image based decisional drill Instructor Certification reviews
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Let's see what people say about becoming a graduate of our Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Certification Course.
Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Certification
After each class I take with Brian or Shelley, I struggle to summarize what the time spent means. I am going to try once again to put it into words.
This past weekend Brent Reeves and I were blessed to host Brian Hill from The Complete Combatant for Image Based Decisional Drills the mini class, and the instructor course. It was a bit of an uphill climb before the day, but the classes filled and we ended up with a packed house for Friday night with a large group for Saturday and Sunday.
I have never been more excited to introduce my shooting family to someone who has meant the world to me. Brian and Shelley Luehder Hill's influence on me is sizeable, and while Shelley wasn't there in person, her "touch" on the whole system from the presentation to the card images was present.
Brian's teaching style never fails to draw out even the most reluctant individuals. He had us all laughing, learning, and growing together as we saw our way through scenario after scenario. The amount of time that was given to practice coaching was ample and it made me feel comfortable and confident with the materials. Rarely do I feel like I am ready to teach something right after learning it at a class. I certainly did with IBDD (I ran a super mini session yesterday at my AG&AG meeting!) The conversations that were started were in-depth, vulnerable, and community-building.
While I am a forever learner and have the ability to learn from all different types of instructors and situations, it is a rare gift to see someone build a community in 2 short days and encourage it to grow beyond the 2 days people are together. I have witnessed this happen in each class I have been at with The Complete Combatant. It is one of the many reasons I encourage people to train with them each and every chance they get.
Brian and Shelley's vision is changing the industry. Soft skills are those that aren't always flashy, but through the IBDD system, individuals have the opportunity to practice and refine their soft skills while utilizing what we understand about neuroscience to achieve the best possible practice. With a simple goal of making one good first choice, the options are endless, and with each repetition, you get better.
If you are searching for a way to spice up your dry fire practice, run scenarios without breaking the bank, in the safety of your own home or if you're looking for more information on decision making I highly recommend this class. If you are an instructor, you owe it to yourself and your clients to become certified to use these methods to teach. I know that Brent Reeves, Jamie Lee, Cassy Crago, and myself will be. And I know that Heidi Holmes Tyner, Tamyra Dawn Templeton, and Stacey R Macdonald will be using their new skill set to help the Portage, MI chapter of AG&AG become better at understanding tool cycling, decision making, and legal ramifications of force.
Another 5-star review from me! Get signed up, yeah you, go do it before you miss another chance
Heather Reeves of Tactical Advantage Guns, Wolverine Defense Academy and Facilitator of A Girl and a Gun Women's Shooting League
Michigan
After each class I take with Brian or Shelley, I struggle to summarize what the time spent means. I am going to try once again to put it into words.
This past weekend Brent Reeves and I were blessed to host Brian Hill from The Complete Combatant for Image Based Decisional Drills the mini class, and the instructor course. It was a bit of an uphill climb before the day, but the classes filled and we ended up with a packed house for Friday night with a large group for Saturday and Sunday.
I have never been more excited to introduce my shooting family to someone who has meant the world to me. Brian and Shelley Luehder Hill's influence on me is sizeable, and while Shelley wasn't there in person, her "touch" on the whole system from the presentation to the card images was present.
Brian's teaching style never fails to draw out even the most reluctant individuals. He had us all laughing, learning, and growing together as we saw our way through scenario after scenario. The amount of time that was given to practice coaching was ample and it made me feel comfortable and confident with the materials. Rarely do I feel like I am ready to teach something right after learning it at a class. I certainly did with IBDD (I ran a super mini session yesterday at my AG&AG meeting!) The conversations that were started were in-depth, vulnerable, and community-building.
While I am a forever learner and have the ability to learn from all different types of instructors and situations, it is a rare gift to see someone build a community in 2 short days and encourage it to grow beyond the 2 days people are together. I have witnessed this happen in each class I have been at with The Complete Combatant. It is one of the many reasons I encourage people to train with them each and every chance they get.
Brian and Shelley's vision is changing the industry. Soft skills are those that aren't always flashy, but through the IBDD system, individuals have the opportunity to practice and refine their soft skills while utilizing what we understand about neuroscience to achieve the best possible practice. With a simple goal of making one good first choice, the options are endless, and with each repetition, you get better.
If you are searching for a way to spice up your dry fire practice, run scenarios without breaking the bank, in the safety of your own home or if you're looking for more information on decision making I highly recommend this class. If you are an instructor, you owe it to yourself and your clients to become certified to use these methods to teach. I know that Brent Reeves, Jamie Lee, Cassy Crago, and myself will be. And I know that Heidi Holmes Tyner, Tamyra Dawn Templeton, and Stacey R Macdonald will be using their new skill set to help the Portage, MI chapter of AG&AG become better at understanding tool cycling, decision making, and legal ramifications of force.
Another 5-star review from me! Get signed up, yeah you, go do it before you miss another chance
Heather Reeves of Tactical Advantage Guns, Wolverine Defense Academy and Facilitator of A Girl and a Gun Women's Shooting League
Michigan
Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Certification Review
IBDD is, in a word, life changing! I had the pleasure of training with both Shelley Luehder Hill and Brian at their range in Dahlonega, GA (which is a super cute town for a “gun getaway”!). If you don’t already know, Shelley and Brian Hill are two of the smartest, kindest, intuitive instructors in the 2A space. Shelley’s effervescent personality (she’ll “molest” you with awesome hugs - after asking permission of course) and Brian’s quiet “zen master” personality combine for an amazing training experience.
The focus of IBDD is on “making ONE good FIRST decision” when faced with a particular situation. Shelley emphasizes that decisions are more important than techniques, and therefore we should learn how to make good decisions and PRACTICE making good decisions. IBDD does that for you. I wanted to take this instructor training not only for my own personal development, but because I truly feel that this class is for EVERYONE, not just gun owners/enthusiasts. Many people who have no interest in, or would never consider carrying, a gun will benefit from the information presented in this class. And, you never know, it may convince them that having additional self defense tools would be a good idea. This is an excellent “gateway” class.
The two day training includes an in depth discussion of the development of the program as well as the “whys” and “hows” of the class. Lecture, group discussion, group exercises, and individual coaching by Brian and Shelley are combined with student teach-back sessions for an experience that leaves the instructor candidate well prepared to go home and teach the class. Training with Brian and Shelley doesn’t just get you new skills or a new cert, it gets you new friends. The environment they create in their class leads to student engagement and bonding unlike many classes I’ve taken in the past. We were all truly rooting for each other.
I taught my first IBDD mini-class two weeks after going through the instructor training. I felt well prepared and I believe that the students came away with a greater appreciation for thinking through “what would I do if…?” and for the need to PRACTICE! I am thankful for this training, and for how it has better prepared me to serve my students in the future. If you are considering the IBDD Instructor Certification DO IT, you won’t regret it!
Ashley Chin
IBDD is, in a word, life changing! I had the pleasure of training with both Shelley Luehder Hill and Brian at their range in Dahlonega, GA (which is a super cute town for a “gun getaway”!). If you don’t already know, Shelley and Brian Hill are two of the smartest, kindest, intuitive instructors in the 2A space. Shelley’s effervescent personality (she’ll “molest” you with awesome hugs - after asking permission of course) and Brian’s quiet “zen master” personality combine for an amazing training experience.
The focus of IBDD is on “making ONE good FIRST decision” when faced with a particular situation. Shelley emphasizes that decisions are more important than techniques, and therefore we should learn how to make good decisions and PRACTICE making good decisions. IBDD does that for you. I wanted to take this instructor training not only for my own personal development, but because I truly feel that this class is for EVERYONE, not just gun owners/enthusiasts. Many people who have no interest in, or would never consider carrying, a gun will benefit from the information presented in this class. And, you never know, it may convince them that having additional self defense tools would be a good idea. This is an excellent “gateway” class.
The two day training includes an in depth discussion of the development of the program as well as the “whys” and “hows” of the class. Lecture, group discussion, group exercises, and individual coaching by Brian and Shelley are combined with student teach-back sessions for an experience that leaves the instructor candidate well prepared to go home and teach the class. Training with Brian and Shelley doesn’t just get you new skills or a new cert, it gets you new friends. The environment they create in their class leads to student engagement and bonding unlike many classes I’ve taken in the past. We were all truly rooting for each other.
I taught my first IBDD mini-class two weeks after going through the instructor training. I felt well prepared and I believe that the students came away with a greater appreciation for thinking through “what would I do if…?” and for the need to PRACTICE! I am thankful for this training, and for how it has better prepared me to serve my students in the future. If you are considering the IBDD Instructor Certification DO IT, you won’t regret it!
Ashley Chin
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I recently attended the Image Based Decision Drills Instructor Certification Course in Lugoff, SC with Brian Hill.
What an amazing weekend with an amazing COACH! The quantity and quality of information that you get during this course is unbelievable. Being able “to quickly make ONE good FIRST decision” in today’s environment is a MUST! If you are a firearms instructor, this is a must course for you. Take the time, invest the money, and reap the benefits of this training. Your students will thank you for this information and will probably save someone's life. Thanks also to Shelley who got us all in the right place at the right time. What a great group of people we had in the class to train and learn with. Gloria K, VA |
I took the Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Certification course the weekend of 2/19-2/20/2022 from Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant and Imaged Based Decisional Drills.
We started day one with the Reactionary Zones, sample images and classroom discussion on making our first good decision for each image presented and tool-cycling. Brian stressed the importance of understanding the universal laws of self-defense and laws in our state.
We then performed some exercises on properly moving away from a threat and deploying pepper spray using the POM Inert Trainers.
In the afternoon we did some table-top exercises as 'the criminals' and came up with a plan to perform a specific criminal activity such as a robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault, etc. and discussed how we would execute that plan.
I learned so much from my classmates and Brian! Sharing their real-world experiences gave me better insight into the criminal mind and victim selection process.
On day two Brian had us present a portion of the Image Based Decisional Drills "The Class" presentation and assisted us with developing and improving our personal style, pointing out our strengths and offering suggestions for improvement.
We then broke into teams and spent the rest of the day in various roles, student, instructor, monitor, and setting up simple through complex scenarios using the IBDD cards and tools. Those in the monitor role ensure student safety and provide feedback to the student and the instructor at the end of each scenario, with Brian providing overall feedback for all three roles.
I highly recommend the IBDD Instructor Certification Course for anyone interested in helping others improve their decision-making abilities and become better prepared to protect and defend themselves and their loved ones, and be better witnesses and first responders.
Sincerely,
Kandy Harrell, CEO, Instructor
Gray Lady Self Defense, LLC
Summerville, SC
We started day one with the Reactionary Zones, sample images and classroom discussion on making our first good decision for each image presented and tool-cycling. Brian stressed the importance of understanding the universal laws of self-defense and laws in our state.
We then performed some exercises on properly moving away from a threat and deploying pepper spray using the POM Inert Trainers.
In the afternoon we did some table-top exercises as 'the criminals' and came up with a plan to perform a specific criminal activity such as a robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault, etc. and discussed how we would execute that plan.
I learned so much from my classmates and Brian! Sharing their real-world experiences gave me better insight into the criminal mind and victim selection process.
On day two Brian had us present a portion of the Image Based Decisional Drills "The Class" presentation and assisted us with developing and improving our personal style, pointing out our strengths and offering suggestions for improvement.
We then broke into teams and spent the rest of the day in various roles, student, instructor, monitor, and setting up simple through complex scenarios using the IBDD cards and tools. Those in the monitor role ensure student safety and provide feedback to the student and the instructor at the end of each scenario, with Brian providing overall feedback for all three roles.
I highly recommend the IBDD Instructor Certification Course for anyone interested in helping others improve their decision-making abilities and become better prepared to protect and defend themselves and their loved ones, and be better witnesses and first responders.
Sincerely,
Kandy Harrell, CEO, Instructor
Gray Lady Self Defense, LLC
Summerville, SC
Took the 2 day IBDD Instructor's Class. It was AWESOME! This class teaches a skill that fills in a super important gap in most people's self defense training, that is what tool to go to in what circumstance. It provides a fun and easy way to mentally and physically PRACTICE what tool to go to in a wide variety of circumstances - AHEAD OF TIME. Because if we don't practice ahead of time, we are going to fumble and likely fail to make a good choice in the heat of the moment. And, by the way, Walking Away is one of the tools at your disposal. The class was taught SUPER WELL - for 2 days in a classroom, I was shocked how quickly the time flew by. Thank you Brian! I hope to meet Shelley next time you are in IL.
Are you running a red dot on your CCW pistol? Joe returns after the red dot and image-based decision drills classes he took
with Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant.
with Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant.
I had the opportunity twice to sit in on Brian & Shelley teaching an abbreviated "class" regarding their Image Based Decisional Drills curriculum, and knew that I needed to know more and wanted to teach this to my students. In October took the step to become an IBDD instructor, and most recently attended their Reactionary Zones training to add to my toolset in teaching. This class is exactly what my students need, from the teenager to seasoned adults taking a concealed carry class, to better understand how important it is to make the BEST FIRST CHOICE when in a situation. For me personally during the IBDD Instructor class, it showed that I (yes, calling myself out) still need to work on my skills as I did not make some good choices when in those scenario situations. Even just a bit of stress in class can make the difference in how we respond to a stimulus. It was incredible to experience it, and I know that teaching an IBDD class to my students will be just as eye opening to them as it was to me when it comes to understanding the tools they may want to have on them, as well as the knowledge and skills to use the tools properly. This is the kind of training the firearm industry needed!!!! If you have the opportunity to take "the class", do it!
Cara Conry of Spirit Firearms Training
Cara Conry of Spirit Firearms Training
I’ve had the pleasure of training with Brian and Shelley Hill of The Complete Combatant on several occasions now including the participant level or “The Class” of Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD), IBDD Instructor and most recently Shelly provided private training on Reactionary Zones. I’m very excited to be able to offer this amazing training to our students so they will have the ability to apply decisional skills, react quickly and decisively quite possibly to save their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Sharon Williston-Benadum
Benadum of Cyrena Training
Sharon Williston-Benadum
Benadum of Cyrena Training
I am ashamed to say that prior to attending the IBDD Certified Instructor course, I wondered "how much there could be to it"? Man! Was I ever wrong! There is so much more to teaching IBDD's and good techniques, as well as just great information. During class, literally none of us (students) were able to give accurate descriptions when on the clock. Lots of pressure and I thought I was observant!
Christie Bass
Christie Bass
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I recently attended The Complete Combatant Image Based Decisional Drill Instructor's Course. I had utilized the curriculum prior to this training and wasn't sure how much more there could be in exploring it further. This training was AMAZING! I've run through scenarios trying to imagine what I would do in stressful situations, but this really bumped up the stressors and showed me the importance of seeing deeply in a quick manner to make that first best decision. Seeing other tool options for my own protection was something I had only minimally considered but being able to actually use those tools in a training situation encouraged me to practice and train more.
In addition, the instructor skills that Brian Hill demonstrated and taught will go far in helping me to become a better instructor with my own students. My coaching toolbox was definitely broadened as a result of this training. Brian is warm, personable and easy to approach as a trainer. He makes students feel at ease and comfortable while he shares some of his 40 years of experience as a high level instructor. I look forward to future opportunities to attend The Complete Combatant courses. Donna Hatcher Getts |
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Howdy folks!
Yesterday I ran KR Training’s Personal Tactics Skills course. Traditionally it’s been a 3 hour classroom-only course where we talk about things like Ayoob’s priorities of survival, Cooper’s color codes, strategies about skills vs. gear, home defense strategies, vehicle strategies, etc. Some whiles ago we added in a short OC component. And yesterday, I ran the first version of our class to add in IBDD. :-) After taking the IBDD-I class in July, it got my and Karl’s wheels turning on how we could incorporate IBDD into the KRT curriculum. I proposed this approach, extending the class to 4 hours: 1.5 on the traditional material, 0.5 on OC, and 2 on IBDD. For IBDD I used the PowerPoint deck y’all provided and just ran through it. It’s good background, and of course a good crawl-walk-run approach to things. Big hit. Students loved it. The option cards should be a requirement for the classroom, they really help impress options into the minds of the students. I even found myself more excited about the program after having run this class. The material dovetailed quite well with our PTS and OC components – everything built upon everything else. Students really loved the interactivity, the stress, the decision-making – I think appetites were whet. We’ll see where it goes. But it feels like a success. John C. Daub |
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CLICK HERE: AAR: Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Course. I first heard about Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) at the virtual 2020 A Girl and A Gun National Conference and purchased “The Kit” in hopes of bringing it to my students via Zoom. After getting the product in my hands, I didn’t feel I could present the program effectively virtually without additional training, so I put it on the shelf for a year.
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CLICK HERE: Make ONE good FIRST Decision by Sandra Kozero
It’s late at night and you are out of gas. You should have done it earlier, but now you don’t have a choice. You stop at your local gas station to add a few gallons of fuel to get you home. As usual, one of the dozen lights illuminating the pumps is flickering. Before you turn off your car, you circle the parking lot to make sure there are no suspicious cars or people in the vicinity. You see an employee and a customer at the register through the wall of windows in the front of the store. You park and get out of the vehicle only to discover the credit card reader isn’t working. You walk quickly toward the store checking behind you to make sure no one is following you. As you enter, the double doors close behind you and you find the “customer” is holding up the employee with one hand reaching out demanding the money from the till and the other on what looks like the largest black pistol you have ever seen. Your presence has startled the robber and you now find yourself looking down the barrel of a handgun and 4 yards from a very jittery criminal. What do you do? Well that depends. You have to wait for your brain to tell you what to do, but first your brain has to work through the all the available options that it can imagine, then provide you what it thinks is the best solution............. |
The Bulwarks isn’t just a shooting school. We also have an armed security side of the house. This past weekend we had our agents in for some professional development hours and for part of it, we used two of our IBDD Certified instructors to run the cards. We tailored some of them to fit the madness the agents faced all summer in Louisville, KY. Not only did this help them in their decision making process but it also showed me how well they could make decisions on the fly.
These cards are such a great tool and I definitely recommend them as a teaching and training tool for your school or business. Not only will they help your clients, but you can also evaluate how well they make decisions.
These cards are such a great tool and I definitely recommend them as a teaching and training tool for your school or business. Not only will they help your clients, but you can also evaluate how well they make decisions.
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So I did a thing this past weekend. I took the Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor course from Shelley Luehder Hill and Brian Hill at The Complete Combatant and it was fun, educational and enlightening. I loved the caliber of training and depth of information that they provided . Both Shelley and Brian really know their subject matter and are excellent instructors. Although they have different teaching styles, they compliment each other well. Shelley's creation of Image Based Decisional Drills is inspiring. It is such a phenomenal training method to learn to make one good first decision. It really filled in a gap in my training, and gave me a great place from which to grow. And it helps show what other self defense options and training should be pursued.
The venue at The Complete Combatant is a charming and comfortable open air pavilion with all the amenities. Bathrooms with showers (yes, two!), WiFi, and a large screen TV create a relaxed setting for learning. Nestled between two working cattle pastures in the valley, it was a treat to watch a cattle drive come thru while we took our break.
Their range setup accommodates both dry-fire and live fire classes which allows them to conduct their own awesome training and host many great firearms and self defense instructors. If you ever get the chance to take training from Shelley and Brian or at the Complete Combatant, I highly recommend it. Thank you Shelley & Brian
The venue at The Complete Combatant is a charming and comfortable open air pavilion with all the amenities. Bathrooms with showers (yes, two!), WiFi, and a large screen TV create a relaxed setting for learning. Nestled between two working cattle pastures in the valley, it was a treat to watch a cattle drive come thru while we took our break.
Their range setup accommodates both dry-fire and live fire classes which allows them to conduct their own awesome training and host many great firearms and self defense instructors. If you ever get the chance to take training from Shelley and Brian or at the Complete Combatant, I highly recommend it. Thank you Shelley & Brian
Image Based Decisional Drills as Vehicle for Assessment and Evaluation The Bulwarks is not just a firearms academy - we're also a full service security company. We employ armed agents to fulfill a variety of roles including executive protection, residential security, site security, surveillance, and high value cargo escorts. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it provides a limited insight into some of the things our agents are asked to do.
We recently held agent training in Glasgow, Kentucky. Training consisted of both classroom and range activities. One of the tools we chose to use was The Complete Combatant's Image Based Decisional Drills. The Image Based Decisional Drills definition of success is: Make a decision. Choose your action. See the results. Think about the pros and cons. Learn to be more confident, decisive, efficient, and explosive. The IBDD method is geared toward private citizens who might not be accustomed to making life-or-death decisions in a rapidly changing environment. It allows people to learn not only HOW to make better decisions, but it teaches people WHAT sort of decisions they're likely to make. Use of cue cards and a variety of defensive tools (firearm, pepper spray, flashlight, cell phone, etc) allows the IBDD student to work through both every day and danger close scenarios.
When you run a security company, you hire agents not only for their skill set and certifications, but for their ability to make good decisions under extreme duress. Not only does an agent have to manage emerging threats, but they have to manage the client, as well. And while "hard skills" are terribly important, there is no understating the need for "soft skills" such as interpersonal communication, de-escalation strategies, and maintaining a calm demeanor. Our agents MUST be able to switch from observation to defense to offense and BACK in rapid order. And they must be able to keep the client safe under very strict rules of engagement (ROE). They must be able to clearly identify the difference between CAN I do a thing (i. e. Is it legal?) or SHOULD I do a thing (i. e. Is it morally correct, and does it fall within the ROE?). Finding out the hard way on a very bad day that the agent on a detail does not have the required hard skills, soft skills, and understanding of the ROE is absolutely unacceptable. It is also grossly unfair to your agent to fail to provide the training he/she needs so that success on a very bad day is not only possible, but assured.
The versatility of the IBDD program is absolutely unmatched. We moved the goalposts a little, and instead of teaching decision making skills we chose to assess the skills of our agents and evaluate our in-house requirements. Succinctly put, we wanted to see HOW our agents performed (hard skills and soft skills) and we wanted to clearly evaluate and identify WHY we do things, WHEN we do things, and WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
What we needed to see:
1. How much ACCURATE information could agents pull from a cue card in a very limited amout of time?
2. Are agents making wise and timely decisions based on the information they have?
3. How do agents respond to rapid changes?
4. Are agents acting within the ROE?
What we were able to do:
1. Make changes to training standards and the SOP during scenario hot wash.
2. Allow agents who had never worked together an opportunity to "mesh" in a controlled environment.
3. Build camaraderie (because some of this stuff was absolutely HILARIOUS).
4. Identify agent strengths and personalities, so that scheduling teams is more efficient.
5. Identify areas for improvement (leadership side and agent side).
IBDD definitely helped us make the most of our developmental training hours. We were able to accomplish so many things in a very short period of time. It was engaging, FUN, and told us exactly what we needed to know. We will definitely be using IBDD as an assessment tool in the future, and Courtney and I can't WAIT to take this class on the road for our "everyday people". If you like what you see and would like to schedule a class for your organization, Courtney McCarthy-Beadnell and Karen Farthing are certified IBDD instructors. The Bulwarks would be more than happy to come to you.
We recently held agent training in Glasgow, Kentucky. Training consisted of both classroom and range activities. One of the tools we chose to use was The Complete Combatant's Image Based Decisional Drills. The Image Based Decisional Drills definition of success is: Make a decision. Choose your action. See the results. Think about the pros and cons. Learn to be more confident, decisive, efficient, and explosive. The IBDD method is geared toward private citizens who might not be accustomed to making life-or-death decisions in a rapidly changing environment. It allows people to learn not only HOW to make better decisions, but it teaches people WHAT sort of decisions they're likely to make. Use of cue cards and a variety of defensive tools (firearm, pepper spray, flashlight, cell phone, etc) allows the IBDD student to work through both every day and danger close scenarios.
When you run a security company, you hire agents not only for their skill set and certifications, but for their ability to make good decisions under extreme duress. Not only does an agent have to manage emerging threats, but they have to manage the client, as well. And while "hard skills" are terribly important, there is no understating the need for "soft skills" such as interpersonal communication, de-escalation strategies, and maintaining a calm demeanor. Our agents MUST be able to switch from observation to defense to offense and BACK in rapid order. And they must be able to keep the client safe under very strict rules of engagement (ROE). They must be able to clearly identify the difference between CAN I do a thing (i. e. Is it legal?) or SHOULD I do a thing (i. e. Is it morally correct, and does it fall within the ROE?). Finding out the hard way on a very bad day that the agent on a detail does not have the required hard skills, soft skills, and understanding of the ROE is absolutely unacceptable. It is also grossly unfair to your agent to fail to provide the training he/she needs so that success on a very bad day is not only possible, but assured.
The versatility of the IBDD program is absolutely unmatched. We moved the goalposts a little, and instead of teaching decision making skills we chose to assess the skills of our agents and evaluate our in-house requirements. Succinctly put, we wanted to see HOW our agents performed (hard skills and soft skills) and we wanted to clearly evaluate and identify WHY we do things, WHEN we do things, and WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
What we needed to see:
1. How much ACCURATE information could agents pull from a cue card in a very limited amout of time?
2. Are agents making wise and timely decisions based on the information they have?
3. How do agents respond to rapid changes?
4. Are agents acting within the ROE?
What we were able to do:
1. Make changes to training standards and the SOP during scenario hot wash.
2. Allow agents who had never worked together an opportunity to "mesh" in a controlled environment.
3. Build camaraderie (because some of this stuff was absolutely HILARIOUS).
4. Identify agent strengths and personalities, so that scheduling teams is more efficient.
5. Identify areas for improvement (leadership side and agent side).
IBDD definitely helped us make the most of our developmental training hours. We were able to accomplish so many things in a very short period of time. It was engaging, FUN, and told us exactly what we needed to know. We will definitely be using IBDD as an assessment tool in the future, and Courtney and I can't WAIT to take this class on the road for our "everyday people". If you like what you see and would like to schedule a class for your organization, Courtney McCarthy-Beadnell and Karen Farthing are certified IBDD instructors. The Bulwarks would be more than happy to come to you.
After Action Report for IBDD Instructor Class
I had the good fortune to attend Brian & Shelley Hill of the Complete Combatant’s first Instructor class for the Image Based Decisional Drills. It is a two day class intended to prepare someone on how to implement and teach this wonderful scenario decision system. This instructor class gives you the tools on how to educate and give your students the best possible experience to learn how to make better decisions and be able to make them quickly when faced with bad situations.
Image Based Decisional Drills is designed to make you “think”. We love classes and training that gives you better shooting skills, but most situations should/could be resolved without our firearms. It is difficult as an instructor to teach mindset and decision making skills. We can’t imagine some of the potential circumstances we might find ourselves in and the last thing we want to happen is to freeze and not know what to do. Or worse, use more force than the circumstance warrants and find ourselves in a legal battle for our freedom.
I have always felt a picture is worth a 1,000 words and the various image packs and the kit that you can purchase gives your students the opportunity to learn how to make better decisions in a safe, friendly environment under the guidance of a knowledgeable instructor.
What I appreciated about the instructor class was Brian & Shelley were “student focused” and gave us ways to prompt/guide our students during a scenario to help them think through what was needed and ways to prepare them. They ensured all the instructor candidates understood each choice a student could make and when/why one choice can be better than another. This means the instructor should understand the use of force and deadly force and when one is more appropriate than the other. Pepper spray, verbal commands, walking, running away, flashlight use, medical skills needed, and 911 calls. This decision system is thorough and can empower YOUR students. They have extended their full support to all the instructor graduates with a PowerPoint presentation, instructor resources and tools to use in your class. It was a fabulous instructor class.
Two days after I came home from the instructor class, I offered a taste of this class in my monthly women’s’ program that I teach. It was a huge success. The ladies were challenged and learned they had more options than they realized and had the chance to practice some of these choices. Although, the scenarios could be scary and stressful my students had lots of pin dropping lightbulb moments, laughing moments and we all had true discussion throughout the class. All the ladies were 100% engaged the entire class and I had several emails waiting on me when I came home of how much they learned and enjoyed the class. I will be rolling out an entire formal class for Image Based Decisional Drills soon and I’m already getting requests for it. I’ve also started working on an “Advanced” decision drills class to, where you will actually get to use YOUR gear to act. This class will give students the opportunity to test their gear that they carry. Thank you, Brian & Shelley, for this decision making system. I really enjoyed the instructor class and not only recommend Image Based Decisional Drills, but the Instructor class will bring you to the level you want to serve your students. I have attached a picture of our introduction class.
I will finish this After Action Report with the contents of a slide from the PowerPoint presentation that embodies everything taught in the instructor class.
The Definition of Success:
Texas
I had the good fortune to attend Brian & Shelley Hill of the Complete Combatant’s first Instructor class for the Image Based Decisional Drills. It is a two day class intended to prepare someone on how to implement and teach this wonderful scenario decision system. This instructor class gives you the tools on how to educate and give your students the best possible experience to learn how to make better decisions and be able to make them quickly when faced with bad situations.
Image Based Decisional Drills is designed to make you “think”. We love classes and training that gives you better shooting skills, but most situations should/could be resolved without our firearms. It is difficult as an instructor to teach mindset and decision making skills. We can’t imagine some of the potential circumstances we might find ourselves in and the last thing we want to happen is to freeze and not know what to do. Or worse, use more force than the circumstance warrants and find ourselves in a legal battle for our freedom.
I have always felt a picture is worth a 1,000 words and the various image packs and the kit that you can purchase gives your students the opportunity to learn how to make better decisions in a safe, friendly environment under the guidance of a knowledgeable instructor.
What I appreciated about the instructor class was Brian & Shelley were “student focused” and gave us ways to prompt/guide our students during a scenario to help them think through what was needed and ways to prepare them. They ensured all the instructor candidates understood each choice a student could make and when/why one choice can be better than another. This means the instructor should understand the use of force and deadly force and when one is more appropriate than the other. Pepper spray, verbal commands, walking, running away, flashlight use, medical skills needed, and 911 calls. This decision system is thorough and can empower YOUR students. They have extended their full support to all the instructor graduates with a PowerPoint presentation, instructor resources and tools to use in your class. It was a fabulous instructor class.
Two days after I came home from the instructor class, I offered a taste of this class in my monthly women’s’ program that I teach. It was a huge success. The ladies were challenged and learned they had more options than they realized and had the chance to practice some of these choices. Although, the scenarios could be scary and stressful my students had lots of pin dropping lightbulb moments, laughing moments and we all had true discussion throughout the class. All the ladies were 100% engaged the entire class and I had several emails waiting on me when I came home of how much they learned and enjoyed the class. I will be rolling out an entire formal class for Image Based Decisional Drills soon and I’m already getting requests for it. I’ve also started working on an “Advanced” decision drills class to, where you will actually get to use YOUR gear to act. This class will give students the opportunity to test their gear that they carry. Thank you, Brian & Shelley, for this decision making system. I really enjoyed the instructor class and not only recommend Image Based Decisional Drills, but the Instructor class will bring you to the level you want to serve your students. I have attached a picture of our introduction class.
I will finish this After Action Report with the contents of a slide from the PowerPoint presentation that embodies everything taught in the instructor class.
The Definition of Success:
- Make a decision
- Choose your action
- See the results
- Think about the Pros & Cons
- Learn to be more confident, decisive, efficient, and explosive
Texas
If you have been following me for very long, you know I have a deep love for training. Whether as an instructor or as a student, being in a learning environment is one of my favorite things. Over the past seven years, I have spent a lot of training time doing things related to grip, stance, sight alignment and the myriad of other things that go into being proficient handling a firearm. As firearms owners, we work hard to become proficient drawing our gun and taking accurate shots but spend little to no time training ourselves to assess a situation and making a decision as to how to respond. Shelley Hill of
The Complete Combatant has come up with a training program called Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) to help fill that training gap. Earlier this month, I spent a weekend at The Complete Combatant in the Instructor Certification course for IBDD.
The program at its core involves a packet of cards with images on them. Beyond the cards, you can incorporate props such as a cell phone, inert pepper spray, tourniquet and either a SIRT or actual firearm. The intention behind the images is to create discussion and that is where the value in this program lies. You flip a card over and are given a few seconds to make a decision as to how you would respond. Would you use commands with your voice and have pepper spray ready? Maybe you simply need to walk away.
While I have had the IBDD kit since it first came out and used it at my range, I had never actually seen the course run as it was intended. The weekend spent with Shelley and Brian brought the concept of the IBDD program full circle for me and was well worth the time to see the program through their lens.
If you are an instructor, IBDD is an excellent tool for helping students think through what they might do in certain situations. The images drive a lot of discussion about actions you could take and which ones are appropriate (or maybe not) given the situation. One of the beautiful things about this concept is that you can modify it to not include firearms. This means you could present the class to civic groups, church groups or businesses where carrying may not be allowed.
You do not have to be an instructor to purchase a kit. You can get a kit and run the drills as part of your own training regimen. They even have an image-based program geared towards kids called Smart Choices that deals with topics ranging from dealing with bullying to how to use a fire extinguisher.
We spend a lot of time training how to use a firearm, this helps incorporate the thought process of using your voice, simply walking away, using pepper spray, etc. No matter whether you carry a gun or not, these are all situations anyone might encounter and having spent some time going through these drills can only help you be more prepared.
I already have classes on the schedule if you are in my area and want to work through the drills with us!
Karen Whitlock of Trigger Time and Tales from the Range
The Complete Combatant has come up with a training program called Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) to help fill that training gap. Earlier this month, I spent a weekend at The Complete Combatant in the Instructor Certification course for IBDD.
The program at its core involves a packet of cards with images on them. Beyond the cards, you can incorporate props such as a cell phone, inert pepper spray, tourniquet and either a SIRT or actual firearm. The intention behind the images is to create discussion and that is where the value in this program lies. You flip a card over and are given a few seconds to make a decision as to how you would respond. Would you use commands with your voice and have pepper spray ready? Maybe you simply need to walk away.
While I have had the IBDD kit since it first came out and used it at my range, I had never actually seen the course run as it was intended. The weekend spent with Shelley and Brian brought the concept of the IBDD program full circle for me and was well worth the time to see the program through their lens.
If you are an instructor, IBDD is an excellent tool for helping students think through what they might do in certain situations. The images drive a lot of discussion about actions you could take and which ones are appropriate (or maybe not) given the situation. One of the beautiful things about this concept is that you can modify it to not include firearms. This means you could present the class to civic groups, church groups or businesses where carrying may not be allowed.
You do not have to be an instructor to purchase a kit. You can get a kit and run the drills as part of your own training regimen. They even have an image-based program geared towards kids called Smart Choices that deals with topics ranging from dealing with bullying to how to use a fire extinguisher.
We spend a lot of time training how to use a firearm, this helps incorporate the thought process of using your voice, simply walking away, using pepper spray, etc. No matter whether you carry a gun or not, these are all situations anyone might encounter and having spent some time going through these drills can only help you be more prepared.
I already have classes on the schedule if you are in my area and want to work through the drills with us!
Karen Whitlock of Trigger Time and Tales from the Range
I attended the Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) Instructor Certification course in 2021. The IBDD program needs to spread like wildfire. It is versatile and portable. It can be used by law enforcement and even people who choose not to carry a firearm. The program covers practically every type of scenario you can possible think of and truly makes you think and analyze the scenario for the best outcome. Both Shelley and Brian are top notch instructors and leaders who freely share their knowledge and experience to help us become better instructors. No doubt I am a better instructor because of Shelley and Brian Hill with The Complete Combatant.
CB of Kentucky
CB of Kentucky
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Image Based Decisional Drills Instructor Certification Course (IBDDIC) provided by Brian and Shelley Hill of the Complete Combatant.
My introduction to Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) was last fall. Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training wrote a review of IBDD and gave it high praise. Having read Greg’s blog for years, I knew that he pulls no punches so, if he recommends it, it’s something I should check out. I did and knew it was something I could use for myself, my loved ones, and it was something I could share with those interested in all aspects of self-protection not just the gun.
I purchased the IBDD kit and began to use it regularly in my personal dry practice. And believe me, if you use IBDD, your dry practice will never be the same. It does not focus on techniques but on mindset and decision-making. Admit it, dry practice can be tedious at times but IBDD will change all that. IBDD is the brainchild of Shelley and you can see the love and care she has put into the training system. The quality is first rate and the cards are thought provoking and fun.
There is very little set up and you can run through a few scenario cards in a relative short period of time. However, if you’re like me, you’ll be thinking about the choices you made, good or bad, for the rest of the day because every now and then the images you just practiced will pop into your head and you’ll run through the scenario again.
Having personally practiced with IBDD I realized it was something I should share with my church’s Safety Team Ministry. I serve as the leader of the team and with the COVID restrictions in place I needed something that didn’t require hands-on practice like a full-blown scenario. No, it doesn’t provide the same type of practice as scenario training but it does provide the decision-making practice that my team members will need if something should happen. The training was fun and lead to a lot of good discussions on what we as a team would do but I realized I need to be better organized and thoughtful in how I present the training. I feel that I am a good instructor but I knew I needed to know more in order to present this out-of-the-box training properly. Thankfully, there was the IBDDIC.
The two full day instructor course was held on the Complete Combatant range in Dahlonega, Georgia. Having only talked with Shelley by email, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Arriving Saturday morning I was met with a big hug like I was an old friend (from Shelley who ASKED if she could hug me, not Brian). I have trained with some well-known trainers and I have to say I have never, I repeat never, been hugged by any other trainer! Yelled at yes, but never hugged. It was a nice change.
The class of eight students began with the introductions and I found that most, if not all, of the other students had trained with or knew Brian and Shelly for a long time. I was the odd man out but was immediately made to feel like one of the family.
Shelley then shared how she came to develop the IBDD system. It was a very personal journey for her and came from her own personal challenges and desire to help others. She also shared the definition of IBDDIC success:
Brian then stepped up and shared with the group things such as the importance of preparation, criminal mindset, layering your protection, intuition, safety protocols, signs of danger, response to danger, escaping danger, and much more.
Shelley followed and shared with us the benefits of IBDD, how to succeed as an IBDD instructor, IBDD options and again, much more. We then moved to the dry practice hands-on portion which lasted till the end of the day. All students received additional IBDD cards and other items to help us as instructors to learn more about how the IBDD system is to be presented. We all participated in responding to different card images, sometimes as a group and sometimes individually. The training for the first day was learning how and when to walk away, use verbal commands, run, use OC (inert), use a tourniquet, use a flashlight, when to shoot (SIRT only), and what to do/say when calling 911.
It was a full but very rewarding day.
The second day started on the range. After a very good safety briefing (one of the best I’ve witnessed), we learned how to arrange live fire IBDD training. We then became the instructors and ran some of the other students through scenarios using live fire. After lunch, we again became the instructors but with dry practice using only inert OC and SIRT pistols.
During the last half of the second day, we were called up individually and became Brian’s IBDD instructor for one scenario card. You’ll have to take the class to know what that was like but I’m happy to say Brian performed “adequately.”
Throughout the weekend, Brian and Shelley worked great as a team and provided some excellent training. Whenever we performed well, we received a hug (from Shelley, not Brian) which, again, I have witnessed from no other instructor. Since this was the first IBDDIC of its kind, Shelley was very open to tweaking the training/lesson plan where needed. Her ultimate goal is to provide the best training possible for her students, whatever it takes. It was another full but very rewarding day and as we left, we all got another hug (from Shelley, not Brian).
My fellow students were a great bunch of people and I enjoyed working and learning with, and from them all. We all became IBDD instructors and were given the honor of sharing Shelley’s brainchild with others.
When I registered for the class, I thought I could probably learn a few things but is it really going to be worth it? After all, how hard could it be to instruct others in IBDD? Having taken the instructor class, I am very thankful I attended. It not only gave me insight into how to better train others but also where my blind spots and faulty thinking were in my personal protection plan.
I wholeheartedly recommend the IBDDIC class! You will learn and you will get a hug (from Shelley, not Brian).
Tad Stoll
PS: All kidding aside, Brian is a great guy and one of the best instructors out there. He’s just not a hugger like Shelley is.
My introduction to Image Based Decisional Drills (IBDD) was last fall. Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training wrote a review of IBDD and gave it high praise. Having read Greg’s blog for years, I knew that he pulls no punches so, if he recommends it, it’s something I should check out. I did and knew it was something I could use for myself, my loved ones, and it was something I could share with those interested in all aspects of self-protection not just the gun.
I purchased the IBDD kit and began to use it regularly in my personal dry practice. And believe me, if you use IBDD, your dry practice will never be the same. It does not focus on techniques but on mindset and decision-making. Admit it, dry practice can be tedious at times but IBDD will change all that. IBDD is the brainchild of Shelley and you can see the love and care she has put into the training system. The quality is first rate and the cards are thought provoking and fun.
There is very little set up and you can run through a few scenario cards in a relative short period of time. However, if you’re like me, you’ll be thinking about the choices you made, good or bad, for the rest of the day because every now and then the images you just practiced will pop into your head and you’ll run through the scenario again.
Having personally practiced with IBDD I realized it was something I should share with my church’s Safety Team Ministry. I serve as the leader of the team and with the COVID restrictions in place I needed something that didn’t require hands-on practice like a full-blown scenario. No, it doesn’t provide the same type of practice as scenario training but it does provide the decision-making practice that my team members will need if something should happen. The training was fun and lead to a lot of good discussions on what we as a team would do but I realized I need to be better organized and thoughtful in how I present the training. I feel that I am a good instructor but I knew I needed to know more in order to present this out-of-the-box training properly. Thankfully, there was the IBDDIC.
The two full day instructor course was held on the Complete Combatant range in Dahlonega, Georgia. Having only talked with Shelley by email, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Arriving Saturday morning I was met with a big hug like I was an old friend (from Shelley who ASKED if she could hug me, not Brian). I have trained with some well-known trainers and I have to say I have never, I repeat never, been hugged by any other trainer! Yelled at yes, but never hugged. It was a nice change.
The class of eight students began with the introductions and I found that most, if not all, of the other students had trained with or knew Brian and Shelly for a long time. I was the odd man out but was immediately made to feel like one of the family.
Shelley then shared how she came to develop the IBDD system. It was a very personal journey for her and came from her own personal challenges and desire to help others. She also shared the definition of IBDDIC success:
- Help apply the strategies and be a guide. Teach SIMPLE decisions and clarify WHY. Diagnose what is happening, find the correction and have your student practice THAT.
Brian then stepped up and shared with the group things such as the importance of preparation, criminal mindset, layering your protection, intuition, safety protocols, signs of danger, response to danger, escaping danger, and much more.
Shelley followed and shared with us the benefits of IBDD, how to succeed as an IBDD instructor, IBDD options and again, much more. We then moved to the dry practice hands-on portion which lasted till the end of the day. All students received additional IBDD cards and other items to help us as instructors to learn more about how the IBDD system is to be presented. We all participated in responding to different card images, sometimes as a group and sometimes individually. The training for the first day was learning how and when to walk away, use verbal commands, run, use OC (inert), use a tourniquet, use a flashlight, when to shoot (SIRT only), and what to do/say when calling 911.
It was a full but very rewarding day.
The second day started on the range. After a very good safety briefing (one of the best I’ve witnessed), we learned how to arrange live fire IBDD training. We then became the instructors and ran some of the other students through scenarios using live fire. After lunch, we again became the instructors but with dry practice using only inert OC and SIRT pistols.
During the last half of the second day, we were called up individually and became Brian’s IBDD instructor for one scenario card. You’ll have to take the class to know what that was like but I’m happy to say Brian performed “adequately.”
Throughout the weekend, Brian and Shelley worked great as a team and provided some excellent training. Whenever we performed well, we received a hug (from Shelley, not Brian) which, again, I have witnessed from no other instructor. Since this was the first IBDDIC of its kind, Shelley was very open to tweaking the training/lesson plan where needed. Her ultimate goal is to provide the best training possible for her students, whatever it takes. It was another full but very rewarding day and as we left, we all got another hug (from Shelley, not Brian).
My fellow students were a great bunch of people and I enjoyed working and learning with, and from them all. We all became IBDD instructors and were given the honor of sharing Shelley’s brainchild with others.
When I registered for the class, I thought I could probably learn a few things but is it really going to be worth it? After all, how hard could it be to instruct others in IBDD? Having taken the instructor class, I am very thankful I attended. It not only gave me insight into how to better train others but also where my blind spots and faulty thinking were in my personal protection plan.
I wholeheartedly recommend the IBDDIC class! You will learn and you will get a hug (from Shelley, not Brian).
Tad Stoll
PS: All kidding aside, Brian is a great guy and one of the best instructors out there. He’s just not a hugger like Shelley is.
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Customer Contact: imagebaseddecisionaldrills@gmail.com 404-936-6986
Customer Contact: imagebaseddecisionaldrills@gmail.com 404-936-6986