Force is often needed when the safety or physical security of an individual or a community is at stake. However, force should be used cautiously as it can lead to severe injury or death if applied inappropriately. As military, law enforcement, and security officers, we must ensure that force is used effectively and safely. Training and practicing control are essential to de-escalating a situation. This blog will explore five concepts you must remember and practice to control your force.
5 Concepts to Control Your Force
1. Knowing the Environment
The first concept in controlling force is understanding the environment, including knowledge of the physical layout, potential hazards, and other relevant factors that may affect the situation. For example, obstacles and people can increase risk or danger during a confrontation. Knowing the general atmosphere or layout will allow you to respond effectively and address risks and escape routes. When you understand the environment, you can make an informed decision about using controlled force and deploying resources.
2. Understanding the People Involved
Understanding the people involved is also essential, as it’ll give you insights into how best to handle a situation. This includes knowledge of the suspects or individuals involved and any potential victims or witnesses. Knowing the people you’re encountering is impossible, but understanding their mindset and behavior cues, can allow officers to anticipate a person’s behavior and respond accordingly.
3. Recognizing Non-Verbal Communication and Pre-Attack Indicators
Non-verbal communication often indicates how a person is feeling or what they’re thinking. To assess a situation, pay attention to body language/posture, facial expressions, tone/volume of voice, and other non-verbal cues to help you understand a person’s intent before they take action. Similarly, recognizing pre-attack indicators can give you time to prepare for a potentially dangerous situation.
4. De-Escalation & Control Your Force
De-escalation is a vital component of controlling force. De-escalation techniques involve using verbal communication skills such as active listening and responding calmly to diffuse tension between yourself and others involved in the confrontation. It is also essential to remain professional while using de-escalation techniques because it can help reduce tension between both parties involved in any conflict. These techniques include making verbal appeals, using body language that conveys calmness, and showing empathy.
The Community of Mental Health states that feeling unsafe is the most common escalation cause. Feelings of insecurity can cause hostility and tension. As law enforcement, military, and security personnel, we must de-escalate with minimal force to resolve a situation.
5. Action
Finally, action is always necessary when controlling your force in any given situation. Taking action does not necessarily mean physical contact; it simply means taking whatever steps are needed to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including yourself. This could include calling for backup or using defensive tactics if necessary. Taking action also involves always remaining alert and never allowing yourself to become complacent or overconfident during a confrontation. This could lead to serious injury or even death, depending on the severity of the incident.
In some cases, force may be necessary to protect yourself or others from harm. If force is needed, it’s essential to use it safely and as controlled as possible. It should only be used as a last resort when other methods have failed, and you should ensure that your force is proportional to the threat.
In Conclusion
The ability to control your force is essential for anyone in military or law enforcement roles due to potential threats they may face while on duty. The ability to control your force is crucial to anyone in military, security, or law enforcement roles due to potential threats they may face while on duty. To successfully contain a potential hostile situation, anyone in these roles must understand their environment and people around them, recognize non-verbal communication and pre-attack indicators, and de-escalate any conflict professionally. By mastering these five concepts when learning how to control their force, anyone working within these fields will be better prepared for whatever situations they encounter throughout their careers.
Control Your Force: MACH 5.0 Techniques
Controlled F.O.R.C.E. utilizes positioning, movement, body momentum, and resistance to control a subject instead of pain compliance. The MACH 5.0 system was widely accepted by law enforcement agencies as a legally, medically, and technically acceptable technique. MACH 5.0 has been developed by over 15,000 law enforcement, government, and private sector professionals at all skill levels in both domestic and foreign environments. It is recognized as one of the country’s most sought-after instructor-trainers for military combatives, law enforcement arrests, control tactics, and the development and integration of basic and advanced training doctrine. Learning to control your force is a vital skill we must teach and follow to keep communities safer for all. Learn more about our upcoming MACH 5.0 courses: http://controlledforce.com/training-calendar/
