Military Firearms Instructor

[Coastie2503]

I want to know how I can use my Coast Guard Firearms Instructor certification to become a firearms instructor on the outside to teach basic fundamentals of weapons handling, shooting, and conceal carry? Will anybody accept this certification with appropriate paperwork?

 

[Corey J. Molinelli]

No you have to get certified by each state and follow that states rules and program of instruction. Some states will allow the NRA basic pistol course for a CHL class. So I would recommend taking a few NRA classes, and getting certified there. and then finding out what the state laws are for instructor qualifications and training ciricula.

 

[Coastie2503]

Ok Thanks, does this also apply to Colt Automatic weapons certifications as well?

 

[adatiowa]

Getting your NRA Certification will allow you to teach in almost every state without having to get "further credentialing" however some states do require you to take "their state course" which may be brief ensuring you know their laws or be as strict as a full 8hr course and providing curriculum info for our company to be approved.

I keep my NRA Certification as it allows me to operate easily across the Country and is quicker for County Sheriff's etc. to confirm my credentials if needed to approve student applications.

However, much of what I teach is based on my many higher levels of Instructor Level Certification based on the fact that those other certifications are geared on training for "self defense/real world" active shooter application not simply "range style shooting techniques".

The NRA is largely a sports shooting organization and although they do have some other Advanced Courses outside of Basic Pistol allot of the fundamental shooting techniques (weaver/isosceles) are still used. Still largely best suited for range or competitive controlled setting applications as opposed to CQB get the job done application.

I believe your added Military Instructor Certification will enable you to do similar as I have and that is to far surpass what 99% of Instructors can offer because you are more likely to have experience and certification/training on formats that are geared around Self Defense/CQB scenarios.

As most of us know there is no such thing as breathe control, trigger control or sight alignment during a high stress flight/fight response to an active shooter especially when you have bullets whizzing by your face!

That is what 99% of instructors teach because they do not have the additional education to instruct self defense focused shooting techniques/platforms and thus hindering students (IMO) because they will think they can respond as they would under ideal range shooting conditions allow.

If your not able to draw and discharge 4 rnds within 1.5-3seconds from within 0-6ft 73% of the time and up to 15ft 88% of the time you may as well not carry a firearm.

Your not legally allowed to shoot outside of 21-30ft in most States to defend yourself yet for some reason most Instructors have students start shooting at ranges of 7yrds-20yrds...what the heck for?

That is 21ft-60ft!

Attackers are not usually known to give their victims a "heads up I'm coming for you" distance and again primarily inside of 6ft 73% of the time.

j

 

[Gary Chapin]

Coastie2503,

As a USAF Combat Arms Instructor, I did not have to complete the NRA course as we receive more training then the basic NRA instructor course for both rifle and pistol and the same advanced course training they offer. As I have received my SLED approved CWP instructor certification myself. Please contact your state CWP regulatory dept to see if they accept it. Most states, like South Carolina, require that you have received standardized weapon instructor training (they Have a list of approved training and military instructor is one of them) in the past and they require you to submit a full lesson plan to include minute notes. Hope this helps and please don't give up. NRA is just an association on their approved list. They are not the catch all.

 

[txshooter]

When I took my NRA instructor courses, I was in the minority as a civilian with no military or law enforcement background taking the classes. The rest were mostly military or soon to be former military instructors who were taking the NRA courses to transfer their military credentials to a civilian credentialing.

Here in Texas, to become a state certified CHL instructor, you must be a certified instructor first before they will allow you to become certified as a CHL instructor. Texas accepts NRA, military and law enforcement instructor certification to satisfy that requirement. So, check with each state that you may instruct in for their requirements.

I agree with most of what the other posters have stated. The only thing that I would add is that for many first time students (many of our students have never handled a firearm), the NRA courses are a great way to get started. Yes, they are basic; but cost is very reasonable and are offered around the country, usually not far from where they live. These courses are designed to reach the larger audience and the training material works. But you must always remember, they are teaching the BASIC fundamentals upon which you build the advanced skills.

At the end of each course the students are encouraged to seek further training. I know that in our courses we emphasize that and try to impress upon them the importance of higher level training and continual practice before venturing out into the real world with their firearms thinking that they can handle any stressful situation.