Since its founding under the great-granddady of demolition, Draper Kauffman, Navy EOD has operated under the premise that officers cannot and should not lead troops into situations that they themselves would not also undergo. This why Navy EOD has a compulsory training system where young officers are tested alongside their enlisted counter parts. It’s a fundamental reason why Navy EOD Techs are the best in the world. Personally, I cherish this pillar of my community because it can bring out the best in everyone. A few days ago, I put it in to practice.

If you read any of the other pages on my website, you’ll notice that I tend to cater to the novice. I reach out to those who may be timid about firearms and challenge them to face that initial intimidation of the gun community. And let’s be honest, some of us aren’t exactly the most welcoming types and some of us are downright kooks – but I digress.

In my attempts to bridge the gaps between the range and someone who wants to learn to shoot, I encourage people to get outside their comfort zone. If this is the challenge for my students, then it also must apply to me. Enter the 3 Gun Competition.

When the Navy first taught me to shoot, I was immediately turned off by the competitive shooting world. My first impression existed solely of expensive and goofy accessories that would surely break during patrol and couldn’t possibly increase my ability to put rounds down range. No, I was happy to work on fundamentals of marksmanship (as defined by the Navy) and CQB. That is, until I discovered 3 Gun Competitions.

I’ve honestly been interested in 3 Gun competitions since I moved back to Texas. It seemed to me like a natural progression from the training I had received. After new job, babies, and getting my business off the ground I finally had a chance to get in to it. Honestly though, I found myself hesitant when a few friends of mine were ready to jump in with both feet. This hesitation came from a place of fear; fear of losing, fear of wasting money, fear of not living up to a falsely created image of what a veteran should be.

I’m not saying these are the exact same thoughts dancing in everyone’s head when it comes to trying something new. But I’d wager they’re not far from mark. Friends, please take my advice and put these negative, self-defeating attitudes in the trash. My first 3 Gun competition was last week and I was horrible! I finished 36 out of 45 overall and dead last in my division. But the learning I took away was invaluable.

I tried not to get mud-sucked with the new lingo (terms like “cruiser ready” first sounded completely idiotic instead of saying condition 3), or rules (the 180 degree rule seemed a bit overprotective when it relates to a muzzle pointed upward), and tried to focus on shooting my best. I was pleased with my times, but I started stacking penalties like bricks in a wall. I took away several things I can do that will make me a better well rounded shooter. All this is aside from the fact that I enjoyed myself.

If you want to learn to shoot, please put all negativity by way side. Embrace the thrill of trying something new and have the wisdom to know that you’ll be grateful for the experience afterward.

Be Accurate.
Be Safe.

This post was originally posted at my website WarriorCHL .