Foundation Carbine

Class Flow: MODERATE (students can expect full day of shooting and weapon manipulation from a static line)

Foundation Carbine is designed to stress the importance of proper weapon manipulation and shooting techniques. The goal of this MDFI Foundation class is to build a strong and efficient foundation regarding the proper use and manipulation of the Carbine as a defensive tool. Without a strong foundation, any additional training is wasted time. This class will prepare students for our "Advanced" level classes and is a mandatory prerequisite to move on with the MDFI curriculum.

This class is for students who understand the fundamentals of marksmanship, live by the four rules of responsible firearms handling, and are looking to learn to use the rifle/carbine as a defensive tool.

Law Enforcement: This course is MCOLES certified through MDFI and counts toward training credit.

In-depth Firearms Responsibility (safety) and Medical Briefing

Inspection and Inventory

Carry, Presentation, and Shooting techniques

The Threat Engagement Process

Carbine Manipulation

Ammunition Management

Stoppage/Malfunction Actions

MDFI Foundation Carbine Qualifier

Required

Sighted-In Semi-Auto Rifle/Carbine
(Rifles that accept AR-15 or AK style
magazines are most common, but we
can work with you on any type)

Bring Rifle / Carbine As You Have It Setup for Defense

250 – 400 Rounds of Carbine Ammunition

3 Magazines

Magazine Carrier
(To fit your role of the firearm: pants
pocket, belt pouch, chest rig, etc.)

Eye + Ear Protection

YOU MUST BRING YOUR CPL
(or LE CREDENTIALS or NON-CPL WAIVER) TO CLASS.

Recommended

Magazine Carrier

Appropriate Clothing for Weather

Sunscreen / Insect Repellent

Folding Canopy, Table and/or Chair

Snacks + Drink for 8 Hours of Training

Valid Concealed Weapon License or Law Enforcement Credentials (if you do not have either, email us for instructions).

Must have working operational knowledge of the firearm you bring to class (i.e know how to load/unload safely).

MUST KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOUR LIFE RULES OF RESPONSIBLE FIREARMS HANDLING AT ALL TIMES. See video below.

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Class: Foundation Carbine
Average rating:  
 26 reviews
 by Anna

This was my first time taking a class with MDFI. I had some hesitations, as I am a female and was stepping into a male dominated field of training. Tim, Grant, Adam, and Brandon were amazing. They were extremely helpful, kind, and never treated any question I had like it was a dumb question. I highly recommend this to any and everybody, especially women! I am a stay at home Mom and feel extremely confident protecting my home now with my AR-15. I also want to state that I felt incredibly safe the entire 10 hours I was there. They were extremely diligent with ensuring everyone participated in the safest manner possible. This in turn made the training that much more beneficial as I was able to solely focus on the teaching at hand, and not worrying about what other students were doing with their firearms. 10/10 would recommend!

 by Logan

First time training w/ MDFI and will be back for more. Tim and Roman were friendly and helpful instructors, and knew how to keep the class flowing. Safety was clearly the top priority, and it never stopped anyone from getting the knowledge or coaching they needed to succeed in the situations we were put into. Definitely recommended to anyone interested in the curriculum above.

 by Adam

2nd class taken with MDFI. The instructors are great, very knowledgeable in their field and have more patience that I thought possible. They truly wish for you to succeed for the sake of the entire fire arms community. Already Sighed up for the next class, cant wait... full tour here i come.

 by Nick

Legit training, Legit instructors!!
Prior Detroit Police and now in the suburbs of the city. I have attended multiple rifle courses and training throughout my career, no matter what skill set you are you can take away from this class. It's fun, very knowledgeable and detailed. The level of training, material and instructors are hard to find and especially at this price point.

 by Monte

The class was outstanding. Coming in I was quite confident in my marksmanship but realized quick, fast and in a hurry that marksmanship is just one component of many when it comes to being proficient with a carbine. I identified many areas where I need a lot of work. It didn’t stop with identification, I was also patiently shown proper technique for each aspect of the class. I left chewing a bit of humble pie, but also left with the knowledge needed to keep practicing at home. This was my first of hopefully many classes with MDFI.

 by Nick

As always, great course of fire, rock solid students, and instruction was second to none. This was my second time taking this F. Carbine and I walked away with plenty of things to work on as this course exposed some deficiencies in my training. What I really enjoyed that even though I had already taken the class before, there was still plenty of things to tweak and get better on. Roman and Sean took the time and made sure they addressed everyone on the line with not only things to work on or try, but praise for doing the drills well. I can't speak for anyone else in the class, but that constant feedback, whether good or bad, humbled me and helped me tremendously. Thank you Tim, Roman, and Sean for a great class and experience. See you on the line again soon!

 by Martin

Absolute top notch. Safe, thorough, and fun. You can have a good time while learning again.

 by Lowell

Amazingly well run. The safest firing line I have ever been on. The staff is all about detail. I learned and lot that I didn't know. And I learned how much I have to work on. Long day, but great time.

 by Brian

Just took Foundation Carbine yesterday and can't say enough about this class. Instructors are top notch and professional while maintaining a fun
and safe atmosphere. Everyone is treated with respect no matter your
skill level, and the instructors are very quick to help no matter what.
This was my first MDFI class but certainly not the last! You guy's ROCK!

 by Zack

Recently took Foundation Carbine. The level of professionalism displayed by the MDFI Cadre is always top tier. From whatever walk of life you may come from or no matter your experience, on an MDFI range, we all learn together. I regret not taking classes with MDFI sooner/more often.

 by Mike

I took the carbine fundamental course on May 22, 2022. I think if your a new shooter or an experienced one, this is a great course. The instructors are the best, and I really liked the course curriculum.

 by Chad

Took foundation carbine on July 25 2021. Loved every minute of it! The instructors are total professionals! I can not say enough good things about my experience, it was all good! I have no desire to train anywhere else. This was my third class with MDFI and will not be my last by a long shot! Thanks fellas!

 by Nick S.

This was my second MDFI course and it did not disappoint. Tim, Thomas, and Grant were outstanding in their instruction, patience, and humility with all the students regardless of their skill set. This course definitely gave me a solid foundation and plenty of golden nugget moments for me to work on moving forward. I particularly liked when Tim would push you through the mag changes and/or malfunctions to build some stress and push you. When he needed to break it down and explain it after, he explained it in such a way that it built up your confidence. The EGO-FREE aspect of this type of training is second to none. The cadre makes it very comfortable after the briefing, explains their expectations very well, and their eagle eye for safety is impeccable. Every drill builds off the next, and you walk away more confident in knowing your rifle platform. Awesome class! See you at the next one!

 by Kyle

It was super hot out but that did not take away from this amazing class. The Bluewater Sportsman's Association is an awesome range and the instruction as always was top notch. I feel far more confident with basic weapon manipulations after taking this class and I think it is something everyone who owns an AR-15 or similar rifle should take. This class will help you find out whether your gear is ready to take on the more advanced courses.

 by Rich C.

As an assistant principal my everyday job is to evaluate instruction and learning. Good teaching is evident and easy to spot regardless if it is in a math classroom, a PE class, or on the range in a defensive firearms course. Tim and Tom did a great job of providing thorough explanations of the curriculum and frontloading shooters with the information that they needed. They would then break it down into manageable chunks/smaller drills that would then be scaffolded into a larger drills that put all the pieces together. Tim and Tom would then model/demonstrate each drill before beginning to instruct it. They also provided great immediate feedback to shooters as they were conducting the drills, including pushing the more advanced shooters further and spending more time with novice shooters who needed the additional instruction/help. This is exactly what I would want to see when I walk into a classroom in my building. They did a great job overall and I highly recommend any class that Tim and Tom are instructing.

 by Ben

Incredible class to familiarize yourself with the AR 15 platform. My skills improved greatly throughout the day due to the top notch instruction. As always with MDFI the class was safe and fun.

 by James

33 time alum, and I'll definitely be back.

Instructors are extremely capable in what they do. Always get my $$ worth in education.


Thanks for a great and informative day!

 by Tyler

Absolutely phenomenal. These guys are the real deal, and then some. This was my second class with MDFI, and once again it was top notch. The knowledge that these guys have and the skillset, its impressive to watch and they are the best guys to learn from! I look forward to many other classes in the future! Thanks for an amazing time guys!

 by Michael

As a former Marine whos has been out of the military for a few years I wanted to take Foundation Carbine as a kind of a refresher for running a ar15 platform and I have to say I was incredibly impressed with how the class was. The instructors at the class where incredibly perfesonal and attentive to the students and their skill level. I personally watched students who where not entirely familiar or experienced with a rifle make huge improvements just from the way the class was instructed. That being said I would say this class is not for the beginner. Dont be intimidated to enroll but you must know firearm saftey and be some what familiar with wepon manipulation. If you do know how to handle a firearm I would definitely recommend taking this class to improve your skill. From the saftey brief to the qual I think it was a great class, you should be proud of yourself MDFI.

 by Davis

Took Foundation Carbine and it far exceeded my expectations. Whatever your skill level, you'll get something out of it. Trek is a brilliant, engaging, funny instructor who elicits the info clearly. The class packs a lot of info in a long day, but gives you plenty to go back and work on -- exercises you can even do without live ammo in your house to improve muscle memory. Highly recommended.

 by Chris

Again, another fantastic course offered by Trek and MDFI. I learned so much and gained knowledge of clearing stoppages, reloading techniques, and how to wear the sling. Trek and Chang are super together, patient with a true sense of teaching and coaching. Highly recommend this course after Carbine Basics.

 by Tosh

I took Carbine Basics and Foundation Carbine back-to-back. This was a great way to go. Although Carbine Basics is not a prerequisite for Foundation Carbine, I could definitely see the difference in starting performance between those folks who had attended 'Basics to those who hadn't. My advice would be: Don't take shortcuts! Do carbine Basics and Foundation Carbine!
Foundation Carbine, like any of MDFI's "Foundaion" classes, starts to rachet up the intensity of the fundamentals. Biggest "golden nuggets" for me were around the handling of malfunctions - wow what an important skillset to have!

 by Joseph

Now let me explain my carbine manipulation level before I leave this review. I attend my local indoor range regularly, I have had my carbine for about a year and a half and have put a little over a thousand rounds through it. I consider myself good with it, but being that this was my first class, i was definitely nervous about what i was getting in to.

With that being said, I wanted to get to know my tools better so i signed up for the Foundation Carbine course. Trek and Brandon were amazing! Occassionally, there were times when they were explaining drills and i would think to myself "I don't know if i can do this properly." With on the spot feedback, I was able to approach every drill and workshop with a level of confidence that allowed me to retain what I learned and keep everyone around me safe.

Seeing as this was my first training course, i want this review to really speak to the students out there who are afraid to jump in. It's scary, its daunting, its nerve-racking, but it was well worth the time and energy. There were things that i learned and retained that i never expected myself to even train.

This class is a must!

 by Scott

I went through the May 19 class, this was my 3rd time taking this class, but the first time with me new AR. I came away with a much better understanding in how to use it. Having 3 instructors on the shooting line meant more individual attention than I remember in the past. I'm left handed and having Tim (who shoots his carbine lefty) seeming to keep an eye on me was wonderful! He showed me a few things I never would have considered.

 by Chip

Great class to learn how to manipulate the AR-15! Safety and Medical briefing are top notch, first and for most keeping students and instructors safe is key. Fun and informative. Many topics covered, sights and accuracy, using a sling, and resolving stoppages/malfunctions to name a few.

 by Kevin Bishop

Trek and Shane are the real deal as instructors. They are honest and competent, and it shows. They treat every student with dignity, something that is very refreshing. There are 3 pieces of advice to get the most out of class. 1) Take the rifle to the range before class. Make sure that it functions well with 200 rounds, and then clean the rifle. 2) Think about the sight over bore distance. 3) Make sure that the rifle is sighted in at the desired distance. Doing those things will make the Foundation Carbine class that much more productive. Trek and Shane do a great
job with the rest.

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Class: Foundation Carbine
Average rating:  
 26 reviews
 by Anna

This was my first time taking a class with MDFI. I had some hesitations, as I am a female and was stepping into a male dominated field of training. Tim, Grant, Adam, and Brandon were amazing. They were extremely helpful, kind, and never treated any question I had like it was a dumb question. I highly recommend this to any and everybody, especially women! I am a stay at home Mom and feel extremely confident protecting my home now with my AR-15. I also want to state that I felt incredibly safe the entire 10 hours I was there. They were extremely diligent with ensuring everyone participated in the safest manner possible. This in turn made the training that much more beneficial as I was able to solely focus on the teaching at hand, and not worrying about what other students were doing with their firearms. 10/10 would recommend!

 by Logan

First time training w/ MDFI and will be back for more. Tim and Roman were friendly and helpful instructors, and knew how to keep the class flowing. Safety was clearly the top priority, and it never stopped anyone from getting the knowledge or coaching they needed to succeed in the situations we were put into. Definitely recommended to anyone interested in the curriculum above.

 by Adam

2nd class taken with MDFI. The instructors are great, very knowledgeable in their field and have more patience that I thought possible. They truly wish for you to succeed for the sake of the entire fire arms community. Already Sighed up for the next class, cant wait... full tour here i come.

 by Nick

Legit training, Legit instructors!!
Prior Detroit Police and now in the suburbs of the city. I have attended multiple rifle courses and training throughout my career, no matter what skill set you are you can take away from this class. It's fun, very knowledgeable and detailed. The level of training, material and instructors are hard to find and especially at this price point.

 by Monte

The class was outstanding. Coming in I was quite confident in my marksmanship but realized quick, fast and in a hurry that marksmanship is just one component of many when it comes to being proficient with a carbine. I identified many areas where I need a lot of work. It didn’t stop with identification, I was also patiently shown proper technique for each aspect of the class. I left chewing a bit of humble pie, but also left with the knowledge needed to keep practicing at home. This was my first of hopefully many classes with MDFI.

 by Nick

As always, great course of fire, rock solid students, and instruction was second to none. This was my second time taking this F. Carbine and I walked away with plenty of things to work on as this course exposed some deficiencies in my training. What I really enjoyed that even though I had already taken the class before, there was still plenty of things to tweak and get better on. Roman and Sean took the time and made sure they addressed everyone on the line with not only things to work on or try, but praise for doing the drills well. I can't speak for anyone else in the class, but that constant feedback, whether good or bad, humbled me and helped me tremendously. Thank you Tim, Roman, and Sean for a great class and experience. See you on the line again soon!

 by Martin

Absolute top notch. Safe, thorough, and fun. You can have a good time while learning again.

 by Lowell

Amazingly well run. The safest firing line I have ever been on. The staff is all about detail. I learned and lot that I didn't know. And I learned how much I have to work on. Long day, but great time.

 by Brian

Just took Foundation Carbine yesterday and can't say enough about this class. Instructors are top notch and professional while maintaining a fun
and safe atmosphere. Everyone is treated with respect no matter your
skill level, and the instructors are very quick to help no matter what.
This was my first MDFI class but certainly not the last! You guy's ROCK!

 by Zack

Recently took Foundation Carbine. The level of professionalism displayed by the MDFI Cadre is always top tier. From whatever walk of life you may come from or no matter your experience, on an MDFI range, we all learn together. I regret not taking classes with MDFI sooner/more often.

 by Mike

I took the carbine fundamental course on May 22, 2022. I think if your a new shooter or an experienced one, this is a great course. The instructors are the best, and I really liked the course curriculum.

 by Chad

Took foundation carbine on July 25 2021. Loved every minute of it! The instructors are total professionals! I can not say enough good things about my experience, it was all good! I have no desire to train anywhere else. This was my third class with MDFI and will not be my last by a long shot! Thanks fellas!

 by Nick S.

This was my second MDFI course and it did not disappoint. Tim, Thomas, and Grant were outstanding in their instruction, patience, and humility with all the students regardless of their skill set. This course definitely gave me a solid foundation and plenty of golden nugget moments for me to work on moving forward. I particularly liked when Tim would push you through the mag changes and/or malfunctions to build some stress and push you. When he needed to break it down and explain it after, he explained it in such a way that it built up your confidence. The EGO-FREE aspect of this type of training is second to none. The cadre makes it very comfortable after the briefing, explains their expectations very well, and their eagle eye for safety is impeccable. Every drill builds off the next, and you walk away more confident in knowing your rifle platform. Awesome class! See you at the next one!

 by Kyle

It was super hot out but that did not take away from this amazing class. The Bluewater Sportsman's Association is an awesome range and the instruction as always was top notch. I feel far more confident with basic weapon manipulations after taking this class and I think it is something everyone who owns an AR-15 or similar rifle should take. This class will help you find out whether your gear is ready to take on the more advanced courses.

 by Rich C.

As an assistant principal my everyday job is to evaluate instruction and learning. Good teaching is evident and easy to spot regardless if it is in a math classroom, a PE class, or on the range in a defensive firearms course. Tim and Tom did a great job of providing thorough explanations of the curriculum and frontloading shooters with the information that they needed. They would then break it down into manageable chunks/smaller drills that would then be scaffolded into a larger drills that put all the pieces together. Tim and Tom would then model/demonstrate each drill before beginning to instruct it. They also provided great immediate feedback to shooters as they were conducting the drills, including pushing the more advanced shooters further and spending more time with novice shooters who needed the additional instruction/help. This is exactly what I would want to see when I walk into a classroom in my building. They did a great job overall and I highly recommend any class that Tim and Tom are instructing.

 by Ben

Incredible class to familiarize yourself with the AR 15 platform. My skills improved greatly throughout the day due to the top notch instruction. As always with MDFI the class was safe and fun.

 by James

33 time alum, and I'll definitely be back.

Instructors are extremely capable in what they do. Always get my $$ worth in education.


Thanks for a great and informative day!

 by Tyler

Absolutely phenomenal. These guys are the real deal, and then some. This was my second class with MDFI, and once again it was top notch. The knowledge that these guys have and the skillset, its impressive to watch and they are the best guys to learn from! I look forward to many other classes in the future! Thanks for an amazing time guys!

 by Michael

As a former Marine whos has been out of the military for a few years I wanted to take Foundation Carbine as a kind of a refresher for running a ar15 platform and I have to say I was incredibly impressed with how the class was. The instructors at the class where incredibly perfesonal and attentive to the students and their skill level. I personally watched students who where not entirely familiar or experienced with a rifle make huge improvements just from the way the class was instructed. That being said I would say this class is not for the beginner. Dont be intimidated to enroll but you must know firearm saftey and be some what familiar with wepon manipulation. If you do know how to handle a firearm I would definitely recommend taking this class to improve your skill. From the saftey brief to the qual I think it was a great class, you should be proud of yourself MDFI.

 by Davis

Took Foundation Carbine and it far exceeded my expectations. Whatever your skill level, you'll get something out of it. Trek is a brilliant, engaging, funny instructor who elicits the info clearly. The class packs a lot of info in a long day, but gives you plenty to go back and work on -- exercises you can even do without live ammo in your house to improve muscle memory. Highly recommended.

 by Chris

Again, another fantastic course offered by Trek and MDFI. I learned so much and gained knowledge of clearing stoppages, reloading techniques, and how to wear the sling. Trek and Chang are super together, patient with a true sense of teaching and coaching. Highly recommend this course after Carbine Basics.

 by Tosh

I took Carbine Basics and Foundation Carbine back-to-back. This was a great way to go. Although Carbine Basics is not a prerequisite for Foundation Carbine, I could definitely see the difference in starting performance between those folks who had attended 'Basics to those who hadn't. My advice would be: Don't take shortcuts! Do carbine Basics and Foundation Carbine!
Foundation Carbine, like any of MDFI's "Foundaion" classes, starts to rachet up the intensity of the fundamentals. Biggest "golden nuggets" for me were around the handling of malfunctions - wow what an important skillset to have!

 by Joseph

Now let me explain my carbine manipulation level before I leave this review. I attend my local indoor range regularly, I have had my carbine for about a year and a half and have put a little over a thousand rounds through it. I consider myself good with it, but being that this was my first class, i was definitely nervous about what i was getting in to.

With that being said, I wanted to get to know my tools better so i signed up for the Foundation Carbine course. Trek and Brandon were amazing! Occassionally, there were times when they were explaining drills and i would think to myself "I don't know if i can do this properly." With on the spot feedback, I was able to approach every drill and workshop with a level of confidence that allowed me to retain what I learned and keep everyone around me safe.

Seeing as this was my first training course, i want this review to really speak to the students out there who are afraid to jump in. It's scary, its daunting, its nerve-racking, but it was well worth the time and energy. There were things that i learned and retained that i never expected myself to even train.

This class is a must!

 by Scott

I went through the May 19 class, this was my 3rd time taking this class, but the first time with me new AR. I came away with a much better understanding in how to use it. Having 3 instructors on the shooting line meant more individual attention than I remember in the past. I'm left handed and having Tim (who shoots his carbine lefty) seeming to keep an eye on me was wonderful! He showed me a few things I never would have considered.

 by Chip

Great class to learn how to manipulate the AR-15! Safety and Medical briefing are top notch, first and for most keeping students and instructors safe is key. Fun and informative. Many topics covered, sights and accuracy, using a sling, and resolving stoppages/malfunctions to name a few.

 by Kevin Bishop

Trek and Shane are the real deal as instructors. They are honest and competent, and it shows. They treat every student with dignity, something that is very refreshing. There are 3 pieces of advice to get the most out of class. 1) Take the rifle to the range before class. Make sure that it functions well with 200 rounds, and then clean the rifle. 2) Think about the sight over bore distance. 3) Make sure that the rifle is sighted in at the desired distance. Doing those things will make the Foundation Carbine class that much more productive. Trek and Shane do a great
job with the rest.