Recommended Metro DC / Mid-Atlantic NRA Training Counselors?

[jc000]

For a number of reasons a friend and I are interested in getting our NRA Instructor Certifications (thinking 'Pistol') and are wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a truly outstanding training counselor in the Metro DC (preferably) or general Mid-Atlantic region. We are willing to travel.

Finding a training counselor is not an issue, it's more about finding an exceptional one who will make the process of going through the course as enjoyable as possible. Any suggestions or feedback?

Thanks!

[ubervic]

Not sure what your goals are, but consider John Murphy with FPF Training. Solid as a rock.

[jc000]

I've taken a couple of courses with John. He can certify NRA instructors, too?

[HopetonBrown]

The NRA pistol instructor course doesn't actually cover any shooting.

[jc000]

The NRA pistol instructor course doesn't actually cover any shooting.

Not sure if that is directed at me. For one, I did think there was a course of fire required for the basic pistol instructor course. But regardless if there is or is not, I'm just curious if there is a recommended training counselor in the region. If John Murphy is one, and can certify NRA instructors, I'd prefer to go through him. If not, any other recommendations?

[HopetonBrown]

I'm an NRA certified pistol instructor and we shot 10 rounds? We had to shoot a group and that was it. The class isn't about shooting at all and was a waste of time.

[jc000]

I'm an NRA certified pistol instructor and we shot 10 rounds? We had to shoot a group and that was it. The class isn't about shooting at all and was a waste of time.

I'm sure it's a waste of time. Unless you want an NRA instructor certification. ;)

[HopetonBrown]

Well the course is directly out of a book so I don't see why you'd care who was teaching it. If you want the cert just use the NRA training website to find the cheapest class close to you.

[jc000]

Well the course is directly out of a book so I don't see why you'd care who was teaching it. If you want the cert just use the NRA training website to find the cheapest class close to you.

I guess that's the real question. If possible I suppose I'd prefer the class at least be administered by someone I could stand being around for more than 15 minutes. It's not so much the curriculum / material just wanted to know if there were any decent men / ladies out there worth giving my money to and / or spending that much time with.

[ubervic]

I've taken a couple of courses with John. He can certify NRA instructors, too?

I misunderstood your original post. Nevermind about FPF.

[LittleLebowski]

I guess that's the real question. If possible I suppose I'd prefer the class at least be administered by someone I could stand being around for more than 15 minutes. It's not so much the curriculum / material just wanted to know if there were any decent men / ladies out there worth giving my money to and / or spending that much time with.

Is your goal to become an NRA Instructor or to find "any decent men / ladies out there worth giving my money to and / or spending that much time with?"

I would recommend John Murphy (http://www.fpftraining.com) for CCW/mindset ("when to shoot, why to shoot, how to avoid shooting") type training forthwith. The NRA should hire him to run their pistol/CCW type training classes. Every American who owns a pistol should take his class, I mean it. My review (http://rationalgun.blogspot.com/2015/05/fpf-training-street-encounter-skills.html) of one of his classes.

Hit up forum SME-co-owned (Mr. Pink) for local (Culpeper and the NRA range) carbine and pistol training. There's a one day class of theirs this weekend (http://www.green-ops.com/defensive-pistol-1-.html) that I'm probably attending.

Pat Rogers (http://www.eagtactical.com) is local-ish (trains in High View West Virginia). You'd be foolish not to take a carbine class with him next year. Uncle Pat has been doing this forever (he worked for Colonel Cooper as an instructor) but is extremely current with regards to training techniques and gear but more importantly, his classes have a lot of intangibles that you cannot get from other trainers. My review (http://www.gunnuts.net/2014/08/08/eag-basic-carbine-class-reviewaar-aug-02-3-2014-pat-rogers/) of his Carbine 1 class.


The classes I just listed overlap somewhat. Plan according to your budget, time constraints, and training needs. I can personally recommend all of them.

[jc000]

Thanks for the reply. As mentioned previously, I have trained with John and he's great. Agreed that there are lots of good options for training in the area: John, Langdon Tactical, Pat Rogers (hope to book something with him in 2016), and probably quite a few others I'm unaware of.

At this point I am specifically looking for an NRA training counselor to get an NRA Instructor certification. I can certainly just pick someone from the list on the NRA website. But I'm hoping to find one who will make the process as painless and enjoyable as possible, and definitely still open to recommendations if anyone has one.

[punkey71]

John,

Evan Carson teaches NRA instructor. He was in the ECQC class with us.

http://www.innovativedefensivesolutions.com/?doing_wp_cron=1446841751.8591580390930175781250

He primarily teaches in Fairfax and Chantilly according to his website.

I've never trained with him besides the ECQC, FYI.

Harold


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jc000]

John,

Evan Carson teaches NRA instructor. He was in the ECQC class with us.

http://www.innovativedefensivesolutions.com/?doing_wp_cron=1446841751.8591580390930175781250

He primarily teaches in Fairfax and Chantilly according to his website.

I've never trained with him besides the ECQC, FYI.

Harold


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Aha – yes Harold, that is an excellent suggestion. Thanks much man, need to catch up some time!

[LittleLebowski]

Thanks for the reply. As mentioned previously, I have trained with John and he's great. Agreed that there are lots of good options for training in the area: John, Langdon Tactical, Pat Rogers (hope to book something with him in 2016), and probably quite a few others I'm unaware of.

At this point I am specifically looking for an NRA training counselor to get an NRA Instructor certification. I can certainly just pick someone from the list on the NRA website. But I'm hoping to find one who will make the process as painless and enjoyable as possible, and definitely still open to recommendations if anyone has one.

Copy, I'm bad about skimming stuff instead of reading it all of the way through. PM inbound.

[Drang]

NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA Certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training -- Find an NRA Training Course near you (http://www.nrainstructors.org/Search.aspx)
When I got certified we sent a fair amount of time on the range, but I was getting certified to teach both Basic pistol and personal Protection In The Home. There is no round count associated with the instructor course itself, but there is to get certified in each discipline. IOW, if all you want is to teach reloading and Home Firearms Safety, no shooting. Basic/First Step Pistol, you'll be shooting. Not a lot, the instructors development courses are not intended to teach you to shoot, they're designed to teach you to, well, teach.

ETA: Education and Training|Become a NRA Instructor (http://training.nra.org/instructors.aspx)

[Al T.]

JC, good on you for seeking some recommendations. First NRA course I attended was OK, got me the certificate. Second (last spring) was much, much better as you would expect as the folks teaching were retired university professors. Kind of far for you to drive though.

[jc000]

NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA Certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training -- Find an NRA Training Course near you (http://www.nrainstructors.org/Search.aspx)
When I got certified we sent a fair amount of time on the range, but I was getting certified to teach both Basic pistol and personal Protection In The Home. There is no round count associated with the instructor course itself, but there is to get certified in each discipline. IOW, if all you want is to teach reloading and Home Firearms Safety, no shooting. Basic/First Step Pistol, you'll be shooting. Not a lot, the instructors development courses are not intended to teach you to shoot, they're designed to teach you to, well, teach.

ETA: Education and Training|Become a NRA Instructor (http://training.nra.org/instructors.aspx)

Are you saying you took both courses concurrently? I'm interested in the basic pistol, defensive pistol, and the personal protection inside / outside the home certifications.

Again understood on the lack of live fire. I'm just looking for the instructor certifications.

[Drang]

Are you saying you took both courses concurrently? I'm interested in the basic pistol, defensive pistol, and the personal protection inside / outside the home certifications.

That weekend is still spoken of in hushed tones among the PacNW NRA Instructor Community. The Instructor Certification was first, followed by certifications in specific disciplines. Many of us were going for the package of Basic/FIRST Steps Pistol and PPitH.
At the time, not only was there no PPOtH or Defensive Pistol, but there was widespread doubt that any such courses were likely to ever happen; as hard as it may be to remember these days, in 2000 no one believed that the majority of states would be shall-issue, or even may-issue, for that matter.

The Training Counselor may want you to complete the courses before you are certified to teach them.