How many classes do you attend in a year? How much do you think is enough for each weapon system to keep proficient and competent?
Like some things, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.
If one isn’t consistent with both training and just trigger time, your proficiency will suffer over time.
A good 2-3 day class every other year or so, and plenty of quality trigger time in between.
Unfortunately, “enough” never is. We’re never “good enough.”
The question is really about willingness and commitment – as opposed to actual hours, and of course, financial considerations are a reality. What works for one person, may not work or be possible for another person. Proficiency and skillsets are somewhat moving targets, but so long as we have forward progress, we’re getting somewhere.
I like to attend at least two new courses per year, with as much trigger time as budget will allow – but would STILL love to do more, if I had the time and money.
Classes alone wont make or keep you proficient. It is only through continuely practicing after the class do we reach and maintain a point of proficiency.
When it comes to my training, I:
shoot weekly
my unit at work trains monthly (shooting, building entries, vehicle takedowns, etc)
take an average of 4-6 classes per year. And yes; I foot the entire cost for each of the classes.
So true.
Worse, many people (and cops especially) don’t like to read!
How exactly are we to become proficient at anything without the willingness to read and study on our own time? More cops spend more time golfing than making time to train, to study or maintain situational awareness!
No slam at all to M4C – since there is COPIOUS information to be gleaned by those really interested in it – but for far too many of us – forums become a place to socialize, instead of a true training resource. Of course, socializing has a time and place, like everything – but there just isn’t enough real reading going on…
Here are some MUST READ books:
The Art of War (Sun Tzu)
On Killing (Dave Grossman)
On Combat (Dave Grossman)
Training at the Speed of Life (Kenneth Murray)
Leadership and Training for the Fight (Paul Howe)
Contrary to what modernists might say, there are NO NEW stories. The names and technology may change, but the stories are the same. Whatever is worth saying, someone a lot smarter than me already said it.
If we study, we can understand the WHY – so the HOW becomes the easy part.
Be safe.
That will vary from person to person. For example, I can’t normally go to a pistol class and learn a lot of new & useful stuff (there’s always new stuff, and there’s always useful stuff, but not a lot of new and useful stuff). On the other hand, the average M4C reader could probably teach me a hundred things about employing an AR better than I do now.
And I would suggest A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, as well.
On Killing (Dave Grossman)
On Combat (Dave Grossman)
Training at the Speed of Life (Kenneth Murray)
Agree, all are must-reads and Murray’s book is a must-read-annually. I loaned my copy to a buddy in Pakistan and I’ve missed it terribly. 
Leadership and Training for the Fight (Paul Howe)
That’s a new one on me. Something to add to the birthday wish list, thanks!
Obviously having the money to spend on ammo is an issue with the costs of ammo rising. As far as how much is enough, I always surround myself with shooters that are MUCH better than me. Combining this with instructors that challenge me I can really get the most bang for my buck. If I can go to a couple of courses a year and walk away with a handful of new drills or ideas then I am happy. I then shoot with people who are truly gifted as often as I can and try to improve specific skill set during a secession.
I train skills that I hate. It sucks but I see improvement (occasionally).
I’ll tell you when I reach it. But for now, two to four classes a year seem to be the norm. And I wish I could attend more, but I just don’t have enough time or money to do it.
Ideally I like to take about 4 classes a year. Agree with what some others said, however, about the classes alone not being enough. You don’t have time in a typical 3-day class to actually learn the techniques presented. It’s really more a matter of exposure in a controlled environment with someone there to correct any initial mistakes you may make.
It’s all in your practice after the class where you actually “learn” the technique.
There are quite a few guys that I see in the same classes over and over again that don’t do any practice outside of the classes and frankly they never really improve and they tend to repeat the same mistakes (both in technique and gear) over and over again.
That just cost me $35. :mad:
I pretty much agree with this. I seem to be averaging about 4 classes a year. However, I will probably be scaling back on carbine classes and increasing the pistol classes in the future. Almost all of my practice is pistol as well at this point.
2009 is set for me to move back to the handgun. I think I’ve plateaued with what I can do with a carbine with the time I have available to devote to it. I’m happy enough with my current level of skill and am happy maintaining it.
My pistol skills have severely suffered to get to this point, however. I’ll keep up with the carbine to maintain, and increase my focus on the handgun.
Funny how you can think of these things the same way you can working out or physical fitness. Get your cardio to where you’re happy with it, then focus on strength training and just maintain the cardio, or vice-versa. There are only so many free hours to devote to these things so you have to think of them in percentages.
I happen to think that pistol and cardio are actually more important than rifle and strength, and for 2009 I want to have the focus of my time spent on shooting and fitness to reflect same.
I actually agree 100%. Like you said there’s only so many hours in the day and one must make certain choices.
Wow! I made it through the first third of Murray’s Training at the Speed of Life.
Every bit of it is spot on. Page 61 addresses some of the points on the hiring process issues for Today’s Law Enforcement positions that I have noticed myself.
Specifically, the age of extensive background checks and investigations weeds out some very good personality types who would be well suited for the L.E. role. Basically, the “other side” (bad guys) don’t lose any “2 percenters” because of marred pasts, but the L.E. community definitely does.
I can remember making this same point to a SWAT copper I know a few years back. My thought is (and was) anyone who grew up with a pair of balls had to have gotten into some trouble as a kid. And now those guys have a hard time getting into L.E. positions. What you are left with in many cases is the weaker personality types that L.E. has to draw from. Often the nerds and geeks who never got into fights or did anything to earn any real life hard experiences are the only people clean enough to make the background cut for L.E.
I don’t disagree that you need to weed out dishonest types and serious offenders. But I can remember discussing the issue with a background investigator from an agency here. He was talking about a guy who had a prior arrest without conviction years back. But the guy had the recommendation of current L.E. officers for the job based on his character. The background investigator said something to the effect of… “yeah… of course… they know the man… not the background”. Hmmm… Which is more relevant?
How many is enough? I do not know. I think it depends on if you are meeting your own expectations.
I have been through tons of pistol, carbine and night fighting courses and learn something new each and everytime.
C4
The truth of the matter is I am just now looking to start taking some classes & training. I have worked with a couple friends of mine who make for pretty good instuctors for what I need to know. As for how much is enough I guess it depends on what sort of person you are. I tend to learn pretty slow. However once I have learned it I am pretty good retaining the knoledge if only used sparingly afterward. Obviously with more practice you will become better & better. I think some people get frustrated though because in the beginning you improve at a rapid rate & as you getter better that rate slows