Hostile or Friendly? Target Discrimination - CSAT with Paul Howe

One key element of situational awareness is the rapid and reliable ability to distinguish a potential or active threat, from an innocent person, law enforcement personnel, or other friendly. This skill is even more necessary in a high pressure situation that calls for split-second decision making. In this video, Master Sergeant (Ret) Paul Howe of the Combat Shooting and Tactics school talks about the principles of target discrimination used by special forces in the field that apply to every day life as well.
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[@namelessschool7616]

I can't tell you how happy I am to see Paul back out on a big channel. Great content. Less glamor more practical info. Wilson you've been knocking it out of the park with these "old dogs' videos you're putting out. Same with the Ken and Bill gun talk stuff. Keep it up.

[@97VobraOwner]

12 years ago I wrote MSG Howe with a question about zeroing - I never thought I would get a reply as he is a busy man running a busy training schedule- I was surprised and elated that he wrote me back with answers to my questions. Paul is a true professional and master of his craft. I saved that email and filed it away. Thank you PH.

[@Logikbombmusik]

This is probably the most important video out of all the shooting training videos. Target discrimination is a vital skill just as much as how to shoot. Not many teaching this important aspect.

[@Buck123four]

Paul Howe is among the best & studliest people in the USA. I'm proud to have been in the US Army with him, to include Mog. I was NOT on that mission; only the best of the best were. About 2,000 Somalis wish they had stayed home, cuz Paul & his men "serviced" them.

[@grantorino2009]

Thank you, WC, for bringing in MSG Howe for these videos. He is an excellent trainer and humble man. I'm looking forward to more instruction from him.

[@SierraTrainingGroup]

Paul Howe is one of the clearest, tactically sound, efficient and honest instructors I’ve ever come across. His book, Leadership and Training for the Fight is a must read/listen for any of us in the profession of public safety. Looking to attend one of his classes next year if all goes well. Great channel, thank you all!

[@thinman8621]

This is one of the best personal defense videos I have ever seen.

[@tkel2114]

4 minutes of clear concise instruction for those of us who couldn't live with shooting a friendly. Solid.

[@ronaldbrown5796]

Paul gets right to the point. No useless introduction or talk. To the point, right now!!!

[@jamesb2651]

I missed this video when it was first released and watched it based on the recent recommendation of Master Class. Wow! What a remarkably great video!! I never thought about doing this at the range!!

[@gowilsoncombat]

Glad it was helpful!

[@EddieLeal]

Retired military here. Thank you for your service and sharing such valuable information with us on this platform. Stay frosty out there Paul!

[@scttshwldct]

Just found these Paul Howe videos and am going through and "liking" and commenting all of them. Get that algorithm working for the forces of good

[@4realhombre]

This was a very clear message and very thought provoking. No BS, just dropping the facts in a sub 5 minute video. This was awesome!!! Saving this to my favorites now! Thanks sir!

[@gowilsoncombat]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottdouglasshieldsnclmtab9950]

Thee best info I have been given in weeks, MAYBE EVEN months !! For that, I thank you ........

[@nightdaychannel828]

MSG Howe is a true professionals and an old school Warrior!

[@alexdee4322]

Simple, practical, effective. Recently discovered Howe and CSAT, wish I had done so years ago. Thank you for getting him on board.

[@gowilsoncombat]

Our pleasure!

[@timb8970]

Paul cracks me up. He’s such an intense looking individual!

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Thank you for teaching this. Target discrimination is not taught enough or driven into “competitive” shooters skills enough. Way too many Instagram operator wannabes out there that treat firearms like a game controller and the shooting arts like a game of the faster the better. They’re more interested in that little plastic timer on their belt than actually being effective in the real world. What I mean by real world is…I’m not a damn gamer. I moved out of my room in mommy and daddy’s house a long, long time ago. I became a protector of my life and loved one’s life when I decided to carry a gun. And that means protecting my life by making damn sure I don’t get separated from my family by sitting in prison because I was more worried about how fast I could shoot the wrong person rather than target discrimination responsibly. Sure, you want to be fast, but concentrating solely on that can program in some dangerous actions.

[@joshroten3997]

Clear, systematic, and to the point.

[@michaelloomisiii3475]

Yeah I shot a friendly in the shoot house after Paul tricked me with the badge on the belt. He also had a pregnant woman with a gun that threw me off too. It was a good lesson to learn. Great content as usual CSAT. Thanks

[@dexm2010]

@Sven3xs Well, if that happens, if nothing else life will become interesting again.

[@huracan200173]

The pregnant lady with the gun is a good one. We're hardwired to protect pregnant women. That would throw me off too, nice work mate.

[@ericbertoch673]

Great methodology Paul. I really appreciate a process that I can learn and incorporate so it becomes (hopefully) automatic. Shooting an innocent would be incredibly difficult to live with! Thank you for your service!

[@mikemc330]

I would love to see people actually performing this drill. Great content .

[@sg51psd04]

Amen. MSG. I don't Rember if you were involved personally but your squadron helped train my Company in 93-94. Aco 3/75. Thank you...A no brainer to see a T1 Good guy training fellow good guys. God bless you.

[@willbrink]

Always great info from Howe.

[@gowilsoncombat]

Thanks for watching!

[@AmericanMinuteman95]

Good content. Very useful! Thanks for putting this in youtube.

[@robertjanicki5906]

Excellent instruction!

[@actsfourtwelve5749]

Thank you so much for your time , this is very valuable. I am watching with my kids...

[@flyboy8752]

I love John Correia’s (Active Self Protection) saying: “Eyes are the window to the soul, but hands are the window to the intent.”

[@shanek6582]

That asp guy is such a douche lol, why do people follow him! His literal claim to being an expert was “I’ve watched and studied more self defense shooting videos than most anyone”. No military, police, contractor or even taken more classes than most, he just watched more videos, I found his channel several years ago and he actually said that. The word thing about him is what he did to Rick Gore, “think like a cop” channel, Rick showed a few seconds of one of assps videos where he had a .22 pistol fire out of battery and was trying to tell why he thought it happened, assp got Rick a KZbin strike and sent him a few condescending emails threatening lawsuit. Now assps channel is literally founded on showing other peoples videos under fair use, when someone very benignly does it to him, he cries like a baby.

[@WFOHara-gt8ku]

Great brief. Useful information that you can take away and practice every day routinely so that it becomes a habit.

[@jinksomiabodyart3189]

Here on the Ken Hackathorn advice.

[@jeffohmart7053]

Solid. The only thing I can think to add is to scan for accomplices/big picture, if possible, before taking action.

[@StonebutcherGems]

IMO, everyone should be casually side scanning any time they go anywhere in day to day life, to the point it becomes automatic behavior, just as they hopefully do when driving a vehicle or crossing a street. Situational awareness is not just for combat or danger zones, it’s important even in what seem to be the most safe or peaceful places where you would least expect trouble, like a church or school. Targets of opportunity are usually the ones that are one way or another not paying attention.

[@wingman8447]

Ken Hackathorn vid sent me here. He was absolutely correct. Thank you for best 4 minutes I’ve ever seen.

[@Tier1Citizen]

Truth is being laid down here folks, pay attention.

[@mgreen7063]

Recommended by Ken Hackathorn. After watching MSG Howe's DVD, I found his presentation a little dry. He's much improved; and has great info. Thanks.

[@rubenjimenez5213]

Awesome video, great training drill, keep up the good work💪💪👍👍

[@brotherzeke8002]

Yes Sir! Paul Howe. Thoraxic spinal shot ... Splatter on the wall. Roger that, Sir!

[@james-im1sj]

Paul howe talk about a guy with a ton of experience 🤙

[@theprepperrevelator]

Such valuable information for anyone that carries a gun!

[@JustDefense]

Thanks for this.

[@mrjakethecat]

This is great. Thank You.

[@mosin9105]

Thank you

[@gowilsoncombat]

Welcome!

[@teddy2guns404]

Thank you for the video I accidentally gotten somebody's car thinking an Uber so I definitely need a training and discrimination and picking the wrong targets

[@theskolian7177]

Thank you for this video.

[@gowilsoncombat]

Glad it was helpful!

[@justhavingfun0736]

Very good advice. Thank you

[@gowilsoncombat]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JoeyBaby47]

How do you differentiate from a cop from someone who bought a badge (or what looks like a badge)off the internet?

[@richardthomas6602]

Might be a good tactic to use to keep from getting shot by police when one chooses to help neutralize an active shooter.

[@malcolmsmith8694]

Lot of info I understand.

[@MrKakemann1]

Thumbs Up!

[@IntoTheWildernessBushcraft]

Is this available on video?

[@lizzapaolia959]

Outstanding video 🙏

[@one-of-us9939]

Thank you for the knowledge my brother.

[@gowilsoncombat]

You bet

[@RickyJr46]

An excellent tutorial!

[@brisonpalmer6730]

Very good information to always practice

[@gowilsoncombat]

Absolutely

[@farmcat3198]

Awesome! Love your content!

[@ala.7454]

Awesome

[@wldtrky38]

Great info ! Thanks 👍

[@tedberwick3186]

Ty

[@mikewerden4056]

Great information.

[@ScrappyXFL]

Hey man just recently noticed you on WC with Ken about fixing soft targets. Got to add this before I move off to other endeavors. In taijutsu, we kept chin down and enough vision to at least see the arms. Fallacy that eyes tell you everything, stay on that chest to lower torso, you'll see the arms and legs incoming or you're about to do ground work. If you're not directly face in face dealing with an ass, best not focus on his lying eyes to tell you jack. MO

[@GEVALS1000RR]

Sempre com excelentes conteúdos !!

[@jimhovater8755]

30 years ago, my academy instructors hammered into us to 'always watch the hands because they are what will hurt/kill you'. I teach now, but when checking out restrooms I always watch the hands of the students I happen to find. I haven't found any weapons, yet, but have gotten a bunch of Vapes.

[@carlmontney7916]

Awesome video thank you for posting this

[@gowilsoncombat]

Our pleasure!

[@EchoSigma6]

Using your wits and situational awareness to avoid escalation is probably key. That drawing of your firearm is probably like the eject button, the point of no return with the outcome of fate.

[@bassettraceengines]

Great information !!!!

[@gowilsoncombat]

Glad you think so!

[@taylorharbin3948]

I’d love to train with this man.

[@tomcroissant2875]

This system should be required teaching/training as a prerequisite for taking the LTC course.

[@gc5Hayward]

Boom baby!! Awesome 👏

[@concretecowboy4212]

Thnxs

[@mikethomas5412]

Good info. Thanks

[@pastordoogie8438]

Great Video!

[@shanek6582]

Dropped like a bad habit lol, those are the hardest ones to drop!

[@mortykatz2236]

Excellent

[@gowilsoncombat]

Thanks

[@ricks2651]

I teach this in my classes but a whole lot more.

[@jstpsgthru]

It would be fantastic if you sold a dvd that presented different "cleaning" scenarios, so that people could practice with a laser pistol.

[@sqwk2559]

When you pay for it, maybe that will happen.

[@jstpsgthru]

@@sqwk2559 WTF? You really are "random." I indicated that I'm willing to pay for it. I'd like to be able to have a product to evaluate, though.

[@derekladd6553]

Could you do the same /similar thing by watching a TV show or movie that you haven't seen that would involve an armed bad guy/girl?

[@docstockandbarrel]

I guess the Bud Light makes him a bad guy

[@criticalburner1239]

So the only way you know it is not a "good" guy is a badge on the guy?

[@outcastcwd]

Solid.

[@JRH6271]

Whole person - verify authority. Hand. Hand. Waistline. Need to commit this to memory.

[@sarahshowalter9539]

You mean to clean the person first, before you might have to clean their clock later?

[@JimJones762x39]

Good Vid

[@bigdog4574]

Having mental discipline to make sure if a person serves to be shot and should be shot is more than police officer have too often... but that is the truth

[@tropocal2343]

*My only worry about carrying a weapon, is other CCW holder's "target discrimination", when they see me using mine.* *I hope my "situational awareness" is high enough, to change someone's mind about taking a shot at me, before having to defend myself against them.* *Ya, keep it in your pants until you're certain of the threat.* *Thumbs up # 196*

[@SurvivaLust]

I tell all my CCW friends that the second you pull your weapon you are going to jail.....so be sure of two things, A. That you have a great attorney and at least $250,000 to defend yourself and B. That you were in actual fear of your life when you engaged in lethal show of force....otherwise leave the gun in your pants and run in the other direction.

[@flyboy8752]

One possible technique is using an authoritative, commanding voice, much like LE use to try to help others identify you as a good guy. (i.e. - “drop the weapon” “keeps your hands above your head” etc., even if the target is neutralized, until you’re absolutely sure it’s safe to reholster.)

[@oznetyoutube125]

Great Content, Thank You. "Cleaning People", never heard it described that way, that's Smart. I'm self-taught and for me, it started in earnest with my firstborn. With one visit to the labor/delivery floor, I went from party guy to Lead Operator responsible for a 3 person unit in hostile territory. I came up with a system that I call Bucket-People. By placing people in 1 of 4 mental containers I can quickly sort through a group and better recall what container I placed them in, upon reencounter. Bucket 1= Potential Medium-High Threat. Bucket 2= Sworn Officers & Identifiable Good Guys. 3= Nuisance people, in my way. 4= Vulnerable people compromised ability to protect themselves.

[@michaelthomson9092]

Not enough “trainers” discuss this. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should

[@nataliedeyton6829]

Higher shots also remove the chance of hitting some body armor

[@maineoutdoorsman677]

I naturally do this ,I allways look to see if they have a weapon on them,

[@rupert916]

Ken sent me here

[@mrseuff617]

It’s too bad the range I have membership to revokes your membership if you shoot at paper targets like that one, they have a “zero tolerance policy” for life like silhouettes 🙄

[@jeffcaptain6738]

Gosh, I hope I’m not shot before I get to the second hand…

[@Buck123four]

Paul wouldn't - others might. :) :)

[@kh485]

Maybe I should start wearing a badge😂

[@ScrappyXFL]

🤣I will neither confirm or deny I have that gold sprinkle spraypaint for my silhouette targets, nor the UN Blue for the helmets. No one else uses that either. Nor black or green to represent vests to hit appropriately at certain ranges with different platforms. At some ranges you just don't miss.

[@baddogone42]

Guy has his back to you running away, fk it shoot...There goes all that CSAT training...

[@rob6850]

Mr. Hackathorn sent me.

[@Baltimoreborn]

The lawyers come to you very early in training and talk to you about the importance of PID! It is ingrained into you during training. Every facet of training in the military is around safety first. Guys have nightmares about not properly PID while in the field. It’s bizarre that this isn’t a bigger portions of police training considering the tempo of a modern police force in a big city. SMH.

[@ScrappyXFL]

"PID" is for a ton of acronyms, care to narrow it down. Are you from TX? That would narrow the scope down a lot for everyone out here. Shake your damn head all you want

[@devongrey4135]

These days, "not a police officer" is not a prerequisite for "not a bad guy".

[@AGC828]

If you see a stranger. Has a badge and still cant tell he or she is a LEO?? You're in trouble. Should not be CC or OC. What wan't mentioned here are other scenarios where it's not about "discriminating" or "cleaning". But being able to read their intentions. The attacker might be carrying a knife. Can you talk him out of using it on us. To drop the knife and get some help. Maybe he was just too hungry he was desperate. To decide when to shot. Do you just not even try to talk him down and shoot? Was he standing still or already running towards us with the knife. Same holds true if you see someone with a gun. Can we de-escalate the situation. Most of us would like to avoid being in any shootout. Life is not a John Wick movie. Hard to take another human life. More than we know. Even if its a "bad guy". What about those times when the attacker is good at now revealing the weapon early enough to give us time to react? Usually we're distracted with everyday life. Lot of the time when an attack is up us it's too late. They have the jump. You can't show a photo and put "intention" on them. The poster of a man.

[@claywynn4507]

If you even remotely or minutely think about firing a 380, 9mm, or AR gun inside a vehicle cabin, you should be wearing hearing protection. Otherwise you will lose an eardrum or two. "Huh, what did you say?" I SAID GET SMART AND WEAR EAR-PRO IF YOU ARE GOING DANGER PRESENT INSIDE A VEHICLE CABIN.

[@shanedriver9094]

That target is sideways makes a smaller target.

[@mer171]

How about this concept somebody's pointing a gun at you and you are not committing a crime they are there to kill you… Nothing else is relevant then if you are afraid for your life and they have the means to take it with the obvious intent to do so

[@mer171]

I would love to see the excuse of a clerical error of miss naming an address on a "no knock warrant" into someone's household who doesn't know they aren't a gang banger just looking for jewelry and your life; while they point a gun at you, and in that fraction of a second you have to decide if the life of your children is worth the risk... Can anybody say fourth amendment and why this video is less impressive than the previous videos…

[@abstractapproach634]

Well paint me stupid but if I see a barrel I will shoot, don't draw on me no matter what your wearing or authority you think you have; and if you do you better drop me..... just saying, not sure if this video is as good as Masad made it out to be.

[@GreatUnknownDingleberry]

But what lube is best? Do I use .45acp or 9mm? Glock or 1911?

[@mattschmitt9924]

Yes. That should work.

[@jonathonbridges9625]

Considering current events and probably future ones, the badge part will change.

[@NickFrom1228]

Well thats a difficult situation. LE will always be LE and they must identify themselves so it's likely they will still be showing badges in most situations. I'm trying to come up with the situations where that would change and I'm just not seeing it change unless we get into some really bad state of affairs along the lines of civil war or something.

[@jonathonbridges9625]

@@NickFrom1228 you're already aware of the situation I'm talking about then. I've already had a conversation with my local Sherrifs office. In that event, LE ( most likely will be federal) actively engaged in disarming citizens will be hostiles.

[@jackieeastom8758]

Oath keepers and LEO’s,sadly are Not the same anymore! It is critical to know your Leo’s! Where does your county sherrif stand‽ He is the highest authority in your county. Stop and talk to any officer who is not doing an enforcement action,be brief,respectful and unobtrusive. Let them know that you support them,but you can find out how they think about the situation we are in. Situational awareness is always critical. Know before you blow!

[@ragnarlothbrok9133]

Good summary on what we need to immediately recognized. Under stress these skills are critical. When walking down the street or out in public places you can practice this technique so that it becomes second nature. Practice all year as clothing changes might make things like badge recognition tough if there is a jacket obscuring the sight line. Very objective process to start. Then move on to behavioral characteristics.

[@dalehansen5050]

@@NickFrom1228 civil war is most likely