Col. Jeff Cooper: The Combat Mindset

**ForwardAssist** · August 10th, 2010, 08:59 PM

Colonel Jeff Cooper. Some might call him the father of modern combat pistol craft. He's notable for distilling the "four rules of firearm safety", and for defining "The Cooper Combat Mindset Color Codes", and "conditions of carry".

Condition Four: Chamber empty, no magazine, hammer down.
Condition Three: Chamber empty, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition Two: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.
Condition Zero: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety off.

Cooper advocated four basic rules of gun safety

1.All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
2.Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)
3.Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule. Its violation is directly responsible for about 60 percent of inadvertent discharges.
4.Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified.

White - Unaware and unprepared. If attacked in Condition White, the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy or ineptitude of your attacker. When confronted by something nasty, your reaction will probably be "Oh my God! This can't be happening to me."
Yellow - Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself." You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary. You use your eyes and ears, and realize that "I may have to SHOOT today." You don't have to be armed in this state, but if you are armed you should be in Condition Yellow. You should always be in Yellow whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings or among people you don't know. You can remain in Yellow for long periods, as long as you are able to "Watch your six." (In aviation 12 o'clock refers to the direction in front of the aircraft's nose. Six o'clock is the blind spot behind the pilot.) In Yellow, you are "taking in" surrounding information in a relaxed but alert manner, like a continuous 360 degree radar sweep. As Cooper put it, "I might have to shoot."
Orange - Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has gotten your attention. Your radar has picked up a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat (but you do not drop your six). Your mindset shifts to "I may have to shoot HIM today," focusing on the specific target which has caused the escalation in alert status. In Condition Orange, you set a mental trigger: "If that goblin does 'x', I will need to stop him." Your pistol usually remains holstered in this state. Staying in Orange can be a bit of a mental strain, but you can stay in it for as long as you need to. If the threat proves to be nothing, you shift back to Condition Yellow.
Red - Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger (established back in Condition Orange) has been tripped. If "X" happens I will shoot that person.

He's also the founder of Gunsite Ranch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper

In this video, Cooper presents the Compressed Surprise Break.

In this one, Cooper presents his theories on the mentality of combat.

He's no longer with us, but he's left a legacy behind.

**PA Traveler** · August 10th, 2010, 10:06 PM

Thank you for posting this. That second clip is (to me at least) a fascinating speech. I wish I knew what organization (audience) he was speaking to. Good post!

ETA: Apparently the organization was "Doctors For Disaster Preparedness"... although the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons was mentioned... but on a side note, I just finished viewing the speech in its entirety. How I wish I could have met the man. We are all poorer for his passing.

**Swarner793** · August 10th, 2010, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by PA Traveler

I wish I knew what organization (audience) he was speaking to. Good post!

Doctors for Disater Preparedness http://www.ddponline.org it was in the beginning of the video.

Be safe (and prepared).

Scott

**ForwardAssist** · August 10th, 2010, 10:46 PM

You're very welcome. I figured that the older guys knew of Cooper, but some of the younger guys probably don't.

He's such a big part of the evolution of combat hand-gunning that I feel everyone should at least know who he is because we've all benefited from him.

When I teach a new gun owner I don't move past Cooper's "four rules of firearms safety" until I've drilled them ad naseum. If I'm teaching someone who will go on to carry, I always stress the color codes. Carry conditions, everyone should understand them in order to carry their particular firearm responsibly.

But the biggest thing is the four rules. If you can get someone to strictly adhere to them under all circumstances you've built a responsible gun owner.

**jon'76** · August 24th, 2010, 07:54 PM

I am surprised at the lack of activity on this thread. I am one of the younger guys, and I am a firm and utter supporter of Cooper. As of now I am saving up to purchase his book collection in it's entirety, and have added the above speech to my Cooper archive. We have no voice like Cooper left in the 2A community and we are far poorer for his loss.

I have more to say and will chime in a bit later.