rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

Military historians Paul L. Moorcraft and Peter McLaughlin believe the number was likely around 1,400, but have noted that estimates from other experts range as high as 2,000. "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. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. An accurate shot to the T-zone (the area between the eyebrows and upper lip, also called the ocular cavity) damages the brain and central nervous system and secures instant incapacitation of the target. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. One of the earliest versions of this three-shot drill required law enforcement officers to fire two shots at center mass, then lower their weapon to the ready position while assessing the need for the third head shot. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. It kind of worked. 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. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. 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. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. [25] Rhodesian recruitment leaflets were also circulated within British Army barracks that year. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. Save my name and email to use for future comments. The historian Luise White noted in 2004 that "the figure most sources cite is 1,500 foreign soldiers, of whom perhaps 400 were American", though the Rhodesian Army put the number at 1,000 including 100 Americans. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. [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. Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. He offered Rhodesia the services of these men after they completed training, though he intended to eventually use them to retake Albania. He also noted that the party drew on the ideas and language used by the contemporary radical right movement in the United States to justify UDI. The British military did not take up a suggestion by the FCO that it warn servicemen against enlisting with the Rhodesian Security Forces on the grounds that serving as a mercenary was not actually illegal. [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. [23] Other volunteers were posted to a range of units, including protection companies mainly made up of black soldiers and the largely white Grey's Scouts and Rhodesian Armoured Corps. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. You sweat just standing still. Rousseau hit an . [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. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. Oops, there's been an error. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. Mike Rousseau was friends with Colonel Jeff Cooper, a legend in the firearms training world and the founder of Gunsite Academy. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. These men were often directed to wear Rhodesian uniforms, and the South African government falsely claimed that some had volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Two to the body, one to the head. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. This proved impossible due to the large numbers and difficulty of checking their backgrounds. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). |-- Political Videos While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. 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". If the target continues to advance despite two well-placed shots to the torso, the shooter follows up with a more precisely aimed (and more difficult to accomplish) head shot. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. If youre looking for some variety in your training, one practical application of the drill is to fire the first two shots to the targets center mass (V1), then take two steps back to create distance before the third shot. page. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. [60] The volunteers also received the same pay as white Rhodesians,[43] between $US 4,000 and $US 7,000 annually. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent 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. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. 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. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. [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. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. So why not just send the first shot to the head? Judge turns down New Jerseys request for stay in NSSF lawsuit, MSU professor illustrates problem with gun control advocates, 71-year-old Philadelphia man shoots back at armed robbers, sends them fleeing, Texas congressman faces censure over gun control support, MO lawmaker believes he can get GOP support on gun control, Bump stocks back on store shelves in three states, Colorado Democrats introduce assault weapon ban, Bill reintroduced to abolish the Tiahrt Amendments, Nebraska Constitutional Carry bill overcomes filibuster threat, appears poised for passage, Former D.A. [86] Due to the difficulty of drafting legislation that could effectively ban Britons from serving with Rhodesia or enforcing the measures that were brought in, there is no record of any British citizens being punished for serving with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the war. Mike Rousseau, a Rhodesian mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence, was armed only with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, and he rounded a corner at Loureno Marques (now Maputo) Airport and came face-to-face with an African guerilla armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, less than 25 feet away. Heres the connection. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion [85], In 1977 the British government provided a tentative response to an American proposal that the United Nations Security Council adopt a resolution requiring UN members to prevent their citizens from serving in the Rhodesian military. The. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. The Rhodesian government actively recruited white personnel from other countries from the mid-1970s to address manpower shortages in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War.

Minimum Usdt To Trade In Binance, Cymba Larger Than Cavum, Murton Gap Housing Development, Articles R

rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau