Post by mrbmwguy206 on Apr 29, 2012 6:14:51 GMT -8
THE ACADEMY OF SAINT CRISPIAN (TASC) - AAR
COMBINE ARMS AND TACTICS 303
JANUARY 15th 2012
PRADO OLYMPIC SHOOTING PARK
BY: JONATHAN CALDITO
INSTRUCTOR: STAN LEE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 7
WEATHER: COLD/COOL, DRIZZLE, CLOUDY WITH SOME SUNSHINE
COMBINE ARMS AND TACTICS 303
JANUARY 15th 2012
PRADO OLYMPIC SHOOTING PARK
BY: JONATHAN CALDITO
INSTRUCTOR: STAN LEE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 7
WEATHER: COLD/COOL, DRIZZLE, CLOUDY WITH SOME SUNSHINE
We started out the morning with an introduction of the students. Students background came from the automotive and clothing industry, medical field, lawyers and attorneys, and law enforcement reserves.
Stan talked to us about the weapon safety rules and emergency EVAC incase someone gets seriously hurt. Next, he gave us a short history lesson on maneuver warfare, attrition vs. maneuver warfare, and the different processes of tactical, strategic, and operational planning and their goals. Stan’s goal was to turn us “checker” players into “chess” players.
After the first “classroom” session, we gather our gear and rifles and stepped onto the firing range. We all performed the following:
• Dry firing in the standing, kneeling, and prone position.
• Engaging our targets from the right/left flanks
• 2 shots standing then 2 shots kneeling (performed this 5 times)
• Primary to secondary weapon transition drills
The next course of evolution started in a “classroom” session. Stan took out his white board and tiny soldier toys and lectured us about buddy team movements in the offense and breaking contact. This is where it starts to get physical since students have to run, shoot, and yell verbal questions and commands like “MOVING” and “MOVE”. Once we reached the LOA (Limit of Advance), we put up security and give an ACE report. ACE stands for Ammo, Casualties, and Equipment. A typical response can be Yellow, Up, Up.
CHOW TIME
After chow, Stan got us shooting again and the lesson was on Talking Guns. Talking Guns is a means of keeping suppressing fire on the enemy without overheating our guns and wasting our ammo. Stan had 3 shooters and each one of the students will fire one round after another. After the Talking Guns drill, Stan gave us another lecture of making contact to the left and right during a near ambush. Near ambush meaning 35 meters or less and taking the fight to the enemy. After that, we did another contact left and right but in a far ambush, meaning 35 meters and
beyond. The second to last drill was a contact rear attack.
The last drill of the day was called “Envelopment (Action) Right”. All the skills that we learned on that day, were all put into use on this final movement. We were split up into 2 fire teams. One team lay downed fire (talking guns) onto objective Alpha while the second team flanked around to the right. The team that was laying down cover fire stops shooting and the second team moves forward and takes over objective Alpha. Security is set and ACE report is given. This last drill had much running and I was glad I was prepared for it.
Overall, the course went very well without any issues and had a good pace. We even finished early and shot at steel target with our handguns and shotguns. I have attended courses taught by instructors with backgrounds consisting of LAPD SWAT, private security contractors, and lastly, a Marine Officer. Stan doesn’t do any yelling or screaming towards the students. In fact, I don’t even recall him cursing throughout the course. He treats us as if we were his Marines with the utmost respect and attention.
