Low Light Instructor:
"In summary, the course was excellent and Erick presented the subject matter in such a way that it was easy to understand and as the training progressed we were able to experience what was taught.  What I took out of this course the most was how limited the eye can be in differing lighting conditions and how as I am getting up there in age, my eyesight is not as it used to be.  A lot of great information was learned and will be passed down to the deputies of my agency to help improve their safety and the safety of the public that we swore to protect.
I thank Erick (CMS) for putting on a great course and for wonderful conversation and discussion.  Definitely and highly recommend anyone to take a class from Cougar Mountain Solutions!" Ron C, VCSO

"Bottom line Erick...the class was great. It would be a good foundation to give to cops both on the user and instructor levels. In general we do not get alot of low light training yet alot of our work involves low light regardless of what shift you work.
Really there are not many presenters of this material out there and I am surprised you do not get more work putting this information out.
We are going to see what we can do about hosting you. I think it was alot of good material and we got some good reps so F, G, and myself were happy with the class.
I forgot to mention that I really wanted to take the class to get some good reps running pistol mounted optics in low light and I was satisfied with the work that I got. Thanks again for the class....do not be a stranger!" Dan C. Tactics and Survival Training Unit @ Large West Coast Sheriff’s Dept

"Thank you again for the training. We do not do enough as law enforcement trainers to make sure our fellow officers are competent night fighters. The problem being we often do not know what we do not know.  Your class is a great foundation for using light effectively in the officer’s working environment.
"Moving forward for us, I see breaking bad habits as the biggest challenge.
-   The weapon-mounted light is not a primary search tool.
- Just because a firearm is unholstered doesn’t mean it’s always ok to point it at your suspect.  There is a metric ton of case law that supports this as fact.
- Be competent with all of your lights and always have more than one.  Keep them in good working order.
- Have good equipment, even if it means buying it yourself.
- Have more than one technique for light use and be ready to transition between techniques as needed.
- The four rules of firearms safety are not exclusive to training. They are a lifestyle choice you commit to when you accept the job of carrying a gun.  I believe Darryl Bolke has said that more than a few times." TM, OPD

Pistol-Mounted Optics Instructor:
www.patreon.com/posts/84580378
from the Rangemaster newsletter:
"Cougar Mountain Solutions Pistol Mounted Optic Instructor
By Lee Weems, Rangemaster Staff Instructor
"Pistol mounted optics (PMOs) are the trendy “modern” in contemporary firearms training. The Modern Technique developed by Jeff Cooper is the core of firearms training as we know it. Erick Gelhaus had the daunting task of integrating PMOs into the Modern Technique as an instructor at Gunsite. The progeny of that effort is Erick’s Pistol Mounted Optic Instructor Course, previously only available to law enforcement but now available, as of this offering, as a “hybrid model” to both law enforcement and what Erick terms as “decent, normal, human beings”.

"I’m not going to delve into Erick’s specific teaching points for techniques. If you want those, go take his class. This review will focus on Erick’s teaching style particularly as it related to several challenges.

"The first of those challenges is that this is a hybrid class. His intent is to offer a class that is beneficial to cops seeking information on developing an agency training programs and policies as well as techniques for training individual officers while also making the class relevant private citizens. In my opinion, he succeeded. There were 12 students in the class split almost evenly between the two groups. While a portion of the material was cop-specific, there were no segments of the class in which the decent, normal, human beings were ignored or in which they could simply “switch off”.

"Another challenge Erick faced is that this group was filled with several strong personalities. To his credit, Erick kept those strong personalities in check and the inside jokes to minimum while also avoiding doctrinal battles. On several instances, he offered his preference while also acknowledging other ways to tackle the problems. I’ll note a key phrase that he used: “Here are the options. See what works.”

"Erick made ample use of the Explain, Demonstrate, Imitate, Practice (EDIP) teaching module. He explained everything. He  demonstrated every technique. We worked coach/pupil with another student for almost every exercise, and afterward, he solicited feedback as to technique as well as teaching points for how to address coaching specific problems and techniques.

"Finally, Erick’s safety briefing included a significant discussion of the application of the safety rules with particular emphasis on muzzle and trigger finger discipline. His classroom and range material emphasized those rules.

"I’ll be blunt. If you aren’t legally justified to be shooting it, you aren’t legally justified to be pointing a firearm at it.
"Unfortunately, that concept escapes some training offerings.
"If you are looking for a class from which you will come away with tools for teaching the PMO, this course will satisfy that need."


Pistol Mounted Optics:
"Before Erick’s 250RDS class (at Gunsite), I liked the idea of red dots on handguns, but I didn't feel competent enough with one to start carrying it professionally on duty. His training program gave me all the skills necessary to feel confident running a pistol-mounted optic in critical incidents and worst-case scenarios. Highly recommended.” David C, Oklahoma police officer & Army infantryman
pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?44526-Aug-2020-Gunsite-350-Intermediate-Defensive-Pistol-Pistol-Mounted-Optics-specific&p=1111007&highlight=erick#post1111007
pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?54021-AAR-Gunsite-350RDS&p=1388392&highlight=erick#post1388392

West Coast Shotgun:
"This was an awesome block of instruction! I really dig Erick’s take on running the shotgun. Tons of excellent info based on years of experience, knowledge, and training." Guy S. Fed LE

Concealed Carry Skills:
pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?48767-AAR-Erick-Gelhaus-%93Good-Guy-With-a-Gun%94-June-28-2021
pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?45926-Erick-Gelhaus-Defensive-Accuracy-Bay-Area-California-Sept-27th-2020