We strive to provide a wide variety of training in several disciplines. From introductory classes to advanced training, we do our best to provide it all. With such a wide variety of classes, sometimes people are curious just where they should start. My philosophy on training is pretty straight forward. We train to use weapons in a purely defensive and tactical application. This includes a mix of specific techniques and principles. This can be a pretty big departure from what the average shooter has experienced. With this in mind, my general course qualification guidelines are pretty stringent. For example, to attend our advanced tactical handgun course you need to be a graduate of our tactical handgun courses. The only other way you can get in is to be a graduate of a recognized professional shooting school that shares my philosophies and techniques. This is not arrogance, but rather an attempt to save potential students (and instructors) the frustration of having to play catch up. So what is a "recognized professional shooting school"? It is just as it sounds; a professional shooting school that teaches defensive and tactical firearms skills. There are the obvious names like Gunsite and Mid South but I also have experience with smaller schools as well. I will be honest and say that I am very particular about recognizing other schools. Unless I have direct experience with them, I simply can not know what is being taught. You and I have "seen it all". I recently saw an instructor teaching handcuffing in a defensive pistol class. To say that this does not fit our philosophies is an understatement. Professionals know there is a huge difference between someone who has been "shooting a long time" and a person who is trained. I have had people who have been shooting for a decade unable to execute malfunction clearances. At the same time I have had fresh faced new shooters take part in training and execute these same manipulations flawlessly. This is where the gap exists. Just because a person has been shooting a long time, it does not mean they really know what they are doing. That may seem harsh, but any professional in this business knows it is true. So where do you begin? At the beginning, of course. Take a dose of humility and come to our level 1 class - Tactical Handgun for example. With this you can verify that you do indeed have the combat shooting fundamentals to carry you into advanced classes. Regardless of how long you have been shooting, I guarantee you will get something out of it. I use this same philosophy in my own training. People are surprised at just how many "Pistol 1" classes I enroll in. I do it because I know enough to understand the ultimate truth of the universe…sometimes we don't know…what we don't know. Always a student. I hope to see you all in class. Until then, be safe.
Fred Mastison President - Force Options Tactical Training Solutions
