yasnevo
Member
Name of Course: High Risk Civilian Contractor Course
www.tacticalresponse.com/courses/contractor.php
Training Org: Tactical Response Inc
Location: Camden, TN
Lead Instructor: James Yeager
Assistant Instructor: Tim Spakowski
Date: June 27-July 1, 2005
Weather Conditions: Hot, humid, but not unbearable
June 27, 2005, Day One
Started off with a meeting over breakfast at a local café, after which we moved to the range in Camden. Since Day one was primarily pistol, some felt that they were going to be able to get by and just wear their pistols & magazine pouches. However, Yeager promptly reminded us that PSD work is PSD work and that we all need to wear all our gear, period. So, we all jocked up and stepped to the line. A safety briefing was given and it was drummed into us what the 4 safety rules were. The course was going to be dynamic and everyone had to understand, in no uncertain terms the safety rules and follow them. Right away the students with medic experience were identified, Yeager’s medic bags were staged right by them... after an inspection of the bags by the medics, both bags were very well stocked and the one I checked out, Yeager told me that it was packed by an 18D. A plan was made in the event that if something happened to one of the students, a vehicle was staged with keys in the ignition and pointing toward the exit to get the injured party out and to the medical facility ASAP.
Day One was primarily a test to see where everyone one was as far as pistol skill set was concerned. Yeager and his Adjunct Instructor Tim Spakowski walked the line and coached as necessary. On the line there were the following pistols: Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 21, Ruger P89, Springfield Arms TRP .45 (1911 full-size, don’t remember the model number) and a Beretta M92. Vests and gear products consisted of a bunch of the well known gear makers out there, Blackhawk, Eagle, Paraclete, and High Speed Gear, et al. Holsters were Safariland 6004, Blackhawk drop leg, Spec-Ops Drop leg with Kydex insert holster, COMP-TAC Kydex paddle holster and even a Fobus holster. Clothing consisted of mostly 5.11 pants but I did see some Cabella’s brand cargo pants and Columbia cargo pants. Shirts were mostly just t-shirts but there were also some 5.11 button-up shirts as well as a couple of Columbia shirts.
Training was fast paced. We started off with standing in place and quickly progressed to shooting on the move. We then progressed to moving with a shooter in the lead and partner holding onto the drag handle on the back of most of the vests with the rear partner holding his pistol in a hard SUL position. Movement was forward, backward, left and right. Next, the instructor and just one student, after making his pistol ready...would be jostled about by the instructor and still have to engage the targets...and yes, get ????ing hits on the steel. It was challenging, but not impossible to do. This was the beginning of the stress inoculation that we all got heaping doses of all week. We did strong hand only, then weak hand only. Then we did shooting from the strong hand, and then switched to the weak hand...one shot each. Several magazines were shot doing this drill. We were not just shooting to shoot, we were expected to get hits and if we didn’t we were ‘coached’ ever so gently by Yeager. Day one lasted for a while. It was like 11 or 12 hours I can’t remember, but there was little down time. What down time there was... we hydrated, loaded mags, hydrated and got to the line to shoot.
June 28, 2005, Day Two
Day two was the rifle day and we started off with the most important subject of the day... the safety briefing. Med packs staged, car positioned... we were ready to get to work. Rifles I saw were a mixture of Colt, Bushmaster, Rock River, DPMS, Cetme (broke), Century L1A1 (broke without firing a shot), a Vulcan Arms AK (first single shot AK I saw, ever), and a Romanian AK in 7.62x39mm. What was funny, or tragic...depending how you look at it, was the three guns that either broke or didn’t work were all from the same student. So, before you attend a course like this...make sure your gear and guns work, and not to the level of shooting 100 rounds at your local range. Make sure you can trust your weapon to work as it should and can fire thousands of rounds during a course. Optics consisted of Aimpoint or ...a Smit & Bender scope counter-sniper scope... wow; I have now seen it all. We were learning how to do PSD work so, get all the gear on to do PSD work. Same as yesterday, the training was fast paced. We all did the dot drill with our rifles using the DEA-DOTCB targets. First it was one round on dot #1 then it was 3 rounds on dot #3, 5 rounds on #5, etc, etc, etc. Training quickly progressed to transitions to the handgun when the carbine went down for various reasons...being either ammo or mechanical reasons. Next, we did some team tactics similar to Day One where there was a shooter and a partner, with the partner holding on to the drag handle with his carbine in a one handed SUL position and we moved forward, backward, left and right all the while the shooter was engaging his targets and his partner checking forward, back, and left for any threats that could appear. This was more stress inoculation to get folks used to the sound of gunfire, while moving in a fluid and dynamic environment. Next we did some team stacks with the team moving forward with about 4 people in tow behind a shooter... once the shooter got to a certain spot, he would peel back and the next shooter would engage... so on and so forth. Next, a shoot alley was set up with a total of about 6-7 targets... 3 or 4 on both sides... and the shooter was to walk up the middle and engage the targets with 5 rounds. Me, being the dumbass paratrooper I am (once a Para always a Para)... engaged with 3. Yeager made a point of addressing my failure to follow directions. Next time I was sure to engage with 5 rounds. This meant that you would run dry and you had to transition to your handgun and finish the run. This made total and complete sense to me because many departments and military units teach to engage a target with double taps or with 3 rds and then move on. It is entirely possible in a combat scenario to hit a target with 2 or 3 solid hits, move on and have the target take you out as you pass because 3 rounds were not enough. So, shoot ‘em to the ground. Also, noted were some of the students were duck walking or whatever and their muzzles were bouncing like a low-rider’s hydraulic system and they were not getting their hits. Soon, with a little coaching from the instructors, and Yeager, this issue was fixed and we moved on to the next subject.
We did the MISS Melt Down drill... which is one shot from the carbine, safe the carbine, let it hang, transition to the pistol, fire the pistol, holster, snap the holster retention strap, go to rifle... repeat this process for...oh, I can’t remember but it was a couple of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mags. All of the types of malfunctions were covered...from what they look like to how to fix them. Then we did the Rhythmic shooting and it was fun... but man, I have to work on this subject more...what this was all about was there were three steel targets. We were to engage each target with three rounds, getting 3 hits moving to each target with no interruption in the fire tempo. It’s hard to explain in print, but it’s even more difficult to do. But, after a few repetitions everyone was on getting it...sort of. I admit, I got it a few times right, but I got it wrong more than I got it right. It was a challenge and I love challenges. We then covered the Australian Peel and bounding over-watch. This was totally excellent and the training here answered all of the questions I had on this subject. Lastly, we shot some low-light scenarios. Note to self... get a Surefire light mount for my M4. Recommendation... if you don’t have superior weapon system, like a Glock with the integrated rails to accept a light, like the superior M3...well, you will wish you did. The Surefire X200 seemed to work well and it seemed to illuminate the targets well. Day two ended and we all retired to our places of slumber and... slept.
June 29, 2005, Day Three
We then went over some slides that Yeager took while in Iraq. They were fascinating and something you will not see by watching the evening news. After a short rest (taken when we were viewing the slides, we drove out to the Camden range again and went to the far range...to a place that is fondly called “Iraq with grass”, which consisted of a flattish-like valley with grass then gradually sloping up.... then getting pretty steep. All along the way, there are blown to ???? car hulks and God knows what else was there. Near the top... but not near enough from the top (hehehe) there were 3 metal targets. The first drills we practiced assaulting up the hill to the targets using available cover whether it be a car hulk, hot water heater, or whatever. Other times, we had to use the available terrain depression to go into and take cover, fire at the metal targets. We started with a team of two people... then we went to 4, then we went to 8 people in teams of 4. It was pretty cool. The main thing to remember out of this lesson and to keep in mind in any you take this class is that communication key. Shoot, move, communicate. Don’t yell a command once and expect your team mates to hear you... yell several times. Hand signals, if they are coordinated and understood by all. Radios... well, you often times just cannot hear them over the din of combat in what is called auditory exclusion. After running the course a few times all these quirks were worked out and we started to build together a as a team.
June 30, 2005, Day 4
Day 4 was the medical portion. I heard a rumor before the Contractor Class even started that Hugh Coffee... the author of Ditch Medicine (www.paladin-press.com/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=hugh coffee), was going to teach this block. My INTEL was good because he sure did. Hugh has been involved in EMS in the state of Georgia and around the world for the past 20 plus years, but his wife says its closer to 30 years. He has been on MED Missions to Guatemala, Sudan, Kenya, and the list goes on. He developed a block of instruction for the Tactical Response High Risk Civilian Contractor Course specifically with PSD work in mind. Taking into account information Hugh has got from in theatre SOF operators, other contractors, and Yeager’s own experiences. Let me say this, because I am not going to go into ever topic covered... but Hugh Coffee ran over every trauma related subject I covered in my EMT and IEMT course I took years ago. He did it in a manner where the whole class was captivated and no one was bitching about not taking breaks. Questions by the students were damn good ones. Jeff Randall (www.jungletraining.com) was also in attendance as the photographer for an up coming article for SWAT Magazine and Jeff has years of experience in South American jungles. Jeff was able to add to what Hugh was telling us about third world care and what a PSD operator or even someone traveling outside of the US should have with them. Hugh demonstrated various trauma bandages and what I think was absolutely amazing was the Quikclot demo... holy ????, Batman... that stuff gets hot when it hits liquid... Again, I am not going to go into detail here and state what Hugh went over here step by step but the material was good relevant data and it was delivered in such a way everyone knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what to do and how to do it to help a team mate if the need arises. On a side note... I had Hugh take a look at the medical blow out kit I had on my gear. I have a pouch with the following: 2 small Quikclot s, EMT shears, SOF Tourniquet, small plastic bag with alcohol swabs, band aides, topical ointment, 1 army OD trauma bandage, 1 thick gauze bandage, and roll of medical tape. Hugh suggested also including a couple of the Israeli bandages in my kit...of which I already ordered...together with Hugh’s book and video from Paladin Press. It was hard to believe how long the med block went... but the class was simply fascinating and damit Yeager, I want more! After the class we all adjourned to Yeager’s house for some burgers and beer and to pick Hugh’s brain more... of which I did. So, the Med Block for me was like 14 hours!
July 1, 2005. Day 5
The morning of Day 5, the last day in the program I was thinking where in the hell the other 4 days had gone. We had all worked our asses off, but it went by so fast it was hard to imagine. The training was good up to this point and it was about to get better. Today was vehicle tactics. Man, again, I am not going to go into complete detail here, but what we did was something like this:
In some old, heavily used cars...2 sedans and 1 compact we trained in teams of 4, 1 driver, 3 passengers. We learned zones of observation for each person, duties inside the car, if the threat is from one area, un-ass the car, while team mates provide fire. Shooting through auto glass at targets to the front, left and right sides. It was an eye opening experience. While shooting from inside a car outside, the bullet doesn’t always go where you think it should...again... take the class and see for yourself, it’s amazing and very relevant information whether you are working PSD work or driving in your own town in Hometown, USA. Also, shooting a 5.56 caliber rifle from inside a car... well, let’s just say it was exhilarating, especially if your rifle has a Y-Comp on it!!! We did more Aussie peels from the vehicles to places of cover in teams of 4 people and then in 2 teams of 4 people each. Next we did shooting from moving vehicle on steel targets. Note to self, thank heaven you (I) were smart enough to buy an Aimpoint optic for your rifle! I tried one run with just my back up iron sight without the Aimpoint turned on, just to see what it would be like... being jostled about in the back of the truck and trying to get hits on steel targets 35 yards away was not easy for me and often not even possible. So, if you can’t make hits, make noise. So, on went the Aimpoint for the next subsequent runs. Yeager recommends the EOTECH electronic sight and I can see why. With the heads-up like gun sight the EOTECH has, which is an outer ring with a smaller dot in the middle, the shooter is able to enclose the target within the larger outer ring and get some serious hits and kick some major ass with that sight. Note to self... get an EOTECH now that Tactical Response is now a distributor of EOTECH sights. Next simulation was all of the three cars in line, one behind the other and we would simulate being a QRF in the back of an available vehicle, say a pick-up. The vehicle commander, in the front of the pick-up would call out which vehicle had hostiles in it via a radio to a team leader in the back and all would engage the hostile vehicle. Again, communication here was key.
Right at about 17:15 hrs, Yeager told us we had completed the course. He then said that according to the time logs he kept, we had worked more 60+ hours in the course. Honestly, watches in Tennessee must keep time different than they do elsewhere. No, really, I know we did 60+ hours because I kept watch on the time myself.
It was hard to believe that on Monday most struggled with some of the material and by Friday we all were working like a new G-Shock Casio watch...It was simply awesome to watch the progress that was made and how we all gelled into a cohesive team.
Recommendations:
1.Make sure your guns work. Do not show up to class, any class for that matter with stuff that will not work. If your rifle worked for the first 100 rounds at your local range, Murphy’s Law will dictate that it will be broke when you arrive for your class. Test you stuff, make sure it all works and have confidence in your weapons.
2.Gear, do not buy black gear as in tactical vests, chest rigs etc. Holsters, well, 6004’s now come in tan and OD so you can get away from the black mall ninja look. Black gear stands out like you cannot imagine and plus it’s hot as hell to wear. Know your gear and were the pouches are... there is nothing like watching folks dig for ???? in their gear because they do not know were they stuffed their ????.
3.Clothes... make sure they are loose and comfortable. It doesn’t have to be 5.11’s, but something like 5.11’s will sure make your life easier... when it comes to putting stuff in the cargo pockets. The quick dry fabrics that many clothes are made of will come in handy too... not only in Tennessee but in other locales too.
4.Eye protection, again... comfortable. They don’t have to be $100+ Oakley’s but, well; there is the cool guy factor you have to uphold out there in the world! Get good glasses, your eyes will thank you... and plus, you will look cool.
5.Hearing protection: I highly recommend the electronic stereo kind... Peltor in particular. Yes they cost a bit, but, trust me... you will thank me and others if you have them because you will be able to hear commands and the like from team mates and the instructor.
6.Elbow and Knee pads: I wore out a pair of knee pads on this course... if this is any indication of the abuse inflicted upon them... it should be a clear indication they are required if you want to preserve your knees and elbows.
7.Nomex gloves: very important when handling hot weapons and being around jagged metal, crawling around the ground. The gloves protect your hands and keep them from getting cut, scratched, poked, and burned and all the other crap that can and will happen in both a dynamic training and work environment.
8.Ammunition: reputable, reliable... enough said on that.
Closing Observations:
Do I recommend the class for all?
Yes, I do...however, please... for the sake of all your fellow students sanity and namely Yeager’s...show up with more than a NRA shooters safety course under your belt.
www.tacticalresponse.com/courses/contractor.php
Training Org: Tactical Response Inc
Location: Camden, TN
Lead Instructor: James Yeager
Assistant Instructor: Tim Spakowski
Date: June 27-July 1, 2005
Weather Conditions: Hot, humid, but not unbearable
June 27, 2005, Day One
Started off with a meeting over breakfast at a local café, after which we moved to the range in Camden. Since Day one was primarily pistol, some felt that they were going to be able to get by and just wear their pistols & magazine pouches. However, Yeager promptly reminded us that PSD work is PSD work and that we all need to wear all our gear, period. So, we all jocked up and stepped to the line. A safety briefing was given and it was drummed into us what the 4 safety rules were. The course was going to be dynamic and everyone had to understand, in no uncertain terms the safety rules and follow them. Right away the students with medic experience were identified, Yeager’s medic bags were staged right by them... after an inspection of the bags by the medics, both bags were very well stocked and the one I checked out, Yeager told me that it was packed by an 18D. A plan was made in the event that if something happened to one of the students, a vehicle was staged with keys in the ignition and pointing toward the exit to get the injured party out and to the medical facility ASAP.
Day One was primarily a test to see where everyone one was as far as pistol skill set was concerned. Yeager and his Adjunct Instructor Tim Spakowski walked the line and coached as necessary. On the line there were the following pistols: Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 21, Ruger P89, Springfield Arms TRP .45 (1911 full-size, don’t remember the model number) and a Beretta M92. Vests and gear products consisted of a bunch of the well known gear makers out there, Blackhawk, Eagle, Paraclete, and High Speed Gear, et al. Holsters were Safariland 6004, Blackhawk drop leg, Spec-Ops Drop leg with Kydex insert holster, COMP-TAC Kydex paddle holster and even a Fobus holster. Clothing consisted of mostly 5.11 pants but I did see some Cabella’s brand cargo pants and Columbia cargo pants. Shirts were mostly just t-shirts but there were also some 5.11 button-up shirts as well as a couple of Columbia shirts.
Training was fast paced. We started off with standing in place and quickly progressed to shooting on the move. We then progressed to moving with a shooter in the lead and partner holding onto the drag handle on the back of most of the vests with the rear partner holding his pistol in a hard SUL position. Movement was forward, backward, left and right. Next, the instructor and just one student, after making his pistol ready...would be jostled about by the instructor and still have to engage the targets...and yes, get ????ing hits on the steel. It was challenging, but not impossible to do. This was the beginning of the stress inoculation that we all got heaping doses of all week. We did strong hand only, then weak hand only. Then we did shooting from the strong hand, and then switched to the weak hand...one shot each. Several magazines were shot doing this drill. We were not just shooting to shoot, we were expected to get hits and if we didn’t we were ‘coached’ ever so gently by Yeager. Day one lasted for a while. It was like 11 or 12 hours I can’t remember, but there was little down time. What down time there was... we hydrated, loaded mags, hydrated and got to the line to shoot.
June 28, 2005, Day Two
Day two was the rifle day and we started off with the most important subject of the day... the safety briefing. Med packs staged, car positioned... we were ready to get to work. Rifles I saw were a mixture of Colt, Bushmaster, Rock River, DPMS, Cetme (broke), Century L1A1 (broke without firing a shot), a Vulcan Arms AK (first single shot AK I saw, ever), and a Romanian AK in 7.62x39mm. What was funny, or tragic...depending how you look at it, was the three guns that either broke or didn’t work were all from the same student. So, before you attend a course like this...make sure your gear and guns work, and not to the level of shooting 100 rounds at your local range. Make sure you can trust your weapon to work as it should and can fire thousands of rounds during a course. Optics consisted of Aimpoint or ...a Smit & Bender scope counter-sniper scope... wow; I have now seen it all. We were learning how to do PSD work so, get all the gear on to do PSD work. Same as yesterday, the training was fast paced. We all did the dot drill with our rifles using the DEA-DOTCB targets. First it was one round on dot #1 then it was 3 rounds on dot #3, 5 rounds on #5, etc, etc, etc. Training quickly progressed to transitions to the handgun when the carbine went down for various reasons...being either ammo or mechanical reasons. Next, we did some team tactics similar to Day One where there was a shooter and a partner, with the partner holding on to the drag handle with his carbine in a one handed SUL position and we moved forward, backward, left and right all the while the shooter was engaging his targets and his partner checking forward, back, and left for any threats that could appear. This was more stress inoculation to get folks used to the sound of gunfire, while moving in a fluid and dynamic environment. Next we did some team stacks with the team moving forward with about 4 people in tow behind a shooter... once the shooter got to a certain spot, he would peel back and the next shooter would engage... so on and so forth. Next, a shoot alley was set up with a total of about 6-7 targets... 3 or 4 on both sides... and the shooter was to walk up the middle and engage the targets with 5 rounds. Me, being the dumbass paratrooper I am (once a Para always a Para)... engaged with 3. Yeager made a point of addressing my failure to follow directions. Next time I was sure to engage with 5 rounds. This meant that you would run dry and you had to transition to your handgun and finish the run. This made total and complete sense to me because many departments and military units teach to engage a target with double taps or with 3 rds and then move on. It is entirely possible in a combat scenario to hit a target with 2 or 3 solid hits, move on and have the target take you out as you pass because 3 rounds were not enough. So, shoot ‘em to the ground. Also, noted were some of the students were duck walking or whatever and their muzzles were bouncing like a low-rider’s hydraulic system and they were not getting their hits. Soon, with a little coaching from the instructors, and Yeager, this issue was fixed and we moved on to the next subject.
We did the MISS Melt Down drill... which is one shot from the carbine, safe the carbine, let it hang, transition to the pistol, fire the pistol, holster, snap the holster retention strap, go to rifle... repeat this process for...oh, I can’t remember but it was a couple of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mags. All of the types of malfunctions were covered...from what they look like to how to fix them. Then we did the Rhythmic shooting and it was fun... but man, I have to work on this subject more...what this was all about was there were three steel targets. We were to engage each target with three rounds, getting 3 hits moving to each target with no interruption in the fire tempo. It’s hard to explain in print, but it’s even more difficult to do. But, after a few repetitions everyone was on getting it...sort of. I admit, I got it a few times right, but I got it wrong more than I got it right. It was a challenge and I love challenges. We then covered the Australian Peel and bounding over-watch. This was totally excellent and the training here answered all of the questions I had on this subject. Lastly, we shot some low-light scenarios. Note to self... get a Surefire light mount for my M4. Recommendation... if you don’t have superior weapon system, like a Glock with the integrated rails to accept a light, like the superior M3...well, you will wish you did. The Surefire X200 seemed to work well and it seemed to illuminate the targets well. Day two ended and we all retired to our places of slumber and... slept.
June 29, 2005, Day Three
We then went over some slides that Yeager took while in Iraq. They were fascinating and something you will not see by watching the evening news. After a short rest (taken when we were viewing the slides, we drove out to the Camden range again and went to the far range...to a place that is fondly called “Iraq with grass”, which consisted of a flattish-like valley with grass then gradually sloping up.... then getting pretty steep. All along the way, there are blown to ???? car hulks and God knows what else was there. Near the top... but not near enough from the top (hehehe) there were 3 metal targets. The first drills we practiced assaulting up the hill to the targets using available cover whether it be a car hulk, hot water heater, or whatever. Other times, we had to use the available terrain depression to go into and take cover, fire at the metal targets. We started with a team of two people... then we went to 4, then we went to 8 people in teams of 4. It was pretty cool. The main thing to remember out of this lesson and to keep in mind in any you take this class is that communication key. Shoot, move, communicate. Don’t yell a command once and expect your team mates to hear you... yell several times. Hand signals, if they are coordinated and understood by all. Radios... well, you often times just cannot hear them over the din of combat in what is called auditory exclusion. After running the course a few times all these quirks were worked out and we started to build together a as a team.
June 30, 2005, Day 4
Day 4 was the medical portion. I heard a rumor before the Contractor Class even started that Hugh Coffee... the author of Ditch Medicine (www.paladin-press.com/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=hugh coffee), was going to teach this block. My INTEL was good because he sure did. Hugh has been involved in EMS in the state of Georgia and around the world for the past 20 plus years, but his wife says its closer to 30 years. He has been on MED Missions to Guatemala, Sudan, Kenya, and the list goes on. He developed a block of instruction for the Tactical Response High Risk Civilian Contractor Course specifically with PSD work in mind. Taking into account information Hugh has got from in theatre SOF operators, other contractors, and Yeager’s own experiences. Let me say this, because I am not going to go into ever topic covered... but Hugh Coffee ran over every trauma related subject I covered in my EMT and IEMT course I took years ago. He did it in a manner where the whole class was captivated and no one was bitching about not taking breaks. Questions by the students were damn good ones. Jeff Randall (www.jungletraining.com) was also in attendance as the photographer for an up coming article for SWAT Magazine and Jeff has years of experience in South American jungles. Jeff was able to add to what Hugh was telling us about third world care and what a PSD operator or even someone traveling outside of the US should have with them. Hugh demonstrated various trauma bandages and what I think was absolutely amazing was the Quikclot demo... holy ????, Batman... that stuff gets hot when it hits liquid... Again, I am not going to go into detail here and state what Hugh went over here step by step but the material was good relevant data and it was delivered in such a way everyone knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what to do and how to do it to help a team mate if the need arises. On a side note... I had Hugh take a look at the medical blow out kit I had on my gear. I have a pouch with the following: 2 small Quikclot s, EMT shears, SOF Tourniquet, small plastic bag with alcohol swabs, band aides, topical ointment, 1 army OD trauma bandage, 1 thick gauze bandage, and roll of medical tape. Hugh suggested also including a couple of the Israeli bandages in my kit...of which I already ordered...together with Hugh’s book and video from Paladin Press. It was hard to believe how long the med block went... but the class was simply fascinating and damit Yeager, I want more! After the class we all adjourned to Yeager’s house for some burgers and beer and to pick Hugh’s brain more... of which I did. So, the Med Block for me was like 14 hours!
July 1, 2005. Day 5
The morning of Day 5, the last day in the program I was thinking where in the hell the other 4 days had gone. We had all worked our asses off, but it went by so fast it was hard to imagine. The training was good up to this point and it was about to get better. Today was vehicle tactics. Man, again, I am not going to go into complete detail here, but what we did was something like this:
In some old, heavily used cars...2 sedans and 1 compact we trained in teams of 4, 1 driver, 3 passengers. We learned zones of observation for each person, duties inside the car, if the threat is from one area, un-ass the car, while team mates provide fire. Shooting through auto glass at targets to the front, left and right sides. It was an eye opening experience. While shooting from inside a car outside, the bullet doesn’t always go where you think it should...again... take the class and see for yourself, it’s amazing and very relevant information whether you are working PSD work or driving in your own town in Hometown, USA. Also, shooting a 5.56 caliber rifle from inside a car... well, let’s just say it was exhilarating, especially if your rifle has a Y-Comp on it!!! We did more Aussie peels from the vehicles to places of cover in teams of 4 people and then in 2 teams of 4 people each. Next we did shooting from moving vehicle on steel targets. Note to self, thank heaven you (I) were smart enough to buy an Aimpoint optic for your rifle! I tried one run with just my back up iron sight without the Aimpoint turned on, just to see what it would be like... being jostled about in the back of the truck and trying to get hits on steel targets 35 yards away was not easy for me and often not even possible. So, if you can’t make hits, make noise. So, on went the Aimpoint for the next subsequent runs. Yeager recommends the EOTECH electronic sight and I can see why. With the heads-up like gun sight the EOTECH has, which is an outer ring with a smaller dot in the middle, the shooter is able to enclose the target within the larger outer ring and get some serious hits and kick some major ass with that sight. Note to self... get an EOTECH now that Tactical Response is now a distributor of EOTECH sights. Next simulation was all of the three cars in line, one behind the other and we would simulate being a QRF in the back of an available vehicle, say a pick-up. The vehicle commander, in the front of the pick-up would call out which vehicle had hostiles in it via a radio to a team leader in the back and all would engage the hostile vehicle. Again, communication here was key.
Right at about 17:15 hrs, Yeager told us we had completed the course. He then said that according to the time logs he kept, we had worked more 60+ hours in the course. Honestly, watches in Tennessee must keep time different than they do elsewhere. No, really, I know we did 60+ hours because I kept watch on the time myself.
It was hard to believe that on Monday most struggled with some of the material and by Friday we all were working like a new G-Shock Casio watch...It was simply awesome to watch the progress that was made and how we all gelled into a cohesive team.
Recommendations:
1.Make sure your guns work. Do not show up to class, any class for that matter with stuff that will not work. If your rifle worked for the first 100 rounds at your local range, Murphy’s Law will dictate that it will be broke when you arrive for your class. Test you stuff, make sure it all works and have confidence in your weapons.
2.Gear, do not buy black gear as in tactical vests, chest rigs etc. Holsters, well, 6004’s now come in tan and OD so you can get away from the black mall ninja look. Black gear stands out like you cannot imagine and plus it’s hot as hell to wear. Know your gear and were the pouches are... there is nothing like watching folks dig for ???? in their gear because they do not know were they stuffed their ????.
3.Clothes... make sure they are loose and comfortable. It doesn’t have to be 5.11’s, but something like 5.11’s will sure make your life easier... when it comes to putting stuff in the cargo pockets. The quick dry fabrics that many clothes are made of will come in handy too... not only in Tennessee but in other locales too.
4.Eye protection, again... comfortable. They don’t have to be $100+ Oakley’s but, well; there is the cool guy factor you have to uphold out there in the world! Get good glasses, your eyes will thank you... and plus, you will look cool.
5.Hearing protection: I highly recommend the electronic stereo kind... Peltor in particular. Yes they cost a bit, but, trust me... you will thank me and others if you have them because you will be able to hear commands and the like from team mates and the instructor.
6.Elbow and Knee pads: I wore out a pair of knee pads on this course... if this is any indication of the abuse inflicted upon them... it should be a clear indication they are required if you want to preserve your knees and elbows.
7.Nomex gloves: very important when handling hot weapons and being around jagged metal, crawling around the ground. The gloves protect your hands and keep them from getting cut, scratched, poked, and burned and all the other crap that can and will happen in both a dynamic training and work environment.
8.Ammunition: reputable, reliable... enough said on that.
Closing Observations:
Do I recommend the class for all?
Yes, I do...however, please... for the sake of all your fellow students sanity and namely Yeager’s...show up with more than a NRA shooters safety course under your belt.
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