Targets: types and features of application

One of the important skills of personal security and object protection employees is rapid response. It involves systematic training of various skills in simulated situations (in corridors and transportation, during vehicle escorts, in crowded areas, etc.). Modern target equipment is used to set up tactical objects, which simulate adversaries, colleagues, hostages, and other individuals. The target structure replicates one or several key features of a real target, including size, shape, speed, and mode of movement. Military, sports, and tactical targets are used for practicing shooting techniques by security personnel.

All targets are classified based on the following characteristics:

• Purpose: Targets can be classified as police, military, tactical, sports, and special (verification, sighting, checking, etc.). Police and military targets are further divided into qualification and training targets. Military targets are used for initial, training, and control shooting exercises for armed forces personnel. These targets are relatively simple, with a flat or three-dimensional surface. The depiction of body parts or the entire figure is done in a single color without markings. Military targets that simulate body parts or the entire human body are called figures and can be chest, waist, height, or head targets.
• Police targets are used in tactical firearms training sessions for law enforcement and special forces personnel. Typical examples of police targets include contour and painted targets in the shape of a human silhouette. In most cases, these targets are realistic simulations. One characteristic feature of such targets is the markings that divide the figure into corresponding zones (lethal, relatively lethal, relatively dangerous, safe for human life).
• The distribution of target zones of varying significance is determined by the difference in tasks between the military and law enforcement. While the task for soldiers is to kill the enemy, the goal for law enforcement representatives is to neutralize the criminal and bring them to justice. Tactical targets are used to practice shooting techniques and specialized combat shooting in conditions that closely resemble real situations. They include flat and three-dimensional target dummies that realistically imitate humans and animals. Flat targets are often made of cardboard or paper, featuring photographic images or drawings. In recent years, anatomical photo targets have become increasingly popular in Europe. They consist of two folded sheets, with a full-sized color photograph of an armed criminal, terrorist with a hostage, or other individuals on the front sheet. The second sheet, placed exactly underneath the first, contains an identical photo but with additional images of the internal organs (brain, spinal cord, aorta, major blood vessels, lungs, liver, stomach, etc.). Three-dimensional targets and mannequins are made of polyurethane, plastic, papier-mâché, or similar materials. Such figures may have clothing and specific identification marks.

• Number of targets: Targets can be single-target or multi-target. Multi-target models have two or more targets on a single sheet. For example, targets for sniper shooting skills or "terrorist-hostage" targets often have numerous geometric shapes or different-colored circles.

• Shape: Targets can be chest, waist, height, or head targets.

• Size: Targets are divided into full-sized and reduced-sized. Full-sized targets depict biological or artificial targets (or their individual parts) in their natural size, while reduced-sized targets feature the same images but in a scaled-down proportion.

• Depiction method: Targets can be without images and have a solid color. Some targets have concentric circles or other geometric shapes. Contour targets outline the general silhouette of the target. Painted targets and photographic targets are also available in the market.

• Material - products of this category can be made of metal, rubber, paper, glass, papier-mâché, cardboard, clay, plastic, plywood, etc. Currently, metal targets are considered some of the best. Their use significantly optimizes the training process since such targets do not require repairs or even constant replacement. Metal targets are divided into stationary and reactive ones. The moment of hitting the target is easily determined by the characteristic sound or by the punctures on the surface (which are covered with aerosol paint after the end of the training sessions).

• In terms of mobility, static and moving models are distinguished (which rotate, swing, move forward, appear suddenly, etc.). Static targets are installed stationary in a specific location, remaining immobile during shooting. Mobile counterparts are attached to special devices (mechanical, electric, or pneumatic-driven), which provide their movement. Swinging targets are capable of simulating the movements of a perpetrator in a window or door opening, allowing for a closer approximation to real shooting conditions. Their activation can be done remotely, either automatically (when doors or windows open) or by hitting another target. The most common activators today are poppers, which fall when hit and activate the moving targets using a cord or rope. Activation using pedals, levers, and ropes is also widely used.

The use of reactive targets provides immediate "feedback" to the security officer, who receives information about hitting the target and can quickly determine the next course of action. The simplest metal targets react to contact with a single bullet. More complex targets react to multiple hits by adjusting the angle of their plates relative to the ground or floor.

Mobile targets can effectively train shooting skills in real-life scenarios. The movement trajectory of such targets can vary - perpendicular to the shooter (frontal), moving towards or away from the shooter at different speeds set by the instructor. Changing the shooter's position allows for effective practice of shooting skills at different angles of inclination relative to the targets. For the initial training stage, it is recommended to purchase targets with vertical and horizontal black stripes (50mm wide) that pass through vital areas of the human body.

A target with a vertical stripe helps determine the correctness of horizontal aiming and perform necessary adjustments. A target with a horizontal stripe helps adjust vertical aiming. To make shooting exercises more challenging during training, narrow targets simulating a human profile are used. The speed of target movement should approximate the speed of pedestrians or running individuals. Targets move in the direction of "left-right" or in the opposite direction relative to the shooter. Mobile targets can be active or passive. Passive targets can move in a predetermined direction, forcing the shooter to visually determine the accuracy of the shot. An active target instantly reacts to bullet hits during its movement, falling or flipping over.

Targets can be classified based on their level of reactivity - targets that do not react to bullet impact and targets that can produce various effects. Among the most common reactive effects are changes in the angle of inclination or the falling of the target, appearance of colored spots on the surface, disappearance, destruction, electric or sound signals, and others.

Targets for practicing shooting in the dark may have illumination or emit specific sounds. Popular targets imitate shots from an attacker in the dark using bright flashes of light in the area of the presumed weapon location. Target designs for sound-based shooting exercises can vary. The basic construction element is a metal element in the form of an empty cylinder with a mechanical or electronic acoustic device embedded inside. The simplest form of such a device is a bell, while more complex versions include generators of acoustic signals (e.g., gunfire, sound of releasing the safety catch, etc.). To practice shooting skills in sound conditions, targets that signal bullet impacts without the need for light (steel targets with sensors, etc.) are recommended. This helps determine the effectiveness of shooting and allows for quick adjustments without interrupting the learning process.

Targets can also be classified based on their identification capabilities - neutral targets that do not represent any specific category of people and targets that can be associated with a particular group. Examples of neutral targets are military, sports, and special (sighting) models. Targets with identification capabilities have a specific design that allows understanding whether it represents a criminal, hostage, security personnel, or other individuals. Training in target identification and taking appropriate actions based on the results play a crucial role in the training of security personnel. The decision to "shoot or not to shoot" affects the lives of both surrounding people and the security officer. To identify figures of terrorists and hostages, specific markings are applied to the targets, enabling the shooter to quickly recognize a person and make a decision to open fire. Targets depicting terrorists often include images of various weapons. Targets representing hostages can be marked with an open palm or traditional items (bag, book, identification).

Posted by Sergii_Velmet