SOF GOES 10-8

“10-8 – In Service, Subject To Call”

In police terms, 10-8 is code for “in service,” or going on duty. However, the term 10-8 has taken on a new meaning with regard to training excellence via 10-8 Consulting. This Arizona limited liability company was founded and is instructor-staffed entirely by current and retired full-time law enforcement officers, some of whom are also current or former Gunsite Academy firearms instructors. Their stated goal is to provide quality training on tactics,  techniques, and procedures for law enforcement and military personnel and defense-minded citizens. While 10-

8 Consulting has only been in existence for a few years, they are quickly making a name for themselves as leaders in the firearms instruction arena.

Not long ago SOF editor/publisher Robert K. Brown and I participated in a three-day Intermediate Carbine and Advanced M-4/M-16/AR-15 Operator Diagnostic class taught by 10-8 Consulting at Prado Olympic Shooting Center in Chino, CA. The two-day intermediate carbine instruction was taught by Tim Lau and Ben Lenett, with Dean Caputo teaching the one-day diagnostic and maintenance class on the third day. Dean is one of literally only five Colt armorer instructors in the country, as well as a Gunsite range master, thus uniquely qualified to teach this subject.

Although not intended as such, the class participants ended up being almost a “who’s who” of the firearms industry, with students representing Smith & Wesson, First Choice Armor, S.O. Tech, Tango Down, Surefire, Woolrich Elite/Backyard Outfitters, Eagle Industries, and Salute Products. Other students included law enforcement officers, tactically minded civilians, a Soldier training for deployment to the “sand box” on his own dime and time, and of course Soldier of Fortune magazine.

The 10-8 Intermediate Carbine class is a fast paced and physically challenging course with students firing on average over 1,000 rounds of carbine ammo and 200 rounds of handgun ammo. No whiners need apply. However, Tim and Ben are not rigid task masters who allow the schedule to dictate the flow of the class. Instead they expertly base the pace of the class on the collective abilities of their students. Fortunately, this class was comprised of students with a strong desire to properly apply the techniques taught and the class moved along well. Occasionally a class will get a student who is “that guy,” the individual who says he “has been there and done that,” uses a “frankengun” with ammunition of his own creation, and wears the latest gear seen on the cover of “Gear Queer” magazine. “That guy” can be devastating to the pace of a two-day class when his firearm(s), ammo, and equipment fail, slowing the whole class down.

The 10-8 Intermediate Carbine Course is designed for the student that already has a strong understanding of the fundamentals of operating the carbine. The Advance Operator’s Diagnostic and Maintenance instruction was worth the price of admission alone of this training. This is a crucial and often ignored area of instruction, which should be required for all leaders and firearms instructors of Marines and Soldiers, as well as law enforcement supervisors and firearm instructors in organizations that issue patrol carbines.

LTC Brown utilized one of the new S&W M&P 15Ts with an Aimpoint M3 in a LaRue Tactical mount with great skill. The M&P 15T fired nearly 1,000 rounds of Black Hills 55gr ammunition without a mal function and the  Aimpoint greatly assisted his aging eyes in quickly and accurately engaging the targets. I used one of Noveske Rifleworks’ Infidel M4 Carbines with their KX3 flash suppressor and the excellent Schmidt & Binder 1.1-4X Short Dot optic shooting the same Black Hills ammo, as well as Black Hills MK255 62gr Reduced Ricochet Limited Penetration (RRLP) round, with excellent accuracy. While still a young company, Noveske Rifleworks has already earned a strong reputation with “operators” for superb quality in the manufacturing of the carbines and barrels. They select only the best receivers and parts from the same company that manufactures for Colt, and meticulously assemble the components and install their own proprietary barrels.

A short, succinct, and humorous graduation ceremony wrapped up the three physically challenging and intellectually stimulating days of training.

While LTC Brown is now in his middle 70s, he demonstrated great endurance by keeping up with men half his age and was recognized by the instructors for his ability to still learn new tricks as an old dog. If you, your agency, or unit is looking for rock solid, high quality, no-nonsense training on how to fight with a firearm, then I highly recommend you consider 10-8 Consulting.

This article is dedicated to LCpl Budd Cote, USMC, MWSS-373 Incident Response Team Security Element, who bravely and selflessly gave his life during combat operations on 11 Dec 2006 in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Rest in Peace, brother.