​Tueller Drill – Rule or Not

In 1983 an officer with the Salt Lake City police department conducted an awareness exercise. This exercise is commonly taught as the “21 Foot Rule.” Officer Tueller intended to increase his officer’s awareness on how quick a threat could close that distance. It was such a graphic epiphany that his demonstration took on a life of its own and became a rule.

Let’s look at reaction times. Tueller demonstrated that it took an average officer 1.5 seconds to draw and engage a target at 21 feet. An average man can close the same distance in 1.5 seconds. Clearly by the time the officer has drawn his firearm the threat is likely within arm’s reach.

I was an aircrew member when serving on active duty in the Air Force. We practiced emergency procedures regularly. We had to write down the first few steps of several emergencies, known as bold print. This had to be 100% error free to include punctuation. Every six months we had a two-day simulator session where we practiced every potential aircraft emergency. The goal is to solidify the neural pathways (AKA muscle memory) so that when we experienced an emergency, we reacted without being required to think about it.

With this level of training, we still had a 3 to 5 second reaction time. That means it takes 3 to 5 seconds to recognize the emergency and begin the mitigation steps. That sounds like a fast reaction time. However, the Tueller drill is illustrating only 1.5 seconds of time.

If highly a trained aircrew take 3 to 5 seconds to react what about the average concealed carrier? Is the mythical 21 feet enough. Some police departments have tested it and found that it may be as much as 50 feet.

I discuss the Tueller drill in my classes. I sometimes have the students practice it. I ran experienced the drill in one of my NRA certification classes. We had a runner behind us with a hand on our shoulder. We were facing a target and had a concealed firearm with live ammunition. When the runner removed the hand from our shoulder we were to draw and shoot twice at the target. On the first shot the runner dropped a water bottle. On the second shot the runner stopped.

After the second shot we re-holstered and turned around. We could see how close the runner would have been when we shot. I acknowledge that the paper target wasn’t moving. While some adrenaline was there, I wasn’t in fear for my life. Not passing the test, yes, but no real fear. I beat the 21-foot drill. Not everyone does. My beating the somewhat benign drill doesn’t ensure I can do the same when the threat is real and presenting lethal force. It did make me more confident that I could react in time.

I teach my students that they must find their “21 feet.” They must find that distance where they can react in time to stop a threat. It may be 21 feet, or shorter, it could be 50 feet. This distance can also vary depending upon conditions. Obstacles between you and the threat can give you more time.

Officer Tueller did a good job in creating an awareness of how quick a threat can close distances. This certainly saves officer lives. The unintended consequence of his training demonstration turning into a rule is unfortunate. People who follow it a rule without considering the possibility that the threat may close a 50-foot distance in less time than they can react may be in peril.

Think of my aircrew example. It takes highly trained professionals 3 to 5 seconds to recognize and react to an emergency. At the low end of 3 seconds a threat could be able to close twice the distance as Officer Tueller suggested or 42 feet.

Unless the threat is obvious the thalamus, amygdala and hippocampus may take time to convince the big brain you have an issue. This is probably where the aircrew 3 to 5 seconds comes from. While you are deciding that you are being faced with an actual threat the threat may be closing the distance and eating up your reaction time window.

You mitigate this by fighting off the “this can’t be what I think it is” reaction. This is best done by always being in Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper’s awareness condition Yellow. That does not mean a state of paranoia, merely a state of awareness of what is going on around you at all times.
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 In addition to heightened awareness, you need to practice your draw and present. Each day, after getting dressed, you need to do dry fire practice. With no ammunition in the area, and a cleared firearm, practice drawing from concealed. Practice to the low ready position to be ready for engaging a threat. Practice until you are at low ready in 1.5 seconds or less. Once you are proficient at drawing and presenting practice it a few times each day.