Finding a weapons instructor

[Team Sergeant]

Finding a good weapons trainer. Funny you ask this as I've recently been inundated with requests for the same, how do I find a good weapons trainer.

In order to understand my reply one should make a few individual assessments:

What is my current level of weapons training.
What sort of training do you desire? (Basic-Pistol, rifle, defensive pistol, rifle, offensive pistol rifle?)
What is my budget or time constraints.
Am I willing to travel?

I could go on with the self assessment but I’m sure you get the idea…. Along that same thought process one should identify a trainer with similar capabilities: i.e.; safe weapons handling (basic weapons training) does not require instruction from a former member of a classified counter-terrorist unit, SWAT training should not be conducted by a IPSC or “competitive shooter”, the use of lethal force should not be taught by anyone that has never been in harms way. Match your training with the proper level trainer.

Picking an instructor is very difficult these days as there is a veritable plethora of weapons trainers and masters of fluff. Many have the proper “credentials” and sadly to say, many do not.

I've seen bio after bio of weapons trainers/instructors with no formal weapons training, listed on the internet and in some large scale training facilities. They are easy to spot, if you know what you’re looking for….

John Doe, firearms instructor, advanced pistol, assault rifle, sniper etc etc etc. John has been a firearms instructor with “insert weapons training facility here” for over twenty years. He is an avid hunter and has over 40 years in and around weapons. He has written articles (in major airsoft magazines) dealing with weapons training, tactics and procedures.

As you read John’s bio a few things that are missing, credentials. Some of the leading names in the firearm training world have had little to no formal firearms instruction. Yes you heard that right, little to zero training. In fact I know of civilians that have run from gun fights in Iraq, now teaching weapons training and flaunting their “trigger time” as a PSD contractor overseas. I've had police call and ask me if Special Forces soldiers use gunpowder for breaching because his “civilian tactical breaching instructor said he had taught Special Forces soldiers/SEALS etc” in the use of gunpowder to breach. To which I replied, “Why of course officer Fred, most time we just throw away that state of the art plastic explosive, especially designed for breaching, disregard our classified breaching classes and go with Billy-Bob’s special gunpowder breaching charge.” True story.


They are out there teaching. Why, because no-one has yet to hold them accountable for their lackadaisical weapons training. They are nothing more than snake oil salesmen using today’s headlines and preying on the ignorant masses.

Lest I digress.

Be specific in your intent, basic weapons training should be taught by a NRA certified firearms trainer or better. There are thousands of individuals out there with these credentials, find them and get the proper training. If your instructor does not have any NRA training, “certified” LEO training or “certified” military training find another instructor. Vetting an NRA weapons instructor is as simple as visiting the NRA website.

Just being an LEO or former military does NOT make one a weapons trainer. Ask to see their certificates of training. Then use due diligence and verify their claims. If their bio reads like John Doe’s above and only has “former LEO, or former military” take note, as they might have been riding a desk for 20 years or a military truck driver. Don’t be fooled.
Most first-class LEO instructors will list their firearms training as will most former military instructors, no formal training means substandard instruction. Look for the credentials. Credentials from “insert weapons training facility, academy, institute, etc here” should be dimly viewed. These weapons training facilities, academies and institutes usually have but one graduation standard, did the individual pay his tuition. Again, sad but very true. Most schools only graduation standard is ensuring that the individual demonstrated safe weapons handling techniques, is not a menace to society and paid in full. If these conditions are met these weapons training facilities, academies and institutes will confer a weapons training diploma upon that individual. These schools are also “self perpetuating” as in “John Doe is a graduate of “insert weapons training facility, academy, institute, etc here” etc etc etc, big deal, now we have fluff masters replicating themselves.

The NRA on the other hand has a very good training standard and an ever increasing difficulty level of instruction for students to obtain. I would highly recommend NRA training to everyone that can attend.

Here’s a big request I’m now currently addressing: My son is in the infantry and I’d like to send him a shooting school any suggestions?

Answer:
Do NOT, under any circumstances, send a new member of the US military to a civilian shooting school. Civilian shooting schools, institutes, academy’s etc are designed for DEFENSIVE weapons techniques, tactics and procedures. The US military “combatant” forces are taught, primarily, OFFENSIVE techniques tactics and procedures. If you ask any LEO in the US how many offensive shooting schools they have attended, 99.9% will answer, none. Now there are a few schools, very few, that I would recommend but we’re not going to list them on this board.

That's all for now.

I'm sure some will have more question regarding this topic.

TS
off for more coffee