[38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. [67] Many of the volunteers were frustrated that they were paid only in Rhodesian dollars, as foreign banks would not process this currency and the Rhodesian government allowed no more than R$1,500 to be converted to other currencies. [51] As a result, there are a range of estimates of the numbers of foreigners who travelled to Rhodesia to serve with the security forces: British citizens made up the majority of the foreign volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. During fighting at the Loureno Marques airport (modern-day Maputo ), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, 10 paces away and armed with an AK-47. 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. [8] The academic Michael Evans has written that "the Fronts world-struggle ideology was based on a conspiratorial interpretation of modern politics that emphasised virulent forms of Anglophobia, anti-communism, anti-internationalism, and anti-liberalism". The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. [16] The academic Kyle Burke has written that some anti-government paramilitary forces in the United States draw inspiration from the volunteers, and cite them as an example when encouraging violence against African Americans. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. [4] UDI was illegal under British law, and was regarded as such by almost all other countries and the United Nations. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. [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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a LLC. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent Oops, there's been an error. Its much harder than you may think. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. They observed that the volunteers "failed in their efforts to protect the white regime, but not before they supported and contributed to a conflict that lasted fifteen years and claimed tens of thousands of lives". Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. 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. List of battleships of the United States Navy, List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces, http://practicalfirearmstraining.com/reading/HandgunDrillsPDF.pdf, Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, USMC manual CMC-37R of 8 Feb 2006: METHOD OF TARGET ENGAGEMENTS. It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. [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. To guarantee instant incapacitation by impacting the brain and central nervous system, the head shot must be delivered to the area between eyebrows and upper lip, otherwise, various bony areas of the skull could deflect the bullet. page. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. [17] The Army's structure of administrative corps was similar to that of the British Army, and many of its officers had undergone training in the United Kingdom. [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. [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. Copyright 2023 Jews Can Shoot. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. In 1977 the pretender to the Albanian throne, Leka I, asked the Rhodesian government to train a battalion of Albanians that he hoped to recruit. There arent a lot of guarantees in a gunfight, but the Failure Drill just might be your best defense in time of need, particularly if you are facing an opponent wearing body armor. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. [60] The volunteers also received the same pay as white Rhodesians,[43] between $US 4,000 and $US 7,000 annually. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and 9mm ammunition. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. Many could well have been avoided or mitigated, had the perpetrators known their intended victims were equipped with a rifle and twenty bullets apiece, as the Militia Act required here. By September 1964, things began to change. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. If I were to guess, I would say Rousseaus ammo was a 115-grain with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. 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. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. Those who were considered potentially suitable were sent information packs, and asked to supply documentation to support their application; preference was given to applicants who provided notarized documents in their response. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. [6], The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. |-- Places [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. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [42][68] Two of the former French volunteers who remained in Zimbabwe after the war were sentenced to death for murdering a caf owner during a robbery in 1982 and were executed the next year. 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. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. |-- Latest Breaking News Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. [58], Foreign volunteers who were accepted were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Rhodesia, and the Rhodesian government considered them to be members of the security forces rather than mercenaries. In 1976 former Portuguese officials offered 2,000 white soldiers who had served with the UNITA nationalist movement in Angola until that country's independence. [69], Despite the Rhodesian government's claim that it did not recruit mercenaries, the British mercenary Peter McAleese was accepted into the Rhodesian Army during 1976. Frankly, I dont know of many shooters who maintain the level of skill to pull this off consistently at 3-5 yards. Hearing this story, Cooper later incorporated this three-shot drill into his program of instruction as a way to end a fight that cannot be immediately stopped with bullets fired into the chest. 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. 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. FRELIMO attacked targets in typical guerrilla-style warfare and, like other small insurgent forces, they made full use of hit and run tactics, their knowledge of the terrain, and used the monsoon season to their advantage. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. This proposal was quickly dismissed as the Rhodesians did not see how they could arm or use large numbers of non-English speakers. It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). He was fighting in the. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. You sweat just standing still. Thankfully, the shot hit the attackers throat, severing his spinal cord and eliminating the threat. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill.. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. While Im no gunfighter and there isnt any (sane) person who wants to learn gunfighting from me, Id offer another alternative that might be more slightly attainable to more people, and which is suggested by our own Stephen Wenger based off of his decades in studying armed self-defense. 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'. 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. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. Live The Armory Life. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. [82] British citizens were prohibited from joining the Rhodesian Security Forces under the terms of an embargo enacted in 1968, with those who did so potentially facing fines or imprisonment. When a double-tap to the chest failed to stop the aggressor, a third shot to the head ended the threat and created the Mozambique Drill. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. Accurate hits will beat fast misses every single time. 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. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. [19][20] In April 1979, 60,000 members of the military and police were on active duty to protect that month's Rhodesian general election. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Carter administration considered taking steps to stop Americans serving in Rhodesia, but this did not result in any policy changes. The volunteers had a range of motivations. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. [23], The expansion of the security forces, increasing battle casualties and a decline in the white population due to high rates of emigration led to serious shortages of white personnel that greatly hindered the Rhodesian war effort. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. During the Mozambican War of Independence, a Rhodesian mercenary by the name of Mike Rousseau was engaged in a firefight at the airport at Lourenco Marques. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Ideally, a more practical application might be to fire two shots to the torso, take two steps back and to the side to keep your distance and, if your attacker is still attacking, attempt the head shot. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. Rounding a corner Rousseau found himself unexpectedly face to face with a FRELIMO guerilla armed with an AK47 at a range of about ten paces. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. The articles in Soldier of Fortune reflected Rhodesian government propaganda, as they claimed that the country was a western democracy, the war was being fought against communism and did not discuss the oppression of Rhodesia's black majority. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. [7] Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. The Portuguese forces collaborated with Rhodesia which had experience from the Bush War in the early 1960s to create special forces teams to deal with FRELIMO. 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. 2003) (Kozinski, J. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. Mike Rousseau was a trained soldier so he instinctively presented his handgun and shot the guerilla twice in the chest, launching both rounds in quick succession. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. [64] The RLI was a key element of Rhodesia's strategic reserve, and was frequently deployed against guerrilla forces. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British colony located in southern Africa whose economy and government was dominated by the small white minority of its population. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. [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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [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. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. 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. [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)). Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. [42] Small numbers of black ex-Flechas from Mozambique were also accepted after the end of Portuguese rule in that country; they were paid less than white soldiers. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. At the time of UDI, the Rhodesian Army had a strength of over 18,400, including 15,000 reservists, the Rhodesian Air Force had a small but modern fleet of combat aircraft and the paramilitary British South Africa Police included 7,000 full time and 25,000 reserve personnel. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. [36][74] These volunteers may have further encouraged the Rhodesian Security Forces use of the 'body count' of guerrillas killed as a measure of success, with this having been a key metric in Vietnam. [46] Economic factors also influenced some of the volunteers, as they believed that the Rhodesian Security Forces offered better career prospects than those available in their home country. 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. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. All Rights Reserved. [47], The Rhodesian Special Branch sought to vet all of the foreign volunteers for security risks. The Mozambique Drill, which is also known as the Failure Drill, Failure to Stop drill, the "Djibouti Shooty", or, informally, "two to the chest, one to the head," is a close-quarters shooting technique that supposedly originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, in the Mozambican War of Independence, hence the name. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . 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). Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals "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. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. The Portuguese government banned Rhodesian recruitment in the late 1970s, but was unable to enforce the legislation. [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 Mozambique Drill,[1] also known as the Failure Drill, or Failure to Stop drill and, informally, as "two to the body, one to the head,"[2][3] is a close-quarters shooting technique that requires the shooter to fire twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap or hammered pair to the center of mass), and follow up with a more difficult head shot that, if properly placed, will instantaneously stop the target if the previous shots failed to do so.