1. Gun Handling With Your System:  Proper manipulation and handling of rifles; keeping the rifle fed; efficient procedures to clear stoppages; comparison of AR-15/M-4 carbines (and clones) with other designs.
   

2. Mind set and the psychology of armed conflict.
   

3. Stance and Basic firing positions: In addition to stance as it relates to marksmanship, attention is given to stance as it relates to weapon retention, contact-distance engagement and the potential need to maintain a ready, fighting position over long periods of time.

4. Movement when employing a carbine.  “Square Range” exercises and one tactical simulation are used to develop the ability to move around safely and efficiently with a rifle in hand, keeping mental focus upon an external problem.
   

5. Problems of trajectory, zeroing and sighting the AR‑I5, as compared to other types of carbine.

6. Characteristics, tactical advantages and limitations of carbines as personal defense weapons.

7. Comparative review of different shooting styles and methods.  We will compare some of the different shooting methods which have developed over the past several years,, and discuss their advantages and shortcomings!

8. Maintaining Control of the Weapon:  weapon retention; disarms; when to abandon the rifle.

9. Review of current Pa. law on the use of deadly force, disarms and weapons retention, and how it should inform one's training and tactics. (This is one of the few courses in the country where the law is reviewed by a licensed attorney who has tried gun cases, and therefore might actually know what he is talking about.)

Prerequisites: None. It is, however, expected students will have a basic familiarity with rifles.  All participants must be 18 years of age.  Proof of no criminal history is required (instructions on credentialing are on the web site).

Cost $250.00: ($225.00 for members of the host club).  Includes instruction, range fees, range supplies and written materials.  Students to provide their own ammunition, personal gear and meals.

Course Format: Lectures (approximately 5 hrs., mostly on the range), and live-fire exercises (approximately 18 hrs.).  There will be one run through a tactical simulator and one objective skills test at the conclusion of the course.  Each student will need a minimum of 600 rounds of “ball” ammunition, knee and elbow pads.

Instructor - Peter Georgiades: Peter has taught firearms and defensive tactics for 19 years; certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection); member International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI); AZ instructor Cert. No. 8769268.  Instructor training includes Gunsite Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Cert. Course, Marksman's Enterprise 3 day instructor courses (carbine and pistol), hundreds of hours working directly under experienced instructors to learning the craft; certified to teach Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" course (certification by Steve Tarani). SanDan (3rd Dan) in Kodokan Judo.

Instructor - LTC Charles ("Chuck") Santose (U.S.A. Ret.): Army Airborne Ranger Instructor, commanded Infantry and LRRP units in ground combat in Vietnam.  His experience with the M16/AR15 system runs from the XM16E1 (M16A1) and XM177E1 ("CAR15") to modern iterations of the system.  Chuck developed and published the Improved Battlesight Zero (IBSZ) for the M4 Carbine and M16A2.

Class Size: In order to maintain a close instructor-to-student ratio, enrollment will be limited to 12 students.

Certificate: A certificate of completion is awarded to all who complete successfully complete the course.

Equipment Requirements:

There is certain equipment which is REQUIRED in every course. One may not proceed in the course without the following:

• Ear protection and Eye protection. Eye protection must be clear for the night shoot.

• Cap or hat with baseball-style bill. This is to prevent ejected brass from another shooter's rifle from falling between your eyewear and your eye, burning you. It is important gear.

• Firearm, clean and zeroed.  We do zero during the course, but getting the zero close before class saves time.

• At least three magazines.  20 or 30 round – either will work.

• Knee and elbow pads. The inexpensive kind worn by skateboarders, or pads worn by carpenters and carpet layers are fine.

• Magazine holster or pouch which is worn on the support side (“weak hand” side) of your belt.  BDU pockets and M-16 pouches will get you through, but do not work very well.

• 600 Rounds of "Ball" Ammunition.  We recommend students use one brand of ammunition throughout the course.  Different brands and loads of ammunition will significantly affect the “zero” of AR-15’s, and may distract or confuse you in a course such as this.  We also suggest students avoid the very cheapest ammunition and reloads.  “Match grade” ammunition is unnecessary (and would be a waste of money), your investment of time and money in this course does justify the use of reasonably consistent ammunition.  No incendiary or  tracer ammunition.

• A carry strap or sling.  We run a “hot” range, and rifles must be slung unless they are racked, grounded or in the shooter's hand on line.  Any strap or sling which allows the rifle to be carried muzzle up or muzzle down is fine.  No slings which hold the muzzle in a horizontal position while being carried (M-60 style) are permitted.

There is other equipment that is not required, but which we know from experience will enhance your experience of the course. We therefore recommend you bring the following:

• Optic or reflex sight. Iron sights are fine for this course, but a reflex (“red dot”) sight will be better.  If you use an optic, it should be of a low-power type (e.g., 4X magnification or less).  Higher power scopes will not work well.

• Soft drinks or water to drink while down on the range. There is no water on the range itself, and the Club house is too far to run back and forth. No alcohol of any kind is to be consumed within eight hours of the start of any course session or at any time during the course.

• Back-up rifle. A second rifle is also a good idea, if you own or can borrow one. Firearms do break, and we cannot stop the course to make repairs. Even if we had time, parts may not be available, and many repairs cannot be accomplished in the field.

• Complete bolt assembly. If you do not have a second rifle, a complete bolt assembly will enable you to swap bolts as a 60 second repair to most rifle malfunctions.

• Binoculars. Any size or power.

• A ground cloth, shooting mat or other cover (such as an old blanket). To cover the ground or concrete shooting pads upon which you will be periodically sitting or lying.

• Camera. Many people find it helpful to photograph shooting positions, or take pictures for fun.

• Sight-adjustment tool for iron sights on your particular rifle.  These are available at gun shows for about $5.00 - $25.00.

• Gloves. Either shooting gloves or light work gloves.

Wear substantial shoes and "work clothes" or fatigues. You will be on the ground and get dusty or muddy.

We do not recommend anyone purchase a lot of expensive equipment for this course.  One of the purposes of the course is familiarization, such that one should be in a much better position to decide where to spend money after the course.  To the extent possible, we recommend one should use what he has for now.

For Details, Information and Directions:

• Contact Us
• Course Schedule
  
• Area Motels

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"Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician"
------ Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

This course is sponsored by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute,
a Penna. nonprofit corporation.
Training is provided as a public service.
All students must be 18 years or older. Proof of no criminal history is required.

© 2003 F.I.R.E. Institute