Famed Firearms Instructor Pat Rogers has Died

Famed firearms instructor Pat Rogers suddenly died at his home after a massive heart attack.

Pat Rogers was a retired NYPD Sergeant and Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps, who turned his “street” skills into one of the most popular and highly acclaimed private firearms instruction programs in the nation. Pat incorporated E.A.G. Tactical in 1992, as the firearms and tactics training company to enhance professional and private shooters’ firearms skills in real-life engagement scenarios as opposed to a static range or bull’s-eye shooting.

Pat Rogers was very influential in the firearms instruction field, and his courses of instruction are considered some of the best available. Rogers emphasized the need for the shooter to “run the gun”, or in other words master the use of the tool. A Rogers training course was not about shooting tight groups from stationary positions, rather the courses taught the shooter how to win a gunfight.

Who was Pat Rogers?

In addition to over 20 years of experience with the New York City Police Department, and rising to Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps, Pat Rogers honed his firearm skills to mastery level during nearly 25 years as a prominent firearms instructor. He was an NRA High Master Rifle and NRA supporter, as well as a CMP Distinguished Rifleman. Pat was a Vietnam veteran in the Marine Corps and received 54 commendations with the NYPD, including their Medal of Valor.

When Pat incorporated E.A.G. Tactical in 1992 it was for the express purpose of teaching “real-life” firearm skills, and teaching students the fundamentals of winning a gunfight. There are plenty of schools out there teaching the basics, and some that claim they are “advanced”. However, many of those courses, in reality, are only looking for tight shot groups on a static range, or worse, advocate ridiculous tactics for show but not substance. Rogers developed both handgun and tactical rifle courses. These courses the most critical firearms skills including combat and tactical reloads, clearing malfunctions, transitioning from rifle to pistol, and shooting while moving.

Rogers also offered low-light and no-light shooting. To cap everything off, Rogers offered shoot-house instruction, providing shooters a chance to experience the real-life challenges of moving, identifying, and engaging shoot and no-shoot targets inside of a structure. This type of experience, when taught well, can bring the shooter’s skills to a higher level than almost any other firearms training can provide. This is because the shooter must think, move, and shoot in 3-dimensional circumstances, just as they would in a real-life encounter.

Along the way Rogers partnered with Bravo Company, a firearms and accessory manufacturer, to highlight certain components he felt enhanced the shooter’s ability to be effective when shooting the AR-15. In addition, Pat Rogers was a valued firearms instructor at Gunsite Academy for 12 years. Pat authored a popular line of training books under the “Make Ready With Pat Rogers” title. These books covered pistol and rifle work, honing the drills and tactics to make a shooter proficient with their firearm and winning a gunfight.

I know several officers who have attended Pat Rogers’s firearms courses. Each has had nothing but praise for the professionalism and personal training they received from the course. Pat was described as highly knowledgable and extremely competent with firearms and instruction, but more than that Pat was personable, energetic, and personally committed to each student’s learning and advancement.

This didn’t mean that students wouldn’t receive the saltiness of a career Marine and NYPD police officer. On the contrary, Pat was known for telling it as it is, but he never lost focus on his overall mission to teach shooters how to become better. Not attending a Pat Rogers course will be one of my greatest regrets.

Rogers was approachable even though his resume could easily warrant a big ego. Pat was also an avid shooter. He was not one to teach from the back, simply dictating what students should do and pointing out errors. Pat shot the skills he professed right in front of his classes and mentored students in their own learning. Like a true master, he showed his students how to improve their skills and worked right along beside them.

It is very rare to find someone with the technical mastery of the essential skills and the humble personality that allows them to reach just about any student. Pat was both of those and much more. The passing of Pat Rogers is the passing of one of the firearms legends. He will be greatly missed.

Final Thoughts

Rest in peace brother Pat.

You served America with honor in Vietnam, and a full career with the Marine Corps. You served the citizens of New York with honor for a full career with the NYPD. Not satisfied with rest, you served the firearms community (especially military and law enforcement shooters) with honor for a full career as a stand-out instructor and mentor.

You will be missed!