What does it take to be a “Firearms Instructor”?  That’s a pretty tough question to answer.  A “professional instructor” is built over time, they aren’t born.  A “professional instructor” never stops learning and remains a constant student.  A “professional instructor” has earned that title over many years of training and teaching.

Certainly great instructors have many varying backgrounds.  Some sadly are motivated by a quest for fame and fortune.  Others are motivated by an extreme desire to share knowledge.  Especially in the field of firearms instruction a diverse and intensive background should be the norm; even moreover when we are talking about Concealed Carry Permit instruction.

I started my career as an “Instructor” as a Drill Sergeant in the US Army, having been a Non-Commissioned Officer for some 8 years prior to that.  Soon after my 3 years “On the Trail” I was selected for a tryout for the Army’s Action Pistol Team at the prestigious US Army Marksmanship Unit.  At about the same time, I started Advanced Performance Shooting and my journey as a competitive shooter in the United States Practical Shooting Association.  While I wasn’t selected to compete for the Army, I was out virtually every weekend and travelling all over the country shooting in competition…. Some 40,000 rounds of ammunition a year for the next 10 or so years!

It’s safe to say that only about half of my time while I was in the Army was devoted to actual instruction, but upon retirement in 2005 I became a full time instructor.  I worked as a contractor for the Army teaching Basic Training Soldiers.  Primarily the M16 series rifle but I have taught light and heavy machine guns and handguns as well.  By 2007 I was in Afghanistan teaching everything from basic shooting skills to indirect fire support, close air support and tactical casualty care.  In 2008 I was hired as a Department of the Army Civilian to teach in the Advanced Law Enforcement Training Division with a primary responsibility of training Department of Defense Special Reaction Teams.  From 2008 until 2014 I trained literally thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen in those tasks required to successfully function as a member of hostage rescue team, from advanced marksmanship skills and tactics to planning and conducting high risk entry in less than austere conditions.

During all of my adventures we continued to conduct classes for APS.  We have also continued to shoot competitively in both pistol as well as 3 gun (rifle, pistol and shotgun) events all over the world.  I’ve won many State, Area and National level events.  We have continued to design our own training programs that incorporate our life experiences, both behind the gun and on the platform.  While it certainly is true that firearms instructors come from a variety of backgrounds.  You should check the background of any potential instructor.  Especially when we are talking about potentially life changing skills, you shouldn’t trust your life or spend your money on an instructor not worthy of the same.

Rangemaster Certified Master Instructor (Top Gun) (Tom Givens)                                                            ALERRT Level 1 Active Shooter Train the Trainer Certified Instructor                                           Modern Samurai Project Red Dot Sight (RDS) Instructor Certified (Scott Jedlinski/Hunter Freeland)  Green Ops LE Pistol Red Dot Sight Instructor course (Hunter Freeland)                                           NRA Refuse to Be a Victim Certified Instructor                                                                                    Protective Pistolcraft Instructor Development Graduate (Certified Rangemaster Basic and Advanced Instructor) (Tom Givens)                                                                                                    Citizens Safety Academy (Tiffany Johnson and Aqil Qadar)                                                          Certified USCCA Instructor                                                                                                       Rangemaster Certified Instructor (Tom Givens)                                                                                          US Army Drill Sergeant School

US Army School of Cadet Command (University/College Course Material Development)
US Army Maneuver Support Center Qualified Firearms Instructor
NRA Certified Firearms Instructor
US Army Conventional Physical Security
US Army Sniper School
US Army HAZMAT Material Handler Certified
US Army “ASAT” Automated Systems Approach to Training Certified (Training Development)
PADI Master Diver Certified
US Army Quantitative Skills for Trainers (Training Development)
US Army Systems Approach to Training Certified (Training Development)
US Army Basic/Advanced and Platform Instructor Certified
Training and Doctrine Command Us Army “Master Instructor”
US Army Military Police Special Response Team Instructor (Phase 1 and Phase 2)
US Army Advanced Law Enforcement Training Division Instructor Certified
TEES Demolition Handlers and Explosive Entry Certified
TEES Advanced Explosive Entry Certified (Texas Law Enforcement Training Academy)
US Army Staff College Foundations Course Graduate
US Army ALETD Special Reaction Team Explosive Breaching Instructor
FEMA Independent Study Course ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents
US Army ALETD Active Shooter Patrol Response Instructor Certified
DARC Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism Level 1 and Level 2 Certified
US ARMY ALETD Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Certified
US Shooting Academy Advanced Rifle Graduate (Mike Seeklander)
Handgun Combatives Advanced Combative Pistol Graduate (Dave Spaulding)
US Army Military Police School Anti-Terrorism Officer Course Graduate
Tactical Performance Center “Handgun Combat Master Course” Graduate (Ron Avery)                 

The Bigger Circle-Advanced Shooting Mechanics Graduate (Mike Seeklander/Rob Leatham)             

Light Infantry School (Fort Benning, Georgia
Infantry Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course                                                                         

NRA Life Member
USPSA Lifemember                                                                                                                             

Firearms Training Association Member                                                                                         

American Warrior Society Coined Member #766
Central Ozarks Practical Shooters Life Member
Member/Affiliate US LawShield
USPSA “GrandMaster” Limited