AAR: Rangemaster Instructor Development Course, Culpeper, VA, 27-29 May

[Mr Pink]

After Action Report (AAR)
Last year a group of us met up with ToddG at ESS to do some shooting. To my surprise Lynn Givens was there. Todd introduced us and I told her I always wanted to take a Rangemaster Course but they always seem to teach in Virginia when I’m out of town due to work. Todd recommended their training and said I’d enjoy it. Lynn told me the dates had not been posted, but they were planning on coming back up Memorial Day. Back at work, I put in for leave to ensure I would be available for the Rangemaster training.

The Rangemaster 3-day Firearms Instructor Course was hosted by John Murphy at FPF Training in Culpeper, Virginia. Class ran daily from about 9:00am to about 6:30pm from Friday 27 May to Sunday 29 May 2016.

Equipment: The pistol I used was a brand new Glock 19 Gen 4. I replaced the sights with Dawson Precision Carry, Black Rear & Fiber Optic Front. I also put in a 3.5 disconnect. Everything else was stock. I test fired about 200 rounds before the course. I used a JM Customs IWB Holster – Version Three and shot Blazer Brass ammo, 9mm, 115gr FMJ. I had zero malfunctions or issues.

My instructor background: I have been through multiple firearms instructor courses, teaching firearms for over 20 years and currently run Green-Ops. I think I’m a decent shooter, but my hair will never be as perfect as TCinVA. His hair looked the exact same way on day 3 as it did on day 1…perfect!

Day 1
We began in the classroom with Tom doing a quick introduction and a little about his background. Besides teaching for decades, Tom has one of the most diversified backgrounds out there (Military, Law Enforcement and Competition). Tom completed 25-years in Law Enforcement and actively competed at the top levels in PPC, IPSC and IDPA (his IDPA number is A00008). A summary of his credentials are available here: http://rangemaster.com/about/tom-givens/
I have been reading Tom’s articles for years and have always been extremely impressed. So, here I am with the opportunity to train with an icon in the industry and Tom introduces his assistants to include, Skip Gochenour, the Founder of American Tactical Shooting Association and the National Tactical Invitational (NTI). Talk about blown away! Next the students did quick introductions. There were a few intermediate shooters at this class, but the majority was filled with experienced shooters and instructors. I could tell this was going to be a GREAT class and we just started!

Classroom began with the basics and Tom went over a long lecture in the classroom. We took a quick lunch break and continued with the classroom portion until about 2pm. If there were such a thing as a degree in firearms history and training, Tom would have a doctorate in it. He’s a walking encyclopedia and can tell you history of techniques, to include the “how” and “why”, along with real world data and statistics.

We moved to the range and were quickly paired up as coaches with other students. Throughout the course, Tom would have us rotate one student right, so we would get used to coaching different students. If Tom (or one of his assistants) didn’t see a coach fixing a mistake, they would immediately help the coach out. Not sure how he does it, but I’m sure Tom sees everything!

Tom spoke about the importance of showing different techniques to the students and having them choose which one worked best for them. Tom also talked about things most instructors won’t cover. He doesn’t carry appendix, but he did talk about the proper way to draw and re-holster using it.

We did some rhythm drills, speed transitions drills and finished up with the Rangemaster Bullseye Course. I haven’t shot bullseye type targets in years, but still ended up getting a 291 out of 300. One of the great things about courses like this; you learn what your weaknesses are. I’ll be working bulleyes shooting in the future. I’d say at the end of the day we ended up shooting over 150 rounds.

Day 2
We started off at the range and stayed there until almost 3pm before moving back to the classroom. This was the most intensive day for shooting and we went through at least 500rds. We focused on a variety of drills, aiming at smaller areas on the target (head or dot), shooting at distance, one handed shooting (strong/support hand), drawing from concealment, casino drill, malfunctions, knelling, and the FBI qual. On several occasions, Tom demonstrated left handed shooting techniques.

Back in the classroom Tom went over typical instructor backgrounds (Military, Law Enforcement, Competition), discussed the pro & cons (in regards to teaching conceal carry to armed civilians) and how rare it is to find someone with all three. Tom also talked about violent crime and the statistics in this country. If you didn’t carry a gun 24/7 before listening to Tom’s lecture, then I’m sure you will ALWAYS carry after hearing him speak. He basically scares the shit out of you with the truth! He also discussed many of the sources for statistics. One of the more interesting topics was how the firearms community seems to train for statistics based off of Uniformed Law Enforcement encounters but should probably be using more relevant data. Tom explained how FBI and DEA statistics would be better suited as they carry concealed and include off duty encounters. Additionally, they are not engaging in traffic stops, domestic violence, bar policing, etc… A better study is that of Tom’s students. Of the many students he has trained, he is aware of 66 that were involved in armed encounters. Of those 66 involved, 63 won and 3 forfeited (zero loses). Tom considers the 3 that died as forfeits because those students did not have their firearms on them at the time of the incidents.

Day 3
We started at the range and was qualification day! We did the FBI Qualification and the Rangemaster Instructor Qualifications twice each. A 90% or above was required to graduate. Next we went into revolvers; we loaded, shot, reloaded and shot again, with our right hand first and then did the same thing with our left hands. Tom dispelled some myths about how revolvers never malfunction. Then during the live fire, the student to my left had his S&W completely lock up. It was like Tom had a crystal ball.

We were back at the classroom by 1pm and Tom had several subjects to cover in just a few hours. He went over Deadly Force, Adult learning methods and a few other things before finally handing out the test around 4pm. There was no review and the test had plenty of fill in the blanks. In other words, you needed to know the material and have a 90% or more to graduate. Even after all the studying, the test was surprising challenging.

After the test Tom did an extensive review of the North Hollywood bank robbery and the FBI Miami shootout. This was a great review of tactics, but more importantly it was an excellent insight into the types of evil predators out there and what they are capable of. Later, Tom handed out certificates and we were on our way by roughly 6:30pm.

Overall, the course exceeded my expectations. I can’t stress the value of the information available in the 200-page manual along with the references. Tom has a way of saying things with few words and can still get a point across very quickly. I can honestly say that this could have easily been a 6 or 7-day course. All 5 of the current Green-Ops instructors attended and graduated from the course. We all agree that we want to attend future courses with Rangemaster.

Not a complaint, but more of an observation; I thought there would be plenty of time to chat with Tom and Lynn, while getting the opportunity to pick Skip Gochenour’s brain about the NTI…I was wrong. There was no down time in the course and if you weren’t shooting, you were coaching or loading mags. After class, it was an hour and 15 drive, followed by loading mags and studying. If you come to class, be prepared to work and study. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have stayed at a local hotel and tried to interact more with Tom, Lynn, Skip and the rest of the crew.

At the end of the course, John Murphy asked if given the opportunity, who would take it again? Everyone raised their hand, including mine. Hope to see some familiar faces next year

[BJXDS]

Excellent AAR and class, I also attended and was thinking of writing one, but not much I can add, this covers it all. This class kicked my ASS, I passed, but required me to be mentally and physically at 100 percent the moment I hit the range until the moment I left. It was every bit as informative and challenging as I was told, and exactly what I was looking for, something to push me to be better and it did.

The written test at the end of the class surprised me a bit, almost bit me.

Also I agree, I was blown away with Tom's knowledge and experience. I could listen and learn from him for hours. In closing, don't sell yourself short, you are better than a decent shooter.

[Chuck Haggard]

Well written.


The course I attended in OK was obviously ran off of the same game plan. I think Tom does one of the very best instructor schools that can be had, especially for the CCW/handgun instructor.

[TCinVA]

[JMS]

I only live about 45min away, and also think that I'd have benefitted from taking a local room instead of driving home each night. As it turns out, I missed 2 questions (for a 98.3%) and got the #3 aggregate shooting score for the class, so it turned out moderately well.

TD1 was Thing2, an AIWB-carried 2012 M&P9 with about 15k on the frame/slide, wearing a blank Dawson adjustable rear and a Dawson trit .285" front, and a recently-installed Apex gunsmith-fit barrel. It helped me nab a 291/300 for the bullseye portion. This is my daily carry gun.



TD2-3 was Thing1, same make (though a 2009) with over 35k, same sights, and a Storm Lake fitted barrel. This is my practice/class/competition gun; it sees a lot more use.

680 rounds of Speer Lawman 147 were expended for the class as a whole. I attributed 200 rounds to Thing2/TD1, but only because I turned immediately to studying the student handout, instead of getting an accurate count.

Takeaways:

Use of a properly set up bluegun IOT get a reverse angle of the sights for the purposes of diagnosing what a problematic student shooter is *actually* seeing. BPT disregard any/all dogmatic muzzle-discipline purists who will doubtless totally lose their shit if they see it, because they think a bluegun is the same thing as a real gun, vice it actually being about the same thing as a banana.

Relearned the usefulness of a color/shape/number combo target for the purposes of introducing or fostering an ability to still think through problems, in the absence of (or, hell, in addition to...) a movement-authorized range. EDIT: T posted his vids while I was typing, the third one is what this references.

Related -- develop more than one method/sequence for use, as even nitwits have a pattern-recognition capability. Factor in somebody who knows and makes an active effort to game things, it can become rote quickly. BPT to change things up, frequently.

If your eyes are starting to go, it's of benefit to ping your local handgun competitors, because they're the ones who know which optometrists are gun-friendly. The new peepers got a shakedown, and work great....though I need to reconcile myself to the fact that I'll likely be in bifocals within 1.5yrs.

I'm away from my notes, will sift them for more, later.

[Tom Givens]

This was an absolutely outstanding Instructor Development Course in Culpeper, Virginia, this past weekend. We were hosted by the lovely and talented John Murphy, of FPF Training, who did a great job logistically.

We had 29 students, and 25 of them passed all the requirements and were certified. The average scores were phenomenal, as follows:

FBI Course- 96.6% Rangemaster Instructor Course- 96.2%
Written test- 94.0%

Average aggregate score, 286.8 out of a possible 300, for 95.6%!

In addition to Lynn and myself, we were assisted by Chief Lee Weems and Skip and Adam Gochenour, late of the NTI. Much learning occurred.

We’re back in Culpeper for the same course next year, on 26-28 May 2017.

[Force Majeure]

Then during the live fire, the student to my left had his S&W completely lock up. It was like Tom had a crystal ball.

Was it a silver 642 model J-Frame?

Guilty as charged. I had some previous trouble with that pistol that was unrelated to that issue and apparently resolved. I managed to retrieve and save the rounds from that load and intend to see if it was ammo or as Tom mentioned during class, a speck of unburnt powder trapped underneath the ejector star. I was able to load a fresh five rounds and successfully fire them.

Tom disabused me of the belief that a J-Frame and a speed-loader was enough to do the job reliably. I used that previously as something when I was wearing shorts and a T-Shirt and didn't want to be made or just going to the corner stop n' rob to grab something and go and too lazy/too big a hurry and didn't want to kit-up with my kydex and my G-19, my normal carry piece. Shove it with a pocket holster in my right pocket, the speed loader in my left and out the door. Too easy! Yep, too easy for a reason.

Obviously, that is going to be re-evaluated going into the future, Tom has given me a suggestion to look at.


Another great Rangemanster course, my third at Murphy's house.

And when Lynn tells you future students to stay in your motel and study the course work instead of partying at night, I strongly suggest you take heed. The test was no joke and heeding her warning likely put me over the top with margin to spare.

A great class and a great bunch of people. I recommend this to anyone seriously seeking an instructor certification that means something, because they MAKE you earn it if you want it.

[voodoo_man]

Sounds like an awesome class. Wish I could have made it out. Definitely will consider the next one.

[TCinVA]

Mr. Pink's AAR above is an excellent summary of the weekend and captures my feelings about the course nicely.

Tom's lecture on criminal violence alone was worth the price of admission and I'd wager it plays no small part in the record of success among his students. I started taking classes seriously in 2002 and I've never heard a better lecture on the topic from anyone.

There is a whole lot of why behind everything Tom teaches and even if I don't do everything exactly as he teaches personally, I would absolutely teach it his way to others.

There's a lot of what I would refer to as instructor-itis out there. Dudes and dudettes who think it's cool to be a firearms instructor. Enthusiasm is laudable but more often than not you see a lack of sobriety about exactly what instructing is about. Tom gave an excellent sense of the gravity of this endeavor, of the enormous responsibility you adopt when you are teaching someone to use a handgun in self defense. Because their life will rest on what you have taught them.

I'll paraphrase how Tom described it:

I take this seriously because about twice a year I hear from a student who tells me that what I taught them saved their life.

This isn't about Youtube views, instagram followers, or Facebook likes. It's about teaching people something they can depend on when they are faced with an act of criminal violence that threatens their family and their future. They will likely be facing this threat alone and with only what they have on their person and what has been programmed into their subconscious to help them overcome it. If you are not teaching to that moment, if you are not picturing your student fighting for their life and doing all you can to help them prevail, you have no business teaching defensive handgun.

Period.

This class gives you the foundation necessary to teach to that moment, to be of real benefit to a student when they are faced with the worst humanity can throw at them. I can't pay it a higher compliment than that.

[BJJ]

Thanks for the detailed write up. Sounds like an awesome class. About 2 weeks ago I registered to take Combative Pistol with Tom in August. I was already fired up about it, now I'm looking forward to it even more.

Green Ops looks like some great training as well.