[103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Anything less than three seconds is very good. Fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, at 10 paces (~7.5 . Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. They could also be wearing body armor. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. | Donate, AboutDU The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning HP35 pistol and fired two bullets into the target's upper chest, usually enough to incapacitate or kill outright. How rude! [8] The historian Donal Lowry has endorsed Evans' views, noting also that "the Rhodesia Front sought to combine the notion that Rhodesia embodied the best of true Britishness, the notion that white Rhodesians were the sort of people who once made the Great" of Britain, while turning to America as the only remaining champion of the Free World. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. In 1980, two Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers, Larry Mudgett and John Helms, attended pistol training at Gunsite and received permission from Cooper to teach the technique to the LAPD, and to rename it the Failure Drill (concerned that "Mozambique" might have racist overtones). [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. "All too many of the other great tragedies of historyStalins atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a fewwere perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. [44] Opponents of the regime frequently highlighted the issue of 'mercenaries' fighting for Rhodesia, and claimed that they were often mentally unstable and had little regard for civilian casualties. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the He finished the job with a headshot. Oops, there's been an error. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. While it might seem strange at first, its not a long stretch to connect the dots from a country off the east coast of Africa, to a Rhodesian mercenary, to a shooting technique, and finally to someone who conceal carries and trains to defend themselves. Got a message for Democratic Underground? However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. [22] The army units manned by full time personnel, which included a high proportion of white regular and conscripted soldiers, were the most powerful element of the security forces and formed a strategic reserve that responded to the guerrilla activities. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. Editors Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Portugal said it supported the Mozambique people and designated it an overseas territory in the 1950s in lieu of calling it a colony, but it was still a colony no matter how Portugal presented it. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. These volunteers felt that Ian Smith had betrayed white Rhodesians by signing this agreement. The drill is also sometimes called the Failure Drill, as the third and final shot is made in response to a situation when the double tap fails to stop an advancing threat. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Its a handy tool to have in your defensive tool box just in case shots to center mass dont accomplish what they are supposed to do. A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. So why not just send the first shot to the head? [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. : The British Military Advisory and Training Team and the Creation of the Zimbabwe National Army", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foreign_volunteers_in_the_Rhodesian_Security_Forces&oldid=1135864497, The historians Peter Godwin and Ian Hancock have written that foreign volunteers represented only a "tiny minority" of the Rhodesian military in 1972, with 90 per cent of recruits being Rhodesians and most of the remainder. [87] The historian Hugh Patterson noted that the relatively small numbers of volunteers from the UK indicates that "however vocal the support for Rhodesia by some on the political right, very few men were actually willing to put their futures on the line for the Smith [Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith] regime". 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. Save my name and email to use for future comments. A proposal by the mercenary Mike Hoare to establish an international brigade modelled on the French Foreign Legion was also rejected. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. [61] These pay rates were lower than those in some other armies; for instance, they were around half the levels in the United States Army and between 50 and 60 per cent of the Australian Army's pay scale. Two to the body, one to the head. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. Two American ex-Marine deserters from the Forces who robbed jewelry stores in Salisbury, while carrying stolen Uzis, were involved in a shoot-out with authorities at the South African border. [101] Robin Moore included profiles of twelve volunteers as part of a non-fiction book he wrote in 1976 that argued that the Rhodesian government was not racist and sanctions against it should be lifted. |-- Places [66], Under the terms of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement that ended the war the British government resumed control over Rhodesia in December 1979, with the country temporarily reverting to the colony of Southern Rhodesia until elections could be held. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. Due to factors such as body armor, the bolstering effect of drugs, or failure to hit vital organs, the body shots may not be immediately effective, necessitating the third shot. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. The volunteers were often labelled as mercenaries by opponents of the Rhodesian regime, though the Rhodesian government did not regard or pay them as such. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. [5], The Mozambique Drill is intended to ensure that the target is immediately stopped, by first placing two shots into the larger, easier-to-hit mass of the upper body, then, if the target is still active, following with a third, more precisely aimed and difficult head shot. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. [36] In 1976 some current and former British soldiers were sent unsolicited leaflets that encouraged them to enlist in the Rhodesian Army and explained its conditions of service. Position a silhouette target (preferably with outlined V1 and V2 zones) five yards from the firing line. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [7] Fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered an enemy combatant, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, at 10 paces (7.5m (25ft)). |-- Editorials & Other Articles Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. |-- Topic Forums certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. All Rights Reserved. Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. Rousseau had a pistol. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. The Guardian reported in 1979 that "his presence is a source of embarrassment to the regime which has always insisted that it does not want foreign mercenaries". The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. This drill was popularised by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence, who was the inspiration for the character of Kuben Blisk. [18] As the war continued, additional army and police units were raised and the periods of active service reservists were required to undertake was increased. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. 2003) (Kozinski, J. The Rhodesian military also adopted some of the terminology used by Americans in Vietnam, such as referring to guerrillas as 'gooks' and labelling one of their supply lines the 'Ho Chi Minh trail'. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. A former police ofcer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected rearms authorities writing on the subject today. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. [71] There were concerns that many of the volunteers were motivated more by a desire to fight in a war than a commitment to Rhodesia. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. The ZAPU argued that the failure of the British and US governments to stop the flow of volunteers was a barrier to reaching a negotiated settlement with the Rhodesian government, and demanded in 1977 that this be halted. Rousseau was carrying his Browning HP35 pistol when he turned a corner and found himself face-to-face with a guerilla armed with an AK-47. The volunteers had a range of motivations. [77] Rhodesia attempted to counter the "mercenary" claim by processing the volunteers through the Department of Immigration and framing them as prospective Rhodesian citizens, though few ever applied for citizenship. [80] Many Africans believed that the inaction of the western governments demonstrated their lack of commitment to combating white minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. Seeing that the guerrilla was still advancing, Rousseau made an attempt at a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. aka Failure Drill. Soldier of Fortune ran large numbers of articles on foreigners in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War; each edition published between 1975 and 1980 included at least one article on the subject. Rumored to have begun with Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau and adopted into coursework at Gunsight Academy, the Mozambique Drill is intended to drop an advancing threat immediately. [70], Ware and Campbell wrote in 2022 that the foreign volunteers had little influence on the war, and the pressure from western governments on the Rhodesian government to agree to a transition to majority rule was of greater importance. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. Rousseau hit an . Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. During fighting at the. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests.