Going Full-Time
The training programs currently taught by SPS/HGTG were originally conceived and written with a plan of offering professional and affordable training to LEO’s. This concept became reality and for the last 18 years, we have trained snipers, operators and instructors across the U.S. and Canada.
While the training classes began as extensions of my employing agency and team, demand made it necessary to build a dedicated training base of operations. As such in 2005, High Ground Training Group was formed as a subsidiary of SPS and became the training wing of our company. The group has subsequently matured and grown in recognition and we have trained hundreds of snipers since that time. During all of these years, we have maintained full-time positions in our respective law enforcement agencies. With that said, a significant change is imminent. After a career spanning over 29 years, I am retiring from my agency in December of 2018. At that time, SPS/HGTG will begin operations as a full-time company.
Moving Onward and Outward
The transition to operating on a full-time basis has already begun and I have been actively working to expand the reach of SPS by becoming more mobile in order to bring our training directly to other regions of Tennessee as well as the rest of the country. Plans are currently in the scheduling phase for upcoming courses in North and South Carolina. In addition, we already have a sniper class scheduled to take place in Juneau, Alaska in April 2019. We are presently seeking hosting agencies to bring our courses nationwide.
VTS Tullahoma and Tennessee Army National Guard
Since 2010, we have taught our Level I, II and IV sniper courses at the Tennessee Army National Guard Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma, TN and consider our company fortunate to be a regular and preferred training provider at the site. During our relationship with VTS throughout the years, we have also been uniquely positioned to witness the growth of the VTS. While we hope to continue to train at VTS well into the foreseeable future, it has become clear to us that the VTS Tullahoma is busier than ever and it has become more difficult for them to provide us the facilities on an as-needed basis. Due to that fact, you should expect that fewer classes may be being held at VTS, especially courses such as Level I Sniper since that particular program can be satisfactorily accomplished without the need for extensive range facilities. For that reason, we have a hosting agency packet available which outlines the necessary facility requirements for each of our classes and greatly encourage your agency to host future courses of interest or need. As you know, one of the primary benefits of hosting our classes is the tuition free enrollment of your personnel in the hosted course for two personnel. Please contact me and I will provide you with a hosting packet for your review, consideration, and completion.
Law Enforcement Designated Marksman (LEDM)
Our latest professional and tactical achievement as well as challenge has been the implementation of a LEDM training program for shooters and trainers to establish programs at the agency level. We have based our program on the highly effective military Designated Marksman program while emphasizing the rapid response and close range encounters that LE patrol personnel may face. LEDM’s are not snipers but are trained to move rapidly to violent incidents and provide immediate overwatch and target interdiction with improved weapon systems and training. The program includes a 32-hour basic LEDM class and a 24-hour Train-the-Trainer component. We are also available to assist in weapon system and equipment consultation for anyone exploring the option.
We cannot overemphasize the significance and what SPS/SGTG feels is the cultural timeliness and overall value this program represents for your agency, its officers and the community.
We are seeking hosting agencies that wish to explore implementation of the program. Please contact me and I will provide you with a hosting packet for your review, consideration and completion.
Not Just for Snipers Anymore
While we are known as Sniper Pro Shop (SPS) and sniper training has been and will continue to be our cornerstone, the experience and expertise of members of the HGTG team runs the gamut of law enforcement knowledge and assignments and each brings a vast amount ability to the training table. One of our earliest instructor classes was our Law Enforcement Rifle Instructor course that I have taught since the early 2000’s. That course has grown with the use of the AR-15 as a law enforcement rifle and is designed to train the LE firearms instructor to effectively teach the LE rifle program from basic to advanced users.
In 2017, after several years of development, we introduced the Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor course to Tennessee officers. Based on a career as a firearms instructor that started in 1992, I approached this course as a means to build teaching skills in firearms instructors and develop their ability to diagnose shooter’s problems.
In 2019, we will introduce the LE Rangemaster course as multi-day firearms training and range facility management course.
I have taught Law Enforcement Instructor Development for my agency for over six years. Using that course as a basis, we are developing a contemporary LEID course to prepare instructors for the training mission. This will be designed primarily as a Tennessee instructor development course, but we will work with agencies in other states to see if our LEID course will meet their needs.
The SPS/HGTG law enforcement course catalog currently includes:
- Sniper – Level I, Level II, Level III and Level IV
- Law Enforcement Designated Marksman – Basic and Train-the-Trainer
- Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor
- Law Enforcement Rifle Instructor
- Law Enforcement Rangemaster
- Law Enforcement Instructor Development
- (See the Training Page of the website for other training courses)
Military Training and Training for Federal Agencies
SPS/HGTG became a GSA training provider for Homeland Security in 2016 and is able to provide tactical training for U.S. agencies and military. We have provided basic sniper training to members of the 278th ACR of the Tennessee Army National Guard, Designated Marksman training to members of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and Federal Agents from the Department of Homeland Security.
Consulting Services
SPS will offer consultation services for law enforcement agencies seeking to improve efficiency in their training programs. These services will include:
- Review and consultation of Departmental In Service Training
- Review of Firearms Training Programs
- Range management
- Range construction consultation and oversight
- P.O.S.T. file consultation
- Post-Incident consultation
- Policy consultation
- Litigation consultation
Thank you
Finally, a special debt of gratitude goes out to the snipers, operators, instructors and their agencies that have supported us and attended our training throughout the years. Many of these alumni have become some of our best friends and a select few of those have gone on to become members of the High Ground Training Group. Our organization is truly built from within by the fiber of the men and women that we have trained. It has been and it continues to be an honor to serve you.
Denny
Denny Elliott, CEO
Sniper Pro Shop/High Ground Training Group