Blackwater facility accepting civilians

MOYOCK, Va., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The massive Blackwater training center in Moyock, Va., is opening its doors to civilians, the company's ads indicate.

An advertisement in The (Norfolk, Va.) Virginian-Pilot indicated the Blackwater facility, owned by Xe Services LLC of McLean, Va., has changed its name to the U.S. Training Center and is offering gun training courses to civilians as well as to military personnel and police officers, the newspaper reported Sunday.

It said the ad highlighted a range of course offerings for handgun, shotgun and carbine, with women-only classes also available.

Meanwhile, Xe's Web site reportedly touted its "ability to deliver hard-hitting, effective training experiences for military, security and law-enforcement professionals as well as civilians."

The Virginian-Pilot said calls for comment were not returned.

The company claims the Moyock facility is the world's largest private weapons training center, with 40,000 trainees per year, mostly from U.S. and other militaries.