Todd Fletcher: Incorporating Fun & Games Into Training with a Purpose

Tactical Breakdown

Your Tactical Breakdown host Adam Kinakin sat down for a conversation with Todd Fletcher of Combative Firearms Training at the 2021 ILEETA Conference. Todd has over 25 years of full-time law enforcement experience and 30+ years overall experience. He is a multi-discipline instructor focusing primarily on topics around Firearms and Use-of-Force. He incorporates his law enforcement experience with his experience as an instructor and competitive shooter so he can effectively train new shooters to understand and develop fundamental firearms skills. He helps intermediate shooters to take those skills to the next level by combining the fundamentals with real life training scenarios. Finally, Todd teaches intermediate, advanced, and expert shooters how to prevail in today's world using the lessons learned from real life shooting scenarios. In this episode, Adam & Todd talk about “It’s All Fun and Games”, Todd’s ILEETA class designed to maximize engagement and decrease stagnancy. They discuss Todd’s principles of training, the purpose of training, the correct use of gamification, and changing the standard of training. Todd also dives into qualification testing, differential training, the importance of understanding the ‘why’ (as an instructor and a student), instructor development, and creating a training culture that allows students to fail safely. Todd’s Training Principles: Todd believes in “leadership by example” and uses this approach while teaching classes. He believes students learn best following a philosophy of “hear— see — do”. This building block approach to training allows students to hear what they are going to do, then see what they are going to do, then execute what was explained and demonstrated. Todd believes skill development (the “how’s”), is only one of the overall goals of firearms training. A shooter needs to understand how to self-diagnose marksmanship and tactical errors (the “why’s”) to develop a true proficiency and expertise in firearms. Understanding the “why’s” allows shooters to self-correct mistakes leading to a rapid improvement of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. More about our guest: At Combative Firearms Training, Todd provides Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Handgun, Carbine & Shotgun training. He is certified to train in Integrated Use of Force, Force-on-Force, Empty Hand Control Tactics, Collapsible Baton, Pepper Spray and Use of Force (legal issues). Todd is also an AR-15/M-16/M-4, Glock armorer, Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol armorer, and SIG Sauer P320 Pistol armorer. Todd was a staff instructor for IALEFI (International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors) Master Instructor Development Program. Todd is also a charter member of the National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association (NLEFIA). He has provided training at various regional, national, and international conferences for law enforcement, private security, and military personnel including numerous ILEETA Conferences and IALEFI conferences. Todd has published a multitude of firearms training articles for ILEETA, NLEFIA and IALEFI covering topics such as Coaching the Fundamentals, Concealed Carry, Balancing Speed and Accuracy, Low Light Tactics, Using Lasers, Building Searches, Leadership, and Advanced Firearms Training. He an Expert Contributor for Police1 and is a regular columnist for Police & Security News and American Police Beat magazines. He has trained and provided consultation services for law enforcement agencies, contract security, military personnel, and armed citizens from coast to coast. He has also testified as an expert witness in cases involving police training and use of force. Todd regularly puts into practice the same skills and techniques he teaches by testing them on the competitive shooting stage. He competes several times each month in club level IDPA and USPSA matches frequently finishing as one of the top shooters for the match regardless of division or classification. He also competes regularly at major regional and national level IDPA and USPSA matches. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.