RONIN in SA

[RickyBobby]

Just a feeler for anyone who has attended Ronin. Looking for any inside info about the course and its quality.

[Hoepoe]

Just a feeler for anyone who has attended Ronin. Looking for any inside info about the course and its quality.

From what I've heard it's a good course, excellent medical module where students actually join ambulance teams responding to accidents, gunshots etc.

That said, i've had one student that came to me last year for a EP refresher to build on what they learned there. Still had a very good base though.

Bottom line, g2g from what i've heard but not done it myself, sorry.

Hoepoe

[enoemoselse]

I took it in May/June '07 & from my very, admittedly, limited perspective it was an outstanding course! Very, very professionally organized & administered with excellent instructors. Great people too! And their website is easily one of the best in terms of spelling out what to expect.

The only aspect of the course that might be construed as a slight negative is that it's commercially orientated. In other words, it's NOT a high-threat environment sort of course.

And as the founder likes to say it's definitely not a "tickety-boo" (check the box) sort of course. Fail too many modules, fail the course. But it's possible to re-test/pass on up to 3 (IIRC) modules so no need to stress (too much ;-) ). There were at least 3 students who failed the course but 2 stayed after the course & managed to pass the 2nd time.

The students in my course were mostly from the UK (England, Scotland & Wales), with one from Norway, another from Denmark, another from New Zealand (lone female). I was the lone American. FWIW, some of the students had signed up for the Phoenix course in the UK but due to some issues it was cancelled & the Phoenix folks recommended Ronin SA NOT Ronin (copycat) UK.

The only very minor criticism I have concerning the course were with the targets used during the firearms module. Most of the firearms training was done with a South African 9mm semi-auto pistol & the targets were these ~8" diameter, ~14" long cut posts placed on metal pedestals ~3' off the ground. There were six of them placed in a line at ~5' interals when I went through the course & scoring was based on knocking them off their pedestals. Shoot at the base of the post & you could pretty much forget about it going anywhere. Might move a little bit but not enough to fall off the pedestal. Not much better at center height unless impacts were in quick succession. I don't have much experience in this sort of thing but it just didn't seem to make much sense to me when practically all the students were hitting the posts but not able to consistently knock them off the pedestals. If the posts had been persons they would have been thoroughly perforated by the time some of the students were done with them!

Drinking was STRONGLY discouraged. Justification being to simulate an operational environment.

[A.J.]

I completed the course in March of 2007 and was very happy with the experience.

Some off TTP differ from US schools, but go with an open mind and use what you feel works for you.

The medical component is outstanding!

[RickyBobby]

Thanks for the intel. I appreciate the help.