Happy Easter Everyone

 

This is the morning the true mystery of Jesus began.  It is the foundation of our faith – the expectation that we all believe and trust that He is risen.  Think how much easier it would have been if He would have simply reappeared before Pilate.  How different would the following 2,000 years have been?

Yet, that is not what we were asked to accept.  He appeared sparsely, to friends and followers to assure us all that He had, indeed, conquered death, completed his role in our salvation and He asked that we follow.  He was not to be a leader in the earthly sense – but a doorway, a path, a means to our salvation.  Something simply beyond our understanding.  Something that could only be accepted through our faith.

A lot to ponder for a simple human.

Enjoy your day, your family and friends, your relationship with Him.  Please take just a few moments in silent reflection of the gift this last 40 days has represented . . . . a mystery that saves our souls . . . .

Have a great day everyone!

Bill

Training – Are You Certified?????

 

Certified:   : having earned certification

                     : genuine, authentic

I had a bit of an exchange between a new student, the NRA certification folks and myself regarding websites and NRA logos on an instructor’s websites. The “nut” of the clarification was that an instructor can only use the NRA logos on courses that are NRA Certified courses. These are courses that they train instructors to teach, that they provide instructional literature for, and that they ultimately provide a “NRA Certificate” for. For me, my wallet certificate looks like this:

As you look around the Internet universe for instructors and courses, it may be worthwhile to discover something about the instructor, the courses they are teaching and whether they – and their courses – are “certified.

Just what does an “Instructor Certification” mean actually? It is proof that an entity that provides a course of study for a set of knowledge or skillset has trained, evaluated and determined that an individual who was selected for “Instructor Training” has met all of their requirements to be able to teach that specific knowledge base or skill set to “new students”. Let’s take me for example. My wallet cert. card for the NRA is shown above. It shows that I have received a certification from the NRA to teach their Basic Pistol, PPITH, PPOTH, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun and RSO courses. Additionally, I have also received their Training Counselor certification to teach new Instructor Candidates to teach each of these specific NRA Certifications. It is your assurance that someone has taught and evaluated me before presenting me with a teaching credential.

For you, as a prospective Basic Course student or Instructor Candidate – you have a level of assurance that I have met specific criteria of the NRA to be able to consistently teach those skill sets. And, regardless of your location in the US – you can be assured that instructors in your area have met the same criteria.

Now, dealing specifically with the NRA, there seems to be a continual about their methods, their politics, their leadership, their methods . . . . the list is endless. However, often ignored is the fact they have been conducting firearms training since 1871. This is a tremendous depth of knowledge that should be taken advantage of. As prospective students – regardless of your feelings about the NRA – take advantage of this knowledge. The same goes for those of you considering becoming instructors. Take advantage of the years of course development, years of experience and tens of thousands who have gone before – it will be to your benefit.

There are other bodies that can provide consistency through certification as well. The National Shooting Sports offer a wide range of shooting and shooting safety information and video training. 4-H also has an informal shooting training and shooting safety course that can go a long way toward training instructors for their programs as well.

When you begin to evaluate “certified courses” – I would suggest you look at their history. Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Suarez International, I.C.E. – to name a few have developed a solid reputation for coursework. Again, there are always disagreements between folks about the “value” of specific instructors, specific companies, and specific courses. However, reputable courses will always provide a detailed syllabus of what is going to be taught, what gear is required, the length of the course and the expectations of the instructors. I would urge you to migrate towards this type of course work.

Many courses also provide for individual course review by students as well – take advantage of that! If you read a review that talks about poor safety, shoddy course material, un-focused instructors . . . . you may well want to evaluate where you want to spend your money.

One other consideration is the instructor who has developed his own course work, a couple thoughts on that. Make sure the instructor is clear on what material is his/hers and what belongs to others. For example, as an NRA instructor I CAN NOT teach my Defensive Pistols courses under the banner of the NRA. It is NOT their material, they have NOT approved it. That said, I feel the Defensive Pistol course I have developed has value, it has been review by students that have taken it and found value in it – I intend to continue teaching it and enhancing it over the years.

So, are the instructors you are taking your courses from “Certified”? Are the courses they are teaching “Certified”? It’s worth your time to look, to evaluate them and to continue to grow and push yourself as a shooter.

Are you, as an Instructor, “Certified”??

Why yes, yes I am.

Don’t be afraid to ask, don’t be afraid to investigate, don’t be afraid to question . . . . it’s your money, you deserve the best!!

Survival - Altoids Tin Pocket Survival Kit

 

“Survival Kit” . . . . what the heck is that?? Survive what?? Hurricane? Fire? Flood? Car Accident?? When a person uses the words “Survival Kit” in the context of having basic tools at hand to enable them to live an additional minute, hour, day, week . . . or more, it should give a person pause . . . . If you find yourself in an actual “survival” moment, you are having a bad day – to say the very least.

And still, working on such kits, thinking through various scenarios, hashing out “options” or “plans” has a tremendous amount of value. In the Wilderness Survival courses I have taught, my stock line is “you have all the time you need NOW to plan for your survival”. And, indeed, you do. If you are reading this post I suspect you are fairly comfortable, your life is not in danger, you have the next few hours to actually think about YOUR survival kit and what you would need in it. Use the time.

So, let’s talk about a typical element of a survival system – a Pocket Survival Kit.

Let me be clear up front – I LOVE Altoids Tins. Probably one of the best containers for a geek like me. I have had friends build everything from HF transceivers to small stoves out of them. I have fire starter tins, first aid kit tins, fishing kit tins – to name but a few. For this post, I am talking about my ”Altoids Tin Pocket Survival Kit”.

About a year ago I did a post entitled “Survival – The Rules of 3” to describe the incremental points in a survival event - Three minutes without air, Three hours without shelter, Three days without water and Three weeks without food. A Pocket Survival Kit has little or no use in the first three minutes where you are simply searching for your next breath. You will either live or die – that simple. However, once that event is over and you have entered the Three Hours to find shelter . . . . then a Pocket Survival Kit can begin to make a difference between your life and your death. A couple further caveats . . . .

• Let’s assume a wilderness environment . . . .
• Let’s assume you are a significant distance from civilization – say a day’s hard travel . . .
• Let’s assume a solo trip – backpack, bike ride, canoe paddle . . . .
• You are your support system, you are your own self rescue . . . .
• You have your EDC gear – knife, flashlight, Para cord Bracelet, compass and whistle around your neck (a MUST during wilderness travel), 3-ways to start a fire – and let’s leave your firearm out of it.
• For whatever reason – a fall, you rolled your canoe, you went SEVERLY off course and are lost, storm, fire – you have entered the “Rules of 3” between the 3-hour stage and the 3-week stage. The event is significant and you will either think your way through this or you will become a statistic.

DEEP BREATH!!!!!

Most survival events begin with panic – remember your mind is both your best survival tool and your worst enemy. I teach the word STOP in my course:

Stop: find a comfy spot, sit down, gather your wits and calm your mind.

Think: your time spent in the wilderness (or on the water, or in the city, or on the road) has given you a tremendous amount of knowledge. Calm your mind so you have access to this knowledge.

Observe: take stock – where are you, what kind of shape are you in, how’s your gear, how’s your food, what’s your probability of rescue, do people know where you are . . . . it’s a long list. It’s a list you should play over in your mind PRIOR to your trip as you review maps and your plans. Remember – you have all the time you need . . . . NOW.

Plan: Once you have calmed yourself, taken stock of your situation – you have time to plan.

An actual dependence on your survival kit would imply that you have had a catastrophic failure of some type and lost most of your gear due to a storm, fire, rolled a canoe and your gear is now at the bottom of the lake. You are left with what’s in your pocket. This is the juncture where a Pocket Survival Kit can be of real use.

Here’s mine – and what I have put in it.

It is, indeed, an Altoids Tin – Cinnamon to be exact. I will typically place this tin inside a quart freezer bag and then in a cargo pocket or a small waist pack. The freezer bag helps keep it dry and can double as a canteen if needed. Inside this little guy, you will find this:

• Striker: backup surface for matches
• Lighter: you just can’t have too many of these
• Storm Match: start virtually anywhere
• Paraffin Cotton: to start stubborn fires
• Strike Anywhere Matches: can’t have too many
• Candle: cheap fire starters
• Razor Blade: think scalpel if you need one. It’s is a sheath made of a milk carton side
• Alcohol Wipes
• Tylenol
• Band-Aids
• Pencil and Paper: for notes on wound treatment, where you are going, last thoughts if it really is not your day . . . .
• Darning Needle and Dental Floss: good suturing material. Remember, you can sterilize the needle with flame as well as the alcohol swabs
• Safety Pins
• Fishing Kit: Sinkers, Hooks, Steel Leader and 30-lb test line on a sewing bobbin.
• Cotton Thread: again on a sewing bobbin
• Fresnel Lense: quick fire starting in a sunny environment

These are VERY BASIC items. Yet, they will give you the ability to start fire, close gaping wounds, either catch fish or snare small animals, and gather water. They are meant to provide you some mental comfort and give you a bit of a safety net. Still . . . .

They are NO GUARANTEE that your family and friends will not weep over you. Practice your survival skills. I am fond of the “one gallon” test . . . . take everything you think you need to survive for a weekend and put it in a 1-gallon freezer bag. (yep, you will need to do some “sorting”). Then go campin’. And stick it out, regardless of weather. Make notes, do an AAR, modify your gear . . . .

As with a defensive pistol skill – practice make for a better shooter . . . .

. . . . and practicing your survival skills enhances your chances for making it home.

Review - Basic Pistol Instructor Class 3-22,23 2013

 

I view the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor as THE foundational course for the NRA training program. I suppose you could start with any other Basic courses if you want to become a NRA Instructor – but the pistol course just feels like a great starting point to me.

I had a great bunch of instructor candidates this past weekend – police officers looking to offer courses in their communities or for Scouts, a couple of gun shop owners looking to offer their customers a training option, and outdoorswoman looking to help other ladies with their introduction to shooting, a retired guy looking to put his shooting skills to work and a blogger friend that traveled all the way from Virginia so he would be a better firearms instructor for Scouts in his area. A great group that shared a passion for guns and a desire to help expand the community of trained shooters.

As I have described before in other NRA Instructor Courses reviews, the first day is pretty much tied up with the Basic Instructor Training. This essentially teaches instructor candidates how to teach an NRA course. It is primarily a lecture day but does provide quite a bit of opportunity for candidates to stand and deliver short segments of lecture to get their feet wet preparing and delivering a lesson.

The process teaches everything from preparing lessons, using teaching aids, building teaching aids, pricing a course, advertising the course, finding a place that will host it . . . . it’s complicated as they say . . . .

The other part of the day is spent with pre-course qualifications. Each candidate must shoot two courses of fire – 10 rounds each – and put each round within an 8 inch circle from 50 feet. Honestly it’s not difficult, but adrenalin, nerves, ALL other candidates looking over your shoulder . . . . can make it a bit more challenging. Thrown in a set of rear sights that have been moved a significant amount during a cross country flight and it can get even dicier. But, all were experienced shooters and with a bit of polish all groups tightened quickly and the range time was all too short!

Next pre-qualification were various gun handling exercises:

• Loading and Unloading a Single Action Revolver
• Loading and Unloading a Double Action Revolver
• Loading and Unloading a Semi-Automatic Pistol
• Clearing a misfire
• Clearing a double feed

Again – no troubles, day one ended with everyone fairly tuckered out and I suspect wondering what the heck they had gotten themselves into!

Day two candidates essentially teach all elements of the NRA Basic Pistol Course. This covers everything from types of handguns, components of ammunition, teaching the basics of stance – grip - sight picture - sight alignment – trigger press, to shooting first shots and cleaning the different types of handguns. It’s a busy day. Each element is team-taught by the candidates. This gives them experience working with a team, assigning elements and then delivering them.

The second day ended with everyone having a smile on their face even if their eyes were slightly glazed over!

Congrats to Tyson, Randy, Jim, Deb, Adam, Scott, Allen, Mike, Mark, Andrew, Danny and Joe – great job!! And, we have 12 more NRA Basic Pistol Instructors to insure new shooters enjoy their new sport safely and get the most out of their handguns!

UPDATE:  Here are the class photos – pretty good lookin’ bunch!!

NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Course March 22,23 2013

Meetings - Training with OldNFO . . . .

 

It had been awhile since OldNFO and I had spoken . . . the phone rings . . . .

OldNFO: So when’s your next Basic Pistol Instructor Training??

Me: End of March - why??

OldNFO: Why don’t you save me a spot, looks like I’ll have some time free – I need a break!!

Me: Remember . . . . I live in Iowa??? You’re just about far East as you can get!! Iowa . . . . East Coast????? Really??

OldNFO: (a bit of a chuckle comes over the cell connection) “Hell, I have more “miles” saved up than I know what to do with . . . . just sign me up!”

And so this weekend arrived and I got to meet, know and enjoy the company of a fellow retired vet who has tromped over some of the same territory I had in years gone by. I gotta say, I had a great time!

This past Friday and Saturday I conducted the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Course – more on that in a review post in the next day or so. What I was truly looking forward to was meeting this fella I had chatted with on the phone after he first called me when I went off on a riff about how all pilots sounded like Chuck Yeager . . . . and he does, indeed, sound like Chuck Yeager!

I always wonder what the person behind a blog is “really like” – does the blog truly represent their personality or are they simply an internet fabrication? All I can say is “what you read is who OldNFO is”! Talkative, funny, interesting, coolest job ever for a geek like me, broad range of knowledge of firearms, passionate about his shooting skills . . . . just the whole package! Did I mention talkative??? There’s always a risk of putting two vets together and being drowned by a torrent of “I remember the time” stories - we certainly did not disappoint those around us!!

But, murphy being who he is, he was handed a bit of a curve ball. Part of the pre-course qualification was to shoot two qual targets from 50 feet putting 10 rounds within an 8” circle. A simple task for any true shooter – and a must if you want to participate in an NRA Basic Pistol instructor course. Just to make sure there were no surprises – he brought his one handgun . . . . . remember murphy??? First 10-round magazine and he had two hits on the far left edge of the target . . .WTF????? Same result with the second magazine . . . . he’s startin’ to feel a little uncomfortable about now.

Then a quick glance over the weapon showed that the rear sight has slid an 1/8 inch or more within its groove . . . . . not good. But, finally understanding what the problem was, OldNFO simply applied a little “Kentucky Windage” and his rounds easily fell within spec. He proceeded to feel bad about his initial efforts – but the ease with which he made his adjustment showed that there clearly was a “shooter” at the line!

Outside of class over meals in a great local Mexican and Chinese restaurant and a great steak this evening we chatted like old friends sharing stories of time spent in places that tested our metal as well as friends, children, grandchildren, hobbies, our futures and what he thought of the way I taught this weekend’s course (he was more than kind with his comments).

We are all made richer by those around us and the friends we make. Tonight, I am surely richer for our meeting sir . . . . it has been great getting to know you. I look forward to the next time we have the opportunity to get together!

Training - Details, details, details . . . . .

 

“The devil is in the details . . .”

Detail:     a part of a whole: as

       a small and subordinate part

                 a part considered or requiring to be considered

                separately from the whole

Personal defense, as with many things, is made up of a broad range of bits and pieces – “details”. These details must be attended to each and every day, each and every hour to insure you have the best possible chance of survival. (sounds dramatic, I know). Perhaps a conversation – names changed to protect the innocent:

Bonnie: “You train people how to shoot guns???” Asked while I was nose deep in one of her co-workers computers.

Me: “Yep, been doing that for a few years or more now.” Said while gently cursing the driver for the printer I was trying to attach.

Bonnie: “I got my carry permit a while ago. I have an LC9.”

Well, this perked my ears a bit since I have a LC9 as well. And I was surprised/curious at her having a permit.

Bonnie: “I have it to protect myself from my ex . . . he’s out of jail again. I finally got a permanent restraining order, but he still scares me.”

We had chatted about her ex in the past but she had never expressed such fear before. Given that we were in her work place I was curious how she was carrying.

Me: Sounds like a good idea to carry – how do you carry here at work?”

Bonnie: Oh, I don’t, it’s at home. But I know right where it is. They’ve suggested I carry here, but I haven’t yet.”

The conversation continues about types of on-body carry, her gun was at home where it would do her no good in the parking lot, and assorted other fears/concerns/questions she had followed.

Details . . . . details . . . . details . . . .

Such as being in fear for one’s life, acquiring a carry permit . . . . and then leaving your defensive weapon at home because of the “hassle” of carrying it . . . .

So let’s chat a bit about the range of details involved is having a weapon for personal defense and your actions throughout your day that may (or may not) help to keep you safe.

Your Weapon

One of the fundamental details of your defensive weapon is its actual selection. What handgun – I am focusing on handguns, not knives, keys, pepper spray, or other secondary weapons – are you going to choose? This “detail” is filled with other “details” – size, fit, ease of concealment, capacity, caliber, “stopping power”. And almost immediately many folks will let this overwhelm them ‘ “there are so many choices, I just don’t know how to pick one” – that they stop looking and buy the first handgun that is placed in their hand.

Take your time. Talk to other people who carry to see what they like. Go to a range and try a variety of handguns. There are a couple of criteria that MUST be met for your handgun to be an effective personal defensive weapon.

You must be able to shoot it accurately. You must be able to safely and effectively handle it and clear it if it malfunctions. You must be able to conceal it comfortably. I believe it should be at least a .38 special or larger center fire handgun. You MUST CARRY IT EVERY DAY!!! ALL DAY!!

Training

This is another “detail” many folks kind of shrug off. Many, once they get their permit, simply let the training evolve into a range trip or two each year to “put a few rounds down range”. Again, the “details” are lost . . .

Details such as marksmanship, draw from concealment, threat recognition, speed reloads, the uses of a tactical reload, clearing malfunctions, engaging a threat from 9 feet to 50 feet, movement, cover, concealment . . . . details, details, details.

Again, many folks let the volume of “details” overwhelm them and simply opt for what’s easy . . . . a couple of trips to the range a year to “put some rounds down range”. Don’t be “that guy/gal”. You have purchased a weapon to defend yourself – please – learn how to use it and become (and remain) proficient with its use.

Daily “Load Out”

Every morning, after I finish dressing, I stand in front of my dresser a put my wallet, flashlight, defensive knife, “Juice”, watch, phone, spare magazine and Glock17 “on”. Gun “geeks” call this their EDC – Every Day Carry. And, for me, that it is – EVERY day carry.

This is another one of those “details” that people become overwhelmed by – and it is an accumulation of the two above. If you have a weapon that is so big, so uncomfortable that you can’t easily carry, conceal and use it . . . . you won’t carry it. If you have a weapon that you are unfamiliar with, are not confident with . . . . you won’t carry it.

Entering/Exiting Vehicles . . . . and moving about your day

Going back to Bonnie and her fear of her ex. Getting into and out of your vehicle are two of your most vulnerable times of the day. You are focused on keys, doors, where the heck did you park your car . . . . rather than your surroundings. This plays into Jeff Coopers “color code” or the NRA’s “levels of awareness” and is perhaps one of the more difficult “details” of your personal protection.

You must simply be “aware” of what’s going on around you. Any familiar faces around that you really don’t want to see? Is someone trying to invade your “personal space”. Does something “feel off”? Are you parking/walking with your safety in mind? “Details”.

And, again, the implementation of the “color codes” or “levels of awareness” can feel like such a hassle that many folks simply don’t . . . . don’t pay attention to their surroundings, don’t pay attention to people around them, don’t pay attention to where they park or where they walk. And, for the vast majority of people – that’s just fine. But for some . . . . they end up dead.

“The devil is in the details” . . . . the threats to your life, your ability to defend yourself, your safety and the safety of your family and friends, your ability to return home at the end of the day for a kiss with your spouse and a snuggle with your kids . . . . depends on your willingness to pay attention to the “details” of your personal protection . . .

Because if you depend on luck . . . . .

. . . . it may well run out just when you need it most.

Reflections – We all have our cross to bear . . . .

 

It’s interesting to watch over my own shoulder sometimes and just see how things affect me . . . . Tonight was just such an occasion.

Paul: Bill? Bill – I need a reader for Friday night.

Me: Sure, what do you need Paul . . .

Paul: I need you to be reader number 2 for Stations Friday – can you do that?

Me: Sure, more than happy to . . . .

There is a Catholic tradition during Lent that on Friday evenings a parish holds a simple communion service and then conducts “Stations of the Cross”. The tradition began in the early centuries of the church. Catholics were expected to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands to follow the “Via Dolorosa” – The “Way of Suffering”. It is an actual, physical path through Jerusalem that begins where Christ was condemned to death and ends at his tomb.

However, the reality of the times was that this was a dangerous journey. As an alternative – fourteen individual “stations” were constructed along the walls of the nave of the church – each representing a physical location along the “Via Dolorosa”.

As this tradition has evolved, in our parish there is a procession consisting of a cross bearer and two assistants. They begin at the First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. The first reader reads a passage detailing the events of His life at that point. The second reader reads a passage on how we, as individuals, live our life in today’s world with of family, friends and those around us.

The tradition, in our parish, is fairly simple in readings and prayers. Other parishes are much more ornate. This link provides a fairly simply set of readings that are similar to our parish’s ceremony.

His “cross to bear” was, of course, a true cross. Whether it was an actual, physical cross or simply a cross member – there is little doubt of its weight and its effect on his body. Much as our “crosses” can wear and weigh us down. At different points throughout this journey he was overcome, given assistance, was greeted by his mother, stripped, killed and buried.

• Station One: Jesus is condemned to death
• Station Two: Jesus takes up his cross
• Station Three: Jesus falls for the first time
• Station Four: Jesus meets Mary
• Station Five: Simon is forced to carry Jesus’s cross
• Station Six: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
• Station Seven: Jesus falls the second time
• Station Eight: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
• Station Nine: Jesus falls a third time
• Station Ten: Jesus is stripped of his clothing
• Station Eleven: Jesus is nailed to the cross
• Station Twelve: Jesus dies on the cross
• Station Thirteen: Jesus is taken off the cross
• Station Fourteen: Jesus is laid in the tomb

A tortuous path that followed a life of love, confrontation, truth telling, expectation, duty, recruitment . . . . that set before man a path . . . . a path to salvation and redemption . . . a path to the life that follows . . . .

It is at Station Fourteen that true faith begins – at least for me. And so I sat through the beginning communion service looking at my church family and I watch over my shoulder. I stood at a lectern and read my little piece of tonight’s procession – and looked over my shoulder . . . . at what this faith has meant in my life. How it has helped me and the “crosses” that I have encountered along the way. I am a better man for it. I am a better husband, a better father, a better friend . . . .

We all have crosses . . .

We have been given one example on how to bear those crosses . . . .

All we are asked to do is to truly do our best, love those around us and realize that He truly loves us well beyond our understanding . . . .

It is truly a mystery to me . . . .