“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
Hands-on training with professional instructors can be a valuable experience provided you train with competent professionals. There are many out there – and many wannabes too! This guide will share our experiences with a handful of them to get you started in the right direction. Classes listed on this page we have attended ourselves and will vouch for.
There are many types and levels of training – from square range classes built on establishing solid fundamentals to immersive experiences such as Force on Force and Team Tactics. Like most things you’ll get much more from advanced classes if your fundamentals are squared away. The thing to keep in mind with all training is that it depreciates. If you want to retain the value you spent so much time, money and ammo learning you’ve got to regularly practice the things learned from these classes.
CLASS TIPS:
- Classes run from 8-20 students. Look for a student:teacher ratio of no more than 15:1. Anything more any you won’t get much personalized time with your instructor. Unless you’re doing FOF – more “bodies” to stack in training 😉
- Bring quality weapons and ammo. If you can’t flawlessly run a few hundred rounds through your weapon of choice (before the class), try different ammo and for the love of God, don’t bring that weapon! You’ll waste everyone’s time dealing with your steel cased ammo and Frankenrifle.
- Have a good attitude and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are paying for that instructor’s knowledge – take advantage of it.
- Instructors come in all different flavors and backgrounds and many today are former .MIL of varying experiences. If you want to train with former SEALs, Delta or Rangers – they’re out there. You can get equally good instruction from civilians too – just research who you’re dealing with.
Kyle Defoor
Prior to becoming an instructor, Kyle served with Naval Special Warfare Development Group and SEAL Team 8 as a sniper and assaulter, with decorated combat experience in Afghanistan and Bosnia.
His classes are always in high demand, selling out for the last 3 years. Civilian offerings include standalone or combination classes in pistol, carbine and scoped rifle. Most are 2-day events and are priced at $500-$600.
Having done both his scoped rifle and carbine class, I can attest to Kyle’s professionalism and passion for his craft. He’s laid back and easy to understand. “Burn good reps” is his mantra and you will spend hours doing just that under his watchful eye.
Pat McNamara
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting)
Civilian offerings include his 2-day, TAPS pistol/carbine class at $500-$600.
PMAC as he’s known is one intense dude with an exciting and fast-paced training style to match. He’s developed many varied and challenging drills which will push your abilities. He stresses competing against yourself rather than others – performance based training. And above all, you better be ready to “burn it down!”
John “Shrek” McPhee
John McPhee is a retired Special Operations Sargent Major and Owner of S.O.B. Tactical He has trained countless U.S. Special Operations forces and thousands of International Tier 1 Operators around the world. He is one of the handful of operators with over a decade of combat having served in multiple theaters from Bosnia and South America to recent war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John’s classes are part Square Range and part Immersive due to his unique approach. Small class sizes, lots of hands-on guidance and his secret sauce: video diagnostics. This unique approach uses the same tech pro athletes and their trainers use to squeeze out inefficiencies. You’ll learn more about how and why you shoot the way you do after watching your first video. More importantly, you’ll also learn valuable tools to diagnose your deficiencies and correct them on the fly.
His classes are safe, laid-back, low round count and are really designed (my words) for those who truly want to better their technique and results.
Max Velocity Tactical
Max is a tactical trainer and author, a lifelong professional soldier with extensive military experience. He served with British Special Operations Forces, both enlisted and as a commissioned officer; a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Max served on numerous operational deployments, and also served as a recruit instructor. Max spent five years serving as a paramilitary contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This included a year based out of Fallujah, Iraq, and two years working for the British Government in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Max is the Primary Instructor for the majority of tactical classes held at both the VTC and mobile. He is supported by other highly qualified instructors and offers a wide range of classes – both on-location and his private facility in West Virginia which features a 360 degree battlefield, pop-up targets and challenging terrain.
Having done several classes at MVT, I can vouch for the professionalism and safety of this next-level training. Here you will really find out what you are made of in terms of weapon skills, managing stress and your physical fitness levels – all necessary pieces of staying alive should a fight come your way. There is probably no more realistic training available to civilians anywhere apart from MVT.