TRAINING
for LE & DEFENSIVE-MINDED CITIZENS
Though not an all-inclusive list, below are the most popular courses offered by Cougar Mountain Solutions.
If you don't see what you're looking for, just ask. It is likely that we already have it or can tailor a solution to fit your specific goals.
Low Light Application (Pistol, Shotgun, or Carbine)
(Each platform is an 8-hour block)
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These classes grew out of instructional blocks from a regional Low Light Gunfighting series I have been teaching over the last few years. Starting with safety, human factors, and dry manipulations, the material progresses to live-fire with the weapon of choice utilizing both hand-held and weapon-mounted lights. Non-live fire application is included within the confines of the facility. A judgmental shooting exercise concludes the class.
The student will learn to employ their firearm in reduced lighting conditions in ways that are appropriate to their role (citizen, L/E, or Mil), within the limits of the system (firearm, light, optic) they are using. With the course's emphasis on target discrimination, threat identification, and shot placement, the student will be better prepared for the contemporary low-light environment.
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Specific teaching points include:
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Legal issues
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Human factors
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Weapon manipulation
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Handheld light usage
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Weapon mounted light usage
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Target identification and threat discrimination
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Addressing oppositional lighting
*This is a white light-centric class; it does not address night vision.
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^Hosts can pair these with the Concealed Carry Skills classes as well as Re-Active or Pro-Active shotgun.
Low Light Instructor
(27 hours over three evenings)
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This course addresses low-light issues for law enforcement & governmental agencies that work in this environment and how agency instructors can train for them. Starting with human factors and legal considerations, the first evening concludes with judgmental drills and practical application then moves on to using handheld and weapon-mounted lights.
Evening #2 begins with a practical application exercise before shifting to patrol rifles in the low-light environment. The class will emphasize the importance of target discrimination vs. target illumination. Also, the student will understand how ambient and direct lighting can hinder an officer's ability to see in low-light settings. After completing the course, the student will be able to demonstrate and employ hand-held and weapon-mounted light skills as well as be able to present this material to patrol officers.​
Pistol Mounted Optics
(8 hours)
Pistol Mounted Optics (PMO) aren't coming, they are HERE and have quickly gained popularity. Making the switch from iron sights to PMOs doesn't have to be a mystery and this course covers successfully making that transition. After covering what does and doesn’t change along with some optic-centric issues in the classroom, we will be on the range. Topics include:
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Acquiring the dot from the ready and the holster
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Installing & maintaining the optic
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Broken & blocked optics
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Shooting both eyes open
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Shifting one’s visual attention, and
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Zeroing the pistol.
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As in the norm for a Cougar Mountain Solutions (CMS) course, judgment & decision making will be addressed as well.
Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor Course
(3-day course)
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This course focuses on how to teach the optic for reactive and proactive use, while taking legal and human factors into consideration, while addressing what does and doesn't change with the PMO. Students will develop a knowledge-based foundation for addressing equipment, training, program and policy development concerns. Specific teaching points include:
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Equipment and maintenance
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Human factors
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Safety
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Presentation with the optic
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Changing visual attention and focus
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Blocked and broken optics
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Non-traditional positions
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Disabled shooting
Students will develop a knowledge-based foundation for addressing equipment, training, program, and policy development concerns. They will be able to implement an agency's pistol mounted optics transition program.
Reactive Shotgun
(8 hours)
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Working the defensive shotgun when the problem has come to you! This course is based on fundamental shotgun skills and employing it within the confines of home and business defense encounters. Specific teaching points include:
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Nomenclature and modifications
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Ammunition performance selection
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Manipulating your ammunition and the shotgun's controls
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Engaging both single and multiple threats
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Movement to and using cover within a structure within the realistic distances for home and business owners
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When completed, students will have been given the skills to employ their shotgun defensively within a business or residential environment.
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^This course is commonly paired with Low Light Application for a second day.
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Concealed Carry Skills
(4, 8, or 16-hours)
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*NOT a permit class
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Born out of off-duty carry training for correctional deputies and regional concealed carry-centric skills classes. This is not a Concealed Carry / License to Carry permit class; instead, it focuses on skills such as re-acting to developing threats. This class is a mixture of handgun presentation skills, accuracy, movement, disengagement, and single & multi-threat engagement skills, depending on the host and students' goals. It also includes judgmental shooting exercises.
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This course can also be geared towards Non-Traditonal and Off-Body Carry methods. This version, driven by my experience and work with Eve Kulcsar, addresses a wide variety of carry methods on and off of your body. We will discuss pros and cons from an experience-based perspective. Once we get onto the range, work with the various set-ups will start out dry and progress to live fire.
​The students will have been shown and practiced various relevant concealed carry skills that work within the legal guidelines for their role and location.
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The host chooses blocks and then combined in a full day format
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Practical Application - Handguns (both Dots & Irons)
(8 hours)
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This new class, introduced for 2026, will replace my Pistol-Mounted Optics Practical Applications course.
Practical Applications Handgun is focused on dealing with problems involving multiple targets/threats, along with movement. When the range supports moving targets, we will utilize them as well. After confirming your zero, regardless of the sighting system, we will get into the rest of the material - moving out of and into a variety of positions and situations. No-Shoots behind and in front of other targets will be layered in as the day progresses. As mentioned, your chosen sighting system does not matter.
The POI will change based on the students' goals and the facility.
This class is not competition-centric, but there are elements from that world. You need not be an Olympic-caliber athlete or a Master class; you do need to be able to move up to ten yards in any direction while maintaining control of your muzzle and complying with Rule #3.
The "B" version of this includes Strong- and Weak-hand only work.
This class can also be run as a low-light focused course.
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Carbine Applications - Positions & Slings
(8-16 hours)
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** Still in development **
With the increasing popularity of patrol rifles (carbines) and feedback from the GWOT, there has been significant emphasis on using the carbine at common pistol engagement distances. There is nothing wrong with that. However, both knowledge of and those skills were largely lost.
A close friend & peer prompted me to begin developing this offering based on my pre-9/11 experience with a patrol rifle, as well as my experience as an infantryman, including squad-designated marksman work.
Starting with solidifying one's zero, regardless of the sighting system, we will focus on a variety of positions, taking advantage of barricades and cover, while using adjustable slings to improve performance. Emphasis will be on working in the 50-200 yard range.
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