Two-Person Tactics

[PeteG]

Two-Person Tactics
Saturday September 22 and Sunday September 23, 2012
Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsman’s Club – 505 Mosside Blvd., N. Versailles (Pgh.) Pa.

“Two-person tactics” is about getting the signals straight between two people who are likely to be together in the advent of a sudden emergency, so they can more effectively assist one-another and make the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Conversely, it is about avoiding duplication of effort, adding to the confusion or one literally getting in the way.

Most of us have people in our lives who are very likely to be around in the event trouble finds us. Spouses are prime examples. Others include good friends or family with whom we spend our recreational time, and co-workers with whom we travel. The premise is that much can be gained from organizing and coordinating what you and your partner do in the event of an emergency. This is so even if the person you expect to be with is not one who will be armed. The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.

In the kind of emergency that warrants the use of a firearm, there will almost certainly more things that need attention than one person can effectively attend to. The situation may well demand that one focus on two things at once, which is impossible. Once cannot, for example, watch his back while facing an immediate threat. The problem may be in one direction and your oblivious child in the other. One cannot shoot and call the police at the same time. With the stress and distraction, one could sure use some help, and so could whoever is with you.

Issues addressed in the course include:

• Secure communication (verbal and non-verbal);
• How and where to move relative to one-another;
• Being predictable to your partner, without broadcasting your intentions;
• Assigning roles for different emergencies (e.g.: child abduction vs. robbery);
• Taking advantage of all available eyes and ears;
• Recognizing who must be making the decisions, when, and passing off control;
• Planning for extremely difficult decisions (such as when to leave the other behind);
• Weapon selection and training with the other person in mind.

This course assumes that trouble has found you in your home, car or workplace, and the two of you must now address a life-threatening problem. The instruction is focused on who you actually are, not an idealized ninja warrior, using the resources you are likely to actually have at your disposal, not some idealized equipment list.
The course may only be attended by people in pairs. To attend alone would defeat the whole course objective.

At least one in any pair must be a shooter. This is a firearms course. However, many people trained to use firearms share their life with someone who “hates guns” or otherwise chooses not to train with them. Even where one party will not be armed, the total effectiveness of the pair can be multiplied, and some tactical disasters avoided, if the two put some effort into learning how to better work together. Therefore, one non-shooting member of any team is perfectly reasonable.

Use your firearm of choice. The principles and techniques we address in the course are the same whether you expect to defend your home with a rifle or be on the street armed with a hand gun. You can use whatever firearm(s) you expect to have available under the circumstances for which you and your partner wish to prepare.

Prerequisites: Anyone who will be using a firearm must have at least 22 hours of prior, formal training in whatever firearm discipline they intend to engage during the course, from a school or instructor we know or the content of which training we can identify. All course participants must be at least 18 years of age, and be able to demonstrate they have no criminal history.

Instructor: Rangemaster will be Peter Georgiades. Peter has 16 years’ experience teaching firearms and defensive tactics. He is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection), the State of Arizona (issued CCW Instructor Certificate No. 8769268), and OSG as a contact distance defense instructor. Peter is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). He was trained as an instructor through the Gunsite Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Cert. Course, Marksman's Enterprise 3 day instructor courses (carbine and pistol), in two-day instructor certification courses for hand gun and carbine. Most important, he has worked well over a hundred hours directly under experienced, professional instructors as an instructor trainee. He is a graduate of the Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" course, and is a competitive judo practitioner (currently ranked as a third degree black belt under the U.S.J.A.; medalist at USJA Senior National Championships 2005 and 2007, Masters Division, 100+ kg; Gold Medalist, USJA Pa. State Open Championships, 2010 and 2011, Masters Division, 100+ kg.). Other experienced firearms instructors and range officers will assist in the presentation of this course.

Cost: $175 per person, plus $20 per person in range fees for those who are not members of the host club. This covers both days.

Equipment requirements: One may not proceed without the following equipment, whether they are shooting or not:

• Ear protection and Eye protection.
• Cap or hat with baseball-style bill.
• Firearm, clean and zeroed with at least two spare magazines or speed loaders and related carriers. This applies only to those intend to shoot.
• Knee and elbow pads.
• 400 Rounds of Ammunition. We suggest students avoid the very cheapest ammunition and reloads. “Match grade” or “carry” ammunition is unnecessary, and its use would be a waste of money, but your investment of time and money in this course does justify the use of reasonably consistent and reliable ammunition. No incendiary, armor piercing or tracer ammunition is permitted.
• An inert training replica of what ever weapon you will be shooting, with holster to fit. A “red gun,” “blue gun” or similar training replica.
• A carry strap is required for any long gun. We run a “hot” range, and rifles must be slung unless they are racked, grounded or in the shooter's hands. Any strap or sling which allows the rifle to be carried muzzle up or muzzle down is fine. No slings or holsters which hold the muzzle in a horizontal position while being carried are permitted.
• A ground cloth, shooting mat or other cover (such as an old blanket), to cover the ground, upon which you may be sitting or lying.
Bring anything else you need to keep your gun running. This course is for people who are trained to handle their firearm, and we cannot stop to be fixing guns.

Physical Requirements: This course is designed to assist YOU to plan and make decisions using the resources you actually have. Your physical condition is one of the factors you must take into account. Therefore, we will work with you in whatever condition you are in. You should, however, notify the Instructor of any particular disabilities you may have, and we expect you to refrain from attempting any exercise that is beyond your physical capability or presents a risk of injury.

Credentials: Ways to establish a lack of criminal history are discussed on the web site identified below. We may ask for proof of any prior training history. The Course administrator is the final arbiter of whether prior training satisfies the training prerequisite. Military basic training, basic NRA courses and any courses taken more than five years ago do not satisfy the prerequisite.

Certificate: A certificate of completion is awarded to all who complete the course successfully.

Enrollment Information: Enrollment instructions and forms, driving directions to the range and other information an be found at www.fireinstitute.org. Payment in full is required upon enrollment. If it turns out there are not at least eight students enrolled 20 days before the course date, the course will be cancelled and any tuition refunded. If you have specific questions, contact Peter Georgiades at (412) 370-9500.

“Having a gun and thinking you are armed
is like buying a piano and thinking you are a musician”------ LTC. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

[Shawn.L]

I see it says June 9th. Will this be a one day course ?

[TonyF]

I see it says June 9th. Will this be a one day course ?

It is a two day course.

[PeteG]

I see it says June 9th. Will this be a one day course ?

It is June 9 and 10, Saturday and Sunday. It came up June 9 because the pre-programmed template for posting coureses as for a date. (Or maybe I got that wrong, too.)

A more complete course description is coming.

Peter

[PeteG]

Expanded course description and details are up.

Peter

[PeteG]

Please note the schedule change. This course has been moved from June, 2012 to September 22 and 23, 2012.