Leave no stone unturned, be prepared for all types of close quarters encounters

Within the complex realms of military maneuvers, law enforcement operations, and considerations of personal safety and home defense, the profound skill set associated with room clearing stands out as an indispensable art. Its importance cannot be overstated, given its direct influence on risk mitigation and mission success during close quarters combat. However, room clearing is not as simple as just passing by the doorway and glancing in with your rifle pointed at it. Leaving stones unturned when clearing rooms could result in injury or death to you and your teammates. That being said, room clearing tactics are far more advanced and something that takes some skill to master, so we are going to break down the basics of room clearing.

In this comprehensive guide, our team at Core Vision Training will give a detailed explanation on how to clear rooms properly and keep yourself and your teammates alive.

The Top Room Clearing Tactics

Now let’s dive into the top room clearing tactics that can help you with your mission, whether you are on the offensive, or maybe someone broke into your home and you are on the defensive.

Team Communication and Coordination

The linchpin of successful room clearing resides in the seamless symphony of communication and precise coordination among team members. Beyond mere verbal exchanges, establishing clear and concise communication channels, incorporating universally understood hand signals, and fostering a comprehensive understanding of each team member's roles and responsibilities create a harmonious foundation. The continuous flow of communication becomes a lifeline, serving to relay real-time updates on the room's dynamic status and potential threats.

In the choreography of room clearing, the establishment of a fluid and continuous flow is akin to orchestrating a perfectly synchronized dance. Teams must not only determine the direction of movement but also maintain a systematic and coordinated approach, ensuring each member covers a designated area. This meticulous orchestration minimizes the risk of friendly fire, optimizes threat engagement, and ensures an uninterrupted progression through the environment.

Prioritize Speed and Violence of Action

Room clearing, as an operational art, demands an ethos of decisiveness and rapid execution. Hesitation finds no place in this domain. Prioritizing speed and the calculated application of force emerges as a cornerstone strategy to catch potential threats off guard, leveraging the element of surprise for swift and effective control of the room.

Proper Use of Cover and Concealment

Tactical acumen comes to the forefront when negotiating available cover and concealment in room clearing scenarios. Doorways, walls, and strategically placed furniture metamorphose into shields against potential threats. Though during a room clearing scenario you may have some sort of body armor on, you still want cover. Having a delicate balance of utilizing cover for protection while maintaining a pace of quick and fluid movement epitomizes the skill of the seasoned room clearer.

Slice the Pie

The tactically sophisticated "slicing the pie" technique emerges as a fundamental approach when confronting closed doors, windows, or really any unknown real estate in a close quarters environment. This methodical strategy involves a gradual and meticulous exposure of small portions of the room, minimizing the risk of becoming a visible target. Such a controlled approach allows for a systematic assessment of potential threats within the room, further enhancing the individual’s strategic advantage.

Maintain Situational Awareness

At the heart of successful room clearing lies the unwavering commitment to maintaining situational awareness. Team members must cultivate an acute sense of vigilance and observation, anticipating potential threats and adeptly adapting to the dynamic ebb and flow of circumstances. The art of clearing a room transcends immediate dangers; it encompasses a readiness for unforeseen contingencies that may manifest.

The Use of Flashbangs and Distraction Devices During Room Clearing

The strategic arsenal of room clearers extends to the judicious deployment of flashbangs or distraction devices in appropriate situations. These tactical tools can be put right on your chest rig or your belt, or even in your backpack, and they serve to disorient and surprise potential threats within a room and can be very beneficial to you and your team’s safety when it comes to clearing a room.

However, their use demands a meticulous approach, with a keen awareness of potential impacts on innocent bystanders or team members.

The Best Device to Practice Room Clearing

Room clearing is something that can be done with live rounds, whether you are using a pistol or another type of firearm like a rifle, or you can do dryfire training. Dryfire training is pulling the trigger without any ammo in the weapon, but it helps to get you used to drawing your firearm and pulling the trigger wherever you want. You can also draw and shoot from the holster with no ammo, which can be very beneficial. However, the problem with most firearms is that once you pull the trigger of an empty gun, it does not reset. This is where the Mantis BlackbeardX comes into play.

Mantis BLACKBEARD

Now, the Mantis BlackbeardX for AR-15 platforms takes the capability of the Blackbeard into an entirely new dimension. The BlackbeardX contains the Mantis technology that has changed the way shooters improve. It helps to provide real-time feedback on shooting technique, with smart coaching and actionable analytics via the Mantis Pistol/Rifle app, you'll never improve faster than with this powerful combination.

However there is much more than that. In addition to static shooting analysis, the Mantis BlackbeardX unlocks unprecedented capability to analyze and improve dynamic shooting: high-speed movement with multi-target engagements. It sounds powerful because it is. Nothing has ever analyzed your capabilities like this before.

Just like with the regular Blackbeard, the BlackbeardX installation takes less than a minute. All you have to do is pop the rear pin, remove the bolt carrier group, drop in BlackbeardX, put the magazine in place to provide the power, and you are clear to dry fire!

If you already own a Blackbeard, you only need the BlackbeardX magazine/power bank, as it works with your existing Blackbeard BCG replacement.

Mantis also offers other products for different firearms, not just you AR. That being said, check out the Mantis site to see all of the devices they offer to help you dryfire.

Where to Train for Room Clearing

There are various options available for civilians to receive tactical education on things such as room clearing. Dedicated training centers, law enforcement agencies, private security companies, online platforms, and local martial arts schools or self-defense academies offer tactical training programs, but when it comes to finding training for room clearing specifically, you have to find groups that specialize in this. Luckily, Core Vision Training offers a wide variety of tactical courses that will help you get used to your gear and maneuvering through different situations, and room clearing is one of them.

Although Core Vision is based in Washington state, they offer training in many different areas of the country. Aside from room clearing, Core Vision offers some awesome courses that include LPVO training to get you to master long range skills, as well as medical training to get you used to utilizing a first aid kit if you were to ever need one. Core Vision Training also offers some great close quarters courses, and even night vision courses. This can be extremely beneficial when it comes to defending your home, which hopefully you never have to do.

There also are multiple states that Core Vision Training is in, offering tactical training courses in:

Aside from Core Vision offering tactical training near you, it is also a team made up of great guys with various backgrounds, many in special forces. The team makes you feel comfortable with what you are doing, because they know that for many people it is their first time being exposed to this type of training. The guys take their time to explain everything and make sure that you are the best that you can be by the time you leave their courses.

Room Clearing Training Doesn’t Stop at the Range

Even though Core Vision Training offers some great training in room clearing, it does not stop when you have left the range. Your home is your castle, and you are the one that has to defend it. That being said, room clearing training in your own home is great to familiarize yourself with the layout, reaction times, and how you would maneuver in a survival situation when in your own house. Again, we would recommend picking up a Mantis unit to do this.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey to master room clearing tactics necessitates a fusion of rigorous training, effective communication, and disciplined execution. Whether applied within the theater of military operations, the canvas of law enforcement endeavors, or the intimate confines of personal defense scenarios, the strategies outlined in this guide serve as a robust framework for achieving success. Regular training, immersive simulations, and a commitment to adaptability are crucial, ensuring that individuals and teams can adeptly execute these tactics, seamlessly navigating the dynamic and unpredictable nature of room clearing scenarios.

Check out Core Vision Training’s shop, Instagram, and other blogs!

Beginner's Guide to Room Clearing