International Training, Inc. - Where You Can Learn to Shoot and Drive - At the Same Time!

At Laura Burgess Marketing, we don't get out much. Usually you'll find us strapped to our PC's doing all that PR stuff that gets our esteemed clients all the media attention they truly deserve. Well, Tom Harm and Greg Reid of International Training, Inc. in Dilley, Texas told us to get off our butts and come see their digs just south of San Antonio. So, we left the cool autumn of New Hampshire and flew into big country.

International Training has been around awhile. They are not one of these fly-by-night training companies that seem to spring up out of nowhere touting all the latest firearms training methodology and spinning military and cop jargon as fast as a Metal Storm machine gun. ITI is the real deal. They've been training the elite of the elite military units for decades. The staff all come from law enforcement or military backgrounds and training is what they do best.

Let's get to the facilities. ITI is unique in that they not only train in firearms usage but driving on-road and off-road, in water, under duress, under attack, and in real-world-other-country urban scenarios. You can learn to ram your vehicle in order to clear a blockade (rush hour traffic is not considered a blockade), or reverse driving techniques, or evasive maneuvers as well as motorcade and convoy evasive techniques.

They've got over 280 acres with access to many hundreds more where you can train for 1000-yrd sniper shots, or some intimate CQB in their combat town. With five firearms ranges on the facility, you can literally shoot a variety of targets, a variety of distances, and a variety of scenarios.

Ok, that covers driving and firearms, but ITI has more going on. How about blowing things up? ITI has that too. Their explosives area has a large observation bunker for students during explosives training and is made of filled cinder block construction with wing walls and observation ports. At ITI all students leave with the same number of fingers and toes and what they came in with.

Their Team House is new and LBM has to tell you, it's nice! All the comforts of home - a fully applianced kitchen, TV room, two full bathrooms and two bunk rooms providing comfort down home on the range for up to 12 persons.

So, whether you are looking to learn to shoot, master driving in Boston, have some fun with the girls during their popular Women's Only Weekend programs, or increase that skill set before your next secret squirrel mission, this is the place to do it. The weather here is near perfect every day, the staff incredibly knowledgeable, and the facility is first class with eight classrooms and more planned. This would be a great place to host corporate events from security training, media events, or leadership building.

BLACKHAWK LE/Mil Writer Seminar

The BLACKHAWK! LE/Mil Writer Seminar was held October 26 - 30, 2009 at Command Center in Norfolk, Virginia. This blog is by Eric Burgess, Owner/Partner of Laura Burgess Marketing.

Having assisted in the BLACKHAWK! LE/MIL writer seminar, I can certainly attest to the value and interest of the event. Sixteen industry writers were treated to an outstandingly organized seminar consisting of info laden presentations and hands on shooting evaluations of BLACKHAWK! products. Attendees enjoyed SERPA holster familiarization at the range with Todd Jarrett. They were shown how the SERPA system is designed to work seamlessly with the mechanics of the draw, as universally taught by trainers. The position of your finger on the release occurs naturally, ending with the index finger along the side of the frame, as the draw is completed. Todd led the participants through a series of drills designed to showcase how natural drawing from the SERPA is as well as the outstanding retention capabilities of the SERPA line of holsters. The next day, writers were treated to range time with the Knoxx Stocks line of recoil reduction rifle and shotgun stocks. The reduction (up to 80%) of felt recoil that these stocks afford is really apparent when mounted to 12 GA slug guns or .300WIN rifles! The final day's shooting event was a choice of paintball or skeet. The clays included skeet and wobble trap, but the paintball participants took no prisoners. All sported little round bruises under their now multi-colored gear, but some caught a round to exposed parts of the body and added blood for realism. Very Halloweenish! A great time was had by all. We look forward to the Outdoor writer seminar in April 2010.