National Concealed Firearms Instructors Association

Good Questions

First let me start with why I started the NCFIA. I started it to assist small market and new instructors with marketing and advertising like having a website or providing email for them, how to bring people to their classes, to assist them with teaching tools such as a Powerpoint program, to encourage instructor development by providing them with additional training that they might not be able to attend or afford to attend other wise. That was goal number one. Other reasons were to promote professionalism, ethics, To promote and foster mutual cooperation, discussion, and interest in concealed firearms training.

When I started receiving the memberships I noticed that the majority of instructors signing up were like you very experienced. So to answer a part of your question:

“Essentially, what can you offer that I don't already have, and how do you feel your courseware can/should improve my classes?”

I have to say honestly…most likely nothing..

Now that being said let me answer another part of your question. As to what gives me authority to “certify” any one in firearms training.
It has been my experience that there are three background that people use as credentials in training firearms. They are Military, Law Enforcement and civilian firearms training which for the most part we can say is the NRA Training program, most instructors I have seen so far have some blend of each. Me for example,

I am a US Army MP veteran serving from 1976 through 1981. I served on a regional SRT team when the concept of the SWAT team was still young. I have attended an FBI instructed basic and advanced SWAT training through the military. I was a member of the Tucson Police department for 10 years and served on the departmental SWAT team for 6 years. I received the TPD medal of Valor for a SWAT related call in 1991. I am a AZ POST, general instructor, pistol, rifle & shotgun, high risk vehicle stop and judgmental shooting instructor. I have been with the Kane County Sheriff’s Office since 1993 and I am a Utah POST general and firearms instructor. I am currently a SWAT team commander and teach numerous tactical courses. I have attended numerous instructor training courses including, the H&K tactical team instructor course, the Surefire Institute Low-light instructors course, the Armor Training Academy Less lethal Instructor course, High Risk Entry Instructor Course. I am a NRA pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor and a Range Safety Officer. I have attended the SigSauer Armorer course. I am a Utah and Arizona certified concealed firearms instructor. I have been teaching one thing or another for over 20 years.

I resisted after so many years of teaching firearms to get my NRA certification. Partly based on the same question you had. If I am already teaching advanced firearms classes why should I take a Basic pistol class?

It was the cost that was the real issue, remember I am a public servant and that means I’m poor. However when I took the classes I really enjoyed them, It reinforced my belief that what I was teaching in the past was correct, It was good to review the basics.

So again I guess my answer to the question... as compared to an NRA Counselor.. I have no authority.

However as an organization with the vast experience that I am seeing in the membership I think we can put out a training that would complement the NRA program or other programs. Remember the ultimate goal is instructor development.

I was having a discussion with an instructor from Minnesota the other day and he seems like a very talented instructor and we were discussing some of the goals and he stated that I should try to make the NCFIA a source of information not the Pinnacle from which it comes. I’m sure I miss quoted him but I got his message.

Every day, as I get new instructors and I talk with them about the NCFIA it evolves a little. I may have started the Association but it is my opinion that I should not force it into any one direction. The members are the ones that should define what it will become and how beneficial it ultimately is or is not.

My posting the Training certifications/rating on the website were probably premature, however I have received some great comments on the concepts and appreciate the input. However like I said I intent to let the membership mold the association and if you all choose not to offer it, that’s ok by me.

If you would like to see what I am offering in each class let me know, again any input to make a better product. It’s not just learning to teach how to hold a gun type of class. Everyone who joins should have at least the basic NRA pistol course which covers that well. The first one has nothing to do with firearms it’s strictly concepts in adult learning. The second has more to do with improving your shooting class and the third is about teaching other to teach or having instructors under your supervision. They are however still a work in progress, but again with the assistance of the vast knowledge we are getting I think it can be a very good thing.

I hope I have answered some of your questions and I do appreciate you asking them and I hope that other instructors weight in on the issue

As an instructor I am always looking for more training to improve my skills. The powerpoint training is a great supplement to the other training I have acquired through the years.
I especially like the emphasis on teaching adults. It is one thing to know everything in the world about shooting, it is an entirely different thing to be able to communicate it. I run into the same thing with college professors and engineers. They are brilliiant in their respective fields, but many of them have little ability to relate that information to different audiences effectively.
As far as certification goes, We know that currently there is only one game in town. I personnally would like to see many more organisations spreading the 2nd amendemnt gospel and training instructors in various disciplines. I am partial to organisation that are less likely to " Compromise" our rights.
The certification would act as a backup for the NRA certification in Colorado. The certification would be acceptable under Colorado Law, if
G-d forbid someone should lose their NRA certification. As far as the website goes, I am happy it is here as a forum for concealed carry instructors to network and learn from each other.
Right now we need to have as many people as we can being involved in shooting programs and the defense of the second amendment. With the upcoming election, we may see the greatest threat to our rights that there has ever been.

Brandon Kirk
Colorado Handgun Safety
http://www.coloradohandgunsafety.com

Thanks, CHS I appreciate the comments. I agree that any training that helps you as an instructor put out a better product is appropriate training. only the student can know if if and how it applies to them.

Your certificate is enroute and the patch will be in by the end of the month and I'll send it out to you.

Good luck with your classes, if there is anything else we can do, let me know.

Again thanks

Dan

I don’t know for certain and have not been able to verify this, but I am willing to bet money on the Certification(s) that most of use receive from the biggest civilian firearms training club in this here nation, is a certification from their own Standards and Procedures, Saying that you have meet “our clubs set standards.”After taking their courses I can say that I have been trained to a “minimum of standards”, in gun safety and handling. As for most of the trainers that I have talked to, not one of them wants to be trained to the minimum of standards. I believe that Dan has put together one of the most unique sights available to those of use who want to teach others,… a great resource for additional training. I look at the credentials of most of the firearms trainers on this site, and I would gladly take their training classes and certify with them then most of the board members that sit on the others board… Now don’t get me wrong I am a card carrying member of the hinted to institution, but like all classes that I attend, most are instructed by men, and I have not found one yet that has the BEST and the end all training, I have meet some that claim to have it, and have learned a little from them to, however I have learned quite a lot from Dan, and would recommend his training to all.

I believe that Dan’s goal is to further the cause of education and to provide additional avenues, tools, etc, for us to put in our tool boxes.

I believe that all of us can use additional advice, and this source is one of the best ways to glean that. I like to think of it as taking a collage course, with thousands of professors, that is a real education, many points of views, not just one.

Dan, thanks for the web site, the training.
God willing we will all make this site what it has the potential to be...

Thanks,
Chad Killian
Trainer
www.personalhomedefense.com