Sorry, Conspiracists, the Temple Index Position is a Real Thing

Unfortunately I found myself on the ol’ social medias following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner fiasco, and I was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) to see so dang many comments focused on one Secret Service agent’s use of the “temple index” pistol ready position. Ranging from “that idiot has no idea what he’s doing” to “he’s clearly an actor, nobody holds their gun like that” to “I’m an operator and I’ve trained with blah blah blah for 18 years,,,this and that and this is fake and proves the assassination attempt was staged.”

But they’re all wrong.

The temple index is, in fact, “a thing,” as the kids say. In the video above, I briefly provided my “hot take” on these conspiracy theories.

I don’t know which U.S. agencies or units train the temple index and for which scenarios, but the “low ready” position of holding one’s pistol generally in front of the belly and pointed in front of the toes is not the only way to do it and it’s also not the best way in certain circumstances. In crowded environments or close confines, temple index is often the best option.

For instance: you’re moving through a crowd of people, you’re in a stack of team members clearing a structure, you’re going down stairs with people in front of you, you’re in a vehicle, you’re a bodyguard in close to your protectee or even grabbing him/her with one hand (PSD/PPD), etc. There are times when the low ready means you’re flagging bystanders’ or teammates’ legs (or worse), or the confines are so tight that your pistol is receiving contact or your ability to raise it into action is blocked.

Position sul moves the pistol a bit higher on your body and nearly flat against the base of the sternum, pointed either straight down with the muzzle pointing barely in front of the toes or pointing off to your weak side just outside of your weak side foot. It’s safer for crowded environments, but it’s a bit awkward. It makes it harder to run, crouch, maneuver in general, doesn’t always work safely when seated, and can be an issue for presenting the gun if you’re close to a person in front of you.

Close retention is out for a scenario with bystanders. You can’t flag ’em all.

From some experience I’ve had, I know the Israelis train temple index as their default ready position. I’ve been told that many other LEO/MIL groups around the world train it as their go-to as well. It works just fine in most scenarios, including running, crouching, and otherwise maneuvering between cover, in and out of vehicles, in a stack of people, pushing through crowds, etc. It just isn’t very common in the U.S.

As for this particular Secret Service agent who was walking around outside the hotel telling people to get back and holding his pistol in the temple index position the entire time . . . maybe he had recently come through a crowd of people or other close contact situation and he didn’t want to lower his pistol until he had to. I don’t know. I don’t know what Secret Service training entails and in which scenarios they train temple index (if any).

BUT…as for the online conspiracy theories and know-it-alls . . . no, there is nothing wrong with this, it isn’t a made-up thing invented by this particular guy because he’s inexperienced or “an actor” or anything like that.

Temple index is a real thing and it’s very useful in certain circumstances.