Guys I'm new to Sniper's Hide as a member, but I have been reading the forum for a couple of years. There is a lot of knowledge in some of the members and enjoy them sharing in their trials and accomplishments with equipment, training, and weapons platforms.
I am also new in the discipline of long range engagement with small arms. I have done a lot with CQB, but until recently really had no real knowledge of what it takes to press a trigger and have a round fire accurately at distances over 300 yards.
I would like to share some training that is open to Law Enforcement and Military snipers at the Academi in Moyock, NC. First, I would like to say that I have no affiliation with the Academi other than being a past student. For over 12 years, I have trained all over the United States on SWAT related tactics and firearms instruction and I have seen very good schools and very OK schools. Never been to a bad school or training, because I can always take away something.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the Academi’s Basic and Advanced Sniper Schools. For those who do not know, Academi is a training site in Moyock, NC and was previously owned by a company named Blackwater. Anyway, I have to recommend the training to anyone who is new in the discipline. I started out without knowing anything about it. I did know the basic shooting fundamentals as I have instructed them in tactical carbine and subgun courses for years.
The instructors were down to earth and all had real world knowledge of sniping. It was nice to have prior law enforcement teach along with Special Operators from different branches of the US and Canadian Military. There was none of the egos I have seen at many other Military/ LE schools. It was like going to class with a bunch of guys I’ve known forever.
The Basic is very basic starting with equipment and scopes, but we were on the range after lunch getting dope for our rifles for the altitude and temperature. There were several known distance ranges and at few unknown distance ranges. For a sniper course, I thought I would be in the classroom more than the range. I would say only 1/3 of the time was in power point and the final 2/3 was Milling out targets, calculating wind and distance and firing. The instructors would allow me to experiment and to try just about anything I could think of (as long as it was safe) to steady my rifle and make shots in, around and through structures and onto targets.
All in all, I had a blast (no pun intended). If you or your agency has a little money lying around and you are a sniper or are looking into it, I would recommend trying this out. If you are competent in the discipline, skip the Basic and jump onto the Advanced Class. Be prepared to crawl through swamp, train for more than eight hours per day, adjust to the forever changing winds, recon areas within the compound without being seen by other snipers, and to have a good time while learning how to engage targets up to 1200 yards.
Academi has the Black Bear Inn on site, but I recommend staying in Chesapeake, VA and driving. The food in the mess hall was fantastic for lunches.
I am also new in the discipline of long range engagement with small arms. I have done a lot with CQB, but until recently really had no real knowledge of what it takes to press a trigger and have a round fire accurately at distances over 300 yards.
I would like to share some training that is open to Law Enforcement and Military snipers at the Academi in Moyock, NC. First, I would like to say that I have no affiliation with the Academi other than being a past student. For over 12 years, I have trained all over the United States on SWAT related tactics and firearms instruction and I have seen very good schools and very OK schools. Never been to a bad school or training, because I can always take away something.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the Academi’s Basic and Advanced Sniper Schools. For those who do not know, Academi is a training site in Moyock, NC and was previously owned by a company named Blackwater. Anyway, I have to recommend the training to anyone who is new in the discipline. I started out without knowing anything about it. I did know the basic shooting fundamentals as I have instructed them in tactical carbine and subgun courses for years.
The instructors were down to earth and all had real world knowledge of sniping. It was nice to have prior law enforcement teach along with Special Operators from different branches of the US and Canadian Military. There was none of the egos I have seen at many other Military/ LE schools. It was like going to class with a bunch of guys I’ve known forever.
The Basic is very basic starting with equipment and scopes, but we were on the range after lunch getting dope for our rifles for the altitude and temperature. There were several known distance ranges and at few unknown distance ranges. For a sniper course, I thought I would be in the classroom more than the range. I would say only 1/3 of the time was in power point and the final 2/3 was Milling out targets, calculating wind and distance and firing. The instructors would allow me to experiment and to try just about anything I could think of (as long as it was safe) to steady my rifle and make shots in, around and through structures and onto targets.
All in all, I had a blast (no pun intended). If you or your agency has a little money lying around and you are a sniper or are looking into it, I would recommend trying this out. If you are competent in the discipline, skip the Basic and jump onto the Advanced Class. Be prepared to crawl through swamp, train for more than eight hours per day, adjust to the forever changing winds, recon areas within the compound without being seen by other snipers, and to have a good time while learning how to engage targets up to 1200 yards.
Academi has the Black Bear Inn on site, but I recommend staying in Chesapeake, VA and driving. The food in the mess hall was fantastic for lunches.
