The Amtac Shooting Winter Modern Minuteman Course 

The Amtac Shooting Winter Modern Minuteman Course will focus on the following areas: Basic winter survival skills, Winter movement over rough terrain, snowshoe use, Carbine and Pistol fundamentals and advanced drills in a cold weather environment, navigation with map and compass and also with GPS, mindset, gear selection, basic small unit tactics, and a challenging Winter Stress Course. This course will start with a 1/2 to 1-mile movement on snowshoes carrying all gear for the course. Once at the ATC we will drop some gear and work carbine and pistol fundamentals. After lunch, there will be a navigation block focused on both map and compass and GPS use.

After training on day one students can relax at the ATC, with lodging, dinner, and breakfast the next morning being provided. Training day two will start with a mindset talk and a short small unit tactics block followed by the "winter stress course", this shooting/ navigation and other skills stress course will test your endurance and your ability to shoot, move and communicate. This is a physically demanding course and you must have a baseline of fitness to participate

This is a physically demanding course and you must have a baseline of fitness to participate.  (Read article here)

Prerequisites

• A base level of fitness; be able to walk 5 miles with a 30lbs pack
• Competent and 100% safe with pistol and carbine (you need to have completed a pistol and a carbine course with either myself, Kyle Defoor, Bill Blowers, Northern Red, or another reputable trainer (or have someone I know vouch for you -- If you are not sure, contact me)

About the Instructor, Bill Rapier

Bill Rapier is the owner and lead instructor of American Tactical Shooting Instruction LLC, also known as Amtac Shooting. He is the lead instructor of over 200 Amtac Shooting courses and has trained over 2500 students since 2020. Bill is retired after twenty years in the Navy, where his duty assignments included several years at SEAL Team 3 and over 14 years at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Positions held include assaulter, breacher, sniper, team leader, troop chief, and military working dog department senior enlisted adviser. He has always been an avid shooter and is heavily involved in combatives.

On June 1, 2025 - Bill launched his online training, called Amtac Training. This is an online community where Bill and members of Amtac Training talk about all things firearms, fighting, and fitness. This has been a project Bill has been working on for approximately 4 years now - it will be a way to stay sharp year-round and be encouraged in your training with a community of like-minded men.

Location

The Amtac Training Center in North Idaho (driving instructions provided in Course Confirmation Email)

Course Contact Information
Primary: [email protected]
Secondary: (208) 701-2542

Lodging

After training on day one, students can relax at the ATC, with lodging, dinner and breakfast the next morning being provided.

Gear List

• AR 15 style weapon, either 16 in carbine or 11.5 in pistol -- I recommend Centurionarms (Weapon should have at a minimum a RDS, light and sling on it -- 300rds rifle training ammo)
• Pistol (I recommend Walther PDP with a RDS and light -- 200 rds pistol training ammo)
• Quality holster from a reputable manufacturer (I run a Blackpointtactical FO3 for almost all training, for exposed carry I use a Safariland ALS)
• A way to carry 5 AR mags and 2 pistol mags (This can be battle belt, plate carrier, chest rig or a combination)
• MURS radio - integrated comms are optimal but not mandatory.
• Blow-out kit and tourniquet
• TQ
• Eye protection/ hearing protection

Cold Weather Clothing:

• Breathable stretchy outer layer softshell pants
• Warm hat
• Neoprene face gator
• Thin wool or capaline base layer top
• R1 or similar top and pants base layer
• Puff jacket (can be synthetic of down)
• Contact gloves (super thin wool or capaline)
• Medium to heavy ski or snowmobile glove
• Wool socks (recommend Darn Tough or Smart Wool)
• Warm boot (Solomon Tundra's are  a warm choice)
• Gaitors 
• Snowshoes (something like this is what I use: Backcountry Snowshoes)
• Trekking poles with snow baskets  

In a Small Pack:

• 1lbs sleeping bag/ or 2-pound down sleeping bag for winter time (I recommend down due to weight/ bulk)***not mandatory
• Shelter system (this could be a bivvy sack + tarp or a lightweight one-man tent)***not mandatory
• Ground Pad***not mandatory
• Stove (for cold weather/ high altitude the whisper lite International is recommended, as compressed gas stoves do not perform as well)***not mandatory
• Sil poncho***not mandatory
• 1 L water bottle
• Snivel drugs kit (moleskin, bacitracin, Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin, Imodium, endurolytes electrolyte replacement pills, tweezers, scalpel blade).***as needed
• Way to make water potable (saywer water filter is cheap and works)***not mandatory
• 2 x freeze-dried meals, snacks for 2 days
• 6 x Black Rifle Coffee Black Powder instant coffee’s***as needed
• 10,000mah battery to recharge phone/ lights
• Radio - MURS radio

Plate Carrier: I recommend level 4 ceramic plates (lightest thinnest you can afford) ***Optional. You do not have to run plates***

In the plate carrier:

• 5 x 30 rd magazines
• Radio - MURS radio 
• Blow-out kit and tourniquet