Glocks are the reactionary weapon for many officers, and many civilians immediately think of a Glock when they hear “police firearms.” In the recent ATCC course, VirTra’s customers from all over the country learned how to prepare their Glock for use in a VirTra simulator. When a customer purchases a VirTra training system, they are equipped with drop-in bolt replacement recoil kits and magazines consisting of CO2 that can be inserted into their own personal firearm.
Now these law enforcement and military trainers are quite familiar with the way their firearms work, but how about when it comes to setting their own weapon up to be used in a simulator? It’s a simple but essential skill to make sure you get the most out of your training. After all, what’s the point of using a water gun-style weapon that has no similarity to what’s used in the real world?
ATCC, Advanced Trainer Certification Course, is the advanced course for military and law enforcement instructors on how to use their simulators to their fullest. The course provides CE credits to those that qualify by the POST states that recognize the IADLEST Nationally Certified Programs Customers who have recently purchased a simulator attend from all over the world to learn everything from training concepts to…You guessed it, how to assemble, de-assemble, maintain and troubleshoot their weapon kits.
Wendy Laake of Dallas PD came all the way to Tempe, Arizona to get some extra knowledge on her V-300, and today she practiced setting weapons up with recoil kits. “Once you get used to it, it becomes easier,” said Laake as she and a room full of others took turns practicing with the Glock and converted it from a live ammo weapon to the simulation ready weapon in under two minutes.
Laake and the other law enforcement and military personnel attending ATCC have a similar goal in mind – to take these tips and techniques back home to their departments. Nathan Scharr, VirTra’s System Installation Coordinator, led Tuesday’s course where he taught guests how to assemble, service and de-assemble the Glock, M4 and other various weapons.
Scharr noticed through the years that the Glock is the most difficult weapon to assemble and de-assemble, mostly because shooters’ hands get tired while holding the weapon open. “I like to show tricks I learned,” said Scharr, who gave today’s guests tips on how to hold the Glock in a way that is easier on the hands.
VirTra is ready to do it all over again this November with another full class and are about to release the 2020 schedule. For more information on ATCC and other training courses, visit www.virtra.com/virtra-training-courses.