Yes, civilians can participate in military training – although the military is prohibitively selective about training civilians. More feasibly you can receive military training through a private military contractor (PMC) without joining the US Armed Forces…but there are a few notable caveats.
FIRST: This training requires an enormous commitment in terms of time. Any person, company, or agency that suggests you can learn such competency and discipline in days or even a week is blatantly lying! Martial competencies require months to learn, and years to master.
SECOND: This training is not cheap. Fully 20 percent of all federal government spending goes toward the US Department of Defense, and billions of dollars are earmarked for training!
THIRD: Many PMC are selective about their customers. They tend to train only uniformed government personnel or other PMC employees. But this is not always the case, and there exists some very dynamic, robust training programs for civilians of all walks of life.
BEWARE: Expensive price tags DO NOT guarantee quality! Some of the best companies are very expensive. True. But some of the worst companies are also expensive. Shop carefully.
One Shepherd’s Warrior-Leader Program began in 1981 and is open to civilians. This program is developed by combat arms veterans and is of the highest quality possible. It is also impressively affordable. HOWEVER – it requires a three-year commitment an educational program and warrior community.
Each semester is seven days in duration, and there are two semesters per year. That equals 42 days of field training in dismounted patrolling operations.
Training yourself in military arts and science is not easy. And graduating One Shepherd’s Warrior-Leader Program is just the beginning, not the end. This path requires a lifelong commitment.