Viking Tactics: Night Fighter Nov 6-8, 2009
It is essential to attend the VTAC Carbine 1.5 class prior to attending the VTAC Night Fighter class. Carbine 1.5 creates the foundation of skills that are used in the more advanced Night Fighter class.
Night Fighter is advanced shooting class dealing with night shooting with white light and shooting and around vehicles.
Admin:
As smooth as one can hope for both Jack and Jeff ran a smooth show and provided all information in a timely fashion with no prodding needed. For some of the classes I have attended this is not always the case. Those who attended owe them thanks, and at least a beer.
The Range:
Clean, neat, easy to get to. I did not see one tick or ant hill. And someone put in for good weather and well we had it.
Head Instructor: Kyle Lamb
While Kyle certainly does not need me to pen his biography as it would surely be rife with errors. And for those who are interested just work your Google mojo.
Kyle possesses and utilizes a great gift which few people in or out of the shooting industry have. The oft used adage that those who cannot, teach does not apply here. His gifts are not limited to his shooting prowess. Clear and concise language is used to convey the techniques being demonstrated. Questions are encouraged and welcomed at all times. He is a natural at instruction and his students can feel this as at no time is he remote or unapproachable. The care used to create his programs and techniques is evident.
The instruction style is results driven; you are responsible for your performance. When one a bit behind individual constructive instruction was provided. This might a short remedial redo or just a quick critique depended on what the student (read me) missed. Everyone had plenty of instructor contact. Rounds were accounted for, timers were used and you were pushed. Kyle is big on going harder and faster within the safety parameters to see “when the wheels fall off”. At this point we were instructed to back it down just a bit. The class is pushed hard, but not to failure. And yet He is a professional and conducts himself as one, drives and expects safety, expects hard work at the same time enjoys and tells a good joke. After all what fun is a shooting class without just a bit of good natured ball busting.
Co instructors:
D and T
One of the most important differences for me from some of my prior training at other classes is the quality of the Co Instructors. Both Co Instructors for this class (D and T) are capable of running VTAC Night Fighter or Carbine 1.5 class with the same skill and execution as the head instructor .In my limited training this in an exception not the rule. Both were actively involved and offered constant instruction that was constructive and positive. They are both excellent instructors and I am grateful for their time and would gladly sign up to be a student in a class were they head instructor.
The shooting
We started with a confirmation of our zeros at varying distances and positions. This had an interesting effect in that there was typically some variance from ones bench zero or a single yardage or single position zero. This conglomerate zero provides interesting info one what your actual zero is. By this I mean your practical zero.
I will not recount specific drill as I will surely botch their explanation. The drills were challenging and mind bending. Some drills and techniques are detailed in Kyle’s book and may also be found on U tube (ignore the chickens).
Main take aways from the drills.
A-Shoot when you are shooting
B- Drive the gun. This kids is the big gem
C- Night time has the effect of causing a Chaos stack with gear. Sounds dumb, but darkness just makes everything harder.
D-Every pistol needs a light mounted with a pressure switch
E- P is for plenty
Gear notes:
A- 5.45x39 rounds do not come out of hot 5.56x45 chambers so well, ouch.
B- To quit improving my gear. For the love of God I made a Surefire light not work by making it better. Ask me how fun it is to shoot a carbine while doing dynamic drills while holding a G-2 flash light under the rail system.
C- How many rounds can one shoot with a 5.45x39 mm S&W extractor, 11,000, ask me how I know?
D -My bat belt had just too much stuff on it.
To sum up this is the most challenging thing I have ever done with a firearm. Heck it is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Get on the list do not be scared. I am an average Joe, albeit one of larger carriage. If I can do it you can as well, just work and get trained up. The VTAC crew will push you to excel.
Drinking from a fire hose is a term that applies to VTAC classes, but not in a bad way. The training is top notch and the whole VTAC crew is gracious and professional. This is a class I will attend again. If the exchange between the student and the instructor is knowledge and skill development for dollars this class is greatly under priced
Regards
Matthew Renz
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And throughout my effort to try and clear this I can hear the Instructors continuously shout encouragements of, "Keep fighting through it, don't give up!!" as well as corrections. They did not allow me to cheat either; I had to work through the self-induced problem no matter what (I actually had to use my teeth).
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