rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. These organisations provided recruits for the security forces as well as private industry, including farms, mines and timber companies. Save my name and email to use for future comments. It was expected that most of the volunteers for the security forces would not settle in Rhodesia. An accurate shot to the T-zone (the area between the eyebrows and upper lip, also called the ocular cavity) damages the brain and central nervous system and secures instant incapacitation of the target. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. European colonial powers like Belgium and Portugal fought to defend their interests, but the rebels had little to lose and everything to gain. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. By September 1964, things began to change. Before it was even a drill, it was actual shots fired in a gunfight. 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. While it might seem strange at first, its not a long stretch to connect the dots from a country off the east coast of Africa, to a Rhodesian mercenary, to a shooting technique, and finally to someone who conceal carries and trains to defend themselves. Copyright 2023 BearingArms.com/Salem Media. 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). Apparently, the only way to stop a zombie is with a well-placed head shot. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. [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. 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. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. 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. [102] He also wrote the novel Crippled Eagles which was based on the experiences of American volunteers. FRELIMOs Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. Those who did so received amnesties as part of the British government measures associated to end of the conflict. [36] Neil Grant gave a lower figure in 2015, stating that over 10 per cent of the unit were foreign volunteers. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! Rousseau was later killed in action in the Rhodesian War. [1] From 1962 its government was led by the Rhodesian Front political party. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a similar motion several days earlier at the behest of several countries in southern Africa. : The British Military Advisory and Training Team and the Creation of the Zimbabwe National Army", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foreign_volunteers_in_the_Rhodesian_Security_Forces&oldid=1135864497, The historians Peter Godwin and Ian Hancock have written that foreign volunteers represented only a "tiny minority" of the Rhodesian military in 1972, with 90 per cent of recruits being Rhodesians and most of the remainder. The need for non-Rhodesians to sustain the country's independence was also considered problematic. All Rights Reserved. How rude! Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Ex-military wanting to ply their tactical handiwork in return for treasure were welcomed to Mozambique to help the Portuguese military. The Mozambique drill, originally developed by a Rhodesian mercenary, MIke Rousseau, is a standard practice drill for self defense. page. [40], Foreign volunteers for the Rhodesian Security Forces were generally motivated by personal political and ideological beliefs or a desire for adventure. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. They generally joined the Rhodesian Security Forces individually after seeing advertisements or after being contacted by recruiters. 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. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. Silveira v. Lockyer, 2003. [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. [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. This bullet struck a bit low, entering the mans neck and severing his spinal cord, effectively ending the fight. 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. As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. [39][40][41] Sources differ on whether these men were paratroopers or members of the French Foreign Legion. 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. Hitting the T-zone is a challenge. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. Handgun Training for Personal Protection. Remember, the Mozambique drill is designed for a defensive situation where the first two shots failed to stop an attacker. The volunteers had a range of motivations. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. 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. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Lourenco Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. [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. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. 2023 Springfield Armory. [7] Rhodesian officers also sought to use their networks in other militaries to attract volunteers. [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. Some of the volunteers were later identified as agents of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. FRELIMO was the dominant political party in Mozambique fighting for independence from Portugal. 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. Relying on instinct and training, Rousseau delivered a double tap to the combatants chest with his Browning Hi Power pistol and, Upon hearing the story of Rousseaus encounter, Cooper incorporated a three-shot drill into his training at the famous, . Its editor was a strong supporter of the white Rhodesian cause and wanted to encourage Americans to fight for Rhodesia. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. (snip) 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 . While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot] is conducting firearms training Freedom is not defended with empty idealism easily perverted into appeasement of evil, but with the force of arms.. The sanctions it imposed following UDI banned efforts to entice British citizens to live or work in Rhodesia. [80] Many Africans believed that the inaction of the western governments demonstrated their lack of commitment to combating white minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa. the technique may also be called a triple tap, or failure to stop drill. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. 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. [62][76], The nationalist groups that were fighting the Rhodesian regime and many progressive groups worldwide considered the volunteers to be mercenaries. The ZANU was supported by China and the ZAPU by the Soviet Union, both of which were communist countries. The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. 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. The ethnographic and historical researcher Henrik Ellert has written that there were 1,500 in 197778. This led to a negotiated conclusion to the war that involved a transition to majority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe in 1980. [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. [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. Jews Can Shoot is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo),. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. [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. 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. 20 Best Concealed Carry Guns In 2023 (Updated! Doing so was illegal under laws banning mercenary activity in Israel, West Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Setup: 1x USPSA Silhouette Target: So why not just send the first shot to the head? In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! The Triple Tap Callsign can be unlocked by playing with the Mozambique, and Triple Tap XL can be unlocked via Advocate Gift. [86] The United States government did little to slow the flow of volunteers to Rhodesia. [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. 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. dissenting.). Oops, there's been an error. This led to a rapid growth in the insurgency which the security forces were unable to contain. 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. 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. Big Forums Two to the body, one to the head. [15], Foreigners with far right beliefs were often sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause during the war. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the You may have also heard it called the Failure To Stop Drill. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. However, the guerilla soldier kept coming, with two bleeding wounds to the torso, and still armed with his rifle. Most of its members left Rhodesia after the company was withdrawn from operations to be retrained, though some settled in Rhodesia. Rousseau hit the target on either side of the sternum, usually enough to incapacitate or kill a target outright. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). 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. [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. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. Under three seconds, and youve got some major skills. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. [41][42] The CIO regarded this as a success, but all other elements of the Rhodesian government were sceptical. A proposal by the mercenary Mike Hoare to establish an international brigade modelled on the French Foreign Legion was also rejected. [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. Therefore, the more difficult head shot should be used as a follow up to your double tap. | Discussion For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. As you know, Cooper founded Gunsite Academy and preached his tactical gospel of the modern technique. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. 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. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. Historian Michael Raeburn put the figure in 1978 as between 1,500 and 2,000. It doesnt matter how fast you can pull off rounds if they dont hit your target. Armed with a Browning HP35 pistol chambered in 9mm, Rousseau immediately brought up his Hi Power and shot the guerrilla twice in the chest. Most of the other volunteers were from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. [91] The American volunteers were generally regarded in the United States as mercenaries. Sometimes shooting a bad guy in the chest just isnt enough. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. [101] Robin Moore included profiles of twelve volunteers as part of a non-fiction book he wrote in 1976 that argued that the Rhodesian government was not racist and sanctions against it should be lifted. The military took steps to prevent material encouraging enlistment with Rhodesia from being circulated in its bases and service newspapers, however. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. Canada had similar laws to the UK, and France and New Zealand were unable to prevent their citizens from travelling to Rhodesia to fight. [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. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. Guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (or FRELIMO) became embroiled in a war of independence with Portugal. Robert A. Sadowski has written about firearms and hunting for more than fifteen years. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. [13], Guerrilla activities began in 1966, and mainly involved small groups operating in northern Rhodesia. 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. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. [83] Various approaches were considered to develop legislation to ban recruitment by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the late 1970s, but none eventuated. [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? 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". However, even with two new and bleeding nipples, the guerrilla was still coming at him, so Rousseau tried for the head. aka Failure Drill. Soldier of Fortune ran large numbers of articles on foreigners in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War; each edition published between 1975 and 1980 included at least one article on the subject. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Copyright 2023 Jews Can Shoot. 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. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. 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. This is a great exercise to work on speed, accuracy and self-defense tactics. You sweat just standing still. Easter Lessons by bmt | Mar 29, 2016 | Towsley on Tactical blog [42] Small numbers of black ex-Flechas from Mozambique were also accepted after the end of Portuguese rule in that country; they were paid less than white soldiers. [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. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. Of course, we have to be careful of adhering to dogma, no matter where it comes from. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. 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.

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rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau