Survival Decision is private Self Defense and Firearms training facility based in the Greater Charleston Area of South Carolina. It offers curriculum-based instruction in self-defense, handgun, rifle, shotgun and carbine as well as other specialty firearm training.
Core Instructors
Instructor Bios...
Core Instructors
- Steve Turner
- Richard Smith
- Michael Croke
Instructor Bios...
Steve Turner - Primary Instructor
Senior Chief Petty Officer Steve Turner, USN (ret) is 24 year veterans of the US Navy serving with Naval Special Warfare Command (N75) primarily in support of Counter Drug Operations in Middle America and along the Amazon River Basin specializing in riverine operations, raids, and counter-ambush techniques.
After completing operations with Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF-South), he joined Naval Coastal Warfare, GRU II in 2000. Shortly after while on a routine operation in Vieques on a Force Protection and Military Policing of trespassing/incursions operation to protect the practice grounds, a general muster was called in October announcing the bombing incident of the USS Cole. This was the beginning of a second decade of service in a new arena. New deployments came, new relationships, new roles and responsibilities.
Components of GRU II became one of the most deployed Groups on the East Coast during this time and Sr. Turner was part of a mobile training team which required him to undergo extensive training in small-arms, crew-served weapons, force-protection, perimeter defense and security. Qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-11 Sig Sauer, M-9 Beretta, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-203 and M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun and also served in the capacity of Range Master and Range Safety Officer.
He is certified as US Navy Designated Marksmen (DM) and a decorated veteran of Desert Storm, Kosovo Campaign, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Direct Response and the recent Iraqi Freedom and Global War on Terrorism, serving in numerous undisclosed locations in the Middle East and other locations around the globe.
He is also authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals and other campaign and personal awards.
Senior Chief Turner is certified by the NRA and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for Concealed Weapon training and other firearm handling and safety training.
After completing operations with Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF-South), he joined Naval Coastal Warfare, GRU II in 2000. Shortly after while on a routine operation in Vieques on a Force Protection and Military Policing of trespassing/incursions operation to protect the practice grounds, a general muster was called in October announcing the bombing incident of the USS Cole. This was the beginning of a second decade of service in a new arena. New deployments came, new relationships, new roles and responsibilities.
Components of GRU II became one of the most deployed Groups on the East Coast during this time and Sr. Turner was part of a mobile training team which required him to undergo extensive training in small-arms, crew-served weapons, force-protection, perimeter defense and security. Qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-11 Sig Sauer, M-9 Beretta, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-203 and M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun and also served in the capacity of Range Master and Range Safety Officer.
He is certified as US Navy Designated Marksmen (DM) and a decorated veteran of Desert Storm, Kosovo Campaign, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Direct Response and the recent Iraqi Freedom and Global War on Terrorism, serving in numerous undisclosed locations in the Middle East and other locations around the globe.
He is also authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals and other campaign and personal awards.
Senior Chief Turner is certified by the NRA and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for Concealed Weapon training and other firearm handling and safety training.
Richard Smith - Lead Armorer, Instructor
Chief Petty Officer Richard Smith, USN (ret) is a 25 year veteran of the US Navy and Naval Reserve, respectively, serving aboard multiple platforms on the West Coast (WESPAC) and GRU I operations.
He is a certified Special Warfare Armorer and was our favored Gunsmith for creating that something special for our "Specific Task"...
Chief Smith is qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-9 Beretta 9mm, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun and many other tools housed at Crane Indiana (Burns City).
Chief Smith is a graduate of the Center for Anti-Terrorism Security Forces/Force Protection School and is also a certified Maritime Law Enforcement Instructor for the Coast Guard (BBOC) Basic Boarding Officer School.
He is authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals and other campaign and personal awards.
He is a certified Special Warfare Armorer and was our favored Gunsmith for creating that something special for our "Specific Task"...
Chief Smith is qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-9 Beretta 9mm, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun and many other tools housed at Crane Indiana (Burns City).
Chief Smith is a graduate of the Center for Anti-Terrorism Security Forces/Force Protection School and is also a certified Maritime Law Enforcement Instructor for the Coast Guard (BBOC) Basic Boarding Officer School.
He is authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals and other campaign and personal awards.
Michael Croke - Lead Vulnerability Assessor, Instructor
Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Croke, USN (ret) is 30 year veterans of the US Navy and Naval Reserve, respectively, serving aboard ships in the Blue Water Navy and then in a small, little known community known as Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare, in which the primary mission is Force-Protection and Anti-Terrorism in coastal areas.
In this capacity he was required to undergo extensive training in small-arms, crew-served weapons, force-protection, perimeter defense and security. He qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-9 Beretta 9mm, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun.
Also he is certified as US Navy Designated Marksmen (DM) and a decorated veteran of the recent Global War on Terrorism, having served in numerous undisclosed locations in the Middle East.
Having served in the capacity of Range Master and Range Safety Officer, he is also authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals.
Together with other members of our team, we have trained hundreds of military personnel in the safe and effective use of firearms, as well as civilian personnel through Survival Decision and Battle Stations Professional Firearms Training in Rock Hill, SC. Honorable mention here to Master Chief Edward F. Gallagher IV, USN (ret) You can find more on Battle Stations Professional Firearms Training on Facebook.
Senior Chief Croke is a also a Level II US Navy Force Protection Officer with extensive training in anti-terrorism tactics and safeguards for US military personnel and their families. He is a sought after professional assessor and trainer for Industrial sites and chemical producers in Anti-Terrorism protocols and procedures with DOT / DOD and Homeland Security credentials
Senior Chief Croke is certified by the NRA and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for Concealed Weapon training and other firearm handling and safety training.
In this capacity he was required to undergo extensive training in small-arms, crew-served weapons, force-protection, perimeter defense and security. He qualified in the use of the M-2 50 cal. Machine Gun, M-9 Beretta 9mm, M-16 / M-4 Rifle, M-19 Grenade Launcher, M-21 Sniper Rifle, 240-G / N Machine Gun and M-60 Machine Gun.
Also he is certified as US Navy Designated Marksmen (DM) and a decorated veteran of the recent Global War on Terrorism, having served in numerous undisclosed locations in the Middle East.
Having served in the capacity of Range Master and Range Safety Officer, he is also authorized to wear the expert pistol and expert rifle medals.
Together with other members of our team, we have trained hundreds of military personnel in the safe and effective use of firearms, as well as civilian personnel through Survival Decision and Battle Stations Professional Firearms Training in Rock Hill, SC. Honorable mention here to Master Chief Edward F. Gallagher IV, USN (ret) You can find more on Battle Stations Professional Firearms Training on Facebook.
Senior Chief Croke is a also a Level II US Navy Force Protection Officer with extensive training in anti-terrorism tactics and safeguards for US military personnel and their families. He is a sought after professional assessor and trainer for Industrial sites and chemical producers in Anti-Terrorism protocols and procedures with DOT / DOD and Homeland Security credentials
Senior Chief Croke is certified by the NRA and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for Concealed Weapon training and other firearm handling and safety training.
More Bio detail coming soon