Yes, I know it’s a shock but it’s true. Take a moment and leave political correctness aside, with its limiting thinking and fear of embarrassment. Men and women are different in many ways yet as use of force instructors we often lump all students into the same learning profile. If our goal is to give every student the skills necessary to win a gunfight, we must be free to teach.
Female officers are usually at a disadvantage when they show up at the firing range for training. They get lumped in and are expected to learn critical life-saving skills in the “manly-fashion.” “Make it work” is often the special instruction they receive from instructors but “making it work” is often easier said than done. Women are usually capable than their male co-workers and often are better shots but sometimes getting to that end seems extraordinarily difficult. The “why” question has a simple answer – men and women have different learning profiles. Here are some thoughts to serving those profiles:
Equipment
Female officers are issued a one-size-fits-all type of gear without any consideration to specific needs. When issued a holster designed for a man, the result is often a pistol that rides too high and is canted at awkward angles, making an efficient draw very difficult. Most major manufacturers of police duty gear make products designed specifically for female officers. Off-set holsters and other specific equipment should never be over-looked when purchasing life-saving gear. And many issued handguns are simply too big to comfortably grip for any shooter with a smaller hand. Firearms manufacturers have wisely started making pistols with interchangeable grip panels to accommodate a broader spectrum of end-users. Improperly sized firearms can create user-induced performance limitations. This is an easy fix and should be addressed immediately by us – the instructors.
Say What?
Women are strong verbal learners. They hear in a literal sense much more clearly than men. Remember in high school how many times the teacher had to repeat instructions to the guys? Quit speaking to the “guys” and start speaking to all of your students. Review range terminology and methodology with others instructors to assure uniformity, clarity and correctness…that is what you’ll get out the female students. If you’re having to reteach the same points every session, then shame on you for not adjusting your teaching methods. The one struggling may actually be you. (Female instructors are gems to the training environment. Recruit them.)
Peas in a Pod
Sometimes teaching firearms requires working in intimate spaces. Watch a male instructor work a firing line and you’ll see him touching male students, making physical adjustments to shooting fundamentals or skill sets. But when he reaches a female student, he’ll talk to her but skip the physical reinforcement methods. We all know why – fear of a complaint. This is easy. (It’s even easier if you’ve recruited female instructors). Simply ask permission and explain your purpose. The female officer deserves as much attention to winning her gunfight as the other officers. Be professional and get it done.
Recognize the differences in students and learn to meet each learning need. No two people are the same, and neither should your training methods be. The firearms instructor should work extra hard to ensure that every student under instruction receives our very best. Overcome our differences and win the fight and leave your students saying, “I’m lovin’ it”. Locate a local, regional or national IALEFI event at www.IALEFI.com/training
