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“The ATSA Team”

By:  Willie Boswell

 

 

Note:  The NTI will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2005.  About 30 members of The American Tactical Shooting Association (ATSA) Team each work literally hundreds of hours each year to make this annual event a success.  This article details what these individuals do and what their contributions are to the overall success of each NTI. 

 

Director:  Skip Gochenour is the ATSA Director and a founding member of the NTI.  He conducts the monthly Study Day training sessions and establishes the goals and priorities for the organization.

 

Rangemaster:  The current Rangemaster is Hersh Goodin who schedules and supervises range activities during both ATSA Study Day and the NTI.  He assigns team members to their various duties and is responsible for accomplishing the training mission for both NTI practitioners and Study Day participants.

 

Pistolsmith:  Jim Garthwaite ably fulfills this position. Jim cleans, inspects and repairs all ATSA owned firearms used during the NTI force-on-force (simunitions) exercises.  He serves as firearms instructor to ATSA members during the monthly Study Day exercises and graciously assists Team Members with their personally own firearms problems.

 

Range Officer (RO), Judge and Pit Crew:  These 3-6 member teams are responsible for the safety of all involved with each NTI dynamic, live-fire scenario and insuring that the stages operate properly.  The Range Officer is accountable for the safety of all involved during a particular stage and is “in charge” of the practitioner.  The judge briefs the practitioner on the stage scenario and, consulting with the RO, assigns a score and debriefs each individual on his or her performance.  The Pit Crew is responsible for re-setting targets and performing maintenance on the stage.

 

Webmistress:  Kathleen Sisca designs the “Teddytactical” website and does the monthly updates to the seven pages associated with the site. 

 

Data Collection Coordinator:  A position held jointly by Susie Gochenour and Sue Garthwaite.  These ladies register practitioners and perform administrative duties associated with the ATSA Team and the NTI event.  They collate scoring data and enter it into a computer database using a pre-determined numerical system which is then printed as a spreadsheet.  Additionally, they are responsible for making contractual arrangements with the “official” hotel used during the yearly NTI.  During the NTI they work at the West Shore Sportsman’s Association clubhouse and act as the central point of contact with each stage by using hand-held portable radios.

 

Graphic Arts Coordinator:  Susie Gochenour designs the printed materials (name badges, practitioner information packages, stage score sheets, pit books, etc.) and administratively handles the registration of practitioners.

 

ATSA Village Sheriff:  The top “law enforcement officer” in the village where the force-on-force scenarios occur is responsible for interacting with the role-players and practitioners to enhance the learning experience and add to the dramatic effect of the stage.  During NTI XIV, this role was ably performed by Vicki Farnam.

 

Search Officer:  The individual responsible for insuring that no unauthorized items are allowed into NTI or Study Day force-on-force scenarios.  A thorough body search is conducted on practitioners, role-players, judges and casual observers who may be on-scene during these stages.

 

Role-Players:  Individuals from all walks of life are recruited to be role-players during force-on-force scenarios to interact with and enhance the learning experience for the practitioner.  During the Gunsite years, many role-players were members of the Yavapai County Sheriffs Department and local law enforcement officers continue to assist in this important position since the NTI has returned to Pennsylvania.  Roles that these men and women play can be as varied as jealous lovers, bikers, panhandlers, robbers, motorists, lawyers, bankers or casual citizens frequenting ATSA Village.  The mission of the role-player is to test the practitioner’s situational awareness, tactical and confrontational skills and his or her ability to react in a dynamic environment.  

 

Safety/Weapons Controller:  The ATSA Team member who is responsible for insuring that NTI and Study Day practitioners are properly outfitted before proceeding into force-on-force confrontations.  Additionally, he inspects simunitions firearms to assure compatibility with the FX marking cartridges and inspects all drone knives and airsoft guns for safety.  At the conclusion of the event, he collects and is accountable for all issued equipment. 

 

Safety and a positive learning experience are the goals of the men and women who make up the ATSA Team.  They enjoy the NTI experience as much as the practitioners who travel great distances to participate in the annual event.