We’ve teamed up with American Survival Co., a trusted partner, to bring you The Primal Defender Course!
Want to get a visual of what this course covers? Check out some footage of the class here! https://youtu.be/KRRuC4hqWO0?si=G3TZgXvqRFqQdv6e
Course Overview:
Duration: 5 Days
Location: N.W. Arkansas
Prerequisites: Students who attend this course should have a basic level of firearms experience (pistol and rifle / carbine) and safe firearm handling and be able to pass a background check.
Skill Level: Intermediate – Advanced
Minimum Age Required: 21 years old
Must be able to pass background check or, possess a concealed carry permit (the concealed carry permit conveys that you’ve already passed a State Police background check).
The Primal Defender Course is an intensive and transformative 5-day training program designed for individuals seeking to enhance their self-defense capabilities and survival skills. In today’s unpredictable world, being prepared to protect oneself, loved ones, and property is more crucial than ever. This course blends survival techniques, tactical training, and defensive skills, providing participants with both the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to respond effectively in a variety of situations.
Throughout the course, participants will work under the guidance of experienced instructors who bring real-world expertise to the training environment. The program emphasizes practical exercises that simulate potential emergencies, allowing participants to build confidence in their ability to defend against threats and thrive in austere conditions.
Participants will learn essential medical skills, including trauma care techniques like wound packing, applying tourniquets, and care under fire. They will also develop critical survival skills such as shelter construction, water procurement, fire making, and an introduction to navigation, laying a solid foundation for outdoor survival. The course will cover an introduction to radio communications as well as tactical training with firearms, focusing on carbine and pistol handling, safety protocols, effective shooting techniques, and movement.
Additionally, the Primal Defender Course incorporates advanced topics such as area denial, mission planning and teamwork, enabling participants to strategize and execute operations under pressure. Special emphasis will be placed on night operations, enhancing stealth and coordination among team members.
Students should be prepared for long training days. There is a lot of information to cover and we may work into the night (don’t worry, we’ll make sure you get chow breaks).
By the end of this immersive experience, participants will leave with a comprehensive set of skills that empower them to handle emergencies confidently, defend against threats effectively, and foster a survival mindset. The course also provides a unique opportunity to build camaraderie and lifelong friendships with fellow participants through shared challenges and experiences.
We have crammed a lot into this course! Let’s be honest, none of us become masters of any craft in just five days. But the concepts, principles, and ideas that you’ll be introduced to and get to practice during the Primal Defender course will be game-changers for your personal development as a survivor and protector.
Join us for the Primal Defender Course and take a significant step toward becoming a more capable and resilient individual, prepared to face whatever challenges life may present.
* This course has a 6-student minimum. In the event that not enough students enroll, students WILL be refunded. Students will also be offered to reschedule to a future course if they’d prefer. —* Minimum has been met at!!!
Breakdown of specific skills / subjects we’ll cover
Instructors: Primary Course Instructor: Matt Tate – Owner / Lead Instructor – American Survival Co & Director of Operations of Salvo Security Group.
There will be multiple Specialty guest Instructors for this course with backgrounds ranging from Intelligence, U.S Special Forces, U.S. Army Ranger, O.G.A.’s (Other Govt. Agencies) and U.S. Air Force Special Operations.
Additional Information:
FAQ:
Will gear be provided for the night mission?
Gear provided will include safety gear, “training” rifle & “training” rifle ammunition and radios for team communication.
We do not provide tactical gear for students. You are welcome to bring your own tactical gear such as plate carriers, battle belts, night vision, thermal, binoculars, radio communications, helmets, etc. If you have any questions about a specific piece of gear, send us an email and will get back to you quickly.
Is Night Vision required for this course or, is it available for rental?
No, night vision is not required and it is not available for rental from our company. If you have night vision or thermal and want to use it as a force multiplier on the night mission, you are welcome to bring it and use it. If you don’t have night vision, don’t let it be a deterrent to you jointing this class. If your situation is that you don’t have it, it’s probably a good idea to learn how to operate without it as effectively as you can.
Firearms questions:
How many rounds of ammunition will I need for the carbine and pistol training? – You will need 350 rounds of carbine ammunition and 350 rounds of pistol ammunition.
How many Pistol and rifle magazines do I need to bring? At least 3 rifle magazines and 3 pistol magazines with magazine carriers for both weapon systems.
Are there any restrictions on the type of carbine I can bring? – Any carbines / AR pistols with less than a 13.5” barrel, you must bring and use a suppressor. Nobody wants to spend the day on the range next to a shorty with a muzzle brake 
You will need a rifle sling for this course.
Distance: We will shoot at close ranges as well as out to 400 yards with carbines. Iron sights, red dots and magnified optics are all welcome. Bring and use what you’d plan on having as your “Go Gun” in a long-term defense situation or scenario.
Calibers Allowed?: We recommend 5.56/.223 for this course but .300 BLK, .308, or 7.62×39 are acceptable. If you have any questions about the rules for a specific caliber, email us for guidance.
You will need to bring hearing protection and eye protection for the shooting portions of the course. We recommend a set of dark lenses and a set of clear lenses.
Optic Covers – we will be using non-lethal training ammunition for this course. We recommend that you have a protective lens cover for your equipment if you plan on bringing and using night vision or thermal optics as a force multiplier for the night mission.
Required Gear: If you plan to camp on site (camping is free), you’ll need to bring standard camping kit (tent, tarp, sleeping bag & pad, etc.) your bugout kit, food, water, etc. to live on for the five day course. Fixed blade knife, Paracord (50 ft.), ferro rod, lighter, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear, pen/pencil, notebook. Carbine/rifle with sling, Pistol with durable OWB holster, 350 rounds of rifle ammo, 350 rounds of pistol ammo, at least 3 magazines each for the pistol and rifle. Hearing protection, eye protection.
Recommended Gear: camouflage clothing for night mission, shooting mat, bi-pod, backpack, a folding camp chair, gloves, folding saw, snacks, sunscreen, bug/tick repellent, etc.
Physical Fitness Level:
Most people should find the physicality of this course acceptable. You don’t need to be a marathon runner or, to be in the best shape of your life to successfully complete this course. Ask yourself this…if something happened tomorrow, will you be magically transformed overnight into a perfectly fit person and in perfect health to deal with “The Scenario”? Of course not, we all know it doesn’t work that way (no matter how much we wish it did). So…you are where you are in terms of fitness and physical health (bad knees, etc.). Our farthest “hike” during the course is around 600 to 800 yards. If you’re capable of making that movement, you’re probably fine for this course. The main thing to take away from this course isn’t a sore back from rucking, it’s the knowledge, concepts, principles and experience you’ll get through hands on learning in a controlled environment. If you’re still not sure if your fitness level or age (we’ve had students in this course in their mid 60’s), is appropriate for this course, then feel free to give us a call to discuss any concerns you may have.
Additional Information:
There will be a central campfire located in the base camp where you can cook meals, but you are also welcome to bring rocket stoves for cooking as well.
Due to the length of this course, we recommend camping on site in order to develop new relationships with fellow students and to establish some camaraderie for a smoother experience during the mission phase. This is likely a course where you will establish life-long friendships!
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