Armory Sponsor
Posted: 5/13/2026 9:58:33 AM EDT
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TNVC Training executed Nightfighter 101 at the Ben Franklin Range in Templeton, PA this past weekend (9-10 May 2026). This is our second time training here and the facilities are outstanding with on-site lodging, a giant two-level shoothouse for interior work and turf covered ranges that make flat range work the most comfortable on the old bones we’ve trained at. If you can get here, we HIGHLY recommend it for any training they host. Weather for this class was a mixed bag…last time we were in town we had a driving blizzard both days. This event was marked with a giant thunderstorm throughout night one…with an attendant lightning strike within about 400 yards of the flat ranges. With a bunch of electronics on our heads and three-to-four-foot metal tools in our hands, we cleared and got out of the million-volt threat zone. Day two was beautiful and sunny with zero precipitation. On weather, have a plan to stay out in it until it gets dangerous, be flexible enough to slide training around as a result, and come prepared! That old adage of “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices” is only partially true…however, being prepared for varying weather effects is a big deal when training. All comers had cold/wet weather gear available and layered up and down accordingly, well done. Speaking of all comers, this was great group of students…they came prepared to for not only weather effects, but to learn…and learning did occur. Students drive the OPTEMPO of any class, and this group of stalwarts surely did here, well done gents. We had a wide collection of not only goggles (monocular, fixed, and articulating bridge) but MFALs throughout the class. We experienced very few no light tool issues during training, a couple students had the AHA moment when their goggles stopped working, that 1) a quick battery change generally solves that and 2) that box of brand new batteries is only a good starting point…on several occasions over the years, we’ve gone through half a box before getting a good power source. Account for manufacturing errors and bring plenty. We took the opportunity of such a wide variation of MFALs (from MAWL DA to Trinity to US NIghtvision to Steiner to etc., etc.) to line up and demonstrate illuminator ability at distance up to approximately 700 yards. There are a surprising amount of class 1 lasers out there with super charged illuminators available, much like “only a PVS-14”, don’t feel under equipped with a class 1 laser. This class had a surprisingly low amount of weapon malfunctions…one rifle would not run suppressed, so a quick removal of the can solved that most riki tik. A second gun had a gear interface issue which was solved by removing the part and that gun ran flawlessly the rest of the class. While the focus of our training isn’t necessarily shooting but the application of technology, since fifty percent of that technology is resident on the end of a gun, we have to shoot. Well lubed, maintained, and known guns assist in training as we’re focused there and not on malfunctions. Well done fellas… Switchology is a thing, and arguably the largest takeaway from NF101 after seeing and moving in the dark. Lights and lasers go on when we need them and stay on. Once we don’t need them anymore, we shut them off…we don’t want to either drag energy back to our feet or signal aliens on the flat range by leaving energy on during a reload. This class may have had the fastest pick up and best performance we’ve seen on this topic, well done fellas. Constantly assess your ability to see what you need to see…learning occurred with a constant assessment of sight picture and goggle focus, as well as figuring out more laser and illuminator settings (see Switchology above) options in a changing illumination environment. We had a great time with a group of great students and learning definitely occurred this past weekend up there in the Keystone State. Many thanks to our hosts, our students and all those who support our training program. Several companies step up to offer students swag and door prizes for their attendance. We really appreciate their generosity and are proud to have them associated with our training program. Die Free Co. Blue Force Gear Thyrm Otte Gear Unity Tactical Defense Mechanisms Cloud Defensive Subrevtech Koffinwurks Retention Ring |
TNVC Training Programs
https://tnvc.com/shop/category/training-classes/
[email protected]
(909) 796-7000, ext 251
https://tnvc.com/shop/category/training-classes/
[email protected]
(909) 796-7000, ext 251
Armory Sponsor