Originally Posted by
KevinB
I'll take a swing.
I've done a little bit of CQB and HR training, either Mil or LE based. Maybe 4-5 months worth - so honestly not a great deal comparably.
I find the CCW/Home Defense aspect to be very similar to individual LE training / Active Shooter training. Now most classes for the LE side will not let you in without creds.
It is very different when you are operating on your own, as opposed to a team - the tactics are different.
When you look for team training, a guy who has multiple years at the highest end of the spectrum is who I like (say 10 plus years in CAG, DEV, SAS, SASR, or JTF-2) operational experience, and relatively current experiences - as tactics have evolved while we have been fighting the GWOT.
Now while those are all great experiences - they do not translate 100% into teaching single shooter tactics.
Guys who do this best are usually not teaching on the net - covert folks who live in a 1 man world
(*I am sure there are some former agency guys who are teaching - but I don't know any) now a lot of the former SMU guys have at one time done this and there are a few guys that run classes in this - but initially I would look to a really checked out LEO - who has some SWAT time, but is focused in the patrol world. Why? because patrol LEO with pistol and flashlight mirrors pretty much what the armed civilian has. Also ensure their #1 goal is safety.
Clearing your house (you may need to enter - or make your way thru your dwelling to family) as a single shooter - do not look like a HR team rolling thru the home, nor does it look like a SWAT team clearing on a warrant (hopefully). Single person clearing is dangerous - you are your own backup -- you cannot see 360 at all times. You need to be given the opportunities both live and FoF to come to see the balances between safety and speed, and know when speed will give safety.
Jay had the opportunity to see me repeatedly botch 1 man entries on a LAV/Ken Hackathorn Low Light class -- why because I was on leave from Iraq, and I was thinking in a team environment - and not solo - so I entered like I would with a teammate or more - and Ken would go "Pow, Kevin you're dead" - as I'd either crash my corner - or only pie a portion.
I take a lot of time to re-train the brain, especially under-pressure, when all I had up to that point was 2-Infinity man entry experience.
I don't know if I would call it a training scar - as I see it more of a training deficiency.
Once you are comfortable with a few classes - then I would look to a Home Defense CQB class given by someone like Jason Falla (RedBackOne), or some of the other former SMU personnel.
* I like Jason, I've taken classes from him, and I've gone thru the door with him on live raids.
I view CQB training as an ideally refresher class every 6months for the homeowner -- starting off - I would try to do 2-3 classes in the space of 2 months.
Now after for why to look to a SMU guy to teach CQB even for civilian home defense
Outside of the SMU side of the Military where folks get to kick door turn left for months learning it - no one in the world gets the budget or the time to learn it that way.
Safety in a house is PARAMOUNT - there are a number of folks offering courses - and IMHO the VAST majority are NOT qualified to do it, as your life if yours and you only get one.
Do not ever sacrifice your safety, CQB is dangerous, so do not make it more, if you ever see someone ignoring rules, just walk away.