RangeMaster Tactical Conference/Polite Society Match 2009

[Paul Gomez]

[This is the announcement from Tom's site, www.RangeMaster.com]

April 25-26 2009

The annual Rangemaster Tactical Conference has become one of the premiere training events on the circuit. The 2008 event was a huge success. Over 135 shooters attended, from all over the US. We had live-fire, classroom, and hands-on training segments, put on by 17 of the finest firearms and tactics trainers in the US. The shooting match involved reactive 3-D mannequins representing both threats and non-threats, in realistic scenarios. Targets even shot back, with blank firing shotguns, adding to the stress and realism.

The 2009 event promises to be the best ever! We are pleased and proud to announce that the 2009 Tactical Conference will be held at the fabulous new facilities of the United States Shooting Academy, in Tulsa, OK. USSA is a fantastic new training complex, with numerous ranges, modern classrooms, a shoot-house and more. Holding the event at USSA will enable us to accommodate a lot of practitioners, and Tulsa is just about the geographic center of the US. There will be live fire training, in addition to the scenarios, and there will be a scenario to take advantage of the shoothouse.

All of the usual trainers will be present, plus some new surprises. Instructors providing training segments will include: Tom Givens, John Farnam, Massad Ayoob, Steve Moses, Skip Gochenour, Hany Mahmoud, T.J. Pilling, Karl Rehn, Mike Brown, Paul Gomez, John Hearne, William Aprill, and others.

Entry fee will remain $149.00, which is quite a bargain. Call 901-370-5600 to register. Advance registration is required, and this event fills two-three months in advance every year. Don’t delay.

For more details on the facility, see www.usshootingacademy.com. Additional information on "The Polite Society" can be found at: thecurmudgeon.freeservers.com/ps

 

[Paul Gomez]

[This is the list of presenters that Tom forwarded yesterday]

Training Presenters and their topics, and locations:

Massad Ayoob, Lethal Force Institute:

Ayoob is probably the best known firearms journalist in the US, with several books and hundreds of magazine articles to his credit. He has also been a firearms instructor for decades, as well as an expert witness on firearms matters.

“Shooting Incidents; Aftermath Management”, classroom lecture. Need note taking materials, no recording devices allowed. (Classroom A, in the main lodge)


John Farnam, Defense Training International:

John is one of the longest serving firearms instructors in the business, conducting training as a primary profession since the 1970’s. A decorated Marine officer in Viet Nam, and a long time police officer, John is one of the senior figures in the training industry. John will present “The Urban Rifle: The AR and its Alternatives”, classroom lecture and demo. (Classroom B, in the main lodge)


Rob Pincus, ICE Training:

Rob is a full time trainer, a staff member of SWAT Magazine, and co-host of television program, The Best Defense. Rob will be conducting a two-hour live fire range session on Combat Focus Shooting, with the handgun. You will need your normal carry gear and 300 rounds of pistol ammunition.

(Firing Bay E, outdoors)


T.J. Pilling, Tiger Valley Training:

T.J. retired recently as a police officer in a large Texas department, having spent a number of years in SWAT operations. He is a highly respected law enforcement trainer. Pilling’s course will be “Tactical Shotgun”, a live fire segment on the firing range. Students will need a police type shotgun, 125 rounds of birdshot, 10 rounds buckshot, and 5 slugs. (Firing Bay E, outdoors)


Glenn Meyer, PhD, Trinity University:

Glenn is a professor of psychology and an extensively trained shooter. He has trained with a number of top instructors, and regularly attends the National Tactical Invitational in Pennsylvania. Glenn’s topic will be “Modern Psychology and Firearms Usage”, a two hour classroom lecture. (Classroom B, in the main lodge)


John Hearne, Rangemaster:

John has over 15 years experience in federal law enforcement, and is a road officer, training officer, and firearms instructor for his agency. He has trained extensively all over the US, including Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Front Sight, Rangemaster, and most of the traveling trainers. John will present an in-depth power point lecture on “The Newhall Massacre and Its Training Implications”. This is a very informative session. (Classroom B, in the main lodge)


Steve Moses, Bluff Dale Firearms Academy:

Steve is a law enforcement officer and trainer in Texas, a published author, successful competitive shooter, and an excellent instructor. Steve will present a live fire range segment on “The AK-47 as a Battlefield Pick-up Weapon”.

Students will need 20 rounds of Wolf or Monarch 7.62X39 ammo. The guns will be supplied. (Firing Bay E, outdoors)


Southnarc, Shivworks Training:

Southnarc is a Lieutenant with a large Gulf Coast police agency, and commander of the SWAT and Narcotics units. He has 15 years experience in undercover narcotics work, which gives him a deep understanding of close range interaction with criminals. He has conducted probably the most extensive study to date of the criminal attack paradigm, warning signs, and pre-assault positioning to help the defender survive and dominate a close range criminal assault. His hands-on segment is entitled “Managing Unknown Contacts” and should be required training for anyone who goes armed. This class will include interactive lecture, role playing, and light hand to hand contact. Focus mitts or Thai pads are recommended, but not mandatory.

(Firing Bay B, outdoors)


William Aprill, Rangemaster:

William is a licensed psychologist, a former police officer and deputy marshal, a long time martial artist, and a successful competition shooter. He has trained extensively in firearms use with all the major schools and trainers. William will present a classroom lecture entitled “Violent Actors, Violent Acts: A Conceptual and Practical Overview”.

(Classroom B, in the main lodge)


Marty Hayes,J.D, The Firearms Academy of Seattle:

Marty served for many years as a police officer before completing law school, and is the owner and chief instructor of FAS, along with his wife, Gila. Firearms Academy of Seattle is one of the premiere firearms training schools in the Northwest, and Marty also serves as President of the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, LLC. Marty will present a classroom lecture on “Reducing Firearms Instructor Liability”.

(Classroom B, in the main lodge)


Karl Rehn, KR Training, Austin, TX:
Karl has been a trainer for several years, as well as a martial arts student and a highly successful competitive shooter. Karl is one of the early pioneers of the use of Airsoft munitions to aid in conducting relevant and realistic scenario based force on force training. Karl and his assistants will conduct well defined scenarios with Airsoft equipment. All equipment needed for this course will be provided. For safety and control reasons, this segment will be limited to eight persons per session. (On the 360 degree range, outdoors)


Mike Brown, United States Shooting Academy:

Brown is a sergeant with the Tulsa Police Department, an instructor at USSA, and an experienced trainer in both firearms and hand to hand skills.

Mike will teach a hands-on segment involving grappling with an assailant, accessing the firearm in a clinch, and other extreme close quarter tactics. Vital information, as many criminal attacks start with a physical assault, and you may not be able to get to your gun without these skills. A mouthpiece and cup are recommended, along with clothes suitable for grappling and ground work. (In Firing Bay B, outdoors)


Skip Gochenour, Gochenour Associates:

Skip is a retired police officer who continued his detective career as a private investigator, specializing in homicide cases. Both as a police detective and a private investigator, Skip has interviewed more murderers than just about anyone else, and has made a thorough study of their motives and methods. Skip is also the director of ATSA, the American Tactical Shooting Association, the organization which each year hosts the prestigious National Tactical Invitational (NTI) in Harrisburg, PA. Skip will lecture in a classroom session. (Classroom A, in the main lodge)


Paul Gomez, Tac Pro Shooting Center:

Paul is a recognized scholar of the defensive arts, a published author, former police officer and soldier, and an experienced trainer. Over the years he has been associated with OPS, Tactical Response, Rangemaster, and Tac Pro Shooting Center as an instructor. Paul will deliver a classroom session on immediate treatment of trauma, such as gunshot wounds. The goal is to keep you, or an injured partner/spouse etc alive until professional medical help arrives. (Classroom A, in the main lodge)


Will Andrews, H&H Range, Oklahoma City- Will is a well known trainer from H&H Range in OKC, where he conducted various handgun training courses. He will be conducting a live fire class on shooting on the move with the handgun. Participants will need their carry gear and 200 rounds of ammunition. (Firing Bay C, outdoors)

Championship Match- Tactical Exercise- You have an assigned time to report to the Shoot-House for this event. Report to the Safety Officer at the Shoot-House at your assigned time. You will need your carry gear, concealed. You will be limited to the ammunition concealed on your person, in the form of a loaded sidearm, up to two spare magazines/speedloaders for it, and a loaded Back-Up Gun, if you desire. (Shoot-House, see map)

Championship Match, Outdoor Exercises- All of the outdoor stages will take place on outdoor firing Bay A (see map). All of your equipment must be concealed on your person. You may bring a range bag with additional ammunition and magazines to replenish your on-body carry between stages.

NOTE: No vehicles will be driven to the Live Fire Outdoor Area, consisting of Bays A-E (see map). You may walk to these bays from the Lodge or from the parking areas. You may drive to the Shoot-House or to the 360 Degree Range. Watch for pedestrians and drive slowly.

Areas marked by an X on the site map will not be part of our weekend activities. Please stay out of those areas.

This event is run as a HOT RANGE. You are expected to wear your sidearm at all times (also your BUG, if you choose to wear one), unless directed to remove it by an instructor during one of the hands-on training segments. For the hands-on segments, the instructor in charge of the bay will direct everyone to disarm and show you where to put your weapons and related gear. The rest of the time, your gun(s) STAY IN THE HOLSTER. DO NOT take a handgun out to show it to anyone, inspect it, or otherwise handle it unless you are in a firing bay and are required to do so. Shotguns should be transported UNLOADED AND CASED, or unloaded and slung, muzzle straight up or straight down. Shotguns will only be loaded when directed to do so by the instructor running the shotgun class. STUPID GUNHANDLING IS A QUICK AND CERTAIN WAY TO BE INVITED TO LEAVE. Attendees at this event are considered to be trained professionals, and will be expected to perform as such.

 

[Nolacopusmc]

Can you post a direct link to the age. iamstupid and cannot find it one the site. Thanks

 

[Paul Gomez]

If you haven't attended Tom Given's Tactical Conference/ Polite Society Match, it is well worth the time and money invested. I consider it to be the best value on the circuit and do my best to attend annually. It is sort of a mini-NTI. It started as a Winter Invitational IDPA match and evolved into the Polit Society event. Historically, it was held at Tom's indoor range facility in Memphis but it continued to grow to the point that there just wasn't enough space to do everything. Two years ago, the venue shifted to the Memphis Police Department firearms training complex which allowed the event to be opened to a larger audience. In 2008, USSA set up a table at the event since several of their guys [Mike Brown and crew] were presenting at the conference and, shortly thereafter, offered the use of their world class facility in Tulsa for this years event.

 

[Paul Gomez]

Can you post a direct link to the age. iamstupid and cannot find it one the site. Thanks

No. Tom's site is a little weird to navigate, but if you look at the left side bar you'll find an entry entitled 'Tactical Conference'. It's below 'Past Newletters' and 'Shooting League'. That will pull up the actual page.

 

[spanky]

Can you post a direct link to the age. iamstupid and cannot find it one the site. Thanks

http://thecurmudgeon.freeservers.com/ps/

 

[Paul Gomez]

That's the link to the old Polite Society page which explains the rationale behind the competition. The stuff on the Rangemaster site has details and links about this years event as well as a couple of articles about past events.

 

[Nolacopusmc]

I am still stupid. Cannot find a link to the conference itself for this year.

 

[Paul Gomez]

If your browser doesn't show the links on the left edge of the screen, you won't be able to navigate the Rangemaster site. The link for the Tactical Conference brings up the information in the first post. You can give them a call at the number in that post if you have questions.

 

[spanky]

I am still stupid. Cannot find a link to the conference itself for this year.

Go to rangemaster.com and click on the "tactical conference" link on the left frame of the page

Direct link if you still can't find it: http://www.rangemaster.com/rm_tc_home.html

 

[Barney88PDC]

So are all of these classes part of the fee or do you pay an additional fee to each instructor if you choose to attend his course?

 

[dawg23]

I skimmed thru Gomez' post, so I may have missed it. But I got a note from Tom a couple of weeks ago saying the conference is full.

At that time he had a few "partial" seats remaining (classroom only). Fee is the same whether you sign up for "classroom only" or sign up for the "full deal."

 

[Paul Gomez]

So are all of these classes part of the fee or do you pay an additional fee to each instructor if you choose to attend his course?

The conference costs $150. That gets you access to everything. You can attend as many blocks as you like or you can sit around and BS. It costs $150 either way.

Ernie says that the conference is full, so it probably is. I didn't think to ask Tom about enrollment when I got his last email.

If it's full for 2009, then you ought to look at attending in 2010. I attend a lot of training events each year and Tom's is the best value out there.