Strategic Community Defense is a two day tactical training course that forces our students to work their way through problems under the worst conditions imaginable in modern America. You will plan, debate, and execute missions as a team, and you will defend your decisions under fire. Where as most courses available today preach tactical or marksmanship competence, we believe that strategic level thought is just as critical to mission success, and so we delineate between the two and emphasize the latter.
The scenario for this course is based around the book One Second After by William R. Forstchen, the fictitious tale of an HEMP attack on modern America that shorts all the electrical devices in the continental United States, plunging the country back into the 1800's. The probability of the scenario is a matter for debate, but we like to use it to force our students to work through tactical problem sets, ethical dilemmas, and strategic debates with limited resources and real world consequences.
You'll be forced to grapple with and argue for decisions that normal people in normal times would never have to consider. You may even learn something new about yourself, and challenge your own beliefs as you confront these problems.
There's a fair bit of force on force shooting - but the real emphasis is on mission planning, problem solving, and decision making.
Students can expect constant movement, constant instruction, and a steep learning curve. There will be a mix of day and night missions.
Prerequisites: No school prerequisites, however a working knowledge of basic rifle marksmanship, including weapon function and cleaning is expected. If you have no prior experience please let an instructor know at the start of Day 1.
Meet up instructions and further details will be emailed to you a week before class starts.
Course registration will also CLOSE one week before class starts to avoid the logistical problems that come with last minute enrollments. Refunds are offered prior to that one week deadline, but not after.
All meals as well as fresh water are provided through the course. A stove heated group tent is provided November through March. We supply all blank ammunition.
Mandatory packing list:
April through October: some sort of shelter (tent, rooftop tent, covered hammock)
Sleeping bag rated down to at least 40 degrees
Ground pad, foam or inflatable
Some method of carrying (Camelback, Nalgene, etc.) at least 2 liters of water over terrain
Metal canteen cup for coffee
Metal bowl or mess kit for dinner - if you don't bring one you have to eat out of your hands
Spoon or spork
Thick leather gloves
Headlamp with batteries in it
Personal and prescribed medications, if applicable
Light jacket for down time in spring/summer/fall, and for movements in winter
Heavy coat, hat, and gloves for classes in winter
Waterproof, insulated winter boots for winter classes; hiking, running, or tactical shoes/boots for classes in all other seasons
Full length hiking pants, military surplus pants, or jeans; NO SWEAT PANTS, NO SHORTS ON MISSION
Rain jacket, and rain pants as well if you wish
Wool hiking socks x2
T shirt x 2
Optional spare hot weather clothes for night time during summer; t shirt and shorts to sit around the fire after you've been sweating in your tactical clothes all day, just for comfort
Sunglasses
Ear protection (electronic preferred)
Notepad and pen, in water proof bag
Camp chair to sit in for classes, and around the fire
Military style or surplus chest rig, web gear, or plate carrier
Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) for trauma practice lanes
M4/AR15 30 round magazines x 5
Rifle or carbine chambered in 5.56 ONLY - as we will be only issuing blank rounds in that caliber
White light attached to weapon system for night operations
Civilian customers please sign up through this website. Military, law enforcement, and contractor organizations please email us at contact@futureconflicts.com to set up a course for your personnel.
If you're taking Community Defense in November through March, a large stove heated group tent will be provided.
If you'd like to bring NODs, thermals, drones, or any other technological device feel free, but if all you have is an AR15 with iron sights and a surplus chest rig that's fine too. A good mix of gear in the group adds to the reality of the scenarios.
We'll be issuing blank firing adapters (BFAs) for our force on force missions. These are designed to work with the A2 flash hider. Please ensure your weapon is compatible, or feel free to bring your own BFA like the SureFire one. We have extra A2 flash hiders if you need them.
For families that would like to enroll, your children must be at least 14 years old to take this course.
Course held in West Virginia.
