Why Law Enforcement Snipers Need to Train for Moving Targets
- Jose Medina
- ARTICLES
When most people think of a law enforcement sniper, they picture someone calm and composed, taking the perfect shot from hundreds of yards away. What many don’t realize is that in the real world, targets don’t sit still. They move, they change directions, they hide, and that changes everything.
For police snipers, being able to hit a stationary target is just the beginning. Real-world situations are fast-moving and unpredictable. Whether it is an active shooter on the move or a barricaded suspect repositioning behind cover, the ability to track and engage a moving target is a must-have skill.
Hitting a moving threat isn’t just about aim, it’s about reading the environment, estimating speed and trajectory, and pulling the trigger at exactly the right movement. That’s not something you can master at the flat range. It takes focused training, stress inoculation, and lots of reps under realistic conditions.
Departments that invest in this kind of training give their sniper teams a critical edge. Moving target drills help develop the shooter’s ability to lead targets, adjust for the changing angles, and start mentally sharp when the pressure is on. It also builds confidence, because nothing replaces the experience of making a tough shot under simulated real-world stress. The bottom line? In today’s world, law enforcement snipers need more than precision; They need adaptability. And that starts with training for the kind of targets they’re most likely to face in the field: the ones that don’t stay put.
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About The Author
Jose Medina
Jose L. Medina is currently a 27-year veteran of Law Enforcement and 17-year owner of Awareness Protective Consultants, doing business as Team APC and Medina Tactical Dynamics. Jose has an extensive background in training and consulting for various groups such as Law Enforcement, Schools, and Corporate Industries. Jose Medina and his team at Awareness Protective Consultants LLC (Team APC USA) have traveled, trained, lectured, and consulted throughout the world from Canada to Asia. Jose Medina can be reached at 732-259-4185, WEB or Medina@apc360zone.com.
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