I attended Virginia Tactical's inaugural "Survival Handgun" class this past weekend. (Announcement here: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=53816. ) The course was definitely "as advertised". (DISCLAIMER: I have known Noel for five years, and he started working for me part time last year.)
I won't dig too far into the details...Noel's course description lays out the course curriculum. The highlights for me were:
1. First order of business every day was to shoot the qualification course that Noel has put together from the literally dozens of schools that he attended. Time and accuracy standards were announced, demonstrated, and then enforced. This unveiled the full extent of my sucktitude. I've spent far too much time training and teaching CCW "fast and close", and my basics have atrophied. The introduction of time standards and increased distance really knocked me out of my box.
2. It is obvious when you watch Noel and his assistant, Aaron, present their program of instruction that they have worked together extensively in the past. Their delivery was smooth, professional and presented in a matter of fact manner that reflects confidence in their skills and what they're teaching.
3. There is a good reason for everything they teach. They ask that you compare their techniques with what you're doing now and then put you into a crucrible to see what holds up. You can then decide for yourself what works for best you. I walked away with a few tidbits, and left others on the table.
4. Every day ends with a "shooting review" of the skills you were taught. TD-3 ended with relevant and realistic scenarios that allow you to fully exercise what you've learned, and reveal what you didn't aborb. These scenarios are critiqued from the, "What were you thinking here?" perspective, rather than the "Why didn't you do this?" approach.
In summary, this course represents an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself and test your equipment. Highly recommended.
Noel's website is still under construction, the URL is http://www.virginia-tactical.com/
John Murphy
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