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. Remember, the Mozambique drill is designed for a defensive situation where the first two shots failed to stop an attacker. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. 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. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. [106], Foreign volunteers in the Rhodesian Security Forces, Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election, "Foreign Fighter Problem: What the War in Rhodesia Means for Ukraine", "Fine-mannered, articulate and urbane: the mercenary as deadly romantic", "Security Council resolution 460 (1979) [Southern Rhodesia]", "Rhodesia: Oral Answers to Questions Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16th January 1980", "Many Rhodesian Whites Threaten to Quit Jobs", "Rhodesia's Approach to Counterinsurgency: A Preference for Killing", "Mercenary Activity: United States Neutrality Laws and Enforcement", "The White House and White Africa: Presidential Policy on Rhodesia 1965-79", "The 'New Model' Armies of Africa? Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the It sought to attract more white immigrants to the country, but from 1973 onwards the white population decreased. White notes that this was "not because of how they were paid for fighting but because of why they were fighting", with it being argued that the volunteers had involved themselves in a war that was not theirs. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. [96][97] In January 1980 the British Lord Privy Seal, Ian Gilmour, stated that the British government had committed during the negotiations that led to the Lancaster House Agreement to not remove foreigners from the Rhodesian military prior to the election. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. [87] The historian Hugh Patterson noted that the relatively small numbers of volunteers from the UK indicates that "however vocal the support for Rhodesia by some on the political right, very few men were actually willing to put their futures on the line for the Smith [Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith] regime". [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. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 09:37. Learn how your comment data is processed. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! "The Mozambique Drill: A History and How To", "Lesson Plan: Immediate Target Engagement (CMC-22 Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course 08/12/2008)", "History of the Failure Drill: Mozambique Revolt Roots", "Shooting Skills: The Mozambique-Failure Drill", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mozambique_Drill&oldid=1141379493, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 19:40. 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. Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. [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. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. [94], Many of the foreign volunteers opposed the March 1978 Internal Settlement, under which the white Rhodesian government agreed to cede power to moderate black leaders. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? 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. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. 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. [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. 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. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. All Rights Reserved. I imagine Rousseau had a moment of shock and then quickly decided to end it with a headshot. [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. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. [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. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. The drill is also sometimes called the Failure Drill, as the third and final shot is made in response to a situation when the double tap fails to stop an advancing threat. Transitioning between targets can take some getting used to, especially for shooters still trying to get some experience under their belts. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. |-- Political Videos Important Notices: By participating on this discussion [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. In the chaotic maelstrom that swallowed up untold treasure and an entire generation of people, soldiers of fortune found employment opportunities on a previously unprecedented scale. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a 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. 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. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. This proved impossible due to the large numbers and difficulty of checking their backgrounds. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. Save my name and email to use for future comments. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. Shots to the chest can also slow an attackers advance, even if they dont completely incapacitate him. The volunteers had a range of motivations. Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. He turned a corner and came face-to-face about 10 paces with a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. Remember that 9mm ammo circa late 1960s and late 1970s was marginally better than 9mm ammo from WWII. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. The Australian parliament passed legislation banning Australians from serving with Rhodesia in 1978. 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. He was fighting in the. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot]. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. 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. 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. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. [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. [23] In 1979, the military historian John Keegan noted that foreigners made up between a quarter and a third of the strength of the RLI. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. It takes focus, determination, and plenty of practice to pull off the Mozambique Drill quickly and effectively. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. [8] The historian Donal Lowry has endorsed Evans' views, noting also that "the Rhodesia Front sought to combine the notion that Rhodesia embodied the best of true Britishness, the notion that white Rhodesians were the sort of people who once made the Great" of Britain, while turning to America as the only remaining champion of the Free World. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. 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. The academics Jacob Ware and John Campbell stated in 2022 that people from more than fifteen countries had volunteered to fight for Rhodesia, including "several hundred" Americans. [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. 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. Rousseau told his harrowing story to Jeff Cooper, who thought that it made a darn good defensive shooting drill. [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. If you start slinging your lead outside of the V1 or V2 zones, slow it down. All other white military personnel, other than members of the Selous Scouts unit that had a reputation for atrocities, were given an assurance that they would not be required to leave the military. It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. [95] On 21 December that year the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 460 that, among other things, called for the British authorities to expel all "mercenaries" and South African forces from Southern Rhodesia. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. 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 opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Today, most instructors teach their students to hold the pistol on target after the first two shots. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. In 2021 White wrote that the numbers of foreign volunteers may have been small, and the ex-Rhodesian generals she had interviewed "scoffed at me when I asked if there were fifteen hundred foreigners in the Rhodesian Army". [45] Some American volunteers were attracted by a belief that the war in Rhodesia was comparable to that which had been fought on the American frontier. Live The Armory Life. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. At the start signal, draw your weapon and fire two shots to the chest (V1 zone), followed by one shot to the head (V2 zone). Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. These articles frequently highlighted the experiences of Americans who were fighting in Rhodesia. here to send us a message. It is commonly known as a" Mozambique Drill" because it comes from a story told to Cooper from Rhodesian Mike Rousseau, a mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. There is evidence that the Departments of Justice and State tacitly encouraged Americans to volunteer for Rhodesia as part of efforts to prevent the country collapsing before a negotiated solution to the war could be finalised. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Its much harder than you may think. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. 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. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! Although speed is definitely one of the goals of the Mozambique Drill, it isnt nearly as important as accuracy. A British deserter from the Rhodesian military claimed in 1976 that 2,000 of the 6,000 regular soldiers in the Rhodesian Army were British and another 100 Americans. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. He also wrote that these men were from 38 different nationalities. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. | Donate, AboutDU Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. No use without the express written permission of Doris Wise Montrose is permitted. |-- Archives 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 story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. [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. |-- The DU Lounge It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: [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. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. 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. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. | Discussion A forum community dedicated to Springfield Armory XD and XD-M series firearm owners and enthusiasts. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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). [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. All rights reserved. [10] This ideology attracted support from many mainstream conservative politicians and military veterans in the United Kingdom and United States, as well as from some far right groups in those countries. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. [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. [78], The nationalists argued in their propaganda that the Rhodesian regime's need for foreign volunteers illustrated its political and military weaknesses. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. 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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. We must protect our Second Amendment and we must spread the word that Jews support the right to bear arms. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. "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. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Copyright 2023 Jews Can Shoot. 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.