Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRAs American Rieman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digests Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 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. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. Sometimes in practice, I will draw my weapon and shoot one shot to the chest . Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. Live The Armory Life. Jews Can Shoot is a civil rights group that honors the memory of the Holocaust to preserve, protect and defend the Second Amendment and was formed for the purpose of education regarding gun laws, gun rights, legal precedent and cause-related advocacy. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. These letters were closely scrutinised, as many of the men who had written them were considered "obviously nuts" by the Rhodesian Army's recruitment officer Major Nick Lamprecht. They also feared for their lives due to a perception that a black majority government would place them on trial for murder and other crimes. [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. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. All too many of the other great tragedies of history - Stalin's atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a few - were perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. [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. Most police officers cannot do it in less than five seconds without a miss. If a few hundred Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful of weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars." [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. "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. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. [29] Advertisements were also placed in other American magazines, including Shotgun News and Shooting Times. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. Home The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. Although two shots to the vitals of an attacker will stop a threat cold in most situations, it doesnt work 100 percent of the time. If you start slinging your lead outside of the V1 or V2 zones, slow it down. Miss the zone, and the projectile could deflect off the bony areas of the skull without eliminating the threat. He was fighting in the. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. 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. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. Britain and the United Nations Security Council imposed wide-ranging trade and other sanctions on Rhodesia with the objective of forcing it to return to its previous status. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". Save my name and email to use for future comments. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. A proposal by the mercenary Mike Hoare to establish an international brigade modelled on the French Foreign Legion was also rejected. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [9] It took pains to not be seen as racially or politically extreme, and the party's rhetoric was focused on the need to combat the perceived communist threat rather than the goal of sustaining racial superiority. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. |-- General Discussion [50] The high proportion of white Rhodesians who were born outside the country or held citizenship of another country also complicates the matter. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? dissenting.). Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. The failure to stop drill is a great drill but it is only a drill, and one of many. [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. If a few hundred Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. [88], The United States' Neutrality Act of 1794 prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments. [46], In addition to the actual volunteers, thousands of South African Police and South African Defence Force (SADF) personnel were deployed to Rhodesia by the South African government to serve in or alongside the Rhodesian Security Forces. This article is featured in |-- Archives For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. [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. [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. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. [43] The academic Luise White has written that they were commonly opposed to the establishment of governments run by black people and did not have any particular commitment to Rhodesia itself. [7] The Triple Tap Callsign can be unlocked by playing with the Mozambique, and Triple Tap XL can be unlocked via Advocate Gift. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. 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. The new Prime Minister Robert Mugabe directed shortly after the election that "mercenaries" be dismissed as they were among the "irregular features of the present Army" and were "not needed". [65] Most of the volunteers served under Rhodesian officers. 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, 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. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. Rousseau hit an . In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. 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's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. The Portuguese used WWII vintage pistols in their two decades long colonial wars in Angola and Mozambique (some claim the gun Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau used in the original Mozambique . Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. [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". While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. 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. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. The term refers to his encounter with an AK-47 armed guerilla at an airport in Mozambique where he was armed with a Browning Hi-Power. 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. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. 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. Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [26], Several individuals and companies recruited United States citizens to fight in Rhodesia. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. 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. 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. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . [4][12] The resistance to the Rhodesian regime was dominated by two black nationalist movements, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . With small arms, mortars, and artillery of predominantly Russian and Chinese origin, guerrilla fighters in places like the Congo and Mozambique engaged in pitiless unconventional warfare that saw widespread atrocities. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . |-- Latest Breaking News Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. The party was deeply committed to maintaining the white minority's status, with this motivating a decision to declare independence from the United Kingdom rather than submit to a transition to majority rule. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. 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. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. Kuben Blisk is a South African mercenary Pilot who served in the IMC 's forces as a ranking commander and contracted mercenary. Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. That was in the 1400s and 1500s when Portugal set up trading settlements that evolved into colonies. This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight. Forums | Journals| Store [92] Many of the Americans wrongly believed that their government opposed their presence in Rhodesia, with articles in Soldier of Fortune and works by the author Robin Moore also claiming this. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. |-- Editorials & Other Articles [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. All Rights Reserved. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. 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. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill, Light Em Up: Home Defense Lasers and Lights. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. As he turned a corner, he encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. |-- DU Groups You sweat just standing still. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. It was also unclear whether serving in the Rhodesian military was illegal under laws that prohibited service in foreign militaries as the British did not recognise Rhodesia's independence. At the start signal, draw from concealment and fire two shots into the V1 zone and one shot into the V2 zone as fast as you can do so without missing either zone. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. [7] The party believed that Rhodesia needed to take a stand against the perceived communist threat to protect western civilisation in Africa. This is a drill created during the Mozambique War of Independence, when a Rhodesian Mercenary (Mike Rousseau) had an up-close encounter with an opponent wielding an AK-47. | Discussion the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. So why not just send the first shot to the head? Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. Gun Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [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. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. 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. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. Today, with the proliferation of zombies in our culture, it could be called the zombie drill or zombie check, because a head shot is the only way to kill a zombie. Forum Categories Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. No use without the express written permission of Doris Wise Montrose is permitted. 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 . If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. Two to the body, one to the head. Thank you for your support. Most of the mercenary soldiers carried FN FAL or HK G3 rifles. [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill.. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976.