But I don't have the money to train
and other excuses for not getting out...
While I am not the biggest fan of Lucas Botkin, I do have mad respect for the drive of his to inspire others to get out there and train. But I think folks have this misconception that training costs a lot of money. I also think that a lot of folks only equate training to shooting skills but nothing else. Hence this constant theme of people complaining that they don’t have the money to go train.
Quoted excuses for not training from X…
“Last time I looked at training it would cost me $500-1000 for the class, $250-500 for the ammo, $100-500 in either gas or plane tickets, and $300-600 in hotel costs. I'm guessing a bit. So roughly $2000 for a single training event. This is prohibitive for my income bracket.”
“I want it but can't afford it.”
“You can throw money and ammo at me to train!”
“Id train much more if I had someone throwing ammo at me. Thats just me though.”
“I promise you, you throw just ammo at me alone and I'll go out. Money would help though...sure wouldn't turn it down. Ammo and travel provided? I'd bring my wife and little one as well”
Lucas’s recent post on X (as seen in the picture above) got me thinking. Why do guys equate training to shooting only? Why is it that the majority of training events publicized involve flat range shooting and little else"? What about navigation, medical and safety (medical is more than just tourniquets and pressure bandages), communications, wilderness survival skills, team work, leadership and risk management, travel, tracking, and so much more? Should we not be inspired to go out and give our best effort to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Is that not enough to inspire you to go train?
Then again, guys like Lucas are so focused on having that high tier rifle and pistol along with optics and gear. And many of these guys who offer shooting classes shit on the guys who have rifles from budget minded companies like PSA, BCA, and others. And then we have the entrenched YT talking heads that put out video after video talking down to those who can only afford the aforementioned budget tiered rifles and they get disenfranchised at the aspect of seeking out training because they only have a PSA or BCA rifle. So now no one is seeking small arms training because both ends of the guntuber community have essentially said fuck you with your poverty builds.
“So what are you getting at Jay?”
I guess what I’m saying is to make sure you are seeking out the right kind of training from guys who are motivated to motivate and inspire you. In my experience, these guys are the ones who provide a lot of value in what they offer, charge a fair price for real training, and they are genuinely committed to making you better.
Or…
Do it yourself. Find guys to go camping with. Teach each other different skills. Chances are you each have something to offer that the others can benefit from. Grab different field manuals (I like the manuals from The Professional Citizen Project, I know, shameless plug) and start practicing the skills and concepts discussed. It is actually easier than you think if you just dedicate yourself to it. Lord knows this is an avenue I have taken for years and it just works. But you have to truly want it.
Alright, so I have rambled on enough about this but I think you get the point I am trying to make. So go get out there and train, in something, and become the best you can be at it. No one can do it for you.
Companies or persons I recommend for training opportunities…
Prepared Citizens Training Group
I think there’s a distinction between the two topics. As Yeager use to say, you get training on particular topics, then you go practice that training to seek proficiency.
In other words, training prepares you to practice. And practice prepares you for proficiency.
I think people convolute the two.
Great work, bud. Keep grinding. 🎯