Apache Solutions Advancing EDC AAR

Advancing Every Day Carry Course 
11/14-15 2020.
Location Yadkinville NC Apache Range.
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Bias:
In the interest of full transparency and clarity I am personal friends with Tim and the whole rest of the crew at Apache. They have been on my podcast. Some of them have taken my training.  We have attended courses together.  We have even stayed in each other’s homes. I mention all that only to point out the reality of bias when it comes to this AAR. Considering the above please understand how seriously I take firearms training especially the defensive aspects. 

If I thought poorly of this experience I would surely mention it. I paid for my seat in class and was there in large part because Tim was actively seeking feedback. I was treated just as any other student would have been and he was no easier on me than he was any student.

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​Priority # 1 Safety:
It was obvious that there is a developed plan for emergency issues at the range. Vehicles were staged for evacuation, emergency responsibilities were assigned, there was a discussion of 911 communication, and finally there was high quality med gear on site.  Most importantly nothing in the 2 days of training was unnecessarily risky or irresponsible. 

• Gear:
• Glock 34 Gen 5 
• Customized by Green Mountain Defense and Limitless Lazer Works LLC
• PHLSTER floodlight 
• X300
• SRO
• My reloads 
• Dark Angle Medical Med Kit (ankle)
• All the rest of my actual EDC (no additions or subtractions from daily carry items)

​Now to the content:
Tim teaches one thing. He focuses on the use of a handgun to triumph in deadly conflict. The entire structure of his priority is based around fighting with a concealed handgun. There is an obvious progression in his content. His goal is to make average citizens professional quality users with the tools they choose to carry.

Tim borrows heavily from the Handgun Combatives methodology. In fact it goes beyond borrowing. Tim is one of 20 trainers from around the country who is certified by Dave Spaulding to teach the Handgun Combatives curriculum.

This means that if you are a Handgun Combatives alum (or a multi time alum like myself) some of the content will be familiar. That said the content is not an exact copy. In fact Tim does offer the HC curriculum. Advancing EDC is his own curriculum with influences sprinkled in from across the training community.
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There is a heavy focus on movement in this course. I don’t want to give away too much content but suffice to say you won’t be sitting static at the 3 yard line all weekend. Topics covered include the following.

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• Follow Through
• Reset In Recovery 
• Arc Of Ready 
• Close quarters pistol shooting 
• Index positions for movement 
• Gun handling in a crowd. 
• Unconventional Shooting Positions 
• Draw Stroke 
• Discretionary Targets
• Cover VS Concealment 
• Working around cover

The implementation of the above flowed in a way that made sense. Each topic seemed to build on the previous. The curriculum was well thought out and well delivered.

Something of note is the quality of Tim’s AI Frank Horvath and the other instructors that train under him at Apache. Tim seems to be running a halfway house for badass shooters and great men in general. Frank Horvath, Zach Cox, Landon Nelson, and Joel Hardison are quality shooters and teachers in their own right. Seeing how Tim has been able to influence their progression is a testament to his skill as a trainer and a leader.

If you can’t make it to Yadkinville NC to pay $375 to take this course don’t worry. You’ll be able to take it for $600 in a year or two at a range near you. You might as well jump in now before he gets more famous than he already is.
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The measure of quality training in my book is simple. Would I spend the same money to send a friend or family member to the same class? The answer is yes because I plan to do just that.
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Respectfully, 
Kent Hower 
Owner / Chief Instructor 
Green Mountain Defense.