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For goodness'
sake, sign up and take this course. It is worth every single last
penny of tuition. Instructor competence is incomparable. And the force-on-force
repetitions both on the barricade field and in the "Castle" were dynamic
and, oh so good as a teaching tool: I have the bruises to prove it
Video replay clearly enhances operator learning.
What really hits home, though, is that the principles of PCR do indeed
apply across modalities: Posture, Balance, Movement, and Breathing
coupled with Communication between and among Team members, when successfully
carried out, puts the team so far ahead of the adversaries in the
OODA cycle, that a successful outcome to the encounter is significantly
enhanced.
Couldn't have asked for a better host agency than St. Cloud PD, and
Chief Kelly and his team. They gave us a great range for live fire,
a dedicated barricade field, a training room w/ mats for PCR, and
beautiful conference room for lecture and video replay presentations.
In addition, because Chief Kelly is so positively connected to the
community, we had two schools in which to practice Y-T, 2 man, 3 man
and Hall boss entries. While we had to use dummy guns, it was a wake
up call, for me at least, to see how extraordinarily complex it is
to seek out and neutralize an active shooter or shooters in those
environments.
Mark Warren, Steve Decker, Nick Kokot and Rod Shaeffer were our instructors,
and, for those of you who have trained before with them, well, hell,
I can't add any more superlatives. They are utterly without "ego,"
willing to experiment, quick to correct errors without humiliating
the one who made the mistake. Just really highly competent operators!!
H. Anthony Semone
Ph D. - Police Psychologist |
I went in to
this training with the mindset of "Oh God I hope I don't get shot,
I'll wait here because this is good cover." On the last night on full
mission profiles my mindset was, "I can't wait to find the shooter
and stop him." This was by far the most intense, most realistic and
most demanding training that I have ever attended. I highly recommend
this training to anyone looking for active shooter training.
Barnes
Columbia, MO |
I attended the
the Active Shooter Course in Kansas City last month. I can't say enough
good things about the course and your staff. I have what I consider
a "pretty solid" Tactical background and I showed up not really knowing
what to expect. I sized up the other participants in the class and
found them to be impressive, the staff however was far above impressive,
they were great! The approach to training and teaching sets them apart
from any training/instruction I've received in 18 yrs of Law Enforcement.
Rod Schaeffer said at the beginning of the course "We are not saying
this is the only way to do this, but just live in our world for a
week". I did and I plan on taking up residency. Mark Warren, Rod Schaeffer,
Steve Decker, Jay Brownlee and Justin English are worth their weight
in gold. They took a group of strangers from not just around the country
,but around the world and turned us into friends that counted on each
other during our mission profiles and training exercises. I was truely
disappointed when the course ended. I am a True Believer in Strategos,
"The Truth is in the Light" Thank You Strategos
Jim Carmody
Sgt Kansas City, MO Police Department |
"I could
spend a week doing these techniques. Need more time"
Robert Miller, Orange PD |
"This type
of training should be incorporated into the basic academy"
D. Lafon, Escondido PD |
"The overall
knowledge of the instructors and the manner in which they taught
was outstanding!"
John Gabelman, Santa Ana PD |
"Excellent
training, I would like to return for more!"
Todd Carpenter, Garden Grove PD |
"Use of
light and movement will help in my assignment on SWAT and daily patrol,
needs to be a two day course".
Mike Martin, Garden Grove PD |
"This was
the best and most useful training class I have ever taken"
Kelly Carpenter, Brea PD |
"I was impressed
with the fact that the instructors take on the role of the officers
at the end of the course and show the student that the concepts really
do work - They put their money where their mouth is!"
Unknown |
"I attended
the Officer Survival in Low-Light Conditions you put on at Irvine
Police Department on 5 May 1997. On the way home I had plenty of time
to think about the class. I think one of the better points of instruction
was having an instructor right there
with the student telling him how to clear the room. Having someone
there pointing out
my errors and telling me how to correct them was VERY HELPFUL. This
is the third
time I have attended this type of training and your class is head
and shoulders above
the other classes I have attended. "
Richard F. Davis,
Sergeant, Indio Police Department, Rangemaster |
Dear Ken and
staff, I apologize for not writing sooner. I just wanted to let you
know how much I enjoyed my training. I'm sure I speak for all of us
from Kings County when
I say that you totally changed our training mindset. I wasn't back
to work two hours before I used a takedown technique I learned from
you. I just wanted to say how helpful it was to attend and thank you
all for your knowledge, interest, and patience
in teaching us. I am impressed. Thanks again.
Davey
Jones
Deputy Sheriff, Kings County |
We just got our
12Z lights in and had a S.E.R.T. CALLOUT soon afterward. A single
cell extraction. We introduced the light to the subject before taking
him. Worked to perfection, stunned and blinded, could put up little
resistance. Thanks again.
Davey Jones |
Ken, On Jan.
12th, I attended your Officer Survival in Low Light Conditions class.
I can't tell you how many buildings I cleared before I attended your
training.
Of course, I never have found anyone inside. So I thought I knew it
all about building clearing, you know "been there, done that."
That all changed when I went through my first door in your class.
I'm kind of stubborn and I was clearing the room "my way."
Lets just say I got my ass handed to me. After "regrouping,"
I did much better. I really learned a lot being both a good guy and
a bad guy. I might even have learned more being a bad guy by being
able to see what the actual effect of light can be. I never realized
what a great tool I had been carrying with me. Since I attended the
class,
I changed shifts and now work graveyards. I live by my flashlight.
I have had a Surefire 6R for about four years and swear by it. I use
my Streamlight for regular stuff like traffic stops, etc. But when
it comes down to business, I use my Surefire and the training I received
at your class. I am very confident when I clear rooms. I have the
right tools and training to do my job safely. I am one of two officers
from my depart-ment who attended your class. (in case your wondering,
we kicked ass when we got partnered up). Unfortunately, we work on
different shifts. I have use the training everyday for various situations.
Whether using the light to hold a subject at bay or clearing a room
during a burglary. Thanks to you and your staff, I know what I'm doing
when it comes to low light conditions. I am going to send a memo up
the chain recommending your class to all of our Officers. Thanks again.
Officer
Pete Stevens
#590 Chula Vista Police Department
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