ON TRAINING

This second installment of a guide continues to apply the basic principles of neuroscience to firearms training.

According to Salomon, while the options available for firearms training have become plentiful, the quality of the services offered remains unspectacular. The reason for this ubiquitous failing is neither poor instructors nor incapable students but faulty training structures that do not teach in accordance with the manner in which people learn. Without an empirically rigorous understanding of the neuroscience behind learning—especially the ways in which skills are transferred from short-term to long-term memory— bad habits get reinforced and new skill sets aren’t fully acquired: “What we are saying is that our standard institutional training structures and methods suck. They are generally incapable of developing competence in the ‘armed’ part of the armed professional’s skillset. They also often create brain maps, neural networks, and powerful negative associations that can severely hamper a student’s ability to become a competent shooter at a neurological level.” In fact, Salomon argues everyone essentially responds to learning in the same manner, “neurologically speaking,” and so it is a myth that vastly different training programs are necessary for different people. With impressive expertise, the author covers a wide range of topics, including teaching remedial shooters, introducing new skills sets, and showing the advantages of “low resource” training environments. And while the focus of the book is training armed professionals, there is an illuminating chapter on the psychology of civilian students and their specific needs. This sequel, like its predecessor, is lucidly written and accessible despite some technical descriptions. Much of the material needlessly reproduces some of the content of the first volume as well as Salomon’s other books on firearms training. Nevertheless, this is a valuable resource, brimming with innovative counsel.

A thorough, scientifically rigorous, and clear training manual.