SLAPS

Pre-Engagement Drill or Admin Ritual

In my deployments , pre-deployment training and in less intense training venues, I have seen sidearms carried without a magazine outside the wire, heard a ‘click’ rather than a ‘bang’ from a fire team partner, and  have seen batteries in weapon lights and IR lasers being replaced in the dark because functionality was not check prior to departure. This comes down to two things; lack of a pre-engagement drills and assumption. We all know what ‘assumption’ really stands for…

Operators carry multiple weapons systems with ancillary equipment
to allow them to be effective regardless of conditions.

5Ps; proper planning prevents poor performance. A drill, almost a ritual, to check your weapons and their accessories prior to stepping off is a vital part of the pre-mission checks. Element inspections to verify mission specific equipment are commonplace and their importance understood. Pre-engagement drill is an individual level readying and verification of your personal weapons. It is just as important. Like a chain, a team is only as strong or prepared as its weakest member. I don’t want to be THAT GUY. Do you? Didn’t think so!

With the advent of modern CQB syllabuses and the intensity of the current battlespace, most soldiers and operators carry multiple weapons systems and ancillary equipment to allow them to be effective at anytime, even total darkness. The SLAPS Pre-Engagement Drill compliments this reality and ensures a solid verification before any mission or task. There are a few principles that must be followed to be effective.

1. The steps of the drill are specific to allow the operator to ensure functionality and maintain safety. Do not change the order.
2. Command driven weapon status must be followed. The steps may be modified to meet those requirements. Example, seat a magazine but do not ready and press check for amber status.
3. Weapons and equipment are SLAPS’d in a reverse order. Secondary weapons (sidearms) are SLAPS’d before primary weapons (long guns). This ensures they are not forgotten. You work with your primary but your secondary saves your life.
4. SLAPS drills must be conducted within a secure area that has a safe area/direction for weapon orientation. This drill is done before the mission, not during.

Secondary Weapons are prepared first.
 You work with your primary but your secondary saves your life.
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Sights- Light/Lasers- Ammunition- Press Check-Safe and Safe/Secure

Sights-  Present weapon. This is one more dry practice opportunity; don’t waste it. Verify iron sights are still there and secure. Verify any back up iron sights (BUIS) are set to the proper settings and functioning. Set optical sight to proper range or appropriate power for variable power optics. Power up any electronic sights. With Aimpoints, set the brightness to match the time of day. With EO Techs, turn them on and set the brightness to match the time of day. If your EO Tech reticule flashes as you turn it on, you are down to less than twenty percent battery life. Good time to change batteries while the weapon is unloaded. Verify any dummy cords or wires.

Lights/Lasers- Verify weaponlight is secure to weapon. Check all settings ( high, low, strobe) individually. Use tape switch and buttons should your weaponlight have multiple methods of activation. Check lockouts and set according to mission.  Change batteries as required. Verify laser aiming device (LAD) is secure to weapons. Check all settings and functions individually. Use tape switch and buttons should your LAD have multiple methods of activation. Check lockouts and set according to mission. Verify any dummy cords or wires.  Check IR settings of weapon light and LAD with NVGs; verifying your NVGs concurrently. Change batteries accordingly. Good time to change batteries while the weapon is unloaded.

Ammunition-  Roll the weapon up into your ‘workspace’  and load the weapon with the proven reliable magazine from your emergency load pouch. This is one more dry practice opportunity of an emergency reload; don’t waste it. Remember for heliborne operations; attach a dummy cord to magazine.  Ready the weapon.

Press Check-  Perform a press check verifying your weapon status one hundred percent. There are multiple forms of press checks. I have a preferred method. This may be the subject of another blog post in the future. A tactile press check will be required for low light conditions. Close your ejection port.

Safe and Secure- Ensure weapons is on safe. Holster or sling and hang your weapon. Top up emergency load pouch with a proven reliable magazine. You are ready to get to work.

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This is intended as an individual drill or even a buddy drills. With some adaptation, it can be made into a team drill supervised by element leader before stepping off on the job. It works within military, LEO and tactical training circles. And, it works. I have used this drill on two separate deployments and many training venues, some fairly high intensity ones as well. I have never been THAT GUY within my element.

Take care out there.