Thursday, April 18, 2013

Training with the Ghost


REDACTED

As I have mentioned before, it seems to me that there are two very distinct type of "Preppers" - those who want to buy all of the cool gear and talk about prepping, and those who want to get their hands dirty and REALLY prepare.  Sir Knight and I want to stand firmly in the latter classification.  And so, in that vein, numerous members of our little clan spent the weekend training with John Mosby, "The Ghost", AKA xxxxx  xxxxxxxx.


John Mosby has what he calls a "Combat Rifle".  This was a three day event, held in xxxxxxxxx, Idaho, commonly known as xxxx  xxxxxxxx, which included everything from dry fire drills and trigger controls to a live fire exercise in the dark.  We mentioned this class in "10 Things to do Until the Revolution", and we knew we had to give it a try.

Acquiring a target while moving forward
First of all, let me say - this is like no class you have probably every attended.  Despite being hard work (12 hours days in biting wind and cold, and even snow) it was a tremendous experience.  If you are an expert at the "Fighting Carbine", I almost guarantee you will learn something new in this class.  If you are a beginner, this will be more than instructive - it will be critical.  I believe, especially for the beginner, this course could very well safe your life and those of the people you love.

Runnin' and Gunnin'


About the instructor:  This is a link to his website - Mountain Guerrilla.  When you read his blog, you'll find that his language may not seem family friendly, however, when we took the course, there were several young "juniors" attending and no foul language.  Believe it or not, this is a family affair.  If your whole family has the notion, you can bring your wife and your children (of appropriate age).  John is very patient with children (the only shouting is over the sound of the shooting and he doesn't do the whole "drill instructor" thing) and the other students are so pleased to have youth in their midst that they go out of their way to be kind and helpful.  Juniors come out of this class competent and confident in their handling of firearms.  Any exotic weapons brought to the class will be demonstrated and any interested parties will be allowed to examine the weapons and possibly fire them.


This isn't Hollywood - you actually have to reload (on the fly)

A father encouraging his son
Suggested gear and equipment is listed on his blog as follows:


Combat Rifle: A three-day class designed to teach you the reality of fighting with the modern fighting rifle or carbine, at realistic combat ranges from 0-300+ meters, under combative conditions. You will learn to run your gun with or without optics, how to perform common combat weaponcraft tasks under stress, and how to keep your gun running in field environments. This will also cover the effective set-up of an effective and efficient fighting weapon.
Equipment requirements include:
Students provide their own ammo: 500-1000 rounds of rifle ammunition (more is recommended)  Editor's Note:  Due to the price of ammunition, John has adjusted the round count on this training to 400 rounds per student.
Hardware – A functional and practical carbine or battle rifle chambered in a fighting caliber, with a mounted white light. If available, a spare weapon system is also an excellent idea. A cleaning kit and tools that are compatible with the weapon system(s) in question is also a must. Each student should have a minimum of 5 working magazines.
  • Note pad, and pen/pencil
  • Clothing suited to strenuous activity as well as being seasonally appropriate
  • Rain gear / cold weather gear (seasonal)
  • Ear pro (electronic preferred) / Eye pro
  • Baseball style hat recommended
  • Proper belt to support equipment
  • Carbine magazine pouches, Battle belt, or Chest rig
  • Tools that work on your weapon
  • Weapons lube
  • hydration
  • Knee and elbow pads (optional)
  • Gloves (optional)
  • An open mind


A few notes on the gear list - gloves and knee pads are not optional!  You may also find that the gear you planned on using is wholly inadequate or does not fit properly or does not allow proper movement.  Prepare to rethink your gear in the middle of this class!  Another thing that is not optional is the open mind.  You must be willing to learn new methods and procedures.  If you have been to Appleseed or other traditional firearms courses that use "Camp Perry" style shooting, you are going to be shocked and amazed at your ability to acquire targets with the speed and accuracy learned through this course.

Transitioning to secondary weapon - pistol




xxxxxxx, where this class is facilitated, is primitive.  Bring toilet paper and your own e-tool.  Plan on bringing weather appropriate clothing and shelter and adequate food stuffs to last your three day excursion.  Facilities are rough but well worth the privation.

And then again, you may say, "We don't want to travel to xxxxxxx, Idaho".  Not to worry, John Mosby will come to you.  If you have a group or even a large family that would like to take this excellent rifle course, he will travel to you (for a fee, of course).  You will need to contact him directly for pricing and scheduling availability, although, I must admit, I found his prices to be more than fair.


I can't express how much we enjoyed this course.  While the course itself was outstanding, the new skills are perishable.  Use them!  John will teach you what you need to know, but it is up to you to develop your skill.  Many of the drills can be conducted under dry-fire conditions, which should be used to improve trigger control.  One more important note - this class is about fundamentals of shooting.  Seal Team Six will not be calling you to sit in on one of their missions after three days at this class.  But, this course should not be missed if it can be helped.

As of Tuesday, I am still a little sore!  To quote John Mosby "Get that gun back in the fight!".

32 comments:

  1. Enola and Sir Knight,

    (captaincrunch)

    This is some training I got to look into. I will run this by a few friends. I just hope "Mountain Guerilla" can re-acclumate to "sandbox type" temperutures with a little (90 percent) humidity mixed in. Gotta find some training grounds. In fact Maybe I could look into the gun range I use, its rather large (25 acres) and sits near the King Ranch (800.000 acres)

    You guys look positively cold in those pics by the way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enola and Sir Knight,

    (captaincrunch)

    Almost forgot, I was impressed with Stuart Rhodes (Oathkeepers) on Radio Free Redoubt. One of the things he talked about was having a nieghborhood watch. I started our "watch' back in 2006 and we have really had an impact on crime in the nieghborhood.
    I think I may purchase seven GMRS radio's at my expense for each very active member house so we can up our communications capability. We have six veterans total (including myself)

    I gotta come up with an idea to get thease people to store food (I don't want to have to shoot them if they come after my food) I fear I may to have to buy $4000 to $5000 worth of food from the Mormon Cannery to feed all the knuckleheads on my street (Stuart Rhodes talked about food storage in that speech)

    ReplyDelete
  3. How do we get ahold of this Mr. Mosby guy?? I'm in ID and would love to get the chance to train and learn some things from him!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rcky Mtn Rutt,

      (captaincrunch)

      the hyperlink to mountaingurilla is located up top in the fourth paragraph.

      Delete
  4. Was this strictly a shooting class or did it include patrolling and other stuff?

    hbbill
    Somewhere behind enemy lines,
    Peoples Republik of Kalifornistan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was strictly a shooting class however he offeres a small unit tactics class Look under "Training opportunity"
      There is one in May check his web site for the date However it would be advisable to take the combat rifle class first but it is not required
      Sir knight

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the speedy reply.

      I am a life member at Front Sight....all classes as many times as I want. Your description of the class sounds very much like the four day practical rifle course. If you had told me that patrolling was involved as well, I might have considered this one. Will look into the small unit tactics class.

      hbbill
      Somewhere behind enemy lines,
      Peoples Republik of Kalifornistan

      Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

      Delete
    3. Anon,

      Having had numerous multiple Front Sight class graduates in my classes, I can personally guarantee you that you will learn more in three days about the realities of handling a firearm in a FIGHT, than you have in your FS classes, regardless of how many you've taken.

      However, a FS graduate probably has the basic gunhandling skills to at least be safe enough handling their gun that you might be comfortable in a patrolling class as well.



      DOL,
      John Mosby

      Delete
  5. looks like fun, but awfully aggressive. Are you training to attack people, or defend yourselves?

    in defending ourselves, we can trust that God is on our side. Being the Aggressor poses a problem.

    i'm really interested in what Defensive options and training John had to share - maybe another post on that?

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon, perhaps I can answer that question. If you've ever been in a fight, in your life, you are aware that regardless of the best laid plans of mice and men, sometimes people aggress against us. Once they begin aggressing against us, the ONLY recourse available that will allow you to succeed is to overwhelm them with violence of action and hyperaggression. God blessed many warriors throughout the Old Testament...all of them used violence of action and aggressiveness to defeat their enemies.

      DOL,
      John Mosby

      Delete
    2. John,
      thanks for the reply. i can appreciate what you are saying, and agree with much of it. Still, i'm trying to make progress with New Testament teachings of praying for our enemies, doing good to those despitefully use me, etc. i believe our Country was made free by good men defending their homes and by the hand of God. My fear is that these years of war have taught us to accept "pre-emptive (sp)" war and turning to violence too quickly.

      Violent enemies can be actively thwarted without direct violence. If we are defending ourselves and our homes we are in much better position. I'm not trying to put you on the spot, just much more interested in the defensive strategies and skills.

      i will add "Heaven help" those who bring violence to me or my loved ones.

      Delete
    3. Every one of those "good men defending their homes and by the hand of God" used aggressive violence to carry out the Will of God......but good luck to you.
      DOL,
      John

      Delete
  6. Enola and Sir Knight,


    (captaincrunch)


    if you guys want to read the ultimate obituary, I suggest you check this out (trust me on this one) Sir Knight, reading this will make your day.


    read this..../www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10001451/Jake-McNiece.html



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A great read.

      Delete
    2. Jake lived in my home town after he retired from the fire service.As I grew up, he was always a gentleman and church goer. He said "the war" and God took all that nasty out of him. Like most combat veterans of WW2, he didn't speak of it much. I don't know how Hollywood got the story, but he was in his late 70s when the book was published. RIP Jake, a warrior's warrior.

      Delete
  7. Enola, thanks for the great review. I firmly believe everybody should have such training if they're serious about being prepared.

    I know in such times ammo is at a premium, but I implore people to purchase 22LR conversions or dedicated upper receivers for their rifles (if 1:9 or 1:12 twist a conversion works - if 1:7 or 1:8 get a dedicated upper) for training. One can make use of 22 when doing drills under ~60 yards, and the full power ammo for longer shots.

    I know 22 is also hard to find but it's something most prepared people should have en masse ahead of time anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Enola,

    (captaincrunch)

    I waited in line yesterday for an hour and half for three hundred rounds of Winchester 9 mm (100 round boxes) at walmart yesterday. Yeah' I already have lots and lots and lots of ammo in reserves, but I dont want to use up my reserves so I stood in line.

    I got the ammo for $22.00 a box.. good deal.

    I wrote up a thing on ammo on my blog if you want to check it out.
    http://texasredoubt.wordpress.com/

    No more waisting rounds at the range, gotta make everyone count. Its good shooting discipline that we need to learn anyway. Thats kinda what I wrote about in my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. John Mosby,


    (captaincrunch)

    Im ex-Navy and have experience on small boats (Veitnam Era PBR's) in one of the SBU's (small boat units) in what was called the "Brown water Navy" on a 60' mount. I spent more time on other small boats the Navy employed in the Persian Gulf way back when. I have no "ground pounder training" but I was part of a shipboard security force (swat team without the mall ninja stuff) All I had was Rem. 870 and a grey steel pot helmet left over from WW2 (That was the Navy way, wing it and pray for the best)

    I ran the idea through some other friends and they have no military experiece but they are "very well equipped" preppers. They said that the Carbine matches we have down here are suffiencent for training and most scenario's (three gun matches etc) I know that is not true. I am still interested and will talk with others. I think I may have to wait until you come to Texas or I will have to trek up north 2000 miles or so for training.

    I will keep an eye on you website

    ReplyDelete
  10. John Mosby,

    (captaincrunch)

    I had to make an "edit" SBU's were "Special Boat Units" not small boat units. It was about 23 years ago. I still remember those twin, blown, Six clyinder Detroits with the water jets really well though, and the old two stroke Detroit 671's in the 40 and 50 footers (I was the engineman)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think this looks like a great opportunity to learn more about firearms etc. which our family needs but one thing kept popping up in my head, Boston. A few days ago I saw footage of how the city was literally taken over and people were met at the door with a dozen swat members and pulled out of their homes unconstitutionally...which they did without complaint.

    Granted they are urban and you are rural but how could your family handle an all out assault like that? I can't see how this training is just for burglars or in the case of SHTF an occasional starving drifter, it's militia training obviously. How can 4-5 folks defend against what happened in Boston? Just wondering if this scenario ever comes to mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come take a class.

      Delete
    2. Hey Anon'

      (captaincrunch)

      What happened in Boston was a gross violation of the "fourth amendment" What if there are no signs of forced entry and no lights, noise, etc in the house. Does the Gestapo still blow the doors in and search????

      Where do we draw the line and tell them to get out of our houses???

      I think property rights and fourth amendment rights supercede public safety in this issue. Once we completely lose the fourth amendment, all bets are off, America is done for. The first, second, fourth amendments are the big three that should never be "infringed or usurped in any form whatsoever"

      (captaincrunch)

      Delete
    3. To Captaincrunch, I agree our rights come first. I think what happened in Boston was horrible and our Founders are rolling in their graves. Put British uniforms on those swat members and then people can begin to understand the Revolutionary War.

      To John Mosby, your comment still doesn't answer the question. I've been to your website and you are obviously very skilled in firearms, tactical training and cursing but the average American doesn't have a clue (including me, a homeschooling mom).

      While taking your class is probably very beneficial I just have to come out and say this: if the average person tried to pull something on a swat team like in Boston, they would die.

      Granted mom or dad might get a few of them but a 14, 12 or 10 year old kid won't be able to handle it much less adults, who most likely will freeze in the moment and catch a bullet.

      I'm not saying we shouldn't prepare or defend our rights but boldness doesn't equal bravery or intelligence. Sorry but taking one class won't prepare the average American for the carnage of war.

      Delete
    4. Anon 4/25-10:54,

      That is why you take more than one class on more than one topic, and become well above average.

      Delete
    5. Anon: Will you trade security for liberty? If the answer is yes, then go back and read the writings and speeches of the Founders. If no, then come take a class, and maximize the damage you can do when the mutant-zombie-outlaw-biker-liberal-vampires are at your door.
      DOL,
      John

      Delete
    6. To be honest with you Mr. Mosby, I'm scared. I see what's coming down the pipe and frankly our family doesn't have the money to relocate to the Redoubt are, if we did we would have been there yesterday.

      I'm not saying I want to trade security for liberty. That's a slippery slope that leads to outright slavery. What I'm saying is for people like myself, who don't have the arms, training/skills or means to pay for them, have to be more discreet and fly under the radar until we can get to a more secure location and gain the necessary skills.

      Also, people like us are usually not supported by family or friends. My husband and I understand how idiotic sheeple can be and so we keep our ideas to ourselves and train our preschooler to not say certain things...you know like chattering about our BO bags or recent ammo purchases in the grocery line.

      We've been called nuts, lacking faith in God, fear based etc....you name it we've heard it and from parents and fellow church members. Frankly we don't trust others and don't want to run the chance of being reported to CPS or some other govt bureacracy. So maybe that's why I'm on edge.

      I live in the southwest and I used to love my state but it's horrifying to see what is happening. I can't even stand to read alex jones or drudge anymore because it sickens my stomach at how...well....stupid most Americans are.

      I'm only in my 30's and good gracious I frankly don't know what the hell is going on. Things have changed so rapidly from just 15 years ago that I fear for my child's future.

      We just aren't in the position to fight, we are poor, stuck in an increasingly illegal mexican filled state and surrounded by people who care more about their damn iphones than other people...I'm tired of it all! I feel like I was born in the wrong century and frankly this blog and a hand full of others are places of refuge for me.

      I read Enola's posts and I don't feel crazy or stupid. I find like-mindedness and it gives me hope. I apologize for sounding so angry but I am deeply troubled about what is happening to my country and the future for my child.

      Delete
  12. In the first pic and the "Reload n the Fly" pic the person is wearing a smock of some sort. Can you provide any info on it? it is relevant to my interests... ;-)

    The family that trains together stays together!

    Mosby is widely read by my friends who have similar backgrounds to his....he is well thought of by them.

    God Bless

    Willard in occupied America

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just a mill spec poncho

      Sir knight

      Delete
    2. I read the comments about the Booney hat being preferable to the ball cap, but I have a third option. Would JM please address the following: Do you consider it wise to purchase both a kelvar helmut like those used by our guys in the sand and the very hardened goggles (like from ESS) to protect one's eyes from all sorts of flying debris and shrapnel?

      Thanks for giving us nooBs out here some very valuable did not serve in combat arms.

      Delete
    3. I have a MICH helmet. The only two reasons I would wear it, as I've posited in the blog previously, are 1) as a place to hang NODs, because the skullcrusher mounts are miserable, and 2) when doing room-clearing MOUT operations, because running face first into a doorframe or an overhead pipe without a helmet is a great way to get knocked out. In either case, a skate-board helmet from Wal-Mart would probably serve just as well.\
      DOL
      John

      Delete
  13. The last should have read:

    Thanks for giving us nooBs out here who did not serve in combat arms, some very valuable information and an honest perspective of where we are...today..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great ........
    training is must.....for survive.
    :)

    ReplyDelete