Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. [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. He was fighting in the. [7] Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. Anything less than three seconds is very good. [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. Seeing that the guerrilla was still advancing, Rousseau made an attempt at a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. 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. Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. So why not just send the first shot to the head? [4][5][6], According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (19641974). What these European countries didnt factor in was the determination of the African people. 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. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. | ContactUs | PrivacyPolicy. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. One such soldier of fortune was Mike Rousseau. 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. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. We can either live in a paranoid politically correct world frantically trying not to offend the Hitlers and Mohammeds, and blaming their victims when they kill, or we can be free men and women who have chosen to take the power to defend our rights into our own hands. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. If the target is still advancing and active, apply a third, more surgical shot to the head to shut down the threat. 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. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning HP35 pistol and fired two bullets into the target's upper chest, usually enough to incapacitate or kill outright. 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. |-- General Discussion: Presidency The concept of the Mozambique Drill is to ensure a threat is stopped even if the initial center mass shots fail to get the job done. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. If the target continues to advance despite two well-placed shots to the torso, the shooter follows up with a more precisely aimed (and more difficult to accomplish) head shot. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. [26][34] Other volunteers were expected to pay their own way. Dont be surprised to hear the drill referred to as the Zombie Drill or Zombie Check. History. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. 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. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. 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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Africa has always offered employment opportunities to those with certain skills. |-- Ask the Administrators 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. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. However, in a dynamic situation, the fraction of a second it takes to assess the threat could put your life in danger. [77] Rhodesia attempted to counter the "mercenary" claim by processing the volunteers through the Department of Immigration and framing them as prospective Rhodesian citizens, though few ever applied for citizenship. 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. 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. [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. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Live The Armory Life. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. [105], Modern white supremacist and far-right groups continue to provide a positive portrayal of white rule in Rhodesia. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for four hundred years, had subsequent deep roots in the country, and was not leaving without a fight. 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. Big Forums Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. 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. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. The Guardian reported in 1979 that "his presence is a source of embarrassment to the regime which has always insisted that it does not want foreign mercenaries". This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Titanfall Blisk is working under a new long-term contract with the IMC on the Frontier, providing Combat Intel and Counterinsurgency services. Originally, it was called the Mozambique Drill, but the more current name is Failure Drill. [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. The Mozambique Drill[1] 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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [36][74] These volunteers may have further encouraged the Rhodesian Security Forces use of the 'body count' of guerrillas killed as a measure of success, with this having been a key metric in Vietnam. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country.
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