rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

[34], American and Australian volunteers who had fought in the Vietnam War were generally well regarded by Rhodesian soldiers, and were often posted to the elite SAS and Selous Scouts. 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. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. |-- Political Videos [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. [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. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. All Rights Reserved. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. 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. 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). 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. No matter the reason, the third shot should stop the attacker in his tracks. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. [99][100], A range of works have provided positive portrayals of the foreign volunteers. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. 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. The Mozambique Drill is a close-quarter shooting technique in which the shooter fires twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap to the center of mass), momentarily assesses the hits, then follows them up with a carefully aimed shot to the head of the target. aka Failure Drill. Forums | Journals| Store He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Even better (although much more difficult), make the final shot as youre moving offline. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. The Australian parliament passed legislation banning Australians from serving with Rhodesia in 1978. Many of the Europeans had previously served with the French Foreign Legion. Live The Armory Life. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. [63], After completing training, many of the volunteers were assigned to the all-white Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) and particularly its 3 Commando sub-unit. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. 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. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. [11], UDI and Rhodesia's racial inequalities led to the outbreak of the Rhodesian Bush War. in 1978, he was the final recipient of the Rhodesian civil Independence Commemorative Decoration for services rendered to the country. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. It kind of worked. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. 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 . These [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. |-- General Discussion Live The Armory Life. 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. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). 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. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. Click 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. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. LLC. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. | ContactUs | PrivacyPolicy. The two movements espoused Marxist beliefs and were regarded as communists by the Rhodesian government. 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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. 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. The volunteers frequently received a hostile response from Rhodesians in the units they were posted to, and many ended their contracts early as a result. [57] By the end of the war there were around 6,000 SADF personnel in Rhodesia. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_%28colonel%29. 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 had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics takes a look at the Mozambique Drill and puts his own spin on it, suggesting for arguments sake to try firing all three shots to the head instead of two to the chest and one to the head. 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. [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. 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. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. 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. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. The Rhodesians' brutal counterinsurgency tactics also proved counter-productive. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. [22] The number of white conscripts in the security forces was also increased by considerably expanding the age groups of men who were required to serve and the periods of active duty reservists needed to undertake. slams Colorado gun control bills, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, Russell Brand was challenged to give examples of MSNBC pushing misinformation (that was a BAD idea), Trump Reveals What He'll Do If He's Indicted, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Rousseau then lowered his weapon to the ready position. The bottom line: Accurate head shots are hard. Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. 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". [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. [59] They enlisted for a period of three years, which was the same as white Rhodesians who joined up on a full-time basis. Some years back, Col. Cooper developed what he called the Mozambique Drill for the purposes of dealing with this type of situation. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 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. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [32][33], The Rhodesian Security Forces' recruitment staff responded to people who wrote letters of inquiry after reading the advertisements. |-- Editorials & Other Articles He named it after the country where the incident occurred, dubbing his drill the Mozambique Drill., Practical Variations to the Mozambique Drill, El Presidente Drill Assessing Your Shooting Skills, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. Thank you for your support. You sweat just standing still. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'democraticunderground_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_2',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-democraticunderground_com-medrectangle-1-0');report this ad [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. [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. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the During fighting at the. [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". [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)). Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. 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. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. 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". the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. [60] Foreign volunteers who openly expressed extreme racial views were deported. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Rousseau had a pistol. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Two to the body, one to the head. Rousseau related the story to an acquaintance, small arms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite Academy shooting school, who incorporated the "Mozambique Drill" into his modern technique shooting method. 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. This article is featured in Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. You can support the efforts of Jews Can Shoot that Nothing Says Never Again Like an Armed Jew. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. 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. Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from Handgun Training for Personal Protection. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. [28] This magazine had been established that year to promote mercenary opportunities, and provided a positive portrayal of the lifestyle available to mercenaries. 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. 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. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. Oops, there's been an error. 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. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. 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. 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. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. 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. [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. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. [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. Body armor, extra thick clothing, psychoactive drugs, or even a massive adrenaline dump are all reasons those first two shots may not be effective on your target. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [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". Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). It may be ironic that the Mozambique Drill is a technique used with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence from 1964 to 1974. After a quick assessment of the situation, Rousseau tried for a shot to the mans central nervous system. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. He was fighting in the. [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). 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. [30] As a result, White has observed that the volunteers were typically more willing to fight and even die for the ideology of the Rhodesian Front party than for Rhodesia itself. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. 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. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. 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. [34] The Rhodesian government paid the airfares of volunteers who were unable to afford to travel until 1977. 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. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. So why not just send the first shot to the head? [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). Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. Forum Categories However, for reasons lost to history Rousseau was reduced to his sidearm, a GP35 Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. 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. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. [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. It is vital to mix up your training, firing different numbers of shots into your targets, at different locations, because you never know if your first shot or your fifteenth is going to be the one that stops the threat.

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