Why Training Matters: In Life and in Stuttering

Last Friday, I attended “Sim” training for the Police Department. This is simulated reality training where officers train in mock scenarios using paintball guns to practice responding to violent and rapidly changing situations. One of the scenarios involved an armed barricaded subject in a house. I responded with two other officers. I was on the handle side of the front door, while the other officers were on the hinge side. In a numbered response, the order of command follows the order of arrival. Officer 1 was on scene first, followed by officer 2, and I was officer 3. As soon as officer 1 signaled that our staging was ready, I slammed the door open, and we entered. I cut right, and the other officers cut left. The subject opened fire from a bedroom around the corner, striking the first entry officer in the chest. Pink paint splattered across his vest and mask, and he immediately went down.

My reaction was instant. I called “officer down” over the radio and positioned myself at a hallway corner where I could just barely see the doorway. The second officer moved up behind the downed officer and pointed his weapon around the same corner. More backup arrived, and the entryway became chaotic. Even in that three-minute standoff, my mind was racing: “Is my gun chambered? Is the safety off? Is my foot exposed? Why is this mask fogging up? Do I have good cover?” Despite all of these thoughts, my training kicked in, and my first priority was clear: get the injured officer out of the line of fire. This is the point of Sim training. It mimics real-life stress and danger without endangering anyone. You don’t memorize everything on a written test, but when adrenaline hits, your training dictates your response.

This brings me to stuttering. In a recent WSSA Speech Anxiety Masters meeting, there was a discussion about what to do when a PWS hits a block and “draws a blank.” Panic sets in immediately, just like the fight, flight, or freeze response. When a PWS hits a block, they either freeze or pull from what they’ve been trained to do. This is why mind training is crucial. The Crutches must become second nature, ingrained through daily repetition. I do my mind training twice a day, and before any heightened speaking situation, I review the 13 Crutches and relevant autosuggestions. This constant reinforcement ensures that when a block occurs, the response is automatic and effective.

One of my favorite quotes applies perfectly to both stuttering and high-stakes situations like clearing a house:

“You will not rise to the occasion; you will fall to your training.” At the end of the training, we successfully neutralized the mock threat. The walls were covered in paint, and a couple of officers walked around with pink-splattered body armor—but we all walked away safer, better trained, and more confident in our skills. The same principle applies to stuttering: consistent, deliberate practice builds confidence, control, and fluency under pressure.