Training classes....Let's Get It!!!
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a HET 1 course taught by Chris Costa. This three day course is one that will have you finding your limits, and finding areas to analyze yourself as well. Self analyzing your capability within a structured class can be very beneficial.
We all know who Chris Costa is right? He’s the same guy who was a lead instructor along with Travis Haley on the Magpul instructional DVD's. Other than the DVD's, I did not know where Chris Costa’s fame came from. As for me, it started in Afghanistan in 2011 looking for some new movies from the soldiers. Yes, we all had movies on a hard drive, but this one Soldier said to me with all smiles, "Sergeant I got a video I know you will like..." After downloading the Magpul video on my hard drive I went to my tent and was in amazement with how the instructions flowed versus “do it like this.” From that point on, I was determined to get into one of these courses.
Now let's fast forward to April 3, 2015 for the first day of the HET 1 course held in Tuscaloosa, AL. After pulling into the range and sitting in my vehicle for a bit, a black Dodge Charger with tinted windows pulls up, and out of the passenger side jumps the beard himself, Chris Costa. At this point, everyone sitting in their cars were now gathering paperwork and gear, and heading under the overhang where the bleachers were located. As I finished getting my gear together, I turned around and there was Chris Costa standing in my presence with an extended hand, and a humble greeting of “Thank you for coming to the course and where are you coming from?” My reply was “Three hours away in Georgia,” and then Mr. Costa gracefully made his way to the to the next group of guys. After all the paperwork was collected, there was a round robin of who you are and what you are seeking from this course. After the range brief it was time to start throwing lead down range under Chris Costa’s instruction.
From the first moment of instruction, he gives you a mindset class, and you see the light bulbs coming on. Chris is a funny guy and his joking is in good taste, keeping the morale high within the class. I would have been more prepared with better comebacks if my buddy, who previously went through this course, had told me about Chris’ humor. Yes, Chris and I were joking on each other, but he took the belt this time. After all the drills and the conclusion of the first day, I was mentally drained to the point where I knew this course was on point.
The start of day two was just as pleasant as the previous day. The atmosphere was a little more at ease and more students started to interact with each other. The drills started and I took notice of how Chris was paying attention to me, so I was guessing he was going to challenge me to a shoot off. That was not the case, but he was taking notice of me doing something wrong. He walked over to me and asked me to shoot his gun, and the wow factor that went through my trigger finger to my brain was “this is the Bugatti of handguns.” Not really, but his Glock was tuned in and shot very well. He discussed with me something not going right within my handgun. Since I had a secondary firearm, the M&P VTAC was up to bat, and now Sally (M&P 9mm) has to go to the hospital for repairs, leaving the remainder of the course to be shot with the VTAC. Like on day one, the training atmosphere was great, and I found myself really down on the joke point scale, with Chris up by two. He really does have a great sense of humor.
Day three started out with the class ensuring everyone was present, and I noticed how a few students appeared to be drained, including myself. The class started off with a few drills that took place from various distances. We went on to command call drills where Chris would call out a number, and that was the target you needed to shoot in your lane. Then a few jokes were thrown out followed by more drills. Lunch was the time where some grabbed a bite to eat and others took a nap, but my time was used to think about future moves and speak with Chris more. After lunch we went on to buddy team fire where you shoot, move, and communicate while applying everything you learned from the previous two days. Our class ran through three different courses and each one had you thinking in the process. Once again there were more jokes and trivia thrown out, but I could never come back quick enough on Chris. I vow to win the next session of joking when I go to his HET 2 course.
Overall, the HET 1 course, sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Police Department and taught by Chris Costa, was a class that had students leaving with new tools in their kit bags. Regardless of how many years you have been shooting, or how good you think you are, there was something that could have been reflected on that may have raised a flag within. The impact of the course is not Drill Sergeant driven, but more of a gentlemen's course that targets your weakness in relation to shooting. If you get the opportunity to train, TAKE IT, but do your research on the instructor and check their credentials. Chris Costa is a highly recommended instructor that is known nationally and has credentials to validate.
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