It has been a couple of weeks since getting back from Wyoming and I promised JohnnyMac that I would do a review.
ICET is Intermediate Carbine Elements Theory. This was originally called Heavy Carbine a developed for the .308 Carbine. It has morphed a bit with about 1/2 of the class running Heavies and the remainder running 5.56. The class is designed for addressing targets between 5 and 500 yards. It is all about getting good hits at various unknown distance as quickly as possible. Although marksmanship is a key element of the course it is not about sitting down taking all the time you want and trying to punch a bullet through the same hole over and over again. It is about getting good hits that are effective as quickly as possible on targets at various ranges. Very little of this course took place on a square range. Much of it involved running up and down ridges, identifying targets and addressing them appropriately.
We started with zeroing, and understanding the optic that you are using. Some are moa, moa/mil, or mil/mil. These all require different math that you need to understand when getting good hits at a distance. We had some fun with the dollar shoot (closest to Washington's nose). We also also made sure irons were zeroed, and proper application of back up sights. Some used red dots as secondary optics some had 45deg irons etc. Most of the day was working on marksmanship and making sure that everyones equipment was set up properly and changing/ adjusting where necessary.
On the second day we worked on developing dope for round we were shooting and applying this to targets at various ranges. We worked in pairs quite a bit with spotter/shooter pairs. As pairs we worked on target ID, ranging and working as a team to get good hits as fast a possible. Some shooting positions had steel at various ranges from 2-500yds while others would have targets as close as 25, 100 yds and another at 300.
The final day was putting this all together in the form of a o-course type of event. In pairs we were driven out by ATV and dropped off. From there we ran a course that consisted of 12 different shooting positions that each had between 3 and 6 targets placed at unknown distances, spread across the different ridge lines and ravines of the Star River Valley. At each station each person had to put 2 rounds on each steel. One stage even including a plate rack that required handgun before transition out to longer range targets.
Costa's Premeir Wyoming training is a great opportunity if you can get the opportunity. In general it is a great group of guys in a small class(16) that get to train in an open environment that isnt available in many areas. I find that in these courses Chris Costa takes on much more of the role of "coach" than "teacher". Dont get me wrong I learned a metric ton, but some of the biggest things I learned were incremental .....if that make sense I am not sure. It was also great to spend 4 days with the same group, not just at the class but also at the lodge, etc. It really helps to bring together a team atmosphere where everyone is learning from each other...pushing each other.
I hope some of you find this helpful. Please feel free to send me a message if there is something more specific I can answer for you. BTW some of the other classes I have taken (not just Costa, though I have enjoyed those more than many others) besides the std Handgun and Carbine 1&2 are Restricted Visibility (low/no light), Vehicle, Team Building, Performance Pistol Carbine. I have been able to take something from each and every class I have had the pleasure of taking part in.
