WayneF
Member
Alliance OH Police Department
"Patrol Carbine"
13 May 2011
Alliance PD (Oh)
After wrapping up a shotgun class last month Mike asked me if I would be interested in coming back out for their patrol carbine class, this was a no brainer in my book.
The morning started out with us all meeting at APD's training site. I noticed a few familiar faces from the previous class and met quite a few new folks.
Mike then pulled us under the shelter for a short classroom session. He introduced us to the other guys who would be serving as instructors for the day. This consisted of 3 other APD officers and prior knuckle dragging lightfighter who is currently serving as an armor and small arms instructor.
This line up of instructors brought the obvious experience you would expect from patrol cops and detectives who also serve on the SRT and combine it with a varied military backgrounds and a heaping amount of private instruction from EAG Tactical, LMS Defense and TEES among others. This made for a very diverse group who we could all learn from.
With that out of the way Mike moved on to touch on a few subjects. The time was very well spent covering everything from proper loading technique, malfunction clearance,transitions, weapons maintenance and modifications.
It was also a time to dispel of some of the "truths" we have all been taught over the years; ranging from SPORTS, lubrication and how if your gas rings are not offset the weapon will spontaneously explode and kill everyone within 3 counties.
We then kitted up and made our way to the range to zero. Although the vast majority of the class only need to confirm their zero there will always be "That Guy" who shows up unprepared. Mike still owes me a kick in the junk over that one.
After everyone was zeroed we went straight to a Modified Navy Qual at 50 yards. This was a great drill to let everyone work on balancing their speed and accuracy while working in multiple reloads and changing of positions.
We then worked our way downrange and worked some drills to work on compensating for mechanical offset. We also drilled hammer pairs and NSRs.
Up next was engaging multiple targets with hammers and then box drills. This was another great drill to help show that even up close you had to slow it down a bit to get a good solid hit to the brain box while still compensating for offset.
We then worked our way back to the 50 where we would jog up to the 25 before dropping to a knee where we would shoot around both sides of cover. This served as a learning point for several people to help find gear and sling issues.
We then progressed on to shooting while moving. Starting back at the 15 yard line with a downloaded magazine we would engage the target on command until it went empty when we would transition to our handguns.
We then took a break for lunch. Once we gathered back up we knocked out a couple more square range drills. These included malfunction clearance drills for a double feed as well as a brass over bolt malfunction.
We then worked our way back to about the 70 yard line where we worked on firing on steel from a couple of unorthodox positions. This included supine and a slight variation of rollover/urban prone.
At this point we moved back to the shelter for the shoot house brief. With the safety brief, medical plans and general info laid out we were just about ready to head in for the first run when mother nature decided to step in. Luckily after about 15 minutes of solid raining and lightening it passed us by and we were able to continue.
We broke down into two man elements and started out with clearing a single room. This helps everyone knock the cobwebs off as well as get a chance to get a feel for their partner as we did not all know each other. With many of us coming from various agencies, backgrounds with different TTP's and experience levels it helped us all mesh.
We quickly worked up to clearing two adjoining rooms, adding in a long hallway and then going a step further by bringing in a trailing team so we could leapfrog to other rooms.
And like that our day was over. This class just further impressed me with the operation the APD crew has going. It is rare to find a group that not only has the experience but also the ability to teach at the level needed to bring together a group of shooters and move from static square range drills to 4 man elements moving through a house. It is a true testament to their abilities.
Between their personnel, the infrastructure and range capabilities, the world class outside training they bring in and having a command staff that supports it all, brings it together as a perfect storm for getting quality training to the guys that need it.
They are truly a class act and should serve as an example for others to strive for.
"Patrol Carbine"
13 May 2011
Alliance PD (Oh)
After wrapping up a shotgun class last month Mike asked me if I would be interested in coming back out for their patrol carbine class, this was a no brainer in my book.
The morning started out with us all meeting at APD's training site. I noticed a few familiar faces from the previous class and met quite a few new folks.
Mike then pulled us under the shelter for a short classroom session. He introduced us to the other guys who would be serving as instructors for the day. This consisted of 3 other APD officers and prior knuckle dragging lightfighter who is currently serving as an armor and small arms instructor.
This line up of instructors brought the obvious experience you would expect from patrol cops and detectives who also serve on the SRT and combine it with a varied military backgrounds and a heaping amount of private instruction from EAG Tactical, LMS Defense and TEES among others. This made for a very diverse group who we could all learn from.
With that out of the way Mike moved on to touch on a few subjects. The time was very well spent covering everything from proper loading technique, malfunction clearance,transitions, weapons maintenance and modifications.
It was also a time to dispel of some of the "truths" we have all been taught over the years; ranging from SPORTS, lubrication and how if your gas rings are not offset the weapon will spontaneously explode and kill everyone within 3 counties.
We then kitted up and made our way to the range to zero. Although the vast majority of the class only need to confirm their zero there will always be "That Guy" who shows up unprepared. Mike still owes me a kick in the junk over that one.
After everyone was zeroed we went straight to a Modified Navy Qual at 50 yards. This was a great drill to let everyone work on balancing their speed and accuracy while working in multiple reloads and changing of positions.
We then worked our way downrange and worked some drills to work on compensating for mechanical offset. We also drilled hammer pairs and NSRs.
Up next was engaging multiple targets with hammers and then box drills. This was another great drill to help show that even up close you had to slow it down a bit to get a good solid hit to the brain box while still compensating for offset.
We then worked our way back to the 50 where we would jog up to the 25 before dropping to a knee where we would shoot around both sides of cover. This served as a learning point for several people to help find gear and sling issues.
We then progressed on to shooting while moving. Starting back at the 15 yard line with a downloaded magazine we would engage the target on command until it went empty when we would transition to our handguns.
We then took a break for lunch. Once we gathered back up we knocked out a couple more square range drills. These included malfunction clearance drills for a double feed as well as a brass over bolt malfunction.
We then worked our way back to about the 70 yard line where we worked on firing on steel from a couple of unorthodox positions. This included supine and a slight variation of rollover/urban prone.
At this point we moved back to the shelter for the shoot house brief. With the safety brief, medical plans and general info laid out we were just about ready to head in for the first run when mother nature decided to step in. Luckily after about 15 minutes of solid raining and lightening it passed us by and we were able to continue.
We broke down into two man elements and started out with clearing a single room. This helps everyone knock the cobwebs off as well as get a chance to get a feel for their partner as we did not all know each other. With many of us coming from various agencies, backgrounds with different TTP's and experience levels it helped us all mesh.
We quickly worked up to clearing two adjoining rooms, adding in a long hallway and then going a step further by bringing in a trailing team so we could leapfrog to other rooms.
And like that our day was over. This class just further impressed me with the operation the APD crew has going. It is rare to find a group that not only has the experience but also the ability to teach at the level needed to bring together a group of shooters and move from static square range drills to 4 man elements moving through a house. It is a true testament to their abilities.
Between their personnel, the infrastructure and range capabilities, the world class outside training they bring in and having a command staff that supports it all, brings it together as a perfect storm for getting quality training to the guys that need it.
They are truly a class act and should serve as an example for others to strive for.