There was a very large SNAFU a few years ago due to some instructors lowering the level of training in advanced classes to meet the level of the lowest common denominator students. Having been in a similar class where the content was lowered because many of the students were unpracticed, I can get behind prereq's 100%. However, they should be performance based.

Most Pistol 1 courses are essentially teaching a student the fundamentals of marksmanship and how not to shoot themselves on the draw. Most pistol 1 students will NEVER practice this again or take another class. If they take the pistol 2 course later...say...in 6 months, and they haven't practiced, they're going to be behind in an advanced class. Therefore, before any advanced class, a student needs to show proficiencya at, not just exposure to, the previous material. Coming full circle then, if you have not taken a pistol 1 or are very well practices, taking Mr. Vickers' entry level class would probably be a good thing.

Also, he is former Army SF (Delta), not Navy.