The NRA Training Department expects a lot of its Training Counselors (TCs). This is because Training Counselors are tasked with ensuring that the instructor candidates who they are recommending for certification meet the NRA’s stringent requirements to become an NRA Certified Instructor, a title that is considered the “Gold Standard” in firearm training.
NRA Training Counselors start the vetting process long before a class begins. All instructor candidates are required to fill out the “NRA Instructor Training Program Pre-Course Questionnaire” and submit the completed document to the TC prior to class. The NRA Instructor Training Program Pre-Course Questionnaire has the instructor candidate lists his or her experience, certifications held, why they wish to become certified, and other pertinent information the TC can use to vet the individual. The goal is to ensure that future NRA Instructors properly represent the NRA, since it is the instructors who the public encounters.
The course goal of every NRA class begins with the student needing to “teach the knowledge, skills, and attitude” necessary to safely and properly use the firearm in the discipline in which they seek to become an NRA Certified Instructor. These are known as KSAs, and can “make or break” the instructor candidate.
There are five types of students who rise to the top by demonstrating the KSAs required to become NRA Certified Instructors. They are the great attitude student, the safe student, the experienced gun owner student, the early-bird student, and the healthy student.
The Great Attitude Student
The “great attitude student” rises to the top and makes the cut to become a good instructor candidate because, as the name implies, he or she has a great attitude. This type of student is a joy to have in class. The great attitude student can quickly raise the morale and bring confidence to the entire class. The TC usually leans on a great attitude student to help involve others in the class and make learning fun.
The great attitude student is always open to learning new things. Even though they attend a basic firearm class before becoming a Certified Instructor, these students keep an open mind and pick up on new ideas and techniques. Many times, these students are happy they must take a basic firearm training course because it helps them refresh their knowledge and skills and remember what it was like to be a beginner at one time.
Believe it or not, there is a segment of students who resent having to be in class. They think they know it all and will let all the other students in the class know that they do not need this class, rather they only are there to attain the title “Certified Instructor,” or because it is a requirement for joining their local shooting club, etc. Don’t be that irritating student; always be a great attitude student!
The Safe Student
The safe student always keeps firearm safety a top priority. When handling firearms, safety is the most important aspect. All firearms, including training guns, plastic guns, or anything that represents a firearm, should be handled in a safe manner. If the instructor candidates are safe in the classroom or on the range during the course, it is a good bet he or she will continue to be safe outside the classroom setting. This includes when he or she is training new shooters.
Just as NRA Certified Instructors are required to always be safe, instructor candidates are also required to always be safe. Safety violations are grounds for the immediate decertification of existing certified instructors, as well as for instructor candidates.
Over the years, I have had to remove unsafe individuals from my classes for safety violations. I’ve had to tell a few individuals to work on their safety when handling firearms, such as muzzle control and keeping their finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. After correcting the unsafe behavior, I show them what they need to work on and then ask them to register for another class in the future. Instructor candidates should always be a safe student.
The Experienced Gun Owner Student
All instructor candidates should have experience and knowledge with many different types of firearms and actions, not just the ones they like or their favorite one. For example, NRA Certified Instructors must know how to properly and safely work all the different types of actions with handguns, rifles and shotguns. One who comes to class with many years of hands-on experience and knowledge are a pleasure to have in class.
It always amazes me with the number of relatively new gun owners—whether by purchasestheir very first gun or by inheriting a small collection of firearms—suddenly wish to become a firearms instructor. Many of these individuals do not even know what caliber their firearm is or how to load it. Even though many of these individuals are quick learners, they do not have the knowledge or experience to be an effective instructor.
All students should be able to safely and properly learn to handle many different types of firearms, not just their favorite gun or the one recently purchased. It takes time to build experience, knowledge and proficiency on the range. These skills do not happen overnight. Do you have the knowledge, skills and attitude it takes to be an experience gun owner instructor candidate?
The Early Bird Student
The “early bird” student arrives to class well in advance of the scheduled start time. He or she is always prepared and brings all of the items and materials they were asked to bring to class. Early birds allow for extra time in case they have issues finding the class or have a delay with traffic.
Talk to any NRA Instructor or Training Counselor and they will tell you how frustrating it is to set up a class, gather materials and other time-consuming aspects of putting an NRA class together and on the day of the training, having individuals show up late or worse, “no show.” This is a good indication that an instructor candidate has a bad attitude. This is not only disrespectful to the NRA Training Program, but also to the instructor and the other individuals who are in the class. Always have a good attitude and be an early bird who shows up to class with all the required materials.
The Healthy Student
Students must be able to perform the tasks necessary to become an instructor. They must be able to stand for long periods of time while teaching, they must be able to perform and demonstrate each of the required shooting positions and must have the physical strength to operate all of the different firearm actions. Instructor candidates must take into consideration how healthy they are and if they are prone to illness. This is because classes are planned in advance, and one must be certain they will be healthy enough to be there when the class date arrives.
For example, if you are prone to severe seasonal allergies that could prevent you from being able to teach, you should refrain from scheduling classes during that time of year. Similarly, if you get sick multiple times each winter, you should refrain from scheduling classes during the wintertime.
Some students may have the heart and desire to become an instructor, but they physically cannot perform the tasks laid out in the curriculum. It boils down to safety. If an individual cannot safely meet the objectives of the NRA Instructor Course, they cannot become an instructor.
In some regards, the NRA Firearm Instructor is the face of the NRA. This is because NRA Instructors are usually present at local gun stores, ranges, competitions, and Second Amendment events. Often, local gun stores and ranges refer potential students to NRA Instructors that they know. Additionally, the local NRA Certified Firearm Instructors are known in the community, especially if they are active.
These are some of the reasons that NRA Training Counselors need to take their job seriously. The individuals that we certify will also become the face of the NRA. If Certified NRA Instructors are unsafe or cannot properly train new shooters, it dilutes the image of the instructors that do have the proper knowledge, skills and attitude. Remember, if an instructor candidate does not display the attributes that make NRA Instructors the “Gold Standard” in the industry, they should never be allowed to hold the title—NRA Certified Instructor!
