In our last Bullet-In Board, we included a survey with a few questions requesting your feedback. Unfortunately, many responded with specific comments that we weren’t able to directly reply to, but still wanted to address:
Question – Which classes would you like to see added to the NRA Library?
First, thank you for the detailed feedback on this question. Many of the suggestions are currently being addressed as we update our materials and add courses to the catalog. We recently hired a Curriculum Coordinator who is a very active Training Counselor that is overseeing this project.
Some replies:
“Instructor course that requires instructor to be competent.”
– NRA Instructor courses require candidates to be extremely competent. We accomplish this via the pre-course qualification to demonstrate safe firearms handling and marksmanship ability, and via TC observations throughout an instructor course.
But ultimately, the Basic Firearms Training Program is developed by E&T staff for field implementation by a decentralized network of Training Counselors and Instructors.
We rely on NRA Training Counselors to enforce the standards. E&T takes all allegations of improper/unsatisfactory training very seriously. If they are not, and you know of incompetent NRA Instructors, please report them in writing to [email protected]
Some requests already exist within E&T’s Curriculum:
“Course that can be completed one-on-one in three hours.”
– NRA FIRST Steps Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun
“State Specific courses for Concealed Carry.”
– NRA CCW course is designed for exactly this, with allowances made to teach a state-specific legal portion.
“Online RSO”
– already exists for NRA Certified Firearm Instructors
“Trapshooting, Skeet, and Sporting Clays”
– NRA Shotgun Coaches help individuals develop competition specific skills.
Some other requests are things that E&T is working very hard to develop and implement!
“Pistol Optics”
“Defense oriented courses for Shotgun and Rifle”
“Standalone, reportable, Basic Instructor Training as a standalone course”
Other items are best handled by our sister divisions:
“Intro into Competitive Shooting”
– This would fall within the Competitions Division, however, NRA Education & Training Division shooting coaches help individuals develop competitive shooting skills.
“3 Gun Competition”
– This would fall within the Competitions Division.
“OC Spray, Stun Guns, Tasers, flashlights”
– defer to the NRA Law Enforcement Division
“School Safety”
– NRA Law Enforcement administers NRA School Shield and Community Shield
“Eddie Eagle”
– NRA Community Engagement Division administers this program
Other survey replies:
“First aid”
– NRA Training Department is not qualified to create this training, and recommends utilizing those organizations that are specific to conducting medical training. Stop the Bleed and American Red Cross are excellent resources with often free (or very low-cost) training.
“Online Training”
– Some hate it, some love it, some of you are asking for more, while others are asking for it all to go away. We will keep an eye on the trends. We are not currently looking at adding any main courses online.
“Splitting up current curriculum without changes”
– NRA courses are objective based and can be conducted as an instructor sees fit, over the course of days, weeks, and months.
“Basic Bazooka”
– Ha! We wish!
This is just a sample of the many suggestions that were received in response to this question. Every single comment is reviewed and those that we can work with, we certainly will. The NRA Training Department is working to update all materials, add subjects, and get more staff in to assist. If you didn’t see your comment addressed, or would like to send in specific suggestions, please send them directly to [email protected].
