Does anyone recommend shooting training solutions??

Thank you Exrn.

We are in the process of updating the website!

My original statement wasnt too clear. We do certify your competancy and our certification is specific to all the weapons used, the skills you acquire and your individual results. Our certification is recognised within the industry as being of a very high standard.

What I was trying to say is that we are not here to verify your competency and tick a box...pass or fail.

We are here to train you to a level that surpasses any industry expectation and to pass on an in depth knowlege of firearms. Not only from attaining a high level of accuracy and being able to react quickly as second nature, to situations which arise but also for students to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the ACTUAL "families" of firearms currently used within MARSEC.

We have some seriously experienced guys come over here and they ALL learn A LOT.

There is a need for a UK provider to certify competency, guys cannot always get the time to take more or less a week out of their schedule.

Regardless of what is being said on forums - like it or not, the companies who visit here are saying that they need their guys certified this year. They are carrying the can if something goes wrong and they are going to insist on more and more "pieces of paper" to limit their liability if something goes wrong - it is understandable.

I have worked with Shooting Training Solutions, we have a good working relationship. I have always found DS and MK to be professional and they have a great deal of experience. They provide a facility in the UK within the parameters that they can (conforming to the UK firearms regulations) in a professional manner.

Cost wise - well, businesses need running. Guys have to work out what they feel they require and what works out best for them in the long run. The industry is going through some changes and it is costly to update or establish skill sets. We understand that and try and keep things as competitive as we can.

I honestly feel that even the guys who are just leaving the military need updating with hands on experience with the weapons they will come into contact with. Its not easy to get across what you cover with us until you attend. If you PM me I will forward a couple of course reviews from last weeks course - the majority of the course were TLs so bags of experience.

Hope this has helped.
 
livger8 said:
Dan Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have been out the mil now for 6 yrs and i feel the the euro course would be far more beneficial too me as i am quite rusty i suspect. I dont think there is a substitute for the real thing,as far as a refresher for someone whose not touched any weapons in 6 yrs i wouldn't feel comfortable only going on a days training to prepare me for life in marsec.

Shawn
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No worries Shawn, I think that's a smart decision. In my opinion the euro course goes above and beyond the requirements of every marsec company, obviously the STS course can sometime be more convenient, in both locality and time, for guys looking to get through the process to a tight deadline. Your own safety clearly has take priority in this case and props to you for taking the time to both research and undergo the necessary (some may argue this) and correct training, I think you will really find it helps you in the long term as the industry matures and become more regulated. All the best in the course and good look in your career.
Dan
 
Thanks for the insight Mark.

It sounds to me as thought the best option for weapons training all round is to train with you guys and get the hands on/experience required but I can see where the others are coming from regarding the time/cost issue.

I am Ex-RN (as you can probably tell from the handle!) and have now been out for 12 years. I was Carrier based for 6 years and during that time acted as No1 firefighter in the ships firefighter party (attack and support party), was first aid trained by onboard medics, carried out upper deck sentry (with SA80) regularly with regular range/drills when alongside all over the World and was part of the Engineering watch-keeping rota (electrical & mechanical). A lot of this constant training is still burned into my mind (just like my Service Number!) and it seems that a lot of what we did quite regularly is included in the 95 courses (all 4 parts).

With this in mind, and with the fact that I am now a 37 years old IT & Comms Consultant (but still fit and healthy), would anyone say I would be better off doing some of these courses off my own back or just posting out my CV and hoping that my previous experience will count for something?

I realize that some of you guys on here must have heard this a thousand times on here (newbie still!) but I am fed up to the back teeth with Civvy street and the prospect of making a really good living doing what I used to do as second nature in the past (and enjoying those elements of MOD life!) is too hard to pass up! :D

Many thanks guys,

ExRN (frustrated civvy)
 
Cheers for the advice shippers! Will be looking through the list of companies on the relevant sticky now!
 
We had one of the companies with us this week - he said he was getting 50cvs a day! You may have to go that bit further than just posting off your cv.

Best of luck with your change of career and if you do get some positive news from the CVs we look forward to providing your firearms training :)

Mark
 
Ex-RN have you been in contact with Whale Island to get your STCW Certs from when you did ISSC? I did ISSC in 2002 and sent them an email last month. Within the week they had sent me my STCW FF & Sea Survival Certs. The email and number is floating around on a thread somewhere. If you can't find it PM and when I get home on fri i'll forward it on to you.
 
Thanks again Standto,

I found the email addy on here in the end as Google couldn't seem to find it. If anyone else wants it, it is:

Phoenix Building
HMS EXCELLENT
Whale Island
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO2 8ER

Call Steve Barrett on 02392 547022 or email: NWS-CBRNDC-TPO@FLEETFOST.MOD.UK

Thanks again,

ExRN
 
I did also see though that if you did BSSC or any other of the training at Whale Island prior to Dec 98' you won't get a certificate as it was before the RN became accredited, so I may be out of luck. Just sit and wait I guess.
 
Hello,

To continue this post, I did the course at euro-tactical.co.uk and what a fantastic course! Full on for 4 days, no limits on ammo and all full bore not .22cal! Every weapon on the website is used, drills. drills and more drills on all the weapons. They have a really unique approach to training I think, drills that can be applied to all weapons systems, I came away with my mind buzzing but so, so much more confident. Thought I was pretty OK on my shooting, how wrong I was! Never, ever received coaching like that in the mob. Instructors are the best, no ego's just impart info from the beginning to the end, and they do not miss a trick!!

I am so glad I did not choose the one dayer at shooting training solutions, I just don't feel that they would have fulfilled my needs, I now have certification recognised in the industry that I have live fired 15 + different firearms, as well as how to strip/assemble etc.

I also feel that euro tactical are more upfront on their website, shooting solutions only mention once on their website that their firearms are only .22 calibre. No mention either that the other weapons are deactivated! I am not saying that they are not professional, just not as upfront as they should be. Still, it is a quick 'tick in the box'.

My view, leave it up to you.

moon9, out.
 
My advice is...

find out if your company or companies you want to work for will accept a tactical shooting course designed for CP. if so then you might find that course covers more boxes with one check mark for other cp industries.

There's been a million "maritime shooting shops" starting up to get your hard earned money for a box designed by them to be checked, the one day courses i have seen are no more advanced then a apwt.

If you want to go for a cp gig later on you will need a broader firearms course other then just a Maritime course. It's worth looking into and paying a bit more and getting a lot more in return.

If you just walked out the gate or are active on "the circuit" then it's a bit of a shock to have to do these courses. If you were in the falklands and have been roofing ever since you'll need a lot more then a one day course. so there are a lot of variables. With so many variables these courses level the playing field.

I personally have the Ronin (south africa) one and that has been all i ever needed.

Think twice and pay once.
 
Good post Bearcastle! I especially like the "Think twice, pay once" quote, there will be many who may have gotten the tick in the box who may well end up paying twice!

"If you just walked out the gate or are active on "the circuit" then it's a bit of a shock to have to do these courses." It is a shock to most of the guys that come through our gates, recently out of the mob, when they realise that their weapon handling skills weren't up to much in the first place!!

Well said, anyway.

Frenchbob
 
Frenchbob said:
It is a shock to most of the guys that come through our gates, recently out of the mob, when they realise that their weapon handling skills weren't up to much in the first place!!
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I imagine that's where your services come into play. As i mentioned the one day course doesn't really teach anyone anything. It should be marketed as a test then an instructional course.

From what i've seen on the videos and word of mouth is that you offer an instructional package to improve the customers skills and naturally test it at the end which in the long run is probably more beneficial to the customer.

I would of given people the advice to do your Elite course and get the maritime cert at the same time since one supersedes the other. It would be the broader course that will go further if the customer wants to work in the sand for a bit.
 
Frenchbob said:
Good post Bearcastle! I especially like the "Think twice, pay once" quote, there will be many who may have gotten the tick in the box who may well end up paying twice!

"If you just walked out the gate or are active on "the circuit" then it's a bit of a shock to have to do these courses." It is a shock to most of the guys that come through our gates, recently out of the mob, when they realise that their weapon handling skills weren't up to much in the first place!!

Well said, anyway.

Frenchbob
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Well, how true. Most of the guys on the course were not long out of the mob, ex-mil. Apart from one that had been working in High-risk areas we were all so, so rusty to the point of being almost laughable. Thought we were all going to need just a 'refresher', we worked on over 15 different live-firing weapons, including pistols, qual shoots on longs and pistols. WHT's on them, they have some great instructional techniques to enable you to be able to operate many firearms, one drill fits all, it works!! One day would not have been any good, if I am to be honest with myself, I doubt I would have passed a one day course. However, having had the type of instruction and coaching I received at Eurotactical I reckon I would piss the one course now (not that I need it)



I would say that the course is not just Maritime but will give you certificated competancy for any career choice, including CP.
 
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