Always A Student, Occasionally A Teacher

One of the reasons why Rangemaster instructors tend to be more clued-in than other firearms instructors is their commitment to lifelong learning. Rangemaster is not a closed system, where instructors are taught The Correct System and other ways of teaching how to shoot a gun are wrong.

Instead, every Rangemaster instructor is HIGHLY encouraged to take other classes to broaden their depth of knowledge by taking classes on a wide range of topics, including adult learning theory, less lethal options and How Not To Suck At Giving Presentations.

With that in mind, I’m taking two classes during the summer break to help me be a more effective instructor. The first is a one day Medium Range Rifle class in September. My short-range rifle game is pretty strong, with classes from Kyle Lamb, Matt Pranka and others, and my long range skills are there too, taking AR-15s past (way past) 1000 yards. It’s the middle of that donut, 50 to 500 yards, where my knowledge is lacking. Yes, I shot 3 gun for a number of years so I have the hands-on experience, but anything over 50 yards just hasn’t been a priority of me because I’m more concerned with the use of the carbine in home defense. This class will help fill in that gap.

The second class is Sabre Red’s Pepper Spray Instructor class. As anyone who’s taken a class from me will tell you, I’m a big fan of spicy treats as a less-lethal option for self-defense. However, actual certification classes in the civilian use of pepper spray are few and far between. Chuck Haggard teaches this sort of thing, but he rarely ventures into the Southeastern U.S., so until I can take one of his classes without needing a passport, this will give me the piece of paper I need to say that yes, I know what I’m doing, even if I’ve had that knowledge all along.

If you’d like to take advantages of this wealth of knowledge, sign up for one of my classes, as I’d love to see you on the range.