The training facility formerly known as “Blackwater”

USTC Instructor Kyle Defoors and I working a cover/movement drill

If you would’ve asked me a couple years ago if I’d be teaching in Moyock, NC anytime soon, I probably would’ve raised an eyebrow and offered a few reasons why it wouldn’t be likely. I would also probably have mentioned that there was time when that wasn’t the case. Most people don’t recall the early days of Blackwater, originally “Blackwater Lodge”. I attended a couple courses back in those early days, when BW was as much a facility that rented ranges to established instructors, agencies and military units as it was a training company of its own….. and long before it was a “Private Military Company” training and providing contractors overseas under Department of State contracts. Somewhere along the way, BW became a huge complex with dozens of ranges, a complete driving school and track, its own airport, a small hotel, a large cafeteria and armed gaurds at the gate. The days of driving up to the bunkhouse with a few friends for an advanced sniper course run on the 1200 yard range by outside instructors were decidedly over and the days of closed proprietary courses and huge government contracts (ours and otherwise) seemed here to stay for several years. During my Valhalla days, I was even contacted by a police agency whos home ranges had become the ranges at BW… they wanted to send a student or two out to Colorado because they couldn’t bring outside instructors to their own ranges under the contract they had!

U.S. Training Center

Well, after several significant internal changes, BWTC is now U.S. Training Center and a lot of great things are underway! I’ve been at the facility three times now in the last 6 months and it is truly world class. I’ve stayed at their hotel, The Black Bear Inn, ate in their 300+ person cafeteria and, most importantly, used a number of their ranges and training areas. This week I’m conducting some military training down there as an outside instructor. The good ‘ol days have returned and I’m glad to be able to use such a great facility to provide training. The facility is as busy as ever with many ranges being used for a variety of courses and students from around the world at the cafeteria and inn.

In addition to offering the opportunity for outside instructors to utilize the facility, USTC is also offering many courses to civilians and local law enforcement, including those on their incredible track and driving facility. They are even offering teens a safety course that has been getting incredible reviews and become very poopular. USTC is even creating a series of training DVDs, which bring the techniques and methods taught at the facility by their cadre to those who can’t make it to Moyock.

Director of Training, Jim Sierawski, and I had a chance to visit last month and discuss the changes at and future of U.S. Training Center. He is really excited about the opportunity to let thousands of people a year experience what is easily the largest and probably the most comprehensive private sector training facility ever created. Sierawski, who’s been at the facility since the very beginning, also oversees the training conducted at the company’s smaller facilities in Illinois and California.

If you get the chance, get to the U.S. Training Center…. even better if it is for a Combat Focus Shooting Course some time, be sure to keep an eye on the IC.E. Training Schedule for an offering in the near future!

-RJP