SONORAN RANGERS

2.5 Day Tactical Pistol Clinic

PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK

As a pre-requisite, please thoroughly read through this handbook before attending this clinic. All of the workflow processes, safety and emergency procedures, topics discussed, and techniques demonstrated will be based on the assumption that you have read through this handbook. It is also strongly suggested that you get a copy and read the following short (80 pgs) but important book before this event: Principles of Personal Defense; Jeff Cooper; Paladin Press; Revised edition (1/1/06) Many commercial classes covering topics taught at this event charge tuition fees averaging $400-$700. As a way to expose this much needed training to folks regardless of economical situations, all fees have been waived. This, however, does not mean that the value or curriculum in what will be presented has been reduced or modified. As a matter of fact, there is much overhead, both in money and time, to host an event of this magnitude and we had to set a limit on the maximum number of participants. Any small donation you wish to contribute will go towards the cost of event items such as targets, target systems, administrative supplies, medical supplies, toilet paper, etc . We hope you enjoy this training clinic and if you find that you would like to attend more future training events, please let us know. Our instructors host commercial training classes on a regular bases and would love to help you achieve your shooting and personal protection goals. Lastly, everyone is invited to camp out at the range for this event if they so desire. Many of the clinic volunteers plan to camp over due to the hours involved and look forward to the camaraderie. Please check on weather forecasts and use common sense on gear selection if staying overnight. Note, camping licenses are not necessary, but there are no facilities or running or potable water (this is an undeveloped site).

Have fun and good training! - The Sonoran Rangers

P.S. Reminder, please do not forget to RSVP as there is a limited number of training slots available!

Safety Disclosure and Waiver of Liability Agreement As an active participant or observer in a firearms training event, you acknowledge the risks and dangers that exist in the use of any and all firearms and/or defensive tactics and techniques, your participation in such and assume the risk(s) which could result in physical and/or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to yourself, to property, or to third-parties. You understand that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of this activity. The risks include, but are not limited to, among other things: you or third-parties being shot by a firearm; suffering hearing loss, eye injury or loss, inhalation or contact with airborne contaminants and or flying debris, and being struck anywhere on your person (body). You also acknowledge that you can be expected to receive bruises and slight injuries as a result of participating in these activities of necessity and require that you endure periods of discomfort and pain. Participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and you elect to participate in spite of the risks. The Sonoran Rangers is an informal group of friends that unofficially adopted this name for entertainment purposes only. The group has no formal or official organization or recognition. Furthermore, there is no asset value to this group, the group has no liability insurance, and the group has no legal responsibility for the safety of individuals that participate, either actively or as an observer, in this event hosted by this unofficial fellowship of friends. Lastly the group assumes that all participants are allowed to possess a firearm in the State of Arizona as they have no method to verify this, and will not be responsible for enforcing state or federal laws. By participating in or observing this event I, ____________________________________, agree to the following: ______ I HEREBY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND RISK OF BODILY (both physical and mental) INJURY, FINANCIAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE due to negligence or otherwise, while participating in or observing this event, and furthermore, agree to hold harmless and not liable, the Sonoran Rangers, both individually or as a group, or their associates and family members, or other participants or observers, whether caused by negligence or otherwise ______ AS THE PARENT AND/OR GUARDIAN of a participating or observing minor or dependent, I HEREBY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND RISK OF BODILY (both physical and mental) INJURY, FINANCIAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE FOR THEM due to negligence or otherwise, while participating in or observing this event, and furthermore, agree to hold harmless and not liable, the Sonoran Rangers, both individually or as a group, or their associates and family members, or other participants or observers, whether caused by negligence or otherwise ______ I understand that any type of firearms training can be a dangerous activity and that I freely choose to participate and/or observe and comprehensively agree to everything disclosed by this safety disclosure and waiver of liability agreement for myself and any dependent, if applicable ______ I understand that by participating in this event, either as an active participant or observer, I AGREE NOT TO FILE A LAWSUIT ON ANYONE AT THIS EVENT for any harm done to myself or any dependents during the event, regardless of responsibility ____________________________________ Signature (Do not sign until instructed) ____________________________________ Witness (Do not sign until instructed) ____________________ Date ____________________ Date

Emergency Contact Information Card ___________________________________________ Name In the event of a medical emergency where I am not able to communicate my desires and wishes, please inform the following person(s) of my situation: ___________________________________________ Emergency Contact ___________________________________________ Emergency Contact Phone Number(s) ___________________________________________ Any Medical Allergies __________ Age ____________ Sex

___________________________________________________________________ Current Rx that may affect medical treatment ___________________________________________________________________ Current medical conditions that may affect medical treatment ___________________________________________________________________ Preferred hospital or medical facility (optional) ___________________________________________________________________ Physical limitations that may hinder or limit you to some of the techniques taught

In the Event of a Life Threatening Medical Emergency or Death The following procedures have been established at this event to respond to a medical emergency: The wounded persons status will automatically change from participant/observer/volunteer, etc to patient and if conscious, will be asked not to move around The training will stop and the range will immediately go to Cold Status all firearms shall be safely unloaded and holstered, any upholstered firearms will be placed in a secured container or the owners vehicle An on-site medic will triage the medical situation and review the patients needs and emergency contact card information during a medical emergency, the medic WILL BE the primary and final authority of all event actions If the medical emergency is not life threatening and can be taken care of on-site (decision made between the medic and the patient or patients guardian), appropriate treatment will take place in the first-aid tent; once treatment have been completed or all medical emergencies have passed, the medic will reopen the event to normal operations If the injury is life threatening, the medic and specially trained assistants will place the stabilized patient in a vehicle designated as an ambulance and drive the patient to a meeting point to rendezvous with an officially dispatched emergency response entity or go straight to the nearest facility, depending on the instructions of the 911 operator or any other public safety official DO NOT CALL 911 for any medical emergency during this event unless instructed by the medic or an RSO we have specially trained and assigned people who will place 911 calls to report A FIREARMS TRAINING ACCIDENT; during a time of high stress, people may not think before they speak and reporting a person shot to a 911 operator can be misinterpreted as violent crime and can produce very dangerous results Once the patient and medic has left the scene and is in transport, everyone will be asked to stand down until further notice NO RANGE TRAINING OR SHOOTING OF FIREARMS WILL BE ALLOWED during the absence of a medic; depending on the situation, classroom training may take place until the medic returns or the event may terminate The Nogales Ranger station (local LE in charge of this area) will be notified and event staff will pass on further instructions to everyone at this time NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE RANGE until further instructions (in the event that LE may want to investigate the area for any desired forensic evidence for example) In the result of a training accident death: everyone will be asked to stand down and secure their firearms in their vehicles, the range will be closed and isolated to minimize any forensic evidence disturbance for the benefit of LE, and everyone will be asked not to leave until you have been dismissed by LE officials (expect to be interviewed by LE as part of their investigative and reporting SOP) if a training accident death does occur, we ask that you please offer LE your total cooperation during what would be a highly stressful and emotional time If any participant of this training event happens to be an Arizona commissioned peace officer or medical specialist, please apply this medical emergency section to you as you see fit; the event staff will not expect you to volunteer or take an official role for any emergency, however, should you feel the need to offer your leadership and assistance, we will be happy to comply to any official instructions provided by you (any disclosure of your LE or DR status at registration shall be kept confidential - you, however, may disclose your identity to everyone as you wish)

Credits and Acknowledgements Some of the information, curriculum, drills, exercises, techniques and methods learned and presented in this clinic have been taught, developed and or invented by the following tactical instructors and organizations: Clint Smith, Thunder Ranch Cope Reynolds, Southwest Shooting Authority James Yeager, Tactical Response Jeff Cooper, Gunsite Col. John Boyd, USAF (Retired) Lyle Wyatt, OPS Chris Costa, Magpul Dynamics, Costa Ludus Travis Haley, Magpul Dynamics, Haley Strategic Larry Vickers, Vickers Tactical Paul Gomez, Gomez Training Massad Ayoob, Massad Ayoob Group Rob Pincus, ICE Training Hilton Yam, 10-8 Performance Kathy Jackson, Cornered Cat Chester Manning, Manning Firearms Training and Tactics

Important Note on Blackhawk SERPA Retention Holsters Many of the commercial instructors and trainers listed above have prohibited SERPA holsters due to the need for specific training often not covered in their standard classes. There has been enough documented evidence detailing that without special SERPA holster training, usage of these products may result in a negligent discharge. As expected, SERPA-specific training is also outside the scope of this clinic and as a general rule, we discourage and prohibit these holsters at our events for safety reasons. Rare exceptions can be made if a student or participant can show (ex. certificate of training) they received SERPA-specific training by a nationally recognized commercial firearms training school or instructor. An exception may also be potentially made for anyone that received SERPA-specific training as part of their firearm qualifications serving in a government agency or DoD. Our instructors and RSOs will be the final authority on any SERPA training exception at our events. Again, this policy has been put in place to keep unqualified participants from shooting themselves in the leg and causing our event to shut down.

Sonoran Rangers Instructor, RSO, and Medic Credentials NRA Certified RSO and Chief RSO NRA Certified Refuse to be a Victim Instructor NRA Certified Pistol Instructor NRA Certified Home Firearm Safety Instructor NRA Certified Personal Protection in the Home Instructor USAF Small Arms Pistol Marksman USAF Small Arms Rifle Marksman USAF Police Academy, Honor Graduate USAF Air Base Ground Defense USAF Office of Special Investigations Academy USAF Air Crew Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) US Army Certified Range Safety Officer US Marine Corps Martial Arts Program US Secret Service, Protective Service/Anti-terrorism FBI Hostage Negotiation Sacramento Police, Weaponless Defense California Fire Marshals Office, Arson & Bomb Investigations Street Gang Investigations, Rock Mountain Information Network Narcotic Investigations Techniques, Western States Information Network Advanced Handgun, Southwest Shooting Authority Tactical Handgun and Combatives, Gomez Training Defensive Knife, Suarez International Shotgun Gunfighting, Suarez International Street Survival II, Caliber Press Inc AZ, UT, and AK CCW Training and Certifications Associate Member, Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors Member, National Rifle Association Member, Gun Owners Association Member, Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association Member, Glock Sports Shooting Federation Member, Arizona Citizens Defense League Assistant Instructor, Kokoro Aikido EMT and CPR Certification

2.5 Day Tactical Pistol Clinic Summary This clinic is designed to develop and enhance both firearms safety and pistol-based personal protection shooting skills for the average pistol owner. Many firearms owners have been exposed to basic safety and marksmanship skills, however, the majority of recreational shooters have not been exposed to the real-world tactical side of competently using a pistol for personal and family protection. Our desire is that you leave this event with an accurate outlook on what it takes to be more competent with a pistol when used for defensive purposes, and help you to separate TV/movie myths from cold hard facts. This clinic incorporates both classroom and range work to comprehensively expose the participant to a range of skillset and knowledge development. The method of learning and skills exposure is based on the concept of Crawl, Walk, Run whereby a concept, skill, technique, exercise, etc is first discussed and demonstrated. The participants will then be asked to communicate their understanding of the topic, and then if applicable, slowly and safely demonstrate what they observed via dry fire. Dry firing is critical in safely developing a skill or technique and will be used extensively throughout this clinic. Once the instructors and RSOs feel that the participants can competently and safely repeat the newly taught skill, live fire will be used to verify accuracy and reproduce as close as possible real world situations. Live fire will be done by safely shooting at paper targets. Saturday morning will review firearms safety and basic marksmanship. This does not mean, however, that this class is suitable for a beginner who has never been exposed to a firearm. This is not designed to be an introduction to firearms class for someone who has not shot a pistol before. Participants bring different levels of skillsets to this clinic and this is the only way for the instructors to assess the safety skillset of all participants. The initial goal is to bring all participants to the same level of firearms safety for the benefit of everyone. Mature and advanced shooters should enjoy this initial exercise as a great way to review and sharpen their fundamental skills. You can never be too safe. Saturday afternoon will concentrate on various presentations, malfunction clearing, situational awareness concepts, and fundamental tactical pistol skills. Saturday evening will cover low-light concepts, tactical flashlight manipulation, and dynamic shooting with a light. Sunday will cover more advanced dynamic pistol tactics and finish by introducing the participant to basic pistol combatives and manipulation skills. As the curriculum progresses, new skills introduced will build off of previously taught ones. It is critical that all participants competently perform techniques taught so that their knowledge and skills safely evolve with the class curriculum. All participants must start at the beginning of the clinic. NO LATECOMERS will be allowed to actively participate for the benefit and safety of everyone else. Latecomers are welcomed to observe only.

Key Goals for This Training Clinic Create a safe, enjoyable, and constructive learning environment for both participants and observers Reinforce firearms safety and provide a skills baseline for responsible pistol manipulation in various situations Cover the common characteristics of tactical/fighting/combat/personal protection pistols and ammunition Cover situational awareness concepts, color codes, and OODA Loop and FAST protocols Provide basic exposure of the psychology of violent criminals and people Develop competency in holstered as well as various ready/tactical pistol presentation positions Develop loading and reloading skills under stress Develop shooting accuracy at different distances under stress Develop shooting accuracy with either hand under stress Develop shooting accuracy at different positions under stress Develop competent pistol malfunction clearing under stress Develop practical but safe techniques while shooting statically or dynamically Development of after action follow through and behavior Develop competency in static and dynamic off-line pistol manipulation Exposure to dynamic tactical drills and drill combinations Exposure to low-light/flashlight tactical deployment techniques with a pistol Exposure to basic pistol combative concepts and skills Provide examples to develop your own personal practice drills and exercises (both dry-firing and live firing)

What This Clinic is Not

This IS NOT a commercial training class that is charging you a tuition to participate (classes that cover similar topics average $400 - $700) and the people who put this on are volunteers willing to share their personal knowledge and time to help you be more competent; please be mindful of this if you feel that this clinic was not up to your standards (for those who find value in this, we will gladly accept small donations that will go to reimburse the costs absorbed by the folks who generously gave of themselves to make this happen) This clinic is not suited for a beginner who is still developing basic pistol functionality, manipulation and introductory marksmanship skills (we have other classes for this) Deep concealment techniques and accessories, snubbies, and pocket pistol manipulation skills are outside the scope of this clinic small revolvers and pocket pistols will not be allowed in this clinic for safety reasons This is not a gun show: SHOW AND TELL WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE TOLERATED please keep your firearms secured at all times unless at the safety zone or on the firing line ready to shoot; if you are caught displaying your pistol as a conversation object, your status will be immediately changed to "observer" and you will be asked to leave your firearms in your car or leave the event; please show maturity and respect for others by not endangering them or yourself and take offense if you are asked to hang up your gear Although full sized revolvers are welcome, you will gain the most value from this clinic learning with a semi-auto striker-fired pistol; pistols with hammers are welcome but please be aware that you will not be able to perform certain combative techniques Federal and state firearms laws and CCW legal topics are outside the scope of this clinic Although this may be touched from time to time, psychological topics and concepts of active shooter situations are outside the scope of this clinic Due to the enormous amount of various tactical accessories available, this clinic will not have the time to cover every type of equipment people may be interested in the instructors will happily share with you their person experiences with what works for them but this does not mean that other accessories not mentioned have little or no value (this is not a comprehensive class of tactical accessories) find out what works for you by doing your own research This clinic is being held on an undeveloped shooting range and therefore do not have the luxuries of a maintained range please take that into consideration when it comes to your personal hygiene needs (we will have a basic potty tent that uses trash bags as a courtesy but nothing like a real toilet) This IS NOT A COMPETITION: please keep your eyes and comments to your own target and personal training needs. We can make any shooting drill more than difficult enough to turn you into a sobbing, frustrated rookie all over again be courteous of everyones limitations and encourage and celebrate each others successes; please reserve helpful criticism of fellow participants to the instructors and RSOs only

The Ideal Student or Participant Our belief and hope is that your participation in this clinic is founded on a serious desire to competently use your pistol to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones. This being said, here are some pointers of how to get the most value out of this training event: Have an open mind you may be exposed to ideas, concepts, or techniques that you never saw before or may be unsure of or question; give yourself and the instructor the benefit of the doubt if you find little or no value in something taught after you learn it, you dont have to use it once the clinic is over Have a positive attitude: it magnifies your learning experience and adds to the enjoyment of everyone involved Be a knowledge and skills sponge: absorb everything you can from the lessons taught If requested by the instructor, volunteer for everything: see "being a skills sponge" above TRY what is actually being taught as ACCURATELY as you can: unless there is a safety or physical limitation issue, try what is taught - you might surprise yourself by finding value in something you were unsure of Please let the instructors be the teachers: although you may be happy to help your fellow student out, please note that everyone else came to listen and learn from the instructors, not another student commenting on or translating the instructors teachings (this is disrespectful to the instructors and a distraction to others) Be early for start times: you can settle in better - offer to help others load their magazines if you have nothing else to do and want to be useful (not everyone will bring a dozen mags or so to class) Ask questions when Q&A opens up or if the instructor says its ok to interrupt them for questions If a skill or technique taught makes you uncomfortable or may be intimidating, please pull the instructor or an RSO aside privately and share with them your concern they are there to help you, not put you on the spot Take the new material you have just learned or been exposed to and add it to your existing skillset tool box - the new info may not apply to everything, but it still may be valuable even if you somewhat disagree with its suggested applications Do not talk about topics of controversy at the event everyone is here to learn, not debate; create a positive environment for everyone (some people don't want to hear it, even if they agree with you) GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP the day before class and HYDRATE Youll need it

Event Agenda and Timeframes This curriculum timeframes can be modified anytime by the instructors or RSOs depending on the safety skillset and speed of competency development of the participants * Denotes Classroom Training Saturday 12/7 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:45 07:00 07:45 08:00 08:30 08:30 09:30 09:30 10:30 10:30 12:00 12:00 12:45 12:45 13:00 13:00 13:15 13:15 14:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 16:30 16:30 17:00 17:00 18:30 18:30 19:15 19:15 19:30 19:30 21:30 22:30 06:30 Event Staff Check-in Participant and Observer Check-in and Registration Firearm and Shooting Gear Safety Inspection Event Welcome Message, Range and Safety Overview * Marksmanship Review, Tactical Pistol, Ammo, and Wound Ballistics Topics Marksmanship Drills, Workspace and Conservation of Movement Concepts Holstered and Various Pistol Presentation Drills, AAD Lunch Break, Policing of Brass (good time to update your class notes) * Personal Defense, Situational Awareness, Color Codes, OODA Loop, F.A.S.T. * Participatory (Social) vs. Predatory Violence Malfunction Types and Clearing Drills Single Hand Pistol Manipulation Various Shooting Positions Combat/Speed Reloading Off-Line Tactical Concepts and Drills Dinner Break (good time to update your class notes) * Low-Light/No-Light Concepts, Tactical Flashlight Concepts Low-light Tactical Drills Campsite Light and Noise Discipline Enforced (Dont forget to update your class notes)

Sunday 12/8 07:45 08:00 08:00 08:30 08:30 09:00 09:00 12:00 12:00 12:45 12:45 13:00 13:00 14:00 14:00 15:00 15:00 16:00 16:00 17:00 17:00 Policing of Trash and Brass * Review of Yesterdays Training Topics Tactical Warm-up Drills Dynamic Drill Combinations Lunch Break, Policing of Brass (good time to update your class notes) * Gunfight Surviving Concepts, De-Escalation and Distraction Concepts Close and Zero Distance Shooting Techniques and Drills Sheepdog Shooting Concepts and Drills Range Q&A, Clinic Review Range shutdown, Range and Camp Cleanup, Policing of Brass End of Training Clinic (good time to update your class notes)

Training Equipment and Gear

Mandatory list to participate as a student: A printout of this handbook for class usage A signed waiver of liability agreement and completed emergency contact sheet A notepad, pen, sharpie, and a hard clipboard or something similar to write on A tactical or defense-oriented pistol At least three magazines (label them we always find unclaimed magazines after classes) At least three speed loaders (if you are using a revolver) A hard (ex. kydex) OWB pistol holster (SERPA holsters will NOT be allowed for safety reasons) A sturdy magazine pouch capable of holding at least one magazine two preferred A sturdy belt to secure both your holster and magazine pouches Proper fitting eye and hearing protection A baseball style cap or Boonie style hat At least a gallon of drinking water per day and a way to consume it Necessary meals and snacks as you body requires for both days (no food vendor available) Outdoor clothes (BDUs, hunting, activewear, etc long pants and shirt strongly recommended) Solid protective footwear (boots and hiking shoes strongly recommended) Tactical handheld flashlight (momentary rear button style preferred weapon mounted light not a substitute for handheld light) A couple of large trashbags (multiple uses) Suggested additional gear list to enhance your training experience: Sunscreen and bug spray High energy snacks Camelbak or similar water dispensing device Couple of different outerwear outfits and extra layers (for different temperature ranges) Proper fitting broken-in work, shooting, or tactical gloves Elbow and knee pads Shemagh or large handkerchief (hot brass down your shirt sucks) Dump pouch (for water bottle or empty mags) Backup pistol and magazines (in the event of primary equipment failure) Extra ammo (in the event there is time to shoot more) A portable chair for the classroom portions of the class A pistol cleaning kit, patches, and cleaning/lubrication chemicals Rain gear or poncho (we will shoot regardless of weather conditions except during lightning) Extra footwear and socks Small garbage or WAG bags or a similar way to deal with bathroom issues First aid (boo boo) and snakebite kit, and IFAK trauma (blow out) kit Suggested camping gear list: Tent or tarp system to sleep under (unless you plan on sleeping in your vehicle) Extra warm clothes and sleeping gear (it will be the first week of Dec) Flashlight with a tactical filter (red, green or blue) A way to warm food and drinks (small camp stove and metal cup for example) Baby or personal hygiene wipes to freshen and clean up (trust us, you will be glad you have them after the first night) Portable table, trash can, and other camping gear Personal hygiene overnight kit

FAQs Ive shot handguns before, how do I know if I am ready for this clinic? Are you uncomfortable shooting and loading your pistol without supervision? Are you still intimidated with your pistol? Do you struggle hitting a 6 bullseye (small dinner plate) at 5 yards consistently? If you said yes to any of these questions, you are not ready for this class. I do not know if my pistol is allowed in class, how do I find out? The recommended firearms for this clinic are striker fired semi-auto pistols (Glocks, S&W M&P, Springfield XD, etc .). Full sized revolvers will be allowed, however, you will need to demonstrate your competency in loading and unloading your revolver during inspection as no portion of this clinic will be dedicated to specifically loading/unloading revolvers. You will also be required to perform all drills in double action mode only. Semi-auto pistols with decockers will be allowed and may start drills in either double action mode or cocked and locked if your pistol comes with a separate safety. You will be required to demonstrate your competency with your decocker/safety at inspection. Single-action only semi-auto pistols will be allowed but you must begin all drills cocked and locked. You will be required to demonstrate your competency with your pistols safety at inspection. Pistols with safeties will be required to have them engaged (on) at all times unless shooting. After every shooting exercise, safeties must be re-engaged before holstering. For safety reasons, small pocket pistols and revolvers will not be allowed. Do I really need a hard or Kydex-based OWB holster? A significant portion of drills begin using a holstered presentation and a hard or kydex holster will make this clinic much easier on you. Soft holsters made from nylon cloth may collapse during re-holstering and you will get frustrated. They can also be a safety issue, and therefore will not be allowed. SERPA holsters from Blackhawk uses a special retention mechanism to keep a pistol from being maliciously taken or accidentally falling out. Some SERPA owners have had a history of improper usage that has lead to negligent discharges. Proper SERPA holster training is beyond the scope of this clinic and therefore for the safety of all, will not be allowed. I can load my pistol very quickly, do I really need multiple magazines or speed loaders for this clinic? The need for multiple magazines are not just for rapid round count shooting but for incorporating tactical and speed loading manipulation drills of backup magazines and speed loaders. You can also have primary magazine damage or failure and it would be wise to have several back up units to keep you up and running. Keep in mind that during speed loads, empty magazines get dropped on the ground and there is a small chance that cheaply made magazine may dent and deform. When in doubt, bring a dozen. I am a woman, can I participate in this clinic? Women are extremely welcomed at this clinic. If you can answer no to the first question on this FAQ list, you will probably do just fine. Our instructors fully understand that women often get overlooked in this male dominated community and you are just as important as any male getting trained. There are certain issues that typically affect women and our instructors are trained to help you overcome these issues in a sensitive and respectful manner. Can my teen participate in this clinic? If your teen can answer no to the first question in this FAQ list and they can follow directions at an adult level, then they are more than welcomed to participate. Just make sure to properly fill in the waiver of liability agreement section for guardians of minors What calibers can I shoot at this clinic? If you can competently control it, you may shoot it. For safety reasons, no centerfire rifle/carbine calibers or shotgun rounds will be allowed. Here are some suggestions: .22LR, .32ACP, .380ACP, 9x18Mak, 9mm, .357Sig, .38Spl, .357Mag, .38Super, .40S&W, 10mm, .44Spl, .45ACP. If you have more questions about this topic, please ask.

What are the check-in and registration procedures? Please arrive as close to 07:00 as possible to give yourself the most time to settle in and get ready without having to rush. EVERYONE who plans to either participate in the training clinic or be an observer must completely fill out a Safety Disclosure and Waiver of Liability Agreement form, an Emergency Contact Information Card, and provide a photocopy of an official government picture ID (ex. drivers license). Minors do not have to fill out a waiver form or provide a photocopy of a picture ID (as long as accompanied by a guardian). The guardian, however, must fill out a waiver form under themselves on the minors behalf. The minor will also need to have an emergency contact card properly filled out on them. Once you are registered, you will be given two name tags to be placed on both the front and back of your torso. Once you have your nametags, you can go to the safety zone to have your gear inspected. What happens to my personal information once the training event is over? Once the training event is over AND no one sustained any injury that needed official public safety intervention OR died due to a training accident, your photocopied picture ID, waiver agreement, and emergency contact card will be handed back to you for privacy reasons. We have absolutely no desire nor want the responsibility to keep your personal information on record whatsoever. What happens during gear inspection at the safety zone? Before you show up to the safety zone table for inspection, please make sure your firearm is unloaded. Please bring your unloaded pistol and at least three empty magazines or speed loaders as well as your magazine pouches, belt, holster and safety equipment (eye and hearing protection). Our safety inspectors will instruct you to demonstrate safe firearms handling as well as performing an administrative loading with an empty magazine. You will also be asked to engage the decocker and safety if your pistol has these control mechanisms. Lastly, the inspectors will qualify the safety level of your eye and ear protection, holster and belt. If you plan to train with more than one pistol, please bring it for inspection as well. For everyones safety, you will not be allowed to participate in the clinic if you do not pass the safety inspection. What is the classroom training portions like? During the classroom training portions, the instructors will go over parts of your handbook and may use props to explain certain concepts and techniques. You may stand but you will also be allowed to bring a portable chair to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. It is strongly advised that you bring something hard to write and take notes on such as a clipboard as classroom tables will not be available. Can I bring a family member or other guest as an observer? You may bring anyone you wish as long as they agree to the rules and safety policies of this event. They will also need to fill out all of the required forms and bring a photocopy of an official government picture ID as stated above. Please be mindful that they should be able to police themselves without your supervision as they will see very little of your personal time. Remember, this is a training clinic that will take up almost all of your time for two days. The ideal observer is a new or veteran shooter that wants to prepare themselves for a future training class similar to this one. I have some physical limitations, can I still participate? Please contact us directly to answer this question thoroughly. While most people with limitations may be able to take away significant value and training skills by attending this clinic, we cannot provide a blanket statement that you will be able to do all of the drills and techniques safely. In general, you should be able to see close to 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses, be able to safely draw your pistol from a hard holster, be able to shoot with each hand safely, be able to walk without assistance, kneel and get back up without assistance, lie prone on the ground on both your back and stomach and get up without assistance, and can rapidly walk forward, sideways, and backward on uneven rocky ground without losing your balance or tripping. Can this training clinic qualify or substitute for official AZ CCW permit training? No.

Ammo is hard to get and is very expensive, how much do I need for this clinic? You will probably shoot around 400 rounds at this clinic but it is always smart to bring extra. If possible, empty all of your ammo cardboard boxes into one large container this minimizes range rubbish and speeds up your magazine loading. Dry firing has been incorporated to significantly keep ammo count low, but nothing can fully train you for recoil recovery and marksmanship accuracy like live fire drills. If you need help finding ammo for this class, please contact us for assistance. What should I wear as a participant or observer? Active outdoor wear such as military BDUs, 5.11 products, hunting wear, etc work well for these types of training environments. Jeans work well as long as you dont care that your knees and butt will get dirty or might rip due to certain movement drills. High cut shirts are a must as hot brass burns leave nasty cleavage scars. Neck wraps such as a large handkerchief or shemagh helps to significantly reduce brass burns on the neck and upper torso. A ball cap or Boonie hat reduces the chance of hot brass landing between your safety glasses and your face. It is strongly suggested that you wear layers due to the temperature range of the day. Expect nights and mornings to drop to the mid 30s and the day to get up to the high 80s. Also expect to sweat profusely and you will want to bring extra clothes to change into after each day. If you plan to camp over, please bring clothing and sleeping gear appropriate for the long cold evenings. Lastly all participants are required to keep their safety equipment with them at all times (both eyes and ears) and never take your eye protection off till after the event. Observers are asked to keep eye and hearing protection on during the event but it will be your discretion. Please use common sense and do not approach the range without your safety gear. Note that you will need clear safety glasses or goggles for the low light training portion (Home Depot for approx. $12). Can I take video or pictures of the event? You are welcomed to take pictures or video of yourself all you want. Please show common courtesy and get permission to take photos of others. Can I bring pets or very young children to the event as part of my camping entourage? You can do what you want but most common-sensed folk will consider you irresponsible and borderline negligent for doing this. Small children and pets have sensitive ears and cannot comprehend what is happening around them. Please do not do this. Enough said. What do I need to know if I plan to camp over at the range? Here are the things to know: Please be courteous to those camping around you dont spread out as the range camping area is small to begin with Show up early to get preferred camping spots its your fault if you have to walk a distance to the range area Please keep noise and artificial light to a minimum between the hours of 22:30 and 06:30 people will be exhausted and need as much rest for day two as possible Two portable potty tents will be setup for your use please bring WAG bags or small garbage bags for you own personal use (the bags must be able to fit completely around the mouth of a five gallon bucket); once you are done, please remove your bag and dispose of it in your own personal garbage receptacle (and not a community garbage can) If you make a fire, please make sure to do it safely and you must supervise your fire at all times I only have a small compact 2-wheeled drive car, can I drive to the range safely? The last 1/2 mile to the Sonoita range is undeveloped but has been recently graded and just about all cars can make the drive safely. The range is approx 30 minutes from the intersection of Kolb and I-10. Can I bring an RV or trailer to camp in? A vehicle with a trailer or a large RV will not fit at the range. A van-sized RV would be the largest vehicle recommended to bring to the range. There is a parking spot a quarter mile away from the range if you want to bring anything larger bring a golf cart for the daily commute between your RV and the range.

How do I deal with bathroom issues? You may use our provided tent potties if you bring your own WAG or small garbage bags. You can also build your own slit trench if you enjoy getting close to Mother Nature. Just make sure any holes or trenches made are done a distance away from the campground. What is the alcohol policy for this event? This FAQ was added to save a couple of you from embarrassment. Are you serious about asking this question? When would you ever believe that shooting and alcohol mix?????? Sorry officer, I was just buzz shooting .. The same goes for any other controlled or behavior-affecting Rx or substance. What are the plans for all of the brass left on the range? Some participants actively reload. In the past it was a nightmare trying to have people police their own brass at training events of this size. To keep everyone safe and minimize the temptation of fighting for brass, all shells whether brass or steel, will go into collection buckets and kept by the Sonoran Rangers to do with what they will. Hey, we could have charged a tuition fee .. Is there anything we as participants can do to help with this event? Thanks for asking. We could sure use your help at the end of each day helping to pick up all of the brass and steel shells laying around and place them in the collection buckets. We plan on doing this a couple of times to keep the shells from burying themselves into the ground due to people stepping on them. If you see others needing help with their mags, offer to help load their mags with them. Lastly, offer to help take down target systems and police camp trash at the end of the second day before you leave. We have been given the blessing of the Nogales Ranger Station in using this range primarily because we keep this area clean. Do I need to worry about critters? You will be in the desert so critters do come around. Please secure all of your trash especially if it contains any organic matter. Watch where you step, do not leave food items out in the open, and keep all of you car windows up and doors secured. The last thing you want to do is to bring home a new pet, especially one that crawls or slithers. Will you have prescription or OTC medication at the first aid tent? We will not officially provide anyone with any medicine, prescription or otherwise, unless ordered by a qualified person acting in an official medical capacity. Please make sure you have some in your personal first aid kit before coming to the event if you think you will need it. If you havent exercised in a while, some of the drills may be strenuous and an OTC pain reducer or NSAID such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be of value. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. When can I load my pistol? You will be notified during the clinic when it will be appropriate to load your pistol. For consistency and the safety of everyone, you will be expected to show up to the beginning of class each day with an unloaded pistol. At the end of the day, please point your firearm downrange and clear and unload your pistol before walking off the range. During class breaks and meals, you may leave your pistol loaded but you will be expected to leave you firearm in your holster. If you need to inspect or perform maintenance on your pistol, please walk onto the range after making sure it is available, announce loudly that you are clearing your pistol, point it down range and unload it (DO NOT shoot it as your unloading method). After you remove all ammunition from your person, you may use the safety zone table to perform any inspection and maintenance you consider necessary. Where can I set my pistol if I am fatigued from carrying it and need a break? You may place your unloaded pistol in a bag or case and secure the gear in your vehicle. This is very important especially if you need to remove your pistol when using the restroom. You dont know the concept of embarrassing until you have a negligent discharge with your pants around your ankles.

Range and Clinic Orientation This range is a run as a HOT RANGE: expect all weapons to be loaded at all times; firearms manipulation is only allowed on the range or at the safety zone Range Safety Officers (RSOs): Safety personnel making sure that participants use safe firearms manipulation and shooting techniques as well as enforcers of and the final authority of range rules and policies Instructors: Personnel responsible for the content and instruction of course material and training topics they are also RSOs Range: Developed or undeveloped shooting facility that firearms will be used to engage and shoot targets Downrange: Area and direction of the range used to safely shoot firearms Left Limit and Right Limit: Shooting borders on each side of the range Shooting Direction: The direction you are allowed to engage and shoot targets Backstop/Berm: Objects on the perimeter of ranges designed to safely stop bullets Safety Zone: Only area that allows for weapons being manipulated other than the range, used to inspect, troubleshoot, and repair firearms NO LIVE AMMO IS ALLOWED in the Safety Zone (please clear your weapon on the range before using the Safety Zone) Backfield: Non-shooting area of the range directly behind the Downrange Area used for observation, staging and other non-shooting activities no firearms manipulation is allowed in this area (other than demonstrations presented by instructors and RSOs) Target System: Device that secures and displays targets to engage and shoot all target systems will be located at the backend of the Downrange Area Barricade: Device that creates a symbolic obstacle to use for cover/concealment as well as to maneuver and shoot around Terrain: The unique landscape structure and characteristics of the range this range has terrain features that may provide natural obstacles that can be used to help develop situational awareness; these obstacles can also be a hazard if you do not pay attention to the immediate ground around you Camping Area: The area of the backfield that people may safely setup a camp site

Safety Topics and Range Commands The five enhanced firearms safety rules: 1. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded 2. Never point your firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy or kill 3. Keep your finger of the trigger and straight out on the side of the frame until you are ready to shoot 4. Know your target and what is in front and beyond it 5. Retain your pistol at all times, with the exception if it is falling do not try to grab for it

RSO Range Commands Range is Hot Range is available for shooting Range is Cold Range is not available for shooting, all shooting must stop and firearms must be secured (safety on and placed back in holsters) Cease Fire Everyone stops shooting immediately and secure all weapons Begin, Fire, Threat, Fight, etc target or targets Immediately begin shooting your designated

Range Emergency Command Cease Fire, Cease Fire, Cease Fire - Everyone stops shooting immediately, secure all weapons, look around for the emergency and take the appropriate direct action: NOTE, anyone is allowed to call this command if you observe a dangerous event or injury

Other Range Safety Topics: Do not pick up mags, speed loaders, or anything else you dropped until the exercise is done, range goes cold, and you are given the command to do so

Tactical (Gunfighting) Fundamentals Overview This is a gunfighting-centric class. The topics, skills, and techniques covered in this clinic uses gunfighting concepts as their foundation. Marksmanship vs. Gunfighting Classic marksmanship is the art and science of precision shooting Marksmanship still plays an important part of gunfighting Gunfighting is fighting expect to get hit, wounded, stabbed, shot, etc Gunfighting distances are often very personal (ambush attacks common) Many effective advanced gunfighting techniques conflict common square range safety rules

Gunfighting Safety Gunfighting is dangerous sensory overload, stress-driven loss of focus Be acutely aware of your surroundings, environment and those around you Finger and muzzle control above everything else Take advantage of your platforms unique safety features Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast Gunfighting often times breaks traditional firearm safety rules Realistic gunfighting training/practice is usually not allowed at square ranges

Marksmanship Concepts Review Range and firearms safety is ALWAYS part of competent marksmanship training Dominant Eye Using the proper eye Regular and Southpaw issues relationship to your dominant eye Stance Classic vs. Fighting stances Grip Two-handed, one-handed, grip position, finger position, kinesiology Sight Picture and Sight Alignment Breath Control Respiratory pause Trigger Control Finger position, trigger manipulation, grip adjustment

The Tactical Pistol When using a pistol for personal protection, it can be said that you are using your pistol as a tactical tool. Any pistol can be deployed as a tactical tool. Certain characteristics make some pistols more suitable for tactical usage over others however. Extremely reliable from the factory Stock platform satisfies most users needs Still extremely reliable after replacing worn parts with OEM parts (no gunsmithing necessary) Extremely reliable in harsh conditions and environments (ruggedness) Simple and easy controls (decrease learning curve) Potential modification legal issues keep it stock Uses very common and affordable defense quality ammunition and calibers Easy to clean and maintain (usually without special tools)

Defense Ammunition and Wound Ballistics Topics Any ammunition can be used to defend yourself. Certain characteristics make some ammunition more suitable for tactical and personal protection usage. Pistol ballistics will always suck when compared to a rifle or shotgun FBI gelatin ballistics and penetration tests (stopping power) How pistol ammo creates wounds and stops an attacker Bullet design, weight, and speed (the modern hollow point defense ammunition) Hand loads and legal precedence issues

Conservation of Movement - Successfully deploying your firearm and stopping a life threatening event using the least amount of extra steps or body movement which tactically translates to using the least amount of time to potentially stop a threat Quickest path between two points is a straight line First to deploy weapon, accurately put rounds downrange, reload, reset Get small minimizes extra movement Intensity of motion be deliberate in your actions

Natural Workspace The invisible space directly in front of your view that is used for tactics while observing a life threatening event Marksmanship Drills

Pistol Presentation Concepts Holster Ready Low Ready Admin/Chest/Retention Ready High Ready (Really High Ready - Charlies Angels)

Five Count Holster Presentation and After Action Behavior Movement of both hands at position 1 Positions 3, 4, and 5 are shooting positions No bonus points for speed re-holstering Follow through Off line after action movement (Search & Assess), Sul Position (crowd and range safety) Admin and Tactical Reloading

Personal Defense Topics Personal Defense Goal Successfully surviving a violent criminal attack by one or more persons Tactics Specific actions taken or implemented to achieve a specific goal Mindset It is that state of mind which insures victory in a gunfight. It is composed of awareness, anticipation, concentration and coolness. Above all, its essence is self control. Dexterity and marksmanship are prerequisite to confidence, and confidence is prerequisite to self-control To anticipate generally, the shooter must train himself into a state of mind in which the sudden awareness of peril does not surprise him. It is essential for the man who wears a gun to react to a sudden threat with the knowledge and confidence that he can handle it. His response should be not 'Oh my God, I'm in a fight!' but rather 'I thought this might happen and I know what to do about it.' - Jeff Cooper Gunfighting - Combining Marksmanship with Tactics and Mindset

Fighting Mindset Concepts Never Give Up, Never Quit When in doubt, move (do something)! Natural Workspace = Tactical Workspace Situational Awareness Jeff Coopers Color Codes OODA Loop and F.A.S.T.

Important Habits to Develop Always tactical reload at the minimum after any active shooter situation Always scan and assess your surroundings before you hang up your guns

Situational Awareness - The ability to maintain a constant, clear mental picture of relevant information and the tactical situation including friendly and threat situations as well as terrain Jeff Coopers Color Codes White - Unaware and unprepared. If attacked in Condition White, the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy or ineptitude of your attacker. Yellow - Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself". You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary. Orange You observed a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat. Your mindset shifts to "I may have to shoot that person today", focusing on the specific target which has caused the escalation in alert status. In Condition Orange, you set a mental trigger: "If that person does "X", I will need to stop them". Your pistol usually remains holstered in this state. Red - Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger (established back in Condition Orange) has been tripped. "If 'X' happens I will shoot that person" - 'X' has happened, the fight is on.

OODA Loop A learning processes concept that was developed by military strategist and USAF Colonel John Boyd

Observation What is unfolding in front of you and around you Orient What does your past experience, skill skill-set, knowledge, wisdom, et al communicate what is about to probably happen (recognition of familiar situation) Decision - Consider options and their probable outcomes, and select a subsequent course of action Action Implement your chosen decision Once the result of the action is completed, you start over by observing the outcomes. outcomes Note that in combat, you want to cycle through the four steps faster and better than the enemy, hence, it is a loop. F.A.S.T. Protocol (Wyatt Protocol) by Lyle Wyatt from OPS: FIGHT Until til the direct threat is terminated ASSESS - Do I need to fight ight anymore? Has the threat been stopped? SCAN - Do I need to fight ight any anyone else? TOPOFF Perform a tactical reload and: Take cover, Treat wounds, Talk to authorities or wounded if necessary

Participatory (Social) vs. Predatory (Asocial) Violence Men are disproportionately affected by violence, both as criminals and as victims. According to the FBIs Uniform Crime Reports, 90% of known murderers are male and 77% of their victims are male. What does this have to do with mindset lectures in the defensive handgun training classroom? Everything! Women are less often the targets of criminal violence. But when women are assaulted or killed, they are far more often the victims of predatory, asocial violence than they are of participatory, social violence. This has huge implications for how both men and women can effectively avoid victimhood and for how we should prepare to defend ourselves. It has even bigger implications for the defensive firearms instructor giving a mindset lecture to a mixed class of students. Kathy Jackson Participatory Violence Road rage, bar fight, etc Much more common against men Establish dominance and superiority (social status challenge) Unplanned event Social-based, predictable, and readily avoided (easy to de-escalate) dont do stupid things, at stupid places, with stupid people

Predatory Violence Robbery, rape, stalking, etc Much more common against women Non-existent social status challenge Dehumanization of victim common Usually instant act of violence to quickly subdue victim Ambush behavior common (planned attack) Cannot de-escalate: FIGHT!!!

Firearm Malfunction Types and Clearing Drills Type 1 Failure to Feed/Fire (gun goes Click instead of Bang) Round does not chamber properly Empty chamber (gun not loaded) Inspect, Tap, Rack, Re-Assess Defective magazine Eject, Load, Rack, Re-Assess

Type 2 Failure to Eject Stovepipe or similar high brass shell behavior Inspect, Tap, Flip, Rack, Re-assess (this will also work for Type 1)

Type 3 Feedway Stoppage Failure to Extract or similar low brass behavior Doublefeed Most difficult type of malfunction to clear Inspect, Lock, Strip, Rack Rack Rack, Load, Rack, Re-Assess

Various Shooting Positions Standing Isosceles (square), Weaver Variations (fighting/staggered) Kneeling (one/two knee variations and rice paddy/squat) Supine, Fetal, Upside Down (unorthodox)

Single Hand Manipulation Use your natural pointing action to orient your pistol Weak hand transition Offline movement variations Strong and weak hand loading

Combat/Speed Reloading Empty magazines/speed loaders go on the ground Reloading combination drills

Low-Light Tactics Important skill that is rarely practiced Human night vision physiology Flash sight picture, silhouette sight picture Tritium sights, lasers, and other helpful devices Tactical flashlight manipulation (Harries Technique) LIE Concept (locate, identify, engage) MOVE!!!! Real world scenario Bump in the Night

Applied Dynamic Tactical Drills Shooting WHILE moving Various foot movement techniques Stacking drill combinations Stress creating training tools timers, noise, unorthodox positions, stacking, etc

Gunfight Surviving Concepts Perception-creating de-escalation behavior Distraction techniques and behavior (body language, voice inflection) Cover vs. concealment (slicing pies and angles of death) Targets - Thoracic Cavity, Ocular Cranial Cavity, Pelvis, Spine

Close and Zero Distance Shooting Counter ambush techniques Shooting off the attacker (position 3) Combining distraction/stunning techniques (combatives) Your voice as a weapon Use everything to your disposal to win the fight

Sheepdog Concepts A lifestyle that calls for incredible organization, maturity, and selflessness Highly perishable skills Easier with other Sheepdogs Prepping and Readiness Healthy Fear vs. Paranoia Train for realistic scenarios