1. Movement: side-to-side, advancing "to retention", withdrawing, turns (right, left and 180°).
   
   

2. Shoot-and-Move/Move-and-Shoot: shooting while advancing, withdrawing, turn-and-shoot.
   
   

3. "The other" prone positions: rollover, supine, Manassa and "SBU prone Gunsite".
   
   

4. When and how to transition to sidearm: Several methods demonstrated.
   
   

5. Review and application of tactical principals: two outdoor simulator runs.
   
   

6. Flashlight techniques: selecting equipment, four methods of using a light with a carbine, search technique.
   
   

7. Retention techniques: how to keep control of the weapon when grabbed at close quarters.
   
   

8. Pre-course and post-course testing will be conducted to measure progress.

Prerequisites: A first-level tactical carbine course and first-level hand gun course, each of at least 21 hours duration, from a reputable school or instructor (e.g., F.I.R.E. Institute Carbine I; Gunsite #223, Thunder Ranch Urban Carbine, Jim Crews Basic Carbine, Randy Cain Carbine I, etc.), or approved police training course. Shotgun courses, LFI-I and military basic training do not qualify.

Methods of Instruction: The methods are straightforward explanations, accompanied by demonstration of the techniques, after which students are led through live-fire exercises to immediately employ the techniques. The course is roughly 20% lecture and demonstrations, and 80% life fire exercises, with discussion of the principles and exercises among participants encouraged. The great majority of the course occurs on the range, and for almost all of the course the range is "hot" (meaning weapons are loaded at all times).

Physical requirements: There is a moderate level of physical exertion, primarily involved in repeatedly assuming and getting out of various shooting positions. It is expected that anyone with a physical condition which would make a particular exercise difficult or present a risk of injury (e.g., a bad knee which impairs one's ability to kneel) will tell the Rangemaster, and not participate in that exercise.

Time commitment: Participants are to report to the range by 9:45 a.m. There will be a lunch break at about 1:00 p.m., and the course will run to about 5:00 p.m., at which time we will break for dinner. We will resume at about 6:00 p.m., and run until 9:00 p.m. This will be the schedule both days.

Students are asked to report to the range by 9:45 a.m. on the first and second days. There is a one hour lunch break each day, with periodic breaks throughout. In our view, this is the minimum amount of time necessary to cover the material outlined above. Classes start promptly, and we insist that students be on time.

Cost: $275. This includes range fees, targets, range supplies and handouts. Students to provide their own ammunition, personal gear and meals. (Members of the host club receive $25 discount.). This does not cover ammunition, meals or personal gear. Tuition becomes non-refundable 30 days prior to the first day of the course, with two exceptions. As noted above, if the course itself is canceled all tuition is refunded, and if a student violates range safety rules and is asked to leave the course and his or her tuition will be refunded.

Credentialing process: The sponsors and organizers of this program believe strongly that adult citizens have the right to arm themselves against the predations of others, and cannot legally or morally be forced to relegate the entire responsibility for their personal safety to political institutions or to the agents of government.* History and common experience establish beyond rational dispute that governments are not always responsible or accountable, and even well-intended and dedicated public officials are often not around in an emergency. On any given occasion those officials may be incompetent, indifferent to one's plight, or even hostile.

On the other hand, the right to be armed, like any right, is subject to forfeit by those who would abuse it. It is not our intention to instruct those who have demonstrated they are not responsible citizens, including individuals with histories of violence or criminal behavior. Therefore, in order to enroll in this course, a student is required to demonstrate he or she has no criminal history.

The required proof can be certification of active duty in a branch of the military or with a law enforcement agency. It can also be a current carry permit, or evidence of current licensure or certification as a member of a profession which is regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and with respect to which conviction of a crime would result in revocation of a license or certification (e.g., attorneys, medical doctors, security personnel).

For those not included in any of the above categories, your local police will provide you with a certificate that you have no record of criminal activity. (Fingerprints are NOT required.) There is generally no charge or only a nominal charge for this certification. Instructions on how to obtain such a certificate are on the reverse side of the application form. You should start now, however, as this process usually takes some time. Specific credentialing instructions and information are on the FIRE Institute web site, www.fireinstitute.org.

Course format: Lectures and live-fire exercises. There are two tactical simulator runs, one during daylight, the other at night.

The Course proceeds rain or shine: We have heard rumors that gun fights have sometimes occurred during bad weather. One of the course objectives is to have students experience for themselves what gear functions well and what needs improvement, including what works in bad weather. A few hours coping with fogged lenses, slippery grips and a flashlight that does not work in the rain will provide valuable lessons, and may save your life later. Although we certainly hope for no more than a few hours of rain, we do proceed rain or shine. Bring rain gear.

Participant safety: This is an overriding consideration. There are certain principles of safety which will be stressed from the very beginning of the course. In addition, there are range rules you must follow. They will be strictly enforced by the instructors, as well as by management and employees of the host club. Any observed violations of general principles of firearms safety or specific range rules will be called to the attention of the violator. If there is any indication the violator is indifferent to a safety violation, or if a violation is repeated, the responsible party will be discreetly asked to leave the course, with a full refund of tuition. Deliberate or calculated disregard of the rules will result in ejection from the premises without refund. We take the safety rules very seriously, and will not compromise on matters of safety.

Instructor: Rangemaster The Rangemaster (primary instructor) will be Peter Georgiades. Mr. Georgiades has been teaching firearms courses since 1996, and is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection) and licensed by the State of Arizona (Certificate No. 8769268). He is a graduate of the Gunsite Training Academy Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Certification Course, Marksman's Enterprise (Jim Crews) 3 day instructor courses for both carbine and pistol, Giles Stock instructor clinic, and the Contact Defense, LLC (Steve Tarani) "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" course. He is a 2nd Dan in Kodokan Judo, has trained extensively with some of the foremost firearms instructors in the U.S, and is a member of the International Ass'n. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). More biographical information can be found here. Range assistance will be provided by experienced range officers and instructors.

Class size: Enrollment will be limited to ten students. There will be at least two staff present on the range, giving a maximum student-to-staff ratio of no more than five-to-one. Last day to enroll is October 5, 2007.

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. Optics are optional; iron sights are fine. If you do use an optic, it should be of a low-power type (e.g., Red Dot or Leitz-Elcan 2.4 X). High magnification optics will not work well.

• At least two magazines. We prefer you have three, in case one malfunctions during the course. For reasons which will become apparent during the course, 20-round magazines are preferable to 30-round magazines in non-military applications, but either will work fine in the course.

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

• Good quality tactical flashlight. For example, a Surefire 6P, 6Z or G2Z. The lights must have a pressure switch, and you should have holster or scabbard in which to carry the light.

• A flashlight which is affixed to your carbine, and co-axial with the barrel. Although you will be shown several techniques for using a hand-held light with your carbine, it is much more difficult to operate with a hand-held light than one affixed to the carbine. Hand-held lights will slow the course down, and be a significant distraction to you. We therefore require that students arrive with a properly affixed light.

• Side-arm, holster and 50 Rounds of Ball Ammunition. We will instruct on proper transition from carbine to side-arm. Only those who have previous instruction on proper of a side-arm presentation from holster may participate in the live-fire transition exercises. You will need a strapless holster worn on the belt on the strong-side, of a type which exposes the pistol grip but completely encloses the trigger guard when the weapon is holstered. No shoulder rigs, ankle holsters or cross-draw holsters are permitted. No hand guns may be carried other than in a holster (meaning no "pocket pistols").

• Magazine holster or pouch worn on your belt on your support side. For this course shotgun shell pouches, ALICE M-16 magazine pouches and BDU pockets will not work.

• 600 Rounds of "Ball" ammunition and 100 rounds of ammunition for your side-arm. We recommend students use one brand of ammunition throughout the course. Different brands and loads of ammunition will significantly affect the "zero" of AR15's, which will distract and confuse you in a course such as this. We also suggest students avoid the very cheapest ammunition and reloads. While "match grade" ammunition would be a waste of money, your investment in this course does justify the use of reasonably consistent ammunition. No tracer, incendiary, frangible or steel-core ("penetrator") is permitted.

• A 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 type 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 (M60 style) are permitted.

If you have completed a basic carbine course with a night session, none of the above should be any surprise to you. However, if you any questions about any of the above equipment requirements, please contact us after you have enrolled, but sufficiently before the course date to allow you to make any necessary adjustments.

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:

• 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.

• Extra batteries and lamp assemblies for both flashlights.

• 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.

• Sight-adjustment tool for iron sights on your particular rifle (these are available at gun shows for about $4.00).

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

• Gloves (either shooting gloves or light work gloves).

For Details, Information and Directions:

• Contact Us
• Course Schedule
  
• Enrollment Forms
• Credentialing
• 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