Trainer's Bullpen

EP63 ‘Left of Bang and Situational Awareness’ with Patrick Van Horne

Summary Patrick Van Horne is the co-author of “Left of Bang” and the co-founder of The CP Journal, where he helps organizations get ahead of problems before they become emergencies. A former Marine Corps infantry officer who began his career following the September 11th attacks, Patrick has spent more than 20 years supporting public and private-sector organizations as an entrepreneur, consultant, and public servant. This episode features Patrick discusses the critical concept of Left of Bang risk management and situational awareness and its application in threat recognition, decision-making, and organizational growth. Learn how proactive awareness can sharpen early awareness, improve decision making and shape outcomes in high-stakes environments. Key Topics • Left of Bang framework and its evolution • The role of behavioral cues in threat recognition • How habits can impair awareness • Col. Coopers Color Codes of Awareness and how they apply to Left of Bang • Strategies for proactive decision-making and action • The importance of including rich context in training • How to identify dangerous anomalies that are above or below baseline normal • Organizational responses to crises: growth, survival, failure • The importance of establishing baselines and anomalies in situational awareness

EP62 ‘Task Ambiguity in Combat Shooting Environments’ with Jack Bale.

Summary: This Bullpen episode explores the severe limitations of traditional firearms training and why there is a failure of training to show up under the pressure of real-world combat environments. Jack introduces ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches as learning methods firearms trainers should consider in order to enhance real-world performance. Jack Bale shares insights from his research on task ambiguity, representative design, and how to create training environments that better prepare officers and military personnel for the chaos of combat. Key Topics: • The importance of representative design learning theory and ecological dynamics. • Combat survivability in real-world gunfights requires the skills of situational awareness, mobility, and lethality. • Task ambiguity in training is desirable because it reduces task ambiguity in the real world. • Training design principles: spacing, interleaving, variability. • Trainers must ensure training simulates real world context early in order to facilitate the emergence of functional behaviours that are needed to enhance survivability. • Trainers need to understand the difference between non-specifying and specifying information and how to incorporate this into training design. • The gap between qualification scores and real-world performance. • One of the goals of training is to create learning environments that educate and attune our student’s anticipation and attention. • Considerations for implementing a Constraints Led Approach to enhance retention and transfer of critical skills.

EP61 ‘Coaching System Reset’ with Stuart Armstrong

Summary: In this episode we hear insights from Stuart Armstrong, CEO of the Talent Equation, managing director of Future Coach, and host of the Talent Equation Podcast. Stuart challenges traditional coaching paradigms – calling it a ‘limited and fragmented’ system and he advocates for a needed systemic reset in coach education. He emphasizes ecological dynamics, nonlinear pedagogy, and the importance of adaptive, context-driven learning environments to enhance coaching effectiveness and athlete development. Key Topics: • Stuart’s long journey from traditional linear ‘performance-focussed’ athletic coach to a strong advocate for coach education and development in a nonlinear approach. • The current systemic flaws in current coaching education and why a complete ‘reset’ is needed. • Why Ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches are a powerful way of moving coaching forward. • The importance of nonlinear pedagogy for adult learning. • All training and learning should begin with the specific context within which any skill is going to be required. • The ‘funnel’ concept of applying context and variability to find the ‘sweet spot’ for learning. • Talent identification and development of coaches and performers. • How to think about the necessary systemic change and grassroots movement in coaching. • Don’t ‘boil the ocean’; How to approach making changes that can help reset the coaching system More Resources! Future Coach: https://futurecoach.uk/ The Talent Equation: https://www.thetalentequation.co.uk/ The Talent Equation Podcast: https://www.thetalentequation.co.uk/podcasts

EP60 ‘From Second Degree Murder to Exonerated — But Changed Forever’ with Officer Jordan MacWilliams

Summary: Imagine you are an Emergency Response Team member responding to a hostage rescue call at a crowded casino parking lot. The hostage is rescued. Shots are fired. A life is lost. Now imagine that as a police officer, did your job as trained with tactical excellence—only to be charged with second-degree murder two years later. Today’s guest didn’t just rescue a hostage and survive a lethal-force encounter. He survived a negligent investigation by the independent oversight agency and he survived the courtroom. Yet, the personal consequences of this experience left him forever profoundly changed. In this compelling interview, Officer Jordan McWilliams shares his profound experience of a hostage rescue incident, the subsequent investigation, and the lessons learned about use of force, officer wellness, and accountability. Discover the realities of tactical operations, the importance of mental preparedness, and how police oversight is evolving. Jordan MacWilliams shares his profound journey through a police shooting incident, the subsequent legal battles, and the lessons learned about mental health, accountability, and organizational change. This episode offers invaluable insights for law enforcement professionals on handling critical incidents and fostering resilience. *Note for listeners* This interview contains some brief interruptions due to technical issues, please be patient and just let play through. Key Topics • Jordan’s backstory – how, and why, I became a cop • Hostage rescue operation at the Starlight Casino • Mental and physical preparedness for tactical officers • The negligence of the oversight investigation and failure to understand basic human factors led to a charge for second degree murder • The role and purpose of video evidence was wrongly understood and applied which led the investigation seriously astray • Lessons learned about officer wellness and accountability and the Impact of police shootings on mental health • Organizational response to critical incidents – lessons of what not to do and what to do to support your officers • Training implications – the importance of going ‘beyond tactics’ to build anti-fragility in your officers • Legal processes and oversight in law enforcement • Post-traumatic growth and resilience – Officers have to take charge of their physical and mental wellness • Role of leadership and support in recovery

EP59 ‘Revolutionizing Police Training with Microdosing and Tactical Decision Games’ with Chief James ‘Jay’ Gerace

Summary: Chief Jay Gerace of the Town of Colonie (NY) Police Department shares his innovative microdosing training model, integrating tactical decision games and skill-based practice into daily briefings to enhance officer decision-making, confidence, and operational readiness. Key Topics: • Traditional ‘block’ training results in the worst retention and transfer of policing knowledge and skill • The science of learning provides undeniable evidence for a spaced and interleaved approach to cognitive and practical skill training. • The Town of Colonie Police Department conducted a 13-week ‘micro-dosing’ training session. • Micro-Dosing consisted of weekly sessions approximately 20 minutes in length. • Micro-Dosing topics chosen were critical cognitive knowledge (rules, policies and authorities), practical skills (weapons, radios, first aid), and decision-making skills. • Implementation of tactical decision games was the method used to enhance decision making capability. • The skill of the training facilitator in using Socratic feedback is essential for creating a trusting and positive learning environment. • Impact of small, frequent training sessions on officer confidence and decision-making across all metrics was improved significantly. • Post training effectiveness evaluation was conducted by the independent John F Finn Institute for Public Safety • Agency leaders should strongly consider the power of consistent , short ‘micro-dosing’ training sessions to improve officer skill and decision making on the street.