CSAT, LLC
TRAINING UPDATES:
GENERAL:
GOING GREEN
In the future, students need to bring a Thumb Drive of 64G or larger to class to download the class information. Instead of wasting money/time and resources on DVD’s and cases, I will have a multi-port USB attached to the classroom or shop computer that allows students to do a quick transfer to their USB.
THE CSAT WAY ON FACEBOOK AND PATREON
We continue to work on new video content for both the Patreon Operator and Patreon Instructor. As of 1 Jan 2022, we had 170 videos on the site.
We wanted to stock the pond so to speak for the first year. We will slow a bit in adding content as some of the videos will take more time and resources to develop. One will be a well-rounded gym workout series targeting strength and endurance without injury.
I want to add more instructor content and that will require extra live bodies to work with in shooting those videos. I look forward to the challenges.
You can visit “The CSAT Way” on FaceBook for video updates.
DON’T LET THE BASTARDS WEAR YOU DOWN
Illegitimi non carborundum
I keep a small circle of friends and this is a quote that we pass back and forth. It is also above my desk where I work. It is translated to mean “Don’t let the bastards wear you down.” It is applicable today as when the thought was conceived.
I just finished a five-day Shoot House Instructor class with two teams of Law Enforcement (LE) and one team of civilians. Yes, I let civilians in the course as they build and maintain Shoot Houses that LE can use and train in. Many cities and counties cannot simply afford to build and maintain one. The alternative is to let Civilian Ranges build and maintain them and then rent them to Law Enforcement agencies who have qualified trainers.
OBSERVATIONS
The LE folks started strong and then petered out at the end of the course. The Civilians were on a slow and steady upbuild the entire course. Shooting was what I expected. More Red Dot sights in the class, but some officers still using the support hand over the firing hand thumb which is a 40+ year old technique. One front sight popped off a RDS pistol as they probably forgot to Loctite it and one RDS started blinking (malfunctioning).
Were the RDS shooters faster? No. I saw some “different” shooting positions during the course and continually tried to fix issues. The problem I finds is that sometimes students shut their brains down and went back to what they did at their agency. It was like they were sent to the CSAT penal colony to train and while their bodies were there, their minds seemed to be elsewhere. I put a great deal of effort into teaching and sometimes wonder about my effort.
I watched some “High Sabrina” pistol techniques and pointed it out. The officer said this is what they do around cars. The problem was they were now in a sixty-five-yard Shoot House Hallway. I bit my lip and moved to another team. They were safe, but their heads were not in the game.
Professional leadership at home base is the only thing that will correct this type of attitude and keep it from spreading within the agency. Agencies have to maintain professionalism and standards at home for them to stick to their officers. Their officers will then take those standards and display them when the represent their agencies in classes at home and on the road.
I watched one officer shoot a round into a bad guy in a school situation target at 7 yards or less, and the second round he fired went into the backpack/back of a student (hostage) in the target scenario. When I brought it up, he jokingly said they should not have been there. I quietly threw up in the back of my throat.
A professional officer would have asked to immediately shoot the scenario again and attempt to fix their deficiency. We encourage and allow repeat runs. Many are satisfied with mediocrity-or less.
I peacefully and curtly ended the training and sent them on their way with little feedback. Generally, only the “thank you for your service speech.” Could I fix them? No. After five-days in what I consider a “gentlemen's" course, they were mentally shot. No long hours, but some need 2-3 Bang drinks to keep going each day. This looks like a trend in the current LE arena.
I can see why LAPD shoots a bad guy with a bicycle lock, hits with one and kills an innocent with a stray round. This recently happened with a rifle topped with an ACOG at short range. In an old school response, an officer would have taken a night stick and beat that guy unconscious. Now, they wait for a team to assemble with multiple long guns, while citizens are getting beat down and then screw the pooch on the shot.
While some groups come in with egos and arrogance, I do have some that come in to train. Once such group takes vacation, pays their own way and does dry runs like they are getting paid for them. Their live runs are professional and superior. It takes only leadership to spread that contagious type of life and work ethic. Too many LEO’s go through their career thinking they are owed something, instead of it being their calling and they need to train and train hard.
DECISIONS
I decided on the final morning of the course to hand all my LE Courses over to Nick and to give Coy my Tac Pistol/Rifle Instructor course. It will be steps in my instructor evolution and I will shoot in the courses and mentor from within. It will be fun and I will be there to answer questions and shoot with students.
It is time for my instructors to “Embrace the Suck,” in one respect. That is, learn to deal with good and bad classes and constantly refine themselves at the same time.
This generation reminds me of when I started over 20 years ago teaching when I got out of the Military. Officers were killing each other in training accidents and on operations by doing dumb stuff. I tried to get out across the U.S. and fix it. The world is cyclic and leadership thinks they can throw gadgets, beards and ink at officers and that will keep them alive on the street. Sorry, only solid training will keep your officers alive.
COURSES OF ACTION
I chart life in 10-year increments and it is time to mentor from within and dedicate more time to the basics. Physical training, pistol shooting, rifle shooting, tactics training. As has been said, I want to chase the old man away.
Am I quitting? No. I am redirecting my focus and trying to enjoy the ride, all while giving back a bit more.
OF GADGETS AND FADS
Will I take a Red Dot Sight (RDS) class? No. I know how to shoot and train myself. It is not that difficult for me to integrate a new piece of equipment.
I watch lots of shooters with RDS and I am not impressed with the current durability of the product or any perceived advantages for close in combat. I watch a generation of Instructors shooting them and they lean back and move like a Fairy in a Disney movie. They are not aggressive in their posture when doing movement or CQB. Go to YouTube and see for yourself.
Will I shoot Irons sites in the future? You bet.
Will I get a ponytail, ink or a beard? Probably not. I know, I am not with the “in kids” and really don’t give two-shits about fitting in. It takes a couple of minutes to put a blade to my face in the morning and not look like scruffy-do, especially in a uniform. I do get the reasoning when guys don’t shave overseas areas because water is limited. I am not overseas.
Next, I send my instructors out to take classes and bring the information back. Shooting schools are generally all flat range and very little, tactical. Fire and Maneuver, Open Door, Closed Doors, T Intersections, Hallway Contact and the like, both day and night are important areas to work with new equipment. If you are not putting your new gadget in all these conditions, then you are a one-dimensional shooter.
It has been suggested that I shoot a RDS and take a class to get proficient. The lead guy in the field seems to be a former Air Force guy, who was not combat arms.
I have two questions for an Air Force Guy:
Are the pilots sober?
Will the plane takeoff and land?
Shooting fundamentals are just that. Unless he has cleared thousands of rooms with a pistol RDS in training and the real world, I would rather hit the gym and dry fire my irons in my spare time. Keep teaching, but understand flat range and tactical are two different animals.
I see instructors teaching the above tactics and just shake my head. No wonder many officers have poor tactics and hostages occasionally get shot.
THE WORLD
The world is going to get tougher on American Citizens before it gets better. Obama started the war on police and continued with Affirmative Action LE Leaders instead of merited proven performers. One only need look at Seattle as a start.
To compound the problem, liberal Judges and DA’s are letting record numbers of repeat offenders out and the American Citizen has to contend with them.
I am not racist for pointing facts out. Democrats are Socialists, Fascists, and Communists, all rolled into one. They want to control Federally by destroying the states and the infrastructure. They have weakened police and agencies in most large cities and Citizens will feel the repercussions of this. Brandon is trying to do this by executive order.
Vote the lack luster RINO’s out and take civic action locally. Do this. Finally, be trained and armed and let us right this ship before it sinks. Our world is getting more dangerous.
MINDSET
Finally, I am sick while I write this. It is a good break and I can self-extract from life for a couple of days. Am I going to get tested for COVID? No. I will treat it like the cold it is.
People say you should be afraid. We have created a country full of wussies. I have not been sick in a couple of years and you know what the variable is? Grandkids. You love them, but they are walking Biohazards that go to daycare, co-mingle, bring stuff home to their parents and then when they visit, everybody gets exposed.
My wife was sick for a few days and took only aspirin. We as Americans have forgotten that we still get colds, the flu and a range of other creeping cruds. Drink plenty of fluids, get rest, read, write and enjoy the break.
Finally, Democrats, when not trying to actively kill you with forced government means, want you live in a constant state of fear. This is not for me. I want my immune system to kick in so when I see the kids again, my body is ready for it. I also want my freedoms and liberty intact.
LE CORNER
A new Obstacle Course record was set by an officer from Quachita Parrish, 3:41. It broke the old record by the “Flying Irishman” of about 3:47. Outstanding job.
Per Nick, the Basic SWAT classes have been top notch and the students coming are quality members of their respective organizations and represent them well.
CLOTHES TIP
I routinely get oil stains on my CSAT shirts from my rifle and sometimes pistol. I bought this at the automotive store. It is for hands, but just rub it in an oil stain and wash. They will disappear.
RANGES
No Changes
KNIVES/HAWKS
The new Elvira Folder
“Be sure to check in at csattss.com for our line of Tomahawks and limited-edition blades.”
HUNTING
Not much to report…
The CSAT WAY Book
BOOK REVIEWS
I am working on cleaning up my books that are stacking up and these two are being read.
IN CLOSING
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on the range.
Paul R. Howe
