I figured I will jump in and clear up some misconceptions.
What Joe posted is a great rendition of what 1 Shepherd's Student Leadership Program has to offer. I don't think I could have said it better myself. However, I think clients of your potential would much prefer 1 Shepherd's training courses geared more toward professionals like yourselves.
I know our website is currently a little confusing, but I believe the courses you all might be interested in are located here:
www.1shepherd.com/trai...urses.aspx
- Now do keep in mind that 1Shepherd often constructs client specific training courses dependant on what specific clients require. Of the most recent was a defensive force on force course, designed for contractors of a NGO (changed for persec) who have sense deployed.
To answer the OP's questions. I would consider 1Shepherd to be a legitimate training company. One Shepherd’s current 21 cadre taken in aggregate are 35 years in age, possesses a bachelor’s degree, and spent more than four years in military or law enforcement service. Together they have seen 14 military campaigns to date. These campaigns are obviously heavy in both Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operations, but also include campaign tours in North Africa, southeastern Europe, East Asia, and Central America.
One Shepherd certifies its cadre through a rigorous, multiple year program that includes a course on instructional methodology taught by a college professor with a doctorate in education and co-taught by a DoD curriculum developer with a masters in education.
With a quarter million dollar initial investment into a platoon’s TOE, including weapons and MILES 2000 simulation, 95 percent of all One Shepherd training employs real-steel weapons, blank ammunition and MILES gear in a 360 degree force-on-force firing range.
And to clear up one final misconception. Chris Larsen did start the
SLP for students, spent time in the sandbox training the Iraqi
military, and was the writer of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook: Recognized as a doctrinal reference standard by military professionals around the world. He however does not have any sons.
