TheWaycoKid
03-20-12, 23:00
I recently attended the Basic Sniper Course at Academi in North Carolina. The folks at the main office were very helpful in getting me set up for this course and unfortunately there were no private rooms at the Black Bear Inn by time I got around to calling. So it was the B&B for me.
Let me start by saying that the classroom facilities are excellent and even had comfortable chairs(that's a stab at their armorers school that has stools that are terrible) we were a small group of only 7 students (we had one no show) and two instructors. We had the usual introductions and safety briefings. We then jumped right into the course material. It was a lot of information to absorb in just a short period of time but the instructors are exceptionally knowledgeable and presented everything in a fashion that allowed us to remember what was important.
We spent the first three days having classes in the morning followed by afternoons at the range. We did our cold bore shots each day as well as 100yd drills for time. We moved out to 800yds on day two and all 7 of us were putting rounds on target with very little difficulty (despite the high winds). I attribute this to the lessons we were taught and the skill of the instructors at teaching them as they made most of what we were doing seem easy.
The curriculum was very well thought out and progressed logically and smoothly and the skills built upon what we were learning in the classroom. The lessons covered all of the critical aspects of sniping and broke it down to a level that a newby can take and run with. The course text is a great source for further reading and to keep the knowledge fresh.
We had Kim’s games every morning in the classroom and observation exercises that became increasingly harder as the week went on.
By Thursday we were engaging movers and had also had a great time at the unknown distance range. Friday arrived and we had just one shooter left that needed to qualify, he did so with no problem and we were off to positional shooting out to 400 yards.
The skills gained in this course of study form a solid footing for the beginning sniper. For many of the guys in the class, it may be the only sniper training they receive for many years to come and the staff realizes that and the course leaves you adequately prepared for that situation.
I want to say that the great teacher to student ratio had a direct impact on the quality of the course as we each received individual attention in any area in which we were having problems. The two instructors we had both have extensive knowledge in the field of instruction but also in teaching techniques. I cannot stress enough how thankful I am for both Tom and Billy for all the help they gave me during the course.
I have to admit that the full impact of the course did not hit me until after I left that following weekend. It was then I realized how little I really know about sniping, and that is the mark of a great course, that you leave full of confidence and pride in your accomplishment in qualifying, but more importantly, realizing that there is so much you do not yet know about the subject. It has left me wanting more
I HIGHLY recommend this course for LEO snipers and cannot wait until I go back for the Advanced Class. I know with the curriculum at Academi and the real world experience of the instructional staff it will be an outstanding course just like this one was.
Let me start by saying that the classroom facilities are excellent and even had comfortable chairs(that's a stab at their armorers school that has stools that are terrible) we were a small group of only 7 students (we had one no show) and two instructors. We had the usual introductions and safety briefings. We then jumped right into the course material. It was a lot of information to absorb in just a short period of time but the instructors are exceptionally knowledgeable and presented everything in a fashion that allowed us to remember what was important.
We spent the first three days having classes in the morning followed by afternoons at the range. We did our cold bore shots each day as well as 100yd drills for time. We moved out to 800yds on day two and all 7 of us were putting rounds on target with very little difficulty (despite the high winds). I attribute this to the lessons we were taught and the skill of the instructors at teaching them as they made most of what we were doing seem easy.
The curriculum was very well thought out and progressed logically and smoothly and the skills built upon what we were learning in the classroom. The lessons covered all of the critical aspects of sniping and broke it down to a level that a newby can take and run with. The course text is a great source for further reading and to keep the knowledge fresh.
We had Kim’s games every morning in the classroom and observation exercises that became increasingly harder as the week went on.
By Thursday we were engaging movers and had also had a great time at the unknown distance range. Friday arrived and we had just one shooter left that needed to qualify, he did so with no problem and we were off to positional shooting out to 400 yards.
The skills gained in this course of study form a solid footing for the beginning sniper. For many of the guys in the class, it may be the only sniper training they receive for many years to come and the staff realizes that and the course leaves you adequately prepared for that situation.
I want to say that the great teacher to student ratio had a direct impact on the quality of the course as we each received individual attention in any area in which we were having problems. The two instructors we had both have extensive knowledge in the field of instruction but also in teaching techniques. I cannot stress enough how thankful I am for both Tom and Billy for all the help they gave me during the course.
I have to admit that the full impact of the course did not hit me until after I left that following weekend. It was then I realized how little I really know about sniping, and that is the mark of a great course, that you leave full of confidence and pride in your accomplishment in qualifying, but more importantly, realizing that there is so much you do not yet know about the subject. It has left me wanting more
I HIGHLY recommend this course for LEO snipers and cannot wait until I go back for the Advanced Class. I know with the curriculum at Academi and the real world experience of the instructional staff it will be an outstanding course just like this one was.