FIREARMS
INSTRUCTOR SEMINAR
3 DAY SEMINAR
Other than the NRA instructor training courses, there are few organized opportunities for one called to firearms instruction to be trained on how to instruct (as distinct from how to shoot). Those who enter the field typically come in through the NRA instructor courses and shooting clubs, are moved into “training slots” by police or military agencies, or volunteer to work directly with professional instructors for a period of time before they just “hang out a shingle” and start. Results are mixed. What we all discover is that with respect to instruction, just as with the shooting skills themselves, we do not know what we do not know.
We believe any mature individual who is motivated to teach, has above-average firearms training and shooting skills, and has a personality such that he works well with people, can be an effective firearms instructor. But a significant number of those who enter the field lack teaching skills, have little experience defining training objectives and then developing curricula appropriate to those objectives, and often harbor unrealistic expectations regarding the economics of firearms training as a business. Although their firearms skills might be superior, their presentation when teaching novices can be improved.
The Idea
This is going to be a day-long seminar for: (1) those who feel the calling, and want some guidance about whether or how to proceed; or (2) are currently instructing and wish to compare their methods and practices with those of other instructors in order to improve. The seminar is not about what anyone teaches, but, rather, how they teach it. It is a “next step” or formal training beyond the NRA instructor courses.
Course Content
This is a course on running courses, not a shooting course. It will be held in a meeting room, not on a range. The topics to be addressed are:
I. BEING CLEAR ON WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WHY.
II. ADOPTING AND PROJECTING A PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK AND ATTITUDE.
III. DECIDING ON WHAT YOU ARE TEACHING, AND TEACHING THAT.
1V. FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF RUNNING A SAFE LINE
V. TEACHING SKILLS ONE MUST HAVE
VI. SELLING THE EXPERIENCE
VII. THE LAW THAT GOVERNS FIREARMS TRAINING COURSES
It is expected those in the course who have experience will share their experiences in dealing with recurring issues, so those with less experience can see how different people have solved the same problems.
Presenter
The seminar will be presented by Peter Georgiades.
Peter is the President of the Pennsylvania Firearms Development Corporation, and Executive Director of the Firearms Instruction, Research and Education (F.I.R.E. Institute), a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to firearms education. He the art and craft of firearms instruction by working closely with full-time professional instructors over a period of 20 years, and by taking courses specifically designed to train instructors (as distinct from training shooters). His formal instructor training courses include: Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" training program; Gunsite Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Certification Course; Marksman's Enterprise 3 day instructor courses (carbine and pistol); Stock Brothers (Giles Stock) 3-day Instructor Training; Arizona CCW Instructor Qualification – Gunsite Training Academy; NRA instructor certification programs NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection). Peter has been an instructor in law at the National Law Center at the George Washington University and the Graduate School of Industrial Administration at Carnegie-Mellon University, and regularly lectures on the law governing the use of deadly force and firearms law.
This course is sponsored as a public service by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation.
“HAVING A GUN AND THINKING YOU ARE ARMED IS LIKE BUYING A PIANO AND THINKING YOU ARE A MUSICIAN”
Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)