Compliance of the educational content in the subject “Firearms training” with the requirements of competency-based approach

Introduction. A new educational paradigm caused review and change of all the elements of the educational system. The authors consider whether the content of education on the subject “Firearms Training” at educational institutions of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs complies with the requirements of the competency-based approach. The article comprises the study of peculiarities of using the service weapon by law enforcement officers. Materials and Methods. To identify the factors influencing law enforcement officer's decision to use the weapon a poll among current police officers was conducted (n=101 respondents), the respondents having advanced training courses at the Professional Training Faculty of the Omsk Academy of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Results and Discussion. The content of the 2017 Guidance on Firearms Training was analyzed in regard to its compliance with the requirements of the competency-based approach. The results of the survey conducted among current police officers enable the authors to reveal the factors influencing the decision to use the weapon. The content of the education in firearms training field focuses on the development of technical component of the professional competence related to lawful and effective usage of weapon, and tactics of using the weapon under strict regulation of fulfilling the exercises provided by 2017 Guidance on Firearms Training is practically not formed. Conclusions. At the final stage of learning the subject “Firearms Training” it is also reasonable to introduce non-regulated exercises where independent decisions of using the weapon are developed, and complex exercises with utmost creation of real conditions of using the weapon by law enforcement officers.