TACFIRE - Tactical Firearms Training Institute

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Law Enforcement
TACTICAL SHOTGUN
Instructor Development School

SCHOOL INFORMATION

PURPOSE - The NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shotgun Instructor Development School's purpose is to increase each student's individual firearms instructor skills. This is NOT a basic shotgun or shooting school. The curriculum is designed to assist students in developing, preparing and conducting safe, effective, reality-based and agency-related law enforcement shotgun training and programs, both in the classroom and on the range. The school is designed to enhance the firearms instructor's knowledge and ability to teach and conduct tactical shotgun handling and shooting techniques. Student instructors are introduced to, and encouraged to discuss and experiment with, a wide variety of tactical shooting techniques and philosophies.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND - This school is intended for the public and private law enforcement officer and military personnel who are firearms instructors and who wish to further develop their tactical shooting program. Law enforcement officers who are about to be assigned duties as their agency firearms instructor will also benefit from this school and are eligible to attend. Some hosting agencies have regulations prohibiting non-sworn personnel from accessing their facilities. If not a sworn officer, please check with the hosting agency.

STUDENT PREREQUISITES - Each student is expected to already be proficient in safe handling and shooting with the duty shotgun and the capability to safely and accurately employ it. Students without this background may find themselves struggling to keep pace with the instruction, practical exercises, and successful completion of the proficiency assessments.

Before attending the school, students should be able to consistently fire six-inch groups with slugs at 15 yards. Six-inch paper plates can be used as adequate practice targets. NRA reasonably expects all students to be able to demonstrate these standards on arrival at the school.

Students must also be physically capable of quickly and safely assuming standing, kneeling and prone positions, maintaining them for a period of time and safely recovering without assistance.

SUCCESSFUL COURSE COMPLETION - This is a 44-contact-hour (5-day) school. Contact hours = Actual instructional time in the classroom and on the range. It does not include travel between motel and training site, breaks, meals, and range set-up or clean-up.

The school will be conducted from 07:30 to approximately 18:00 hours, Monday through Friday, plus one late night to accommodate dim light training. 100% attendance is mandatory for successful school completion. Students must demonstrate teaching and shooting proficiency and pass a written examination. The school should be considered a full-time endeavor. It is unreasonable to expect successful completion if engaged in any additional activities (work/duty/night school) during the school week.

NRA LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION - Certification may be applied for upon successful completion of this school and the following additional requirements must be met:

21 Years or Older and an Individual NRA Member - Be at least 21 years of age and an individual NRA member. ($25 per year, $45 two years, $70 three years, or $125 five years.) NRA membership application can be completed and paid at the school.
Employment and Agency Enrollment - Be employed by a public/private law enforcement agency or U.S. or Allied Military Organization. If employed by a private law enforcement agency, that agency must be enrolled with the NRA ($35 per year). NRA enrollment application can be completed and paid at the school.
Submit a Letter - Submit an appointment letter on organizational letterhead certifying current or planned appointment as a law enforcement firearms instructor. To expedite certification, this letter and the applicable fees above may be brought to the school in anticipation of successful school completion.

NOTES: Contributions, gifts, and membership dues are NOT deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Treasury Regulation 1.162.5 permits an income tax deduction for educational expenses (registration fees, cost of travel, meals and lodging) undertaken to maintain or improve skills required for one's employment or other trade or business.

STUDENT EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

(STUDENT PROVIDED)

A. TACTICAL SHOTGUN AND AMMUNITION REQUIREMENTS -

1. Duty Shotgun - A law enforcement duty, pump or semi-automatic shotgun with sling attached.

2. Shotgun Ammunition - 100 slug shells, 100 00-buckshot shells, and 500 birdshot (#8 or #9 shot) shells.

3. Handgun Ammunition - 200 rounds

B. "GENERAL" EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (STUDENT PROVIDED) FOR EVERYSCHOOL -

1. Duty Handgun - A law enforcement duty-type handgun.

2. Magazines or Speedloaders - Bring a minimum of four magazines for the pistol or four speedloaders for the revolver.

3. Holster, Belt, and Ammunition Carrier Pouches - The holster must be department/agency issue, duty type (patrol), strong-side directional draw, equipped with a handgun retention device and securely fastened to the gun belt. Speedloader and magazine pouches must also be equipped with a retention device.

4. Eye and Ear Protection, and Baseball Cap - Must wear wraparound or side-panel safety glasses. If wearing prescription glasses, they must be covered with safety glasses. Ear plugs or ear muffs (preferred) and a baseball or other cap with bill/brim to deflect ejected brass must also be worn. NOTE: Students will NOT be allowed on the range without wraparound or side-panel safety glasses.

5. Knee and Elbow Pads - Knee pads are mandatory on the range at all times, while elbow pads will be required for some exercises.

6. Appropriate Clothing - Students should bring appropriate clothing to participate in the range exercises regardless of prevailing weather conditions. Range exercises will be conducted in inclement weather unless a safety hazard exists. NOTE: Shorts are NOT appropriate law enforcement range clothing.

7. Other Equipment -

a. All Duty Equipment - All duty equipment will be comparable to that worn on-duty (patrol). Pouches for magazines AND/OR carriers for speedloaders will be required. Agency authorized back-up guns may be worn with appropriate holsters.

b. Duty Flashlight - Law enforcement, hand-held, duty flashlight capable of one-hand operation.

c. Note Taking and Marking Materials - A 3-ring binder, pen, pencil, paper, and a jumbo permanent marker.

d. Cleaning Equipment - You must have the appropriate cleaning equipment for the firearms used and should have screwdrivers that fit the screws on those firearms.

e. Sight Adjustment Tool - Should have the required tool(s) to adjust the sights.

C. "RECOMMENDED" EQUIPMENT (STUDENT PROVIDED) -

1. A Staple Gun and Extra Staples - If Available.

2. Other Usually Worn Equipment - Any other equipment usually worn oil-duty (body armor, expandable baton, etc.).

3. Manufacturer's Operator's Manuals - Should have the operator's manuals for any firearm or equipment used.

D. EQUIPMENT/SKILLS PREPARATION -

1. Technically Inspect Firearms and Condition of Equipment - Have the agency's authorized, factory-trained armorer conduct a technical inspection of the firearms being brought to the school to ensure the firearms are safe to fire, functioning reliably with the ammunition to be used, and that the sight system is solidly attached and functioning properly. Also, check the condition of ALL equipment you will be bringing to the school. NRA provides no personnel or facilities to repair firearms at the school site.

2. Practice with the Firearms and Equipment - Practice with the firearms and equipment to be used at the school. This practice will help ensure successful completion of the school and that everything is working properly.

3. Physical Skills - Students must be physically capable of quickly and safely assuming standing, kneeling and prone positions, maintaining them for a period of time and recovering without assistance.

NOTE: Correct Equipment - These schools are for law enforcement personnel. ONLY law enforcement duty-type firearms and equipment are acceptable. DO NOT BRING competition guns or equipment. If any doubt about what equipment is acceptable, contact the NRA at (703) 267-1640.

CURRICULUM

OUR CURRICULUM is designed to help the law enforcement tactical shotgun instructor develop, prepare, and conduct a safe, effective, reality-based and agency-related/appropriate tactical shotgun training program, both in the classroom and on the range. This is NOT a basic handling or shooting school. All classes and range exercises will be conducted at the instructor level, and the students will be expected to conduct many of the range exercises.

CLASSROOM - Approximately 22 contact hours will be spent in the classroom. Subjects will include, but not be limited to:

Teaching the Fundamentals of Shotgun Marksmanship
Teaching Shotgun Shooting Positions
Content and Development of an Agency Shotgun Training Program
Teaching Shotgun Handling Skills (Load, Unload, Reload, Malfunctions, Etc.)
Coaching and Partner Techniques, and Effective Range Instruction Techniques
Teaching Less-Lethal Issues
Introduction to Shotgun Accessories, Including Less-Lethal Ammunition
Teaching Tactical Use of Cover and Concealment
Teaching and Conducting Shooting Under Dim Light Conditions
Developing and Conducting Practical Range Training

RANGE - Approximately 22 contact hours will be spent on the range. Subjects will include, but not be limited to:

Instructional Coaching Exercises
Shotgun Shooting Positions
Teaching Shotgun Marksmanship
Load and Unload Procedures
Reloads and Malfunctions
Shotgun Shooting Positions
Buckshot Patterning
Less-Lethal Exercises
Stance Directed Fire and Aligned Fire
Shooting on the Move
Engagement of Multiple Threats
Transition and Incapacitation Techniques
Shooting Under Adverse Light Conditions
Tactical Use of Cover and Concealment
Decision Making and Problem Solving
Moving Targets Exercises

Student Instructor Range Presentations: Working in teams, the student instructors will prepare practical shotgun range exercises. These exercises will be presented on the last day and will be evaluated at the instructor level by the NRA Training Team and the remainder of the class.

PROFICIENCY

1. The student instructor will demonstrate, both verbally and physically:

How to field-strip and re-assemble the shotgun.
Right handed cruiser load and unloading procedures.
Left handed cruiser load and unloading procedures.
Adopting the standing shooting position.
The down and scan procedure.

2. Shotgun Marksmanship Fundamentals - Standing Position.

With another instructor role playing the part of a basic law enforcement student, the student instructor will demonstrate their ability to teach the fundamentals of law enforcement shotgun marksmanship. The student instructor is responsible for the student hitting a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 typing paper with at least five rounds of slug from a standing position at 15 yards.

3. The student instructor will demonstrate, both verbally and physically:

Adopting and recovering from the high (unsupported) kneeling position.
Adopting and recovering from the low (supported) kneeling position.
Adopting and recovering from a two knee kneeling position.
Adopting and recovering from a prone position.

4. Shotgun Marksmanship Fundamentals - Kneeling Position.

With another instructor role playing the part of a basic law enforcement student, the student instructor will demonstrate their ability to teach the fundamentals of law enforcement Shotgun marksmanship. The student instructor is responsible for the student hitting a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 typing paper with at least five rounds of slug from a kneeling position at 15 yards.

5. The student instructor will demonstrate, both verbally and physically:

Muzzle up transition to the handgun techniques
Muzzle down transition to the handgun techniques

Cross dominant transition to the handgun techniques

Time	07:30 - approx. 18:00 (see below)
Tuition*	$450 Payable to NRA prior to school. Range fee is $30 Payable to Tacfire onsite.
Location	Tacfire Classroom
Equipment	Duty belt or duty method of carry Baton carrier Collapsable baton Comfortable workout/gym clothes Tennis shoes.