When it comes to close-quarters battle (CQB) and home defense, most people instinctively think that closing doors will keep them safer. But is that always true? What if an open door could actually work to your advantage?
In our recent training session, we set up a simple exercise: two people trying to clear a space behind a false wall. With just one barricade in the room, the task seemed straightforward. But as soon as we added an open door leading into another space, things got significantly more challenging. Suddenly, every movement exposed new angles, making it much harder to maintain control over the environment.
Now imagine adding a second open door behind you. You’re no longer just focusing on the main room—you’re also trying to manage threats from multiple directions. The more angles that open up, the more complex the problem becomes. And this complexity is exactly what can work for you in a home defense situation.
When it comes to close-quarters battle (CQB) and home defense, many people assume they’re one and the same. While there are parallels, these two concepts have different applications that every responsible citizen should understand.
CQB is a team-based approach to clearing a structure and moving toward an objective—whether that’s rescuing a hostage or eliminating a threat. The key takeaway here is teamwork; trained personnel move together to clear spaces and control angles effectively.
Home defense, on the other hand, is a completely different challenge. Searching for a bad guy in your own home by yourself is highly dangerous because covering all angles alone is impossible. In many cases, setting up an ambush position and waiting for an intruder to enter your area of control is a far more effective strategy than trying to clear your house solo.
However, understanding CQB fundame...
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Last email you were encouraged to assess your own home for vulnerabilities and advantages from a home protection/defense standpoint. While we are not using your home, I hope you are able to apply the same concepts to today's scenario.
Scenario: It's 2:30 AM. You and your spouse are asleep in the master suite when you're awakened by a noise coming from the entry area. Your two children (ages 8 and 10) are asleep in Bedrooms 2 and 3. You suspect an intruder has entered your home through the front door.
Starting positions:
Questions:
In our latest video excerpt from the Full Spectrum Warriors Protectors Summit, we dive into the world of home defense tactics for couples. This segment, taken from our Couples Home Defense training, offers invaluable insights for those new to home defense and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) techniques.
Key Points Covered:
One key takeaway from the video is the concept of "opening doors." Contrary to the instinct to hide behind closed doors, we explain why o...
This is part of the Fundamentals of Home Protection Series on the FSW Training University.
Members of the FSW can check out the complete series here.
Not yet a member? Join now and get instant access to this course as well as the rest of the FSW training library.
Should you clear your home solo?
Structure clearing is all an angles game. Having a team helps your blind spots. If you are by yourself with a possible bad guy in your home, it may be better to set up an ambush position and let them come to you.
For more on home defense, members of the FSW should complete the Home Defense Series on the Training Platform.
Not yet a member? Consider joining the FSW Online University and get instant access to the complete training library.
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Does clearing your home solo always the best tactical decision?
Of course not.
Sometimes its better to set up in an ambush position.
For the actual one-man clearing, members can check out the rest of the Home Defense Series on the FSW University.
If you would like to join the FSW University, sign up here.
In today's tip, Rich covers what to do for home intruder prevention.
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In this video, Rich covers what type of ammo he uses for his home defense AR15 and how he arranges it in his mag.
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