Combat Rifle 1: Basic Combat Rifle 5JAN25

Andrey and I stepped down into Veterano, an underground bar in Kyiv that looked at the moment more like a military command bunker. It was quiet, devoid of customers, and dark despite the daylight outside, a fitting ambience as the war torn city and country anxiously fought for survival. A rack of assault rifles stood by the door, a large bearded man watched us keenly as we entered, he cradled a Kalashnikov across his chest. We shook hands with Valeriy Markus, and he ushered us to a booth where we would soon learn about the birth of something magnificent. Inspired by Markus’s passionate vision, social media popularity, and skilled oration, hundreds of patriots had volunteered to join a newly formed battalion whose mission would be to lead the modernization and westernization of the Ukranian Armed Forces. We would be equipped with NATO caliber weapons, American tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, and fight in the style of fast maneuver warfare according to American doctrine. It was a beautiful vision, a dream that both Markus and many Ukrainians shared since since the fighting began in 2014. We believed in him, and in his dream, and finally it was coming true, but there was a slight problem: 

They had no trainers, let alone American trainers. Ukraine isn’t like the United States where we have standardized military basic training. These men and women had been bakers, architects, trumpet players, and IT guys just days ago. I would be the first, and for a period of time, the only foreign trainer.

We were going to war in 3 weeks. One of me was just not enough. How could I give all these men and women enough knowledge so that they could survive and prevail in battle? Their lives were in my hands. Wasn’t there someone who was better equipped, more experienced, and more qualified than me to lead their training? Then I understood. No, there was not someone more qualified. I was here because fate or destiny had brought us together at this critical time, and I had prepared all my life for this moment. No one else was here, because no one else in that moment had the unique combination of passion and experience. So, I got to work, and the fruits of that work is the curriculum you see before you today, the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and experiences presented to you in the Combat Rifle Series.  

Brian Wang, center, poses with his students from the 47th separate motorized assault battalion, later to become the 47th mechanized assault brigade, fellow instructor Borys from Poland, and interpreters after completing a week of combat rifle training. July 2022 Zviahel, Zhytomr Olast, Ukraine.

The Combat Rifle Series consists of six 10 hour immersive classes that will cover everything you need to know regarding the use of carbines and fighting rifles. This includes the weapon’s role in modern human conflict, the basics of safety, movement, and weapon operation, then going all the way into low light fighting, night vision, close quarter battle, teamwork and tactics, precision shooting out to 400 meters, how to use red dots and magnifiers, lasers, LPVO and ACOG scopes, ballistic theory, and more! 

You can sign up for classes individually or purchase the entire package of 6 classes for an awesome deal. Each class is technical, detailed, and action packed. We offer a both a primary and an auxiliary date for Basic Combat Rifle, as this information is critical for safe and smooth advanced training later in the series.  If you can’t make a class you signed up for, simply email Brian at info@monarchdefense.org and we can credit you or reschedule you for a future date. 

Winter/Spring 2025 Combat Rifle Series dates:

Basic Combat Rifle, Sunday 5th of January, 2025.
Live Fire Battle Drills, Sunday 2nd of February, 2025.
Basic Combat Rifle, Sunday 16th of February, 2025.
Fundamentals of Riflecraft, Sunday 2nd of March, 2025.
Combat Rifle Optics, Sunday 6th of April, 2025.
Close Quarters Combat Rifle, Sunday 4th of May, 2025.
Advanced Combat Rifle, Saturday 31st of May to Sunday 1st of June, 2025.

Prerequisite:

You must have prior safe weapons handling experience. 

Location:

Our facility is in the mountains 1 hour east of San Jose, 1 hour south from Livermore. Detail directions will be emailed to those who sign up.

Topics: 

Basic Combat Rifle will introduce to the student all the basic skills necessary for using his primary weapon safely and confidently.

All students will learn safety procedures, ready positions, the 6 primary weapon manipulation drills, zeroing procedures, conventional shooting positions, moving and shooting, and hit all targets at any distance less than or equal to 400 meters (440 yards).  

Manipulations: 

1. Loading procedure
2. Unloading procedure
3. Tactical reload procedure
4. Emergency reload procedure
5. Simple Malfunction procedure
6. Complex Malfunction procedure

Ready Positions: 

1. Muzzle up (high port)
2. High ready
3. Low ready
4. muzzle down (sul)

Conventional Shooting Positions:

1. Standing
2. High kneeling
3. Low kneeling
4. Rifleman’s prone

Individual Movement Techniques: 

1. High crawl
2. Low crawl
3. 3-5 second rush

Standards for Precision and Accuracy:

1. 4 minutes of angle with iron sights or red dots with standard ammunition from unsupported prone, corresponding to 400m effective range on man sized target.
2. 2 minutes of angle with low power magnified optic and standard ammunition from supported prone, corresponding to 800m effective range on man sized target. 
3. 1 minute of angle with high power magnified optic, free float barrel, match trigger, and match ammunition from supported prone with rear bag, corresponding to 1600m effective range on man sized target. 

As part of the 1 day format for this Combat Rifle Series, we will briefly introduce the following Shooting Fundamentals, then circle back around to fine tune and master them in Fundamentals of Riflecraft: 

1. Posture
2. Natural point of aim
3. Breathing
4. Sight alignment
5. Sight picture
6. Front sight focus
7. Trigger press
8. Follow through
9. Reset
10. Recoil management

Dry practice fundamentals
Slow fire 10 round groups on 4moa target from 25m. 
Zeroing theory and sight adjustment
Confirm zero at 100, 200, 300, 400 meters
Introduction to MOA and Milliradian math
High intensity confidence building exercises

Packing list: 

Sturdy boots
Sturdy pants
Belt
Long sleeve shirt or jacket
Gloves
Layer garments so you can adjust for cold, wet, or warm weather
Hat
Rifle with 4+ magazines 
250+ rounds of ammunition
Cleaning kit with oil, rag, toothbrush, barrel rod
Tools for mounting and adjusting your optics
Spare batteries for lights, night vision, lasers
Individual first aid kit (IFAK)
Eye protection
Ear protection 
1 gallon of water per day
Salty snacks and bag lunch
We have weapons, magazines, magazine carriers, pistols, holsters, night vision, armor, helmet etc. for you to borrow for free. All you need to do is communicate clearly in advance what you need to borrow, and clean what you used before turning it back in.
We can supply all the ammunition you need for $80 per person per day. Simply choose the “Ammunition” ticket option during checkout.

Related Events

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  Combat Rifle Theory 3JAN26

  January 3, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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  Basic Combat Rifle 4JAN26

  January 4, 2026 @ 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 

  Combat Rifle Fundamentals 4JAN26

  January 4, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm