Recently, I had a good sized group for Fieldcraft in NC, and NC Scout had a very large group for Scout and Recce. Those have been exception this year, because everyone seems to think that everything has magically gotten better. That’s just not true, as lawlessness is on the rise, and protest season is upon us again. We’re just as reliant on the free flow of electrons as we were and now, our enemies are even more angry.
I had a good group of guys this weekend for Combatives training. We did 2 four segments on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Saturday, we started with unarmed self-defense and then progressed to ground fighting. We all used muscle groups that protested afterwards (LOL). On Sunday, we began with stick defense and ended with knife defense. A well-rounded program.
On a side note, we used ASP Baton exclusively during the class. They make some fantastic concealable batons with push-button closures….check the below link for 20% off..
The key to developing skill in combatives is repetitions. That’s why I wanted to write this article and make an announcement. I want you to get serious about training, so I’m getting serious about helping you. If you take any of the 4-hour combative segments once as a paid session, you can return to the same session anytime, for free, for refresher training. If you take the full Combatives weekend (and there is one coming up in May) you can take all the other sessions free anytime.
Now, I want to address an issue that keeps coming up. NC Scout, Mech Medic, K, all the other trainers, and I pour our entire being into the classes we run. Every day though, we hear people say, “But I can’t travel the 10 hours to class….you should travel to me”. There are very few of us, and a lot of you. We try to schedule classes all over, but maybe you should meet us halfway. Famously, last year, NC Scout traveled 36 hours to Montana, and I traveled 28. We honestly had people say, “Yeah, but it’s 6 hours from MY HOUSE, so I won’t go”. Invest in yourself and come to a class.
It’s not all about spending time with US at class, the biggest value is meeting like-minded folks and breaking bread with them, sitting around a fire together, and building relationships.
The other thing we here is “Since we’re too lazy to come to class, why don’t you guys just record your classes and put them on YouTube?” Seriously? Then why would anyone come to class? We do this for a living. You wouldn’t ask you mechanic to fix your car for free.
There is actually a Bible verse about this (you knew I’d have one, didn’t you?)
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the Word should share all good things with their instructor.
Galatians 6:6
I know, it says instruction in The Word. If you ever been to one of our classes, you’ll know you will get The Word during class.
It’s easy to look at the world and get discouraged. Instead, come and train and increase your readiness. I know, the economy sucks, but coming to class is an investment, not just money spent. Take a class with any of us and be better prepared for the tough times ahead. You’ll also get a chance to get out in the field with your gear.
One of the reasons a lot of guys don’t come out is because they’re worried they’re not in shape enough. I wasn’t. The first step is doing it anyway. When the lights go out, you won’t get another 3 months to train up. Get started now.
I’ve got Fieldcraft here at Ponderosa April 25-27 and Combatives Weekend May 2-4. After that, we have our annual Spring Training Week. NC Scout will be out in Montana with RTO, SIGINT, and Night Fighting, all May 16-23. I’ll be running Community Security Operations May 23-35. In between, Texas Border Rescue will do a one-day session on their use of Community Security Operations during the border crisis (May 22).
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Tactical Wisdom 
Mr. Dolio, I greatly appreciate this post, and indeed, all the work you share and offer. But I reached out to NC Scout last month or in Feb, about a TECC class and he declined to respond to my request to speak in person on the phone. I told him I had logistic questions to ask that I didn’t want to type out as it was complicated, and he replied that he charged $100/hour consultation fee. And some other stuff, which I didn’t understand, didn’t make sense. I just wanted to speak with him about the class for 5 or less minutes. As his website is decidedly not forthcoming about those things. I couldn’t find one being offered here that anyone will respond to me and still can’t. I have called, emailed and hunted for two years now. I guess the Lord just doesn’t want me to take the class. It’s the only answer that makes any sense. I have had every certification a RN can possibly have (long expired now of course) and several others as well such as WEC. I’m not sure, maybe it’s my approach. I don’t know. As I recollect, I had the same problem trying to get into the climbing community out in Colorado back in the 90’s. And how despite my interest and questions, on other forums I am largely ignored if I talk about weapons, training, from a woman’s perspective. I gave up with that as well. I know when I am unwanted in a space. That’s okay. I am an odd (not your standard version of the female person) or tomboyish woman, now old woman. Maybe that is just the way it’s supposed to be. Anytime I have forced it or persisted, it never went well. But I will never sign up or go to one of the classes because of NC Scout’s response and the general response from men. I just do my own thing, the best I can. I accept it as my “lot in life” so to speak. A person can only take so much rejection before they remove themselves from the environment. It’s hard to learn and participate when you are treated like an oddity or infiltrator. None of this was presented to make you feel something like pity or whatever. Just a straightforward response to your post. A different perspective. Respectfully,Pam Baker
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Honestly, it’s not his class. It’s on his website, but any question he would have to take from you, then email a third party, get a response, and then email you. I actually unerstand his position here. Mech Medic teaches the class. I realize you only got the interaction from him, but we get dozens of emails a day with such requests and if we entertained them all, we’d never get to put out content.
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In 2023-24 I made three separate 14 hour-each-way trips to the G Camp for classes in the span of less than a year. I don’t have money falling out of my butt so I made choices for 6 months prior to each trip; DO I NEED THIS OR JUST WANT THIS?, referring to things on various shelves in Consumerland. If I didn’t need it then back on the shelf it went. My state has nickel bottle return, so all that money went into an envelope. Every paycheck deposited had at least a $10 or a $20 dollar bill added to the envelope. Two weeks back I ordered $109 worth of vitamins and $38 was refunded to me for the out of stock items. That money is going in an envelope for the next class. My work pants started wearing in some spots so instead of buying new ones I placed iron-on patches over the worn areas and then sewed them in place when they started peeling back after a couple of washings. The wife made fun of me but since I also fix her shit when seams blow out and buttons drop off she didn’t push it. The point is I did what I had to do to save for something tangible like training. If you believe its important you’ll either figure out how to attend or you won’t. Classes were well worth the sacrifice for the camaraderie alone.
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OUTSTANDING!! This is the way.
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