A split-second decision with a weapon in hand can be a matter of life or death. The level of skill needed to protect lives at stake doesn’t come naturally—it takes countless hours, weeks, and years of dedicated training to master. Communities expect this expertise, police officers recognize the stakes, and instructors are tasked with ensuring it is achieved. While the shooting range sharpens accuracy for that critical moment, it doesn’t prepare officers for the chaos and complexity of the decisions leading up to it. Traditional target training falls short, and the gaps become evident in real-world encounters.

To address this critical gap, MILO’s Cognitive Training Division partnered with experts at a Pacific Northwest state training academy to develop a video-based firearms qualification test. This goes far beyond just hitting a target—it’s about evaluating the officers’ readiness for the unpredictable, high-pressure situations they face in the field every day.

These revolutionary scenarios sharpen decision-making, adaptability, and real-world readiness. Here’s the story of how we brought it to life and what MILO customers can expect from this next-level training solution.

With extensive experience in law enforcement training, our subject matter expert, David W. Scott, initiated and inspired this project and encouraged us to collaborate with him. The following is his story.

 

The Inspiration Behind the Test

At the public safety academy where I oversee the Use of Force program, MILO simulators have been integral to our training for over two decades. However, after identifying recurring gaps in officers’ capabilities, it became clear that more was needed. The training had to improve not only marksmanship but also the officer’s ability to think, react, and make decisions under pressure.

Recently, I came across two studies that also emphasized critical gaps in standard law enforcement training. The first, by Dan Cooper, focused on how pressure can impair marksmanship, while the second, by Dr. Michael Kantorin, examined tactical movement and firearm draw performance during high-stress encounters, such as charging knife attacks. Both studies emphasized the need for more realistic training to improve decision-making under pressure.

That’s when I reached out to MILO’s Cognitive Training Division to begin developing what became a groundbreaking video-based test. Our goal was simple: create a firearms qualification test that mimics the complexity of real-world encounters.

To ensure we followed the data and produced something necessary and effective, I studied over 250 police shootings. I examined what happens when officers are forced to make split-second decisions. What I found was surprising, and significantly shaped the design of our new qualification test.

The first thing I noticed was that many of the shootings in the body-worn camera footage occurred in daylight, contrary to the data showing that most happen at night. It also led me to question other common assumptions that creep their way into instructor playbooks.

I also saw that the number of rounds fired during an actual encounter was far more unpredictable than what officers practice in static, square-range drills. Officers in the body-worn camera shootings had just seconds to assess a lethal threat, often firing within 1.5 to 2 seconds of perceiving danger.

The data clearly emphasized the need to replicate high-pressure, fast-moving scenarios in training. As a result, the test now includes diverse situations: from different times of day to suspect movements and weapon types, requiring officers to react, decide, and engage in ways that traditional training doesn’t demand.

 

Integrating Decision-Making and Physical Readiness

Good firearm training is not just about shooting accurately—it is about making the right decision under immense stress. To ensure this factor was present, we incorporated “no-shoot” scenarios—scenarios where de-escalation was a probable and preferable outcome—to reinforce that sometimes restraint is the best option. This helps officers learn to evaluate threats quickly and avoid unnecessary use of force.

In firearms training, particularly on the square range commonly used by police instructors, there are limits to how and where an officer can move. But in real-life encounters, officers rarely, if ever, have the luxury of standing still. They’re constantly moving, often engaging threats while on the move themselves. That’s why we designed scenarios that simulate shooting from different body positions—kneeling, prone, or even while moving laterally. This physical element ensures officers are prepared for the unpredictable physical demands of real encounters.

The more you train with the same curriculum, the more you learn to expect and anticipate the next move. That’s why our new test uses MILO’s simulator to combine realistic visual scenarios with randomization, meaning no officer can predict what’s coming next. The subjects used will vary unpredictably in behavior, appearance, and actions—just like in real life. Some scenarios require rapid engagement, while others call for restraint, ensuring officers remain mentally flexible and check their reliance on expectations at the door.

After developing the test, we piloted it with officers and instructors, using their feedback to fine-tune the scenarios. The result is a challenging, immersive test that aligns much more closely with the realities of modern law enforcement than traditional qualifications.

“I think this is the most revolutionary thing to happen to law enforcement firearms proficiency measurement in the last 60 years,” says Leon Reha, a former member of London’s Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Command. Reha also previously led the firearms training division at a U.S. police academy, is an advanced Force Science analyst, a SIG SAUER academy instructor, a frequent contributor to Police1, and a full-time officer in the United States.

 

The Future of Firearms Training

This video-based firearms qualification test is more than just an evolution in training—it’s a shift in how we think about preparing officers for the field. By bridging the gap between traditional range training and real-world encounters, we’re giving officers the tools they need to not only survive but succeed in high-pressure situations.

The integration of decision-making, physical readiness, and realism means officers will leave this training better equipped to handle the unpredictable nature of law enforcement, helping to keep both them and the public safer. This is a new standard for firearms proficiency, offering officers a practical, research-backed way to test and improve their skills—ultimately ensuring they’re ready for whatever challenges they face in the line of duty.

MILO customers interested in this set of skill builders can contact our Support team or visit the support portal to download the scenario pack.

Content released in July 2024