Five-O Tactical Training US Shooting Academy 09-15-2108

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Crusader8207

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AAR Five-O Tactical Survival Shooting


Date: September 15, 2018 9 am to 5 pm.


Location: US Shooting Academy- Tulsa Oklahoma.


Weather: Sunny, hot humid with daytime temperatures in the low 90’s.


Student Breakdown: 6 students and 2 instructors. Students were five males and one female ranging in age from 20 yoa (female) to mid-60s.


The Class:


All students arrived at the range between 8:30 am and 8:45 am and we were greeted by Chuck Smith (owner and instructor for Five-O Tactical) and his AI Mike Pierce. The range was set up ready to go and there were 4 tents set up for students to sit under to stay out of the sun during lecture. Chuck gathered all waivers and range fees and quickly got all of the administrative work out of the way. Chuck then conducted a safety briefing and assigned students tasks in the event of an incident on the range. Attending this class were 3 people who had completed the Five-O Tactical Tac Med class, so there were people who had some experience.


After completing the safety briefing, Chuck discussed his thought process in how he developed his classes for the concealed carrier. Chuck advised he uses his experience from the street as a 24-year police officer and real world personal experience to teach people what they really need to know. He develops gun fighters. Chuck is very passionate about what he teaches and the success of his students. He does not candy coat it and truly preaches from the heart.


After the thought process, he goes into his theory about how he teaches his classes in a building block format, where his students start off with a Handgun Operator class (skill building/fundamentals) then moving on to Tac Med (more skill building and scenarios), Survival Shooting (utilizing those skills through scenario-based training), Fighting Pistol 1, Fighting Pistol 2 and, Civilian Response to an Active Shooter.


Chuck handed each of the students a trainer tourniquet and moved into a review of tourniquet application and had us practice putting them on ourselves. He then, had us put the tourniquet in our preferred place to carry it and advised that at any given moment throughout the day, he could yell out a command for us to apply our tourniquet to save our lives. Shortly after that, our first command came down. Chuck gave us 30 seconds to apply the tourniquet to our left leg. He then came around to verify the tightness and proceeded to crank it down even more (OUCH). He advised we need to make sure that during training, we train like it is the rea deal. Any “cheating” in class would result to cheating in the real world. He continued to drill it into us all day. Crank that Mutha down and save your life, or the life of your loved ones.


After the tourniquet review, we discussed malfunctions and how to clear them with two hands, as well as one hand (both strong and weak hand). We then went down range and practiced the skills with dummy rounds. After he was satisfied with our practice, we then applied our tourniquets on a limb that he called out and then clear the malfunction he had set up for us. We did that a few times, then proceeded to do them with live fire with an 8” round target approximately 5-7 yards away.


After completing this, we broke for lunch.


Upon returning to the range, we discussed the time and place for surreptitious draws. Chuck gave us examples of surreptitious draws and had us practice them. A scenario was then set up in which we were facing 90 degrees from a target down range (7 yards) and our instructions were to surreptitiously draw on the word threat until we were told to engage with our ultimate goal to get all the way back to concealment. Upon stepping to the line, Chuck called threat, I surreptitiously drew my gun and was then advised the threat turned into a gunfight. We were to return fire and retreat back to concealment, then retreat to cover (a second set of barrels) while getting to the second set of barrels, I was advised that I had been shot in the left leg and I needed to apply a tourniquet, at the same time, I am being told that the downed threat is shooting again shooting at me while a I trying to get the tourniquet applied. After getting the tourniquet applied, we were instructed to move to medical all the while returning fire to the threat and scooting, dragging our injured limb. I was the first student to do the drill. Overall, I did pretty well. Chuck did identify some early training scars. The biggest one was after a volley of gunfire, I would go to a compressed high ready position while assessing the status of the threat. Chuck advised to stay in the fight until the threat is down. Also, having to drag your own body 10 yards will wear you out. It is important to be physically fit. By the time the scenario was over, I was out of breath. Fitness is important. After each student went through the scenario, it would be debriefed. All were learning moments.


The remainder of the day was working in and around vehicles. It was interesting to see first-hand what really happens around cars. While I have seen videos and read articles about vehicle ballistics, I had never seen what really happens. We saw how effective each of the pillars (A,B, and C) are for cover and how ineffective car door panels are (bullets travel right through them). We shot through glass from the outside in and then we also shot from within the car out through the windshield. We practiced the proper way to exit the car with a threat down range.


Our last scenario of the day was we were walking into a restaurant and two people were exiting after a possible robbery. The two people engaged in an exchange of gunfire us as a threat to their escape. This is where we really saw how ineffective the door panels are as cover. Rounds went right through both sides of the car. This scenario also made us think about how to best deal with the two suspects effectively. Everyone addressed it a little differently. At the end, there end no wrong or right way. Chuck just wanted us to stack our priorities and deal with the threat the best we could.
 

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