TNVC’s Night Defender Course...AAR

[HTR]

I had the good fortune of being invited to TNVC's first-ever civilian Night Vision training course. What a great experience. I decided to drive from Texas to Georgia, since I was bringing SBR’s, suppressors, and several night vision devices. One of the attendees told a harrowing tale of his guns being lost on a flight from Vermont, so I think I made the right choice. If you are going to travel with SBR's, be sure to get your 5320.20 in at least 30 days prior to departure and pay close attention to airline firearms policies.

In this write-up, I hope to give you an idea as to what you can expect. This course is designed as an advanced rifle and pistol course, with beginner’s introduction to night vision, including the tactical use of image intensification devices, infrared aiming lasers and infrared lights. The course covers basic science, gear management, and shooting technique, including reloading, clearing malfunctions, shooting behind cover and while moving in total darkness. If you go to the Brunswick location, you will be training indoors. You will learn how to use the technique of superimposition with tritium pistol sights and helmet mounted PVS-14 monocular. You will also learn how to use a rifle with IR laser, and then rapidly switch to use of the dot optic on your weapon if / when the lights suddenly come on. I found the list of “things you’ll need,” posted by TNVC, to be just about perfect for preparation.

My personal suggestion would be to look at the list, and then decide how you want to set up your helmet, IR laser, and IR / white light on the rifle. Be sure you are comfortable with placement, and activation whether it be via tailcap clicky or pressure switch. I also recommended that you bring a holster that can accommodate a pistol with light and/or laser mounted.

Before you get to the course location, lay out all your gear and go through your checklist. Keep everything cleared, and practice activating the light, laser and fitting your helmet.

Lay it all out, keep it unloaded, & play with it until you can do it blindfolded.






While shooting the course, I especially liked the Surefire Vampire light, because then you have both white and IR lights on your gun. But beware….the Vampire borders on being too bright for indoor use. You could use an M1IR, but that leaves you without a white light, which you might need if the lights were suddenly turned on (remember that). You can use the M1IR on the helmet, but keep in mind that you might get backsplash off the glass of your optic when the IR light source is behind it. If you are going to learn how to fight with a rifle and pistol, in the dark, then you have to have all contingencies covered.

Power point presentations were given for the various modules and then we went to the range to practice the skill set. They also have an obstacle course which teaches you things like how to maneuver in close quarters, read maps or instructions, and climb ladders using NV. No matter what your use, this course really makes you proficient very quickly….that’s the mark of good teachers.


Classroom





The range and barriers




Obstacle course. The ladder is an exercise, not for construction. Note the wood dowels between the walls, on the course entry.




I shot the entire pistol module with a Glock 22, Lone wolf trigger job, Hogue grip and Streamlight TLR 1 light. Holster was a Safariland 6004, which worked perfectly. I shot the rifle module of the class using a 6.8 SPCII. My rifle is a Noveske 12.5” Rogue Lightweight, with Wilson Combat upper, Troy TRX extreme HG, on top of a Spike’s Tactical SBR'ed lower, Wilson Combat TTU-3G trigger, and PRI 6.8 mags. I used a Wilson Whisper suppressor, and it performed perfectly, never coming loose, during or after 400 rounds. I shot SSA factory 6.8 ammo loaded with the 85 grain Barnes frangible “MPG” bullet. The ammo performed flawlessly. I used my own non-autogated, 5 year old PVS-14, 2 battery model (which has presided over hundreds upon hundreds of hogs being sent to hog-hell), and it was mounted to the new Ops-Core Base jump model helmet. I love this helmet, and when paired with Howard Leight e-muffs, the whole rig was totally comfortable.

I had only one malfunction, which was caused by an improperly seated mag. I cleared it, but the mag fell out, while I was shooting the barrier drill, and I had to fish around on the floor for the mag, re-insert it and get back in the shoot. I’m sure it didn’t look pretty, but I have done it before, while hunting hogs. My point is that, in the dark, if your mag falls out of the rifle, or you have a serious malfunction, it can disorient you just having to look down. Don’t bother, because you can’t focus on the floor, your hand, or the mag, unless you cap the PVS-14. If you do that, you have either lost muzzle discipline or at least lost the controlling grip on the rifle. Half the battle is knowing that you will have to feel your way through everything. If you have never handled your weapon in the dark, I suggest that you practice it, with the rifle unloaded, before you go to the class. Get to know how the rifle feels in your hands, when it malfunctions, and especially how to “feel” the carrier locking back on an empty mag. You can’t just look at the action when you are wearing a PVS-14, because its too close to focus on the ejection port. Learn how everything feels blind and you will be better prepared.


Shooting the SBR for a little warm-up prior to blackout




I would also recommend that you prepare to have some good, clean fun. I had a great time, and found the atmosphere to be professional, but very friendly and overall I have to say that this was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time. As with anything else, the more you prepare, the more you will get out of it. Know your gear, and be sure that you are squared-away with safe gun handling. If you don’t have tactical training, then by all means, take the carbine course which is offered as a prerequisite for those of you that don’t have it or aren’t sure of your proficiency level. When you have 12 guys shooting IR laser-equipped SBR’s indoors, in total blackout, with mag dumps and reloads, while moving ….you had better be sharp….but damn is it an adrenaline surge! I never once felt that anyone was unsafe, in our class. The instructors gauged everyone’s skill level and allowed the class to proceed in accordance.


Instruction on the range



Don & Kyle instructing during pistol module




I hope that we can bring this course to Texas, adding instruction on long-distance night time rifle shooting, night hunting techniques using monoculars, dedicated weapon sights and thermal imaging. The course, as it is now, is outstanding.

Enroll now! I think you’ll be glad you did.


ETA: I forgot to mention that I shot the new eye-safe DBal I^2 IR laser system. It worked perfectly and was easy to zero.

[OC455]

Nice review HTR!!! Wish I had the cabbage for one of these courses. It would be nice to bring this into the training fold up here.

[68WJ]

Awesome! Good call on driving rather than flying with your gear. Don't trust anyone in Georgia.

Sounds like great training. Your comments about the disorienting issues for close-up when wearing NV are great points. When in the Corps, I would close up the armory and have my Marines disassemble/reassemble various guns. We would do it in blackout, with a red-lens flashlight, and with NV. Blackout times were always faster than NV times because they were using their sense of touch instead of ignoring it and trying to see the out-of-focus NV image.

[-k-]

That looks like a very unique training opportunity for civilians. What was the mix of students like, MIL/LE/CIV?

Ditto on learning to find your gear by feel, it's strange to be able to see so well but not up close.

[HTR]

This course was the first offered, so we were a little smaller than the usual minimum, but suffice it to say that there were some LEO's, one former SF operator and another former LEO who now sells weapons, optics, etc. Then there was me, and I was actually the only "civilian."

I suspect, going forward, there will be about the same mix for future courses. It really was well done, and any of those folks could benefit.

[BLACK LION]

Good read...

Making me seriously reconsider forking over the dough for a PVS14 right now.
I have a civilian fashioned SOHAH on the way with a fresh surefire IR light mounted and I already have white light with an IR filter mounted on my 6.8 so I am just short and IR laser(gonna cost).
I already have all the necessary NVG mounts and accoutrements but I am just on the fence about actually getting the NOD.
I have done a couple of night time FOF incursions and it seemed as if those with NODS(very few) were limited as to what they could gather through the tube and thier processing time was slower but they still displayed an advantage over those who couldnt figure out how to exploit them.
A force recon buddy of mine once told me that if they put him in a dark room full of trained personnel and gave him NOD'S he would ace the lot without fail.
I guess the point of this rant was there is trained and ubntrained and my teetering on the fence is only based on my own ignorance and lack of knowledge and understanding as to how to use the devices to gain the advantage over those that do not have them.

Thanks for posting this becuase now I can see that I am not quite prepared to own NOD's and that I need to spend more time doing my homework so that when I do actually buy them I can take full advantage of thier max potential.


I thought you were older HTR

[HTR]

Good read...

Making me seriously reconsider forking over the dough for a PVS14 right now.
I have a civilian fashioned SOHAH on the way with a fresh surefire IR light mounted and I already have white light with an IR filter mounted on my 6.8 so I am just short and IR laser(gonna cost).
I already have all the necessary NVG mounts and accoutrements but I am just on the fence about actually getting the NOD.
I have done a couple of night time FOF incursions and it seemed as if those with NODS(very few) were limited as to what they could gather through the tube and thier processing time was slower but they still displayed an advantage over those who couldnt figure out how to exploit them.
A force recon buddy of mine once told me that if they put him in a dark room full of trained personnel and gave him NOD'S he would ace the lot without fail.
I guess the point of this rant was there is trained and ubntrained and my teetering on the fence is only based on my own ignorance and lack of knowledge and understanding as to how to use the devices to gain the advantage over those that do not have them.

Thanks for posting this becuase now I can see that I am not quite prepared to own NOD's and that I need to spend more time doing my homework so that when I do actually buy them I can take full advantage of thier max potential.


I thought you were older HTR

First, I might be a little older than I look...so I take that as a compliment, thanks

I hope that I don't give the impression that this course is only for the experienced NV user. Actually, as long as you are totally squared away with good safe gun handling in a variety of conditions, including darkness, any such shooter can benefit from this course.

For those wanting to buy NOD's, this is the perfect way to emerge knowing enough to make them totally useful. As we evolve the course, it is my hope that we can include the longer range techniques using dedicated scopes and thermal, just like I use when taking my clients on nighttime hog hunts.

[Jamesb74]

HOLY COW!!!!! How did I miss this thread?

Great write up. I am going to be looking for one of these in the future.

Good to see you back around also BL. How have you been doing?

[68WJ]

HOLY COW!!!!! How did I miss this thread?

It was dark. You obviously need better NV training.

[M4Super90]

Very cool AAR. I've done a lot of training, but nothing like that. That looks awesome.