coreconceptstactical #edmonk #lastresortfirrarmstraining
After diving deep into Ed Monk's Active Shooter Instructor Course, one thing became crystal clear to me: the way we've been teaching civilian response needs a serious rethink. For years, like many others, I've taught ALICE and similar protocols, which often place 'fighting' as a last resort. But my experience in this course showed me a more effective, and frankly, life-saving philosophy: the 'fight first' approach. What does 'fight first' truly mean? It's not about being reckless, but about immediate, decisive action to neutralize a threat. It's a fundamental shift from a reactive mindset to a proactive one. Instead of waiting, hiding, and hoping, the training emphasizes empowering individuals to become immediate defenders. This means understanding that in an Active Shooter scenario, seconds literally count. The idea is to stop the threat as quickly as possible, rather than waiting for law enforcement, who, despite their best efforts, will always have a response time. One of the most impactful aspects of the training was the focus on Reactive Target Scenario drills. These aren't just static exercises; they prepare you for the unpredictable nature of real-life threats. This type of dynamic training helps build the mental and physical readiness to act decisively under extreme pressure. It hammers home the point that hesitation can be fatal, and proactive intervention can drastically reduce casualties. Now, let's talk about why this paradigm shift is so crucial, especially when considering traditional approaches like ALICE instructor training or AVERT. While these programs have good intentions, their primary focus on 'Run, Hide, Fight' often inadvertently creates a culture where fighting back is discouraged or seen as a desperate last resort. I've personally seen organizations inadvertently penalize staff for taking proactive self-defense measures, which can be incredibly counterproductive. This mind-set can lead to increased vulnerability, essentially training people to become 'lame duck' victims by prioritizing hiding over a potentially life-saving offensive action. It makes sense why some might search for alternatives to ALICE instructor training – they're looking for something that actually empowers, rather than just instructs on survival. Ed Monk's course really emphasizes that if more civilians, especially concealed carriers or those with basic self-defense training, are given both the tools and the permission to fight first, casualty numbers in active shooter events could plummet. Imagine if the first few seconds of an attack were met with immediate, aggressive resistance from within the building, rather than just people running away. The chance of stopping the shooter before they can inflict widespread harm increases dramatically. This isn't to say running or hiding isn't an option for some, but it shouldn't be the only or primary option, especially for those who are trained and capable. The training instills the understanding that even one more person willing to commit to an aggressive response can positively affect the outcome. It's about fostering a community of proactive defenders, not just passive victims. For anyone serious about personal safety and the safety of their community, exploring this 'fight first' philosophy is an absolute must. It truly changes your perception of what's possible in a crisis.