Intro to NVG Opertor Chris McGowan & Nick Shepherd ​8 hour course ​ Instructor Biographies Nick hails from southern Ohio, After graduation, he answered the call and enlisted in the US Army in 2003. Nick’s military career was 6 years where he learned tactics, leadership and communication skills as an operational mentor and liaison team member. He has deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Once Nick started a family, he returned to Ohio and started his career in law enforcement. Since becoming a police officer, he has filled multiple roles on his SWAT team reaching the role of SWAT commander. In addition, Nick also holds roles of instructor for law enforcement, firearms, tactics, and teaches at the academy. He is a member of the Subject Matter Expert Board for Building Searches for the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. Chris was raised in a military home in Germany hailing from an American father and German mother. He returned with his father to the Midwest to finish high school. He played Division II college football until an unlikely injury sidelined his future athletic possibilities. Looking for a way to serve, Chris attended the police academy and joined the ranks of his current law enforcement department. He wanted to push himself to the next level and was selected for his SWAT Team. Chris has always looked for ways to improve both his and his team’s performance by building out programs and sought ways to increase his knowledge of tactical capabilities through advanced training. Throughout his career, he has been able to modernize his SWAT Team’s technologies, methodologies, TTPs, and adjust his team’s tactics to face modern and future threats. He has held the titles of patrol officer, SWAT team member, team leader, and lead trainer. Chris has a significant amount of tactical operational experience through his own department or working in Joint Task Forces with other agencies. ​ Course Description This 8-hour introduction to Night Vision Course is designed for officers and departments who are interested in utilizing and understanding night vision for various LE operations. In the law enforcement world night vision is foreign to many officers and administrators, this basic intro course is designed to introduce new or aspiring night vision users or administrators to understand some basic principles of night vision, the science, equipment, and basic practical applications of the use of night vision devices during LE operations. In this course you will be given a basic overview of how Night Vision can be an extremely powerful addition to your tactical team, patrol division, detective division, or search and rescue teams, adding the ability to see in the darkest environments is a huge tactical advantage. You will receive class room and hands on training over topics such as: Types of night vision, The internals of NVGs and how they operate, Implementing NVGs, IR systems, Mounting options, Target ID, use of UTM/SIM rounds and more! This course is designed for officers who have any level experience with or without Night Vision. This will be a low stress intro to prepare officers to effectively begin to use Night Vision equipment as an integral part of their personal kit. ​ ***This course will be held indoors, No Live Ammo*** ​ Student Equipment Required Students who attend this course will need the following: • Note taking Material • SIM or UTM rifle with sixty (60) less lethal marking rounds • Weapon mounted flash light • Weapon mounted IR Illuminator device • Night Vision Device with Helmet Mount and J-Arm • Helmet with Night Vision Shroud Optional, but not needed: • Vest, Duty Belt • IR Helmet Marker • Handheld flashlight Items that can be barrowed during class, (Will be issued at start): • PVS14 with Wilcox J-arm and G24 Helmet Mount • SIM Bolts (AR15 /M4) • Weapon mounted IR Illuminator Device • UTM and Sim rounds can be purchased if needed