Officer Survival on Traffic Stops - Live Fire, Vigo County Sheriff's Office OSTLF2023-01

About this course

“Hire character.  Train skill.” —Peter Schutz

Course Overview
Officers attending this course will be challenged mentally and physically to their limits.  Officers will be forced to make shoot or don’t shoot decisions while overcoming fatigue and a stressful training atmosphere.  During this course, officers will be subjected to fighting and shooting in dynamic and realistic scenario-based training.  This course will require students to bring 100 rounds of target ammunition for their duty weapon.

What will the student learn?

• Approach patterns on traffic stops with a concentration on dynamics of utilizing angles to counter assaults.
• Environment and bystander awareness (terrain concerns and escape avenues), controlling space.
• How to escape from Ambush Positions.
• Proper placement of violator(s) and backup units.
• Case law pertinent to police use of force vehicle stops.

What will the student be required to do?

• Make shoot or don’t shoot decisions while overcoming fatigue and a stressful training atmosphere.
• Fight through being attacked by single and multiple opponents in a dynamic and realistic scenario for police officers.
• Officers will be subjected to fighting and shooting in dynamic and realistic scenario-based training.
• Think outside the box and consider multiple threats at one time.  This training method increases the real-world scenario of continually evolving high-stress situations.
• Accurately examine their mindset and identify areas where they have begun to lose ground physically and psychologically.  They will be pushed to their mental and physical limits.
• Successfully address threat(s), gain compliance or control, and maintain situational awareness and mental clarity during these practical exams.
• This course is a hands-on outdoor activity to keep the student engaged and interested in learning concepts to enhance their ability to identify the criminal element, identify it, and be prepared if a lethal force encounter occurs.
• They are required to bring 100 rounds of target ammunition for their duty weapon.

Course Breakdown

Train Hard * Train to Win

Course Intensity
This course is very high-level intensity and will challenge the student to consider their personal, physical, and psychological vulnerability and then adapt to and overcome any adversity or threat they are approaching.

Physically Demanding
OSTLF is a tactical course that will require high levels of physical exertion.  You will leave you dirty, exhausted, and ultimately fired up about what you just completed!

Mentally Challenging
This course will challenge the student to fight physically and mentally without ceasing during scenarios that may feel too intense or overwhelming.  They will use techniques and mental mindsets to expand their understanding of tactical counters to life-threatening situations.

Core Building
If implemented as instructed, the student will be given proven techniques to counter assaults that mentally and physically prepare them for victory in battle.

Student Take Away

• A greater understanding of strategies and tactics to counter vehicle approach ambushes and planned assaults on officers.
• Core techniques to identify, improve, and master their tactical skills, leaving them prepared for victory.
• Proven training imparts very tactical mindsets and movements into a student-level course for successfully applying these strategies to real-world police encounters.

Course Accreditation/Certification/Completion

• The student will receive a certificate of course completion.

Course Hours

• (1 day) 7-hour course.
• No Re-certification is required.

Required Course Equipment

Attending students will need to be enrolled individually and online.  The student must provide proof of employment by credentials and work-verified email or authorization from their agency’s training coordinator.  All students must be on duty and not forced to attend the training course.  Students will be required to complete several liability waivers.

Students are required to bring the following equipment with them to class.

• 100 Rounds of ammo for their duty weapon.  Duty positioning of their weapon, either full belt or side holster.  But it must be what they wear daily.  This training is for how they encounter assailants daily, so uniform of the day (weapon placement only) is required.  
• Department-issued or approved bulletproof vest that is not expired.
• OSHA-approved Eye and ear protection.   

**No live weapons, chemical agents, or intermediate weapons are allowed in the training area before inspection and cleared by the range safety instructor**