After Action Report - Simunitions training rocked! You'd be amazed at how much different it is with someone screaming and firing at you. Pistols were modified Glocks, w/ Blackhawk holsters. Unfamiliar territory for me, but it was OK.
We went through 24 different scenarios, ranging from innocuous bystanders to out and out 'we gonna shoot you sucka!' ones.
I personally had one where I had no choice but to fire, and was hampered by a bystander getting between me and one of the robbers. Shot the other one who was trying to sneak up on my side, got back to safety w/o firing at the farther one. 3 shots on the move, one solid hit, one near miss, one high (grip angle issue for me at 10 yds). My other two were a robbery already in progress, could see the BG through the glass and the owner with his hands in the air. Did not enter, retreated keeping my eye on both the corner of the 'store' and the possible accomplice near the other corner. Third scenario one guy waited outside the store readind a newspaper, passed him on the way in. No weapon showing, another guy walked by flipping me the bird with both hands. Guy reading the paper was going to rob me on exit, but I saw him move a hand from the paper and I bladed to him and the finger fella, kept them both in sight until the instructor called the scenario. Instructor said it was the first time that scenario wasn't a successful robbery. Guy playing the robber said he changed his mind because of the awareness and didn't feel like getting shot - everyone previous to this dismissed him as harmless and exposed their back as they passed.
Some other scenarios were - in a store, guy with a knife rushes in and by our man and threatens a bystander with 'if I hear you're near my wife again, I'll come back and kill you!' Bad news, our guy shot him. Good news, our guy is 83 years old, so a life sentence isn't really that long...
Man down in the street, another guy comes screaming at our guy to call for an ambulance while pulling a cell phone put of his pocket. *Comment* The blissfully ignorant are constantly reaching into their pockets around us for no apparent reason, or taking objects out of their pockets w/in close proximity. They have no idea what condition that puts us into...
Two guys open carrying talking guns and draw techniques, complete w/ motions (not too smart, but stupidity isn't a reason to shoot) but no drawing.
Belligerent people, drunks, joggers causing issues both around the stores. Guys trying to sell us stuff, or ask directions.
The instructors said all in all, we were by far the best and most alert branch in the company they've run this with. And, yes, I shot the boss - we did a "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" show down at the end. Hit him square in the left nipple... that's gonna hurt for a while!
If you get the chance to do this, I highly recommend it. Should run about $200 a session, but it will show you your strengths and weaknesses under stress. It's a lot different when those around you can react and cause issues - static (or even moving) inanimate objects just don't simulate real live people and things whizzing at you.