Negative, not a member here.
MW
Printable View
Negative, not a member here.
MW
it's ok I sent him an email to his website.
Class is FULL. A waiting liist has been started. :D
Mace
Mace,
Please give my regards to Ken. It's been a while. Let him know that I appreciate his help prior to my last deployment!
AAR - August 7, 2010
On Sat August 7th, Spartan Training Solutions, conducted a 1 Day Combative Carbine class @ the Field Sports Park in San Jose, CA. Weather on T1 was a superb 75 degrees and sunny with a very light breeze.
The teaching cadre consisted of Instructor Ken hardesty and Assistant Instuctor Tom Liu. Both men are consumate professionals in their instruction technique, demonstration, and mannerism. First and foremost was the safety brief, emergency evac plan, and instructor intro. This is not my first rodeo with Ken and Tom and safety is second to none with these gentlemen. They are on the ball with this and it is very much appreciated by all students.
The class consisted of LE, experienced shooters, ex-military, first time shooters and hobbyist...Spartan was able to cater to them all.
Spartan Training has VERY little down time. Class starts promptly @ 0800hrs and we are on the line by 0815hrs dropping the hammer. The initial starting point was NOT zeroing your carbine, but zero confirmation. You were expected to show up to class with a zeroed gun and ready to go from the start. After confirmation there was a brief, yet thorough explanation of bore/ sight off set and how that would effect your POA/ POI @ varying distances based on your preferred zero.
Topics covered in the first 3 hours:
*Malfunction clearance
*Type 1, 2, and 3 malfunction(s) and how to clear them
*Administrative reload/ Emergency reload
*Review of postional shooting: kneeling, prone, double kneeling (Monica), standing
*Transitioning to your secondary (carbine placement when transitioning, "when" to transition, why you would transition)
*Carbine placement while reloading
*Scanning: Why you scan, when to scan (after placing rounds on target), different ways to scan (all these involved muzzle awareness at ALL TIMES)
The above I consider the "lima beans" of training, it doesn't always taste good, but it's CRITICAL and better for you, than the "cool guy - fast rope out of the BlackHawk techniques" that most want. Spartan gives you what is necessary to prevail in a fight, not what is "sexy". Snickers might taste better, but in the end you will be weaker and your teeth will fall out.
After a brief lunch, catered Tri-tip, BBQ breast if chicken, garlic bread, potato salad and chili beans (first class folks) we geared up and got into the higher speed drills.
There were a variety of drills that helped the shooter improve their skillset, but I will elaborate on the drills that stuck out for "me".
Congnitive targets: My favorite drills of the class were the Cognitive target drills. The targets consisted of 6 shapes, of 3 colors, and a number inside of each one of them from numbers 1-6. When the instructor calls out 2 numbers you are required to add the two numbers together in short order and put 1-3 rounds "inside the shape". QUICKLY. "1 - 4!" then 1 to 3 rounds inside the #5. Get it? Or, "4 minus 2!" and 1 to 3 rounds inside the #2 shape. Sounds easy, until your jacked up full of adrenline...)
In order to get the heart rates racing, we formed a line @ the 60 yrd line, sprinted to the 30 yrd line (with the instructors moving fast on our 6 o'clock) and dropped prone. Ken shouted out the corresponding shape, color, or number and 1-3 rounds was required. This was run several times, so you better come in shape...stay away from the snack machine at work folks.
At one point, a barricade was placed @ 30 yards and we moved out to 60 yards. Down range, a bad guy target holding a hostage was placed. The shooter was required to sprint from the 60 to the 30 yard mark, properly use cover and take out the BG with (1) shot from your position of choice, because that's all you will really get.
I could go into MUCH more detail, but I would highly suggest you TAKE the class. I can tell the story, but nothing beats live testimony. Spartan Training provides top notch, professional training at a very reasonable price and I will re-visit this company again. Ken Hardesty and Tom Liu are second to none in presentation, professionalism, and safety. I would highly recommend this training company.
Video of the training day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU85MoJdSWU
Gear used:
3rd Gen Glock 21 with a TLR-1
Sidearmor belt mounted holster
Comp-Tac AR-15 belt mounted magazine holder (2)
Comp-Tac Glock 21 magazine holder
Smith and Wesson M&P 15 .22 carbine with an Aimpoint T-1 Micro, MBUS Front and rear site, Vickers padded (2) point sling
MagPul XTM rail panels, MagPul MOE grip and MagPul CTR stock
MagPul AFG
15 pre-loaded magazines.
M&P 15 .22 evaluation: I attempted to set this carbine up identical to my 5.56 carbine. I was very pleased with it's accuracy and performance. A few lessons learned:
*Every 250 rounds or so, pull out the BCG and wipe it down, relube and it will run like a sewing machine. .22 LR is VERY dirty.
*Accuracy at 60 yards and in was on par with the 5.56 guns.
*Remember that the weight of the carbine and the recoil pulse is much less than a 5.56 gun.
*The only issues I had was when I was using some "very old" lead tipped .22LR (some of it was seriously dated and the M&P handled it fairly well).....after switching to the jacketed brand, it sang all day.
*I would consider this a "supplement" to your standard 5.56 gun, but NOT a "replacement".
Mace