Enrollment Deadline

Firearms Instruction Research and Education

30 Day Enrollment Deadline

How and Why the 30 Day Cut-Off Works

There seems to be some rather persistent confusion over how the 30 day cut-off period woks. Hopefully, if the reasons for the cut-off date are explained, its operation will be clear.

When the F.I.R.E. Institute engages an instructor from out-of-state, it is often someone who does this for a living. For them, scheduling is very important. They plan travel so as to make their travel time most efficient, make advance air reservations to get good prices and good seats, etc. They also turn down engagements once they schedule us in for a particular time slot. Changes and cancellations cause them very real inconvenience and loss of income, and they (quite rightly) have little patience for last-minute cancellations.

For this reason, part of the deal when we engage an industry professional is that we will tell them if the course is going to cancel not less than 30 days in advance of the first day of the course. That is the "cut-off date." After that date, we are irrevocably in, meaning we are on the hook for their fee.

Because we are "on the hook," we have to put the students who have enrolled "on the hook." Anyone who has signed up is as committed to pay for the slot, whether they use it or not. Although an enrollee who is forced to make a last-minute change can sell their slot to another person (who meets the course prerequisites and credentialing requirements), we cannot simply refund their money.

They do not get their money back. A few training organizations charge a cancellation fee, even with 30 days advance notice.

Sometimes an outside instructor will bill "by the head," meaning they expected to get paid so much for each person in the course. In those cases, the arrangement is a little different. On the "cut-off date" we tell the instructor how many are enrolled, and, if we don't have the minimum number of enrollees previously specified, it is the instructor's decision whether they are prepared to come all the way to Pittsburgh for just the number of students we have enrolled. Sometimes they gamble there will be additional enrollments in the 30 days remaining until course time, and sometimes they elect to cancel. If they say "go," we are in, they are in, and those who have already signed up are in.

Either way, we are committed 30 days out, and so the enrollees are committed 30 days out.

The confusion comes because some people think the 30-day cut-off precludes further enrollment. It does not. What is "cut-off" 30 days out are course refunds, not enrollment. If we have the minimum number of enrollees 30 days out, enrollment stays open until the course is full or course day, whichever comes first. If we don't have the minimum number, we announce the course is cancelled. Until that announcement, enrollment is open.

The situation is a little different if a course is being conducted by a F.I.R.E. Institute instructor, or a local instructor who can afford to be flexible. In those cases we may hold enrollment open a little longer, because cancellation has less important consequences for the instructors.

For example, if I am running a course and there is some question whether we have enough people 30 days out, I usually hold enrollment open until about two weeks in advance. However, whether I make the decision 30 days out or two weeks out, I am still counting on all the enrollments that are in place. Therefore, tuition still becomes non-refundable 30 days in advance of the course. (If we ultimately cancel, of course, everyone gets their money back.)

The mission of the F.I.R.E. institute is to make professional-level firearms instruction available locally, in order to bring it within the financial means of average working people. We operate on a cooperative model, not a competitive business model. This means we consider ourselves to be in league with the people who attend our courses, helping them get something they want, not selling people a service for a profit. If people want this level of training without having to travel to schools in Arizona and California, they will understand it is not going to be available at times which are necessarily most convenient for them, and do what they can to make their schedule conform to the availability of the instructors.

It is important that if you want a course, then enroll right away. Do not hold off, waiting to see if other people enroll. More than one course has cancelled while the number of people necessary to make the course go sit on the fence, "waiting to see what happens." What happens is the course cancels, disappointing all concerned. If you sign up you can be sure you are either going to get the course or get your money back.

I can't tell you how many times I have had a course cancel for lack of enrollment, and then heard, "Gee. I really wanted to take that course ... do you offer it again later this year?" The answer is almost always "no." Courses are scheduled around a lot of different variables, and we only have so many week-ends a season when we can schedule them. If the course is a priority for enough people, we hold it; if not, then we wait until the next year. This is why it is important, if you really want a course, that you do what you have to in order to be available.

Peter Georgiades
Executive Director

Side Note About "Discretionary Dollars":

In the firearms training industry, individuals who are looking for training are referred to as "discretionary dollars." This means they are spending their own money, at their discretion, as opposed to police or military agencies or corporate clients, who budget for certain kinds of training and direct their officers or employees to go.

As of this writing, many industry professionals have simply given up on "discretionary dollars." This is because people in the private sector are so fickle, and organizing a course where it is necessary to attract and get commitments of "discretionary dollars" is so much trouble. Say "discretionary dollars" to full-time trainers who "ride circuit," and they roll their eyes.

Putting 12 people in a private course requires about 50 contacts and an indeterminate number of schedule changes. With a police agency, corporate client or pre-organized private group, the provider deals with one person, the deal is done in two or three contacts, there is virtually always a substantial deposit paid, and the provider can then plan with confidence. People ultimately show up at the course because they are ordered to and paid to, or, if they do not, the contracting agency or corporation is still contractually committed to pay for the slots. There are no last-minute complications because someone's work schedule changed, their child got sick, or was "waiting for their new gun to arrive and they thought it would be here by now and ....".

For the majority of our courses, the F.I.R.E. Institute functions as an intermediary that establishes a pre-formed group for the instructor. We deal with the changes and questions and uncertainties before the instructor gets here, making a stop in Pittsburgh a more attractive option to top-tier instructors. If local people actually want professional training, they will make their decision early and commit, which makes it easier for us to book in-demand instructors locally. If not, then the courses don't happen. The decision really is yours.

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"Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician"
------ Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

This course is sponsored by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute,
a Penna. nonprofit corporation.
Training is provided as a public service.
All students must be 18 years or older. Proof of no criminal history is required.