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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. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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]. 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. Hearing this story, Cooper later incorporated this three-shot drill into his program of instruction as a way to end a fight that cannot be immediately stopped with bullets fired into the chest. [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. Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. Rousseau hit an . All rights reserved. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. As historians have found it difficult to access Rhodesian records, it is not known exactly how many foreigners volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. [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. 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. The bullet hit the base of his attackers neck, severed the spinal cord, and stopped the fight. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. [30] Some ads described service in Rhodesia as "fun". One such soldier of fortune was 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. Over the years, this drill has morphed into a variety of other drills and, if you put any two firearms instructors together, youll get a different opinion as to how its to be properly executed. A quick how-to on shooting the Mozambique Drill. He is a contributing editor to numerous gun-enthusiast magazines and websites, including Combat Handguns, Black Guns, Gun Tests, Gun Digest, Gun World, Ballistic, range365.com, SHOT Business, and others. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Remember, the Mozambique drill is designed for a defensive situation where the first two shots failed to stop an attacker. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. 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. Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. 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). [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. [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). Those who were combat veterans resented being placed under the command of younger and less experienced Rhodesians. He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. 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. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the 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. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). 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. However, they and their guerrilla armies were motivated mainly by nationalism and a desire to end discriminatory practices and establish majority rule in Rhodesia. John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. Although the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper is credited with developing the Mozambique Drill, he had a little help. [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. [66], The volunteers typically found conditions in Rhodesia to be tough, and those who had joined up due to a belief that they would enjoy a good lifestyle were rapidly disappointed. They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. While catchy mottoes are easy to remember, the technique itself can be difficult to master. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. [31] The ads and other coverage of Rhodesia in Soldier of Fortune led to a "steady stream of volunteers". The Mozambique Drill brings together low-round count that challenges a shooter's speed, accuracy, and fundamentals. [16], Despite its need for foreign volunteers, the Rhodesian government was uncomfortable with them. [75] The Rhodesian Army only learnt of Lamb's history after his death during an operation in 1976. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. [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. Col. Jeff Cooper - A shooting legend and the man who codified the drill. 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 Back in the day when European countries colonized portions of Africa, this area on the east coast of Africa was called Portuguese East Africa. Anything less than three seconds is very good. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [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. [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. Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. [72], The Rhodesian Army regarded the volunteers as disloyal and undisciplined. The term refers to his encounter with an AK-47 armed guerilla at an airport in Mozambique where he was armed with a Browning Hi-Power. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. 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. [84] The FCO advised anyone who sought information about fighting for Rhodesia that doing so was illegal, but did not explain why. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. After a quick assessment of the situation, Rousseau tried for a shot to the mans central nervous system. The Rhodesian government attempted several strategies to address these shortages. [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". Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Mike Rousseau was a trained soldier so he instinctively presented his handgun and shot the guerilla twice in the chest, launching both rounds in quick succession. 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. "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. [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. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. here to send us a message. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. 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. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. [58], Foreign volunteers who were accepted were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Rhodesia, and the Rhodesian government considered them to be members of the security forces rather than mercenaries. Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. All Rights Reserved. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. I prefer the original name, but whats in a name? According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous Gunsite Academy. By 1979 the Rhodesian government was facing defeat and the war was costing 2,000 lives each month. 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. 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. So why not just send the first shot to the head? Due to the sanctions against Rhodesia, these ads were generally lodged via front organisations and were vague about the country the volunteers would serve in. 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. Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. Its much harder than you may think. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. Rounding a corner Rousseau found himself unexpectedly face to face with a FRELIMO guerilla armed with an AK47 at a range of about ten paces. Rousseau was carrying his Browning HP35 pistol when he turned a corner and found himself face-to-face with a guerilla armed with an AK-47. It is not known how many Vietnam veterans fought in Rhodesia. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. [38] The prohibition proved difficult to enforce, as it was not possible to prevent Britons leaving the country. His third shot was low, taking out the fighters neck and spinal cord. If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. [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. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. The so-called Mozambique Drill (two shots to the chest, one to the head) was actually developed by accident by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the War of Independence in Mozambique when two pistol shots to the torso failed to bring down an enemy guerrilla. 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. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. [2] Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. Engaged in a firefight at an airport in Lourenco Marques, Rousseau encountered a guerilla fighter armed with an AK-47. When a double-tap to the chest failed to stop the aggressor, a third shot to the head ended the threat and created the Mozambique Drill. [89] This law can only be enforced within the United States, meaning that American citizens who enlisted to fight for Rhodesia while overseas could not be prosecuted. [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. 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. [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. [69], Despite the Rhodesian government's claim that it did not recruit mercenaries, the British mercenary Peter McAleese was accepted into the Rhodesian Army during 1976. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. [40] They were recruited by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from a French military base in Djibouti. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. dissenting.). [73] Foreign volunteers typically received a hostile reception from their Rhodesian comrades, which contributed to many leaving before the end of their contract. Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. If youve been around defensive pistol shooting for a while, youve likely heard of the Mozambique Drill (AKA, failure to stop drill). During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . |-- Topic Forums 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. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. No country ever officially recognised Rhodesia's independence. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. 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. 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. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. |-- Editorials & Other Articles These two additions to the drill could make a world of difference in a real-life self-defense situation. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. [16] The academic Kyle Burke has written that some anti-government paramilitary forces in the United States draw inspiration from the volunteers, and cite them as an example when encouraging violence against African Americans. Home In the 1960s he coined the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the [5] South Africa and Portugal provided Rhodesia with assistance, and it was able to evade the sanctions and covertly trade with many countries. Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. [67], The large group of Frenchmen who enlisted together were used to form 7 Independent Company. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Rousseau then aimed for the head, and fired the shot that finally put the enemy solder down. The British, United States and several other governments were unable to prevent their citizens fighting for Rhodesia due to difficulties enforcing the relevant laws. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. Failure in a gunfight is not an option. There was a flurry of unrest in Mozambique. During fighting at the Loureno Marques airport (modern-day Maputo ), Rousseau rounded a corner and encountered a FRELIMO guerrilla, 10 paces away and armed with an AK-47. [46] Economic factors also influenced some of the volunteers, as they believed that the Rhodesian Security Forces offered better career prospects than those available in their home country. Rousseau had a pistol. [40], Foreign volunteers for the Rhodesian Security Forces were generally motivated by personal political and ideological beliefs or a desire for adventure. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. the phrase was coined by a rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau while he was serving in Mozambique. 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. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. [23], The expansion of the security forces, increasing battle casualties and a decline in the white population due to high rates of emigration led to serious shortages of white personnel that greatly hindered the Rhodesian war effort. [16], The Rhodesian Security Forces were considerably expanded over the war. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. Mike Rousseau, a Rhodesian mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence, was armed only with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, and he rounded a corner at Loureno Marques (now Maputo) Airport and came face-to-face with an African guerilla armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, less than 25 feet away. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. Two to the body and one to the head became the mantra. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. [37] Some of the Americans volunteered to work as security guards on farms in Rhodesia as this offered the opportunity to fight communists while receiving higher pay than that offered by the security forces. [81], The British government was opposed to its citizens fighting for Rhodesia. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. 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 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. 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. [40], The Rhodesian government did not accept all offers of volunteers. [22][24], Another strategy used to address white manpower shortages was seeking white volunteers from outside the country, which the Rhodesian government began doing in 1973. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. [51] As a result, there are a range of estimates of the numbers of foreigners who travelled to Rhodesia to serve with the security forces: British citizens made up the majority of the foreign volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. 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. [104], Few works by historians have been published on the volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers.