FATS Training

[2WheelsGood]

I was fortunate enough to get to play with the FATS trainer that our local PD uses. For those who don't know, it's a firearms training simulator that uses real guns modified to interact with a video screen where very real and unpredictable police scenarios play out. Your job, of course, is to make sure tense situations are resolved with nobody getting hurt of killed. After the scenarios play out, there's a replay that shows exactly where all of your shots landed and how deadly they would be.

Though obviously not as stressful as a real life self defense encounter, it really drives home how important the training aspect is for anyone who chooses to carry a gun.

If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend taking advantage.

 

[Cop Bob]

I have been on a couple of them, some interactive (actually respond to your commands) some not (just loop videos) They are interesting.. Usually not enough scenarios plugged into them to keep things really interesting over time..

One thing that is really good about them, is that it will tell you how added stress will take a great distinguished shooter and make him miss..ALOT... taught me to train on good instinctive shooting techniques.. sights are nice, but often hard to find in a gunfight when there is a lot of yelling, ducking and moving going on...

They have there place...

 

[2WheelsGood]

One thing that is really good about them, is that it will tell you how added stress will take a great distinguished shooter and make him miss..ALOT...

That was definitely the most important thing I got out of it. In our group of 20 or so people, 7 or 8 of us had a fair amount of shooting experience, yet all of us got plenty sloppy when the pressure was on. There's a certain aspect of realism that even competitive shooting like IDPA can't prepare you for. Sometimes you can't tell if a subject has a weapon, sometimes they do have something, but you can't tell what it is, and you need to give them a chance to drop it before you shoot 'em. Some are nice average-looking women you wouldn't expect to pull out a gun, etc. IDPA, for example, gives you a good idea of how the scenario is going to play out even before you start. This does not.

Anyhoo, it was certainly eye-opening. On a positive note, I can say that the members of our group who do carry did far better than those who don't. A lot of innocent people were killed that evening, but none were killed by CCW holders.

 

[mljdeckard]

I feel that they are a benefit in the army because they allow trigger time where normally the army won't give up the time and resources to send people to the range. I think that where they are available, units should use them a lot more, like monthly. Zero and simulated qual.

 

[Cop Bob]

I apologize for the double post... my computer/internet connection whatever keeps fooling me into thinking that my draft went away. This was about to be a double post...

I wanted to add, that the interactive one that I was on had two really good seasoned real deal shooters running it.. they added sooo much to the experience by setting up light bars and sirens behind you, yelling in your ears.. both of them, one with good advise, the other with bad... and the sneeky Mf's kept switching roles... banging on trash cans, and shooting blanks,, both pistol and 12ga... if you are not expecting it... yeah buddy! It'll make ya either miss or mess....

 

[2WheelsGood]

they added sooo much to the experience by setting up light bars and sirens behind you, yelling in your ears.. both of them, one with good advise, the other with bad... and the sneeky Mf's kept switching roles... banging on trash cans, and shooting blanks,, both pistol and 12ga... if you are not expecting it... yeah buddy! It'll make ya either miss or mess....

The one we were on even had a "gun" mounted above the screen that was controlled by the system operator and actually shoots projectiles back at the trainees. Unfortunately they didn't use that with us civilians.

 

[tazbigdog]

Played extensively on these 20 years ago. Even did the hunting one too!

 

[2WheelsGood]

Played extensively on these 20 years ago. Even did the hunting one too!

Are we talking about the same thing? Hunting? Do the animals shoot back?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Done it several times.

 

[okiewita40]

I really like the F.A.T.S machines. Used it a lot when I went through the police academy. The operator is the one that selects the scenario's. What sucks is when your the only responding officer on one and it quickly becomes a 6 on 1 shootout. Needless to say you won't win the scenario. But it really is some of the best training that I have gotten to take part in.

 

[Cop Bob]

I really like the F.A.T.S machines. Used it a lot when I went through the police academy. The operator is the one that selects the scenario's. What sucks is when your the only responding officer on one and it quickly becomes a 6 on 1 shootout. Needless to say you won't win the scenario. But it really is some of the best training that I have gotten to take part in.

Yeah, had a few of those too... If you start doing well, they humble your butt my killing you off... great confidence builder... now matter what you do, your gonna DIE....

 

[8654Maine]

I remember something similar about 20 years ago.

It was in Israel.

With some really great CQ shooters.

We used our own weapons: MP5 primary and .45 secondary and had various scenarios on video screens in front of us.

We'd shoot live fire. The shots lit up as red dots on the screen.

Great training tool. I believe the tech was top notch. I don't know how they did it.

The Israelis were light years ahead of us.

 

[tazbigdog]

Are we talking about the same thing? Hunting? Do the animals shoot back?

Yes, there were two kinds. FATS was the LE version. Loved that one and most of the time, outshot my uniformed brethern. The other was a hunting one, forget what the brand was called, but you could skeet shoot, shoot a charging lion, deer hunt, etc. It was ok.