This review is for the law enforcement officers on this board. I hope this does not offend anyone else. However, I have just taken two of the NRA's Law Enforcement Instructor Development Courses: Tactical Handgun and Tactical Shotgun. Both courses were 44 hours long and had low light/dim light shooting.
The main emphasis on these courses were in instructor development. They WERE NOT shooting courses. Although you do shoot, you don't shoot alot. The drills they have, you generally only do once, maybe twice. They set the classes up in a shooter/coach arrangement, allowing you to teach another student the drills. This has one good aspect, for it allows you to interact with people you don't know. You do pick up some valuable training points this way.
The down side to this, is its very time consuming. Most firearms instructors (myself included) are generally teaching and we don't get a chance to shoot much. I would have liked to see less of the shooter/coach idea, and more range time for us. However, I can see the value for persons with not much experience teaching.
Another negative is, the drills you shoot, they DO NOT give you in the manual. So, when you learn a good drill, you have to write it down, to use it in your own training. I believe this is also a bad idea.
Finally, in order to receive their "certification," you HAVE to be a member of the NRA. don't ask me why, however, that is the way it is.
My understanding is these courses are going to go by the wayside in 2005. They are going to have a combined course of pistol/shotgun/rifle. So, I am happy I was able to get it in before they don't have them anymore.
For the money, these courses are a GREAT value. If your a firearms instructor, or want to be one, I wouldn't hesitate in going to the classes.
The main emphasis on these courses were in instructor development. They WERE NOT shooting courses. Although you do shoot, you don't shoot alot. The drills they have, you generally only do once, maybe twice. They set the classes up in a shooter/coach arrangement, allowing you to teach another student the drills. This has one good aspect, for it allows you to interact with people you don't know. You do pick up some valuable training points this way.
The down side to this, is its very time consuming. Most firearms instructors (myself included) are generally teaching and we don't get a chance to shoot much. I would have liked to see less of the shooter/coach idea, and more range time for us. However, I can see the value for persons with not much experience teaching.
Another negative is, the drills you shoot, they DO NOT give you in the manual. So, when you learn a good drill, you have to write it down, to use it in your own training. I believe this is also a bad idea.
Finally, in order to receive their "certification," you HAVE to be a member of the NRA. don't ask me why, however, that is the way it is.
My understanding is these courses are going to go by the wayside in 2005. They are going to have a combined course of pistol/shotgun/rifle. So, I am happy I was able to get it in before they don't have them anymore.
For the money, these courses are a GREAT value. If your a firearms instructor, or want to be one, I wouldn't hesitate in going to the classes.
No reason it should! Last time I checked, the job requirements for a LEO shooting instructor are a tad bit different than those for an engineer/truck driver/whatever shooting enthusiast.