onPoint Tactical experiences?

[Le Français]

Does anyone here have experience with this organization and their training courses?

[zacbol]

Yes, I took Urban Escape and Evasion held in Seattle, Wa in the May or so of 2010. It was my first experience with any formal "tactical" training. Mike Shertz, a former Special Forces medic, was in the class as well and it was through him I learned of Insights Training Center, where I've done most of my subsequent training, including their General Defensive Handgun, Intensive Handgun Skills (2x), Unarmed Self-Defense, Street & Vehicle Tactics, General Defensive Rifle (2x), and Tactical First Aid (with Shertz).

I thought the class had a lot of interesting information and I learned everything from basic lockpicking, to escaping handcuffs and flexi-cuffs, and basic escape and evasion techniques including taken a baseline, disguise, and just a ton of other information. The first two days were primarily in the class room and had a *ton* of information, the final day being a field exercise in which we started handcuffed and hooded, had to "escape" then evade capture as we performed a series of tasks that required use of much of what we'd learned over the preceding days, including caching, altering appearance, picking locks, etc.

I definitely enjoyed the class and felt I learned a lot. The instructor, Kevin Reeve, did a generally good job with the material. That said, in comparison with the Insights classes I took subsequently in hindsight it felt a little *rough* in its presentation. The first two days did have practical exercises around lock picking and escaping handcuffs, etc but the remainder was primary lecture. I felt the class would have been better if there had been more extended practical exercises around things like caching, disguise, etc and feedback on our performance rather than leaving it all to the final exercise.

Do I think the class was worth it? Yes. I'm still no aware of any class quite like it. But it could use some refinement/improvement. I'd be happy to try an answer if you have any more specific instructions. I will post my notes from the class below, but I will just paste them from Word (I don't feel like trying to translate them to vBulletin code right now.

[zacbol]

Urban Escape and Evasion

1. Types of Environments
1.1. Hostile
1.1.1. “If they see you on the street, bad things will happen” – Kevin
1.1.2. This includes places such as Afghanistan but also places like Mexico
1.2. Permissive
1.2.1. A country with which we have good relations
1.2.2. You may walk around without fear of arrest
1.2.3. You still probably can’t carry a weapon, i.e. there are restrictions to what you can do
1.2.4. Not necessarily friendly
1.2.5. Cairo, New York(!)
1.3. Even places not generally regarded as dangerous can turn bad
1.3.1. Most likely place to be kidnapped: Mexico City. Second: Phoenix, Arizona
1.3.1.1. “Driving a Mercedes in Phoenix is a dangerous thing to do”
1.3.2. In Katrina there were roughly 1200 deaths. 600 were gunshot wounds
1.3.3. There is a saying that “We are 9 meals from anarchy.”
1.3.4. Recent news events attest to this
1.3.4.1. Mexico kidnapping froum tourist hotel
1.3.4.2. “There are few places in the world I’d travel with an American passport”
2. How you train is how you will react in real life
2.1. FBI training originally emphasized firing twice and reholster the weapon
2.1.1. Field agents ended up doing the same thing in the field
2.2. Kevin told a story of a martial artist who repeatedly practiced taken a gun away from an assailant with his wife. He repeatedly took it away then gave it back, took it away then gave it back. One day he actually was held at gunpoint and was able to take the gun away. Then he gave it back to the perpetrator
2.3. Police engagements are typically within six feet. One shot in ten is a hit. Most LEOs use their 50 rounds allocated and nothing more. They don’t practice.
2.4. One of
3. Body’s reaction to stress
3.1. One of most important preparations is scenario-based situations
3.1.1. Practice opening handcuffs after drinking a gallon of water and closed in a dark room
3.1.2. Transfer from field care to formal care is one of the most dangerous moments
3.1.2.1. One soldier took 12 rounds and WAS NOT BLEEDING FROM ANY
3.1.2.1.1. When we was transferred to the gurney he started bleeding out. The adrenaline has caused vasoconstriction and when he thought he was in safe hands his body “relaxed” and he started
3.1.2.1.2. Often in battle/high-stress situation you will not be aware of injuries. Will not be aware of injuries, check self at first opportunity
3.1.3. “It is magical thinking to assume you be able to do something by just thinking about it.”
3.2. Cortisol Levels
3.3. Heartrate
3.3.1. Heartrate is a very good indication of stress-level
3.3.1.1. 60 – 80
3.3.1.1.1. Resting, no stress
3.3.1.2. 80-115 BPM: Yellow
3.3.1.2.1. Peak functioning
3.3.1.3. 115 – 145: Red
3.3.1.3.1. Still quite high functioning state
3.3.1.3.2. Cognitive function is somewhat diminishes
3.3.1.4. 145-180: Gray
3.3.1.4.1. “Bad”
3.3.1.4.2. Greatly diminished physical and mental capabilities
3.3.1.4.2.1. Shaking, inability to think clearly
3.3.1.4.3. Need to counter when you realize you’re going into this state and counter it via breathing, etc
3.3.1.4.3.1.1. Draw in for 4 count, hold for 4 count
3.3.1.5. 180 and above
3.3.1.5.1. Gross-motor function fails
3.3.1.5.2. Become submissive
3.4. Reading list
3.4.1. Out of Captivity
3.4.2. Five years to Freedom
3.4.3. On Combat
3.5. E&E Priorities
3.5.1. Don’t be upset it’s hard.
3.5.2. “Get off the dime.”
3.5.2.1. Do not remain stationary
3.5.3. Be aware it’s easy to focus on one thing to the exclusion of other important aspects of the situation
3.5.4. One of the most important preparations is trying “scenario-based” situations
3.5.4.1. E.x. Practice opening handcuffs after drinking a gallon of water and closed in a room
3.5.5. Survivor’s Club (Book). 90% of people will be worthless in an emergency
3.5.6. At a minimum you should have the following memorized
3.5.6.1. Passport number
3.5.6.2. Driver’s license number
3.5.6.3. 4-5 basic phone number
3.6. Gear
3.6.1. There are three primary gear categories
3.6.2. Basics
3.6.2.1. There are three primary gear categories
3.6.2.2. Include language skills
3.6.2.2.1. Whether it be ebonics or Arabic, have the ability to understand and fit in!!!
3.6.2.2.2. This includes communication and cultural knowledge
3.6.2.3. Mental notes of surroundings are part of this. A mental AO Briefing Book
3.6.2.3.1. As you have committed languages and phone numbers and addresses, so must this information be there at all times.
3.6.3. Gear Rules
3.6.3.1. DO NOT BE DEPENDANT ON GEAR!
3.6.3.2. You should be able to do without any piece of your gear (either adjust tactics, or be able to easily and reliabily manufacture a substitute)
3.6.3.3. All gear should be duplicated in each tier
3.6.3.4. All gear should be practical and have multiple uses
3.6.3.5. Depend on your knowledge and skills
3.6.4. Procuring gear
3.6.4.1. There is always that bar
3.6.4.1.1. Biker bar, etc
3.6.4.1.2. Sit at bar, look outside for bikes
3.6.4.1.3. Establish bona fides with someone. Strike up conversation via social engineering
3.6.4.1.4. “I’m looking to find a piece of hardware”
3.6.4.1.5. There is ALWAYS a black market no matter where you are, it’s just you have to know how to find it.
3.6.5. Tier One
3.6.5.1. Gear you have on your person or within arms’ reach at tall times
3.6.5.2. Kevin has four blades on his person at any one time, including a fixed blade (Rat RC3?)
3.6.5.3. Two bobby pins on front of pants and two on the back
3.6.5.4. One of the most important tools to have with you at all times are lockpicks
3.6.5.5. Sample of tier one
3.6.5.5.1. Fixed blade knife
3.6.5.5.2. Multi-tool
3.6.5.5.3. Hidden lock picks
3.6.5.5.4. Lighter
3.6.5.5.5. Light
3.6.5.5.6. Cell phone
3.6.5.5.7. Cultural, language, and communication
3.6.6. Tier Two
3.6.6.1. Immediately accessible (i.e. EDC Bag)
3.6.6.2. Contents
3.6.6.2.1. Small trauma kit
3.6.6.2.2. Small handgun
3.6.6.2.3. Small monocular
3.6.6.2.4. Night vision device
3.6.6.2.5. Full-size lock picks/jigglers
3.6.6.2.6. OC fogger
3.6.6.2.7. Lighter
3.6.6.2.8. Compass
3.6.6.2.9. Coded/annotated map
3.6.6.2.10. Knife
3.6.6.2.11. GPS
3.6.6.2.12. Flashlight
3.6.6.2.13. Spare batteries
3.6.6.2.14. Multi-tool
3.6.6.2.15. Phone and charger
3.6.6.2.15.1. Tracfone disposable, untraceablephone, purchased at Walmart for $10 and filled with extra minutes. Just need to be charged from time to time.
3.6.6.2.16. Bionic ear
3.6.6.2.16.1. i.e. Walker Game Ear, purchased at Cabela’s for $40
3.6.6.2.16.2. Used if sleeping in an unknown place for advanced warning
3.6.6.2.17. Notepad and pen
3.6.6.2.18. Critical numbers, coordinates, addresses
3.6.7. Tier Three
3.6.7.1. Radio, pick gun, compass, smoke and/or tear gas grenade, knife, map, STOMP Bag (essentially a field-hospital), bolt cutters, identity kit, disguise kit, pocket litter, counter-pursuit kit (includes things like Caltrop which is made by taking goat fence cut with bolt-cutters and twisted and dropped out car if being pursued in vehicles)
3.6.7.2. Trauma Kit
3.6.7.2.1. This is a trauma kit, not a first-aid kit. This is for trauma life saving items, not comfort items (like band-aids). Designed to keep you from dying, not to be happy
3.6.7.2.2. Latex gloves, syring with 22ga needle, quick clot (or other blood coagulator), triangular bandage, prescription pain reliever, Lidocaine, suture kit, tape, scalepel, hemostats, IV bag and kit
3.6.7.2.3. Celox
3.6.7.2.3.1. Only effective about 30% of the time but nothing is better
3.6.7.2.3.2. Injected directly into wound
3.6.7.2.4. CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet)
3.6.7.3. Commo Kit
3.6.7.3.1. HF Radio is essentially a
3.6.8. Travel
3.6.8.1. Kevin carries $20 in a sock as a weapon on airplanes
3.6.8.2. Tactical pen will that is made of metal will generally go unnoticed by TSA
3.6.8.3. If US Passport is from within the last few years, it will contain an RFID
3.6.8.3.1. The static bags that computer boards come in will block this
3.6.8.3.2. You can microwave your passport for 10s to disable the RFID. But you don’t want to do it for more than a few seconds at a time otherwise it will burn through.
3.6.9. “TRAINING TRUMPS GEAR”
3.7. Caching
3.7.1. Baseline document cache
3.8. Medication
3.8.1. Casinos have better security than Fort Knox. The next most secure locations, though, are chain pharmacies
3.8.1.1. A good alternative to procure medical supplies is a vet or farm suppy store
3.8.1.1.1. Dosages and names may differ, but the drugs are safe for humans
3.8.1.1.2. This is operational procedure for Special Forces medics
3.8.2. Drugs are often fine far after their official expiration
3.8.2.1. After the Iraq War, there were large stockpiles of medicine left over that had not been used and were reaching expiry. The FDA magically extended the expiration of these drugs by 2 years. I.e. they weren’t really expired to being with
3.8.2.2. If you’re only going to stockpile one antibiotic, Avalox
3.9.
3.10. Stealing a car
3.10.1. Picking locks
3.10.1.1. AVOID late model luxury cars. You will not be be able to defeat electronics
3.10.2. In order of preference for ease of entry
3.10.2.1. Pre-2000 Honda Accord or Honda Prelude
3.10.2.2. Pre-2000 Chrysler
3.10.2.3. Pre-2000 Subaru, Nissan, etc
3.10.3. BAD choices
3.10.3.1. GM – ignition even from the mid-50s is VERY difficult to beat
3.10.4. Go to the junkyard and practice. Get good at breaking into just one type of vehicle
3.10.5. If you can defeat the door lock, you should be able to defeat the ignition as they are the same lock
3.10.6. If using jigglers, wiggle and twist and repeat
3.10.7.
3.11. Random Notes
3.11.1. For anything metal, spraying WD-40 on it will dissolve fingerprints
3.11.2. On average we are put on camera 120 times a day
3.11.3. Using GPS regularly leads to a loss of situational awareness
3.11.3.1. If you do use GPS, make sure you regularly flush it
3.11.4. OC Spray can be used as a tactical “fog” to prevent pursuit
3.11.4.1. Can be purchased at cheaperthandirt.com
3.11.5.

[zacbol]

I should also add, it appears as though I never finished transcribing my notes so the above is not a complete representation of the material (probably only about 50% actually)

[Le Français]

Thank you very much!

[troutslayer6]

I should also add, it appears as though I never finished transcribing my notes so the above is not a complete representation of the material (probably only about 50% actually)

Would you please publish the rest of your notes on the E&E course. Excellent notes.

[zacbol]

Would you please publish the rest of your notes on the E&E course. Excellent notes.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I posted everything I had put into a Word doc. The rest are handwritten notes in the margin of the handout book provided in class. It would take me a number of hours to write the rest of them up (that's why I didn't finish in the first place). If I have some spare time (which is rare these days), I'll see what I can do--though it's probably going to be tough two years after having taken the class. Usually I try to do it immediately after because the notes are just there to jog my memory and a lot of the additional context has to come from memory.

[Cookie Monster]

Years ago I took a bunch of classes where Kevin Reeves was an instructor. His knowledge and practical experience was unmatched. His tracking skills are pretty much unmatched. ONpoint has been on my short list for classes to take, unfortunately my short list is pretty long.

Cheers,
Cookie Monster

[Chance]

Uber necro bump. This class is coming back to Dallas in November, so I'm curious to hear if anyone has had experience with them since the original post.

Based on what @zacbol was kind enough to share, I suspect I'm familiar with a good portion of the material. But there's always a lot more to learn, so if anyone has trained with them, I'd love to get your input.