One-Man Room Clearing

If you ask any police officer, SWAT officer, or operator what they think of one-man room clearing, most will probably tell you they think it’s suicide. That is for a good reason. One-man room clearing is not done all that often because it is so dangerous and would likely only happen in emergency scenarios.

The First Step in One-Man Room Clearing

For most of us in civilian life, this will never pop up in life. However, if it does, it would be great for us each to have some knowledge going into it. First off, anyone who has ever been in a real gunfight would urge you if the situation allows for you, to wait and call the police to do so. Let the professionals with team members and team training do what they do best.

Notify And Inform Law Enforcement

Room clearing is a risky business and dangerous work, it’s best to always leave it to the professionals with training, but if your family is at stake, you may need to proceed without them. Just remember to report the break-in and let the authorities know you are armed and on location; it would be a good idea to describe yourself and your clothing to the dispatcher. Officers don’t need to show up thinking you are the threat, thus creating one more issue.

When Might Immediate Entry Be Done?

Here is an unlikely scenario that could happen. Let’s say you are returning to your home, and as you pull in, there is a car you don’t recognize, but your teenage daughters and wife's car are in their usual parking spots. Upon reaching the front door, you notice the door has been forced open. At this point, I, for one, would report the break-in and draw my concealed carry weapon, then I would enter and clear the house. However unlikely, this type of home break-in is still a possibility.

Room Clearing Technique - A Game of Angles

Once you are at home, what do you do? Clearing any structure is all a game of angles. Gunfighting is a game of angles itself. It’s about you seeing the bad guy and him not seeing you or you seeing him long before he sees you. You can save yourself from unnecessary exposure by peeking into rooms one slice at a time.

Close Quarters Battle Tactics To Keep In Mind

Consider a few things regarding close-quarter battle scenarios and time to clear each room of your house on your own. First, you know the layout better than anyone. Second, ask yourself, “Does the potential intruder know I’m here?” If not, then keep it that way—third, move slowly until shots are fired. Once shots have been fired, it’s time to proceed aggressively; if you watch the news reports, you will see officers do the same. It’s all about being careful and quiet until shots start going off. Then, it’s time to move quickly. If you run in and start being loud and emotional, you will alert everyone of your location. So do your best to keep your wits about you. Lastly, realize that you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. You must move methodically, checking all around you for threats and anything that looks out of place.

Room Clearing Tactics Instruction

For official instruction, I'd like you to watch the video included in this blog post of Maximum Life Expectancy, and GunSpot.com Chief Instructor Grant LaVelle address the correct way to clear a home by yourself.