The Austin SWAT sniper team will be hosting a 6 day advanced sniper school on Sunday November 30th through Friday December 5th in Austin Texas from 7am to 5pm. The course will consist of 60 hours of training on various sniper specific topics that will build upon skills and expose students to new areas of operational readiness. This course delves deep into areas such as hostage rescue tactics, shooting through barriers, moving targets, improvised but stable positions and tripod specific deployment considerations. The course will be taught across the city at various locations so expect to travel to training within a 45 minute radius. The course is led by former Austin PD sniper team leader Mike Castillo and Retired SWAT sniper Matt Harmatuk who bring over three decades of combined experience with hundreds of sniper deployment in urban and rural areas in central Texas. The class will also host guest instructors from high level competition shooters to marine corps scout snipers who bring a wealth of knowledge including rare access to live stalking exercises, camouflage and long-range sniper engagements between 500 and 1000 yards. Additionally, students will engage in education to covertly deploy on undercover over watch assignments, hostage rescue and repetitions on hide construction. The course is heavy on student repetition and will test beyond basic sniper skills with a focus on data collection and development of or confirmation, that your sniper program is in line with current national standards. This is a certification course that will have a skills assessment at the end of the week and will test the student mentally and physically. The following are the minimum requirements to be eligible to participate in the course:
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Active member of a US based Police SWAT team
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Certified law enforcement sniper
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Deployed as a sniper on a part time or full time swat team for at least two years
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All requirements will be verified prior to class with the agency
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Austin SWAT basic sniper school preferred but not required
Each student will be expected to download “whatsapp” so that the group is able to communicate and you will be contacted the week prior to the start of the course. Each student needs to have a working knowledge of ballistic software with the weapon system profile pre-set up prior to class. Hornady 4DOF or Geo ballistics is preferred. Each student needs to have dopes confirmed out to at least 500 yards prior to the start of class. See below for the equipment requirements:
Ammunition
600 rounds of match grade DUTY ammunition
25 Barrier rounds
NOTE: No armor piercing or frangible ammunition. No .338 or 50 caliber.
Weapon System
Precision rifle capable of 1 MOA or better accuracy (no exceptions)
Precision optic with a minimum of 10x magnification with associated tools needed to make adjustments
Bipod capable to canting left and right
Adjustable rifle sling with carabineer
Rifle data book
Rear shooting support bag
Bubble level system on the rifle,
Gas Mask
Support Gear
Shooting tripod capable of standing height
Appropriate cleaning equipment
Callout gear (armor, LBV, gloves, or any gear required by your department SOP)
Sniper pack or drag bag
Kestrel (optional)
Individual camouflage (veils, hoods, sheets, covers,ghillie)
Plain clothes for UC day
Binoculars of at least 7X
Shooting mat (optional)
Laser rangefinder
Note taking material, pen, pencil (laptop computer optional for classroom)
Hearing protection
Sunscreen/bugspray
Long sleeve uniform
Boonie hat (Stalking)
Bag of medium sized rubber bands
There is no particular host hotel however the primary training location will be at 4800 Shaw Ln, Austin Tx, 78744 at the APD public safety training center. I suggest pick a hotel that is NOT near downtown or in the Lamar/Rundberg area. The domain or north Austin areas will be a better choice. For question regarding this course, please contact the instructor at michael.castillo2@austintexas.