What's My "Background"

As I sit here typing this, I have just thrown a load of laundry in to wash and am in the process of packing for a weekend trip to South Carolina to train with John Lovell of the Warrior Poet Society.  Its getting more difficult for me to get to training courses.  These days I spend much more time teaching than training.  Still, I don't like for a year to go by without me getting into some kind of training course and sometimes it is easier to do that if I just plan a trip.

As an Instructor, I am blessed to work as a part of a team of pretty impressive guys.  Often I am asked by students, "so what is your background"?   That's a fair question.  Obviously, I am not close to being the guys I work with.  I often joke that I am a 50-something year old grandmother who found herself thrown in with a bunch of Special Operations Military Guys and SWAT cops wondering how exactly that happened.  And yes, that can be pretty intimidating, however, I do believe I bring certain gifts to the organization that they do not.  I have my place, and they have their's and together we make a pretty good team. 

I have no Military or Law Enforcement background.  I am not a super Ninja Tactical dude.  I am not a lot of things.  I do have a background in teaching and leadership.  I've spend the past 30 years or more working in that capacity.  I've lead mission teams for a number of years.  As far as education, I have studied as a graphic designer and my major at Miami University was in Psychology.

For the past 6 years I have led the North Cincinnati Chapter of TWAW Shooting Chapters.  I was one of those leaders who have been there pretty much since the beginning of that organization.  I've served as the State Leader for that organization and was selected as the Regional Trainer, overseeing the training of the Instructors in Kentucky and Ohio.  I had to reluctantly step down from that position because I simply don't have the time to do everything I would like to do.  A lot of us are like that - we like to do everything and then realize we have limited amount of time.

Those who know me well know that I'm a firm believer in training.  I don't train because its my job.  I train for the same reason many others train - to be as ready as I possibly can be if I am ever faced with having to defend myself or my family from a violent attack. Yes, I've done some Instructor Training to be able to be the best Instructor I possibly can be, but the majority of my training is for my own personal benefit.   I've made it a priority to train with the best I can find and afford, even if it means loading up the truck and heading across country on my own. It has paid off!  I have been very blessed to learn from some truly amazing and talented people.   Among the folks I've leaned from and classes taken are:

• OPOTA Private Security 
• NRA Basic Pistol Instructor
• NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor
• NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor
• NRA Defensive Pistol
• NRA Chief Range Safety Officer
• TWAW Certified Instructor (which focuses on the different learning styles of men and women)
• UTM (Ultimate Training Munitions) Instructor 
• Gabby Franco - Olympic shooter and competition shooter who appeared on Top Shot.
• Massad Ayoob 
• Defensive Knife with Greg Ellifritz
• Contextual Handgun: The Armed Parent/Guardian with Melody Lauer and John Johnston
• Unthinkable: Understanding the Criminal Mindset with William Aprill 

• Defensive Pistol classes (I've forgotten how many) with Rick Wright, an OPOTA Instructor and Retired Law Enforcement Officer
• FASTER - a training program for armed school staff at the Tactical Defense Institute 
• Gunsite Academy
• Battleline Tactical - Kris "Tanto" Paronto and Dave "Boon" Benton were two of the CIA security contractors who was part of the CIA annex security team during the 2012 terrorist attack on the US Ambassador to Libya and the CIA Compound in Behghazi.   
• OTOA Combat Pistol with Russ Lyons

• And of course, multiple courses with 88 Tactical of OH with Phil Chaney, a retired Marine CWO3 and Special Operations Instructor in the Marine Corps and SWAT Instructor..  

As you can see, I don't have that much of a "background", but I do work hard to be prepared to defend myself and those I love.  I hope you are doing the same.  

On Being an Instructor

I am celebrating today.  I'm celebrating that my friend Julie is scheduled to go through the Instructor training and become an NRA Pistol Instructor.  That is always an accomplishment and I'm always excited for the people who choose to do that. 

I am asked occasionally about what it takes to be an Instructor.  That's a tough question.  The short answer is, not that much.  It takes a few days and a few hundred dollars and you will be a credentialed Instructor.  But of course, there is more to it than that. 

If you are thinking about heading down that path, kudos to you, but you would be wise to know what all it involves.  When I went through it, I had no idea. 

The first thing to consider is, how much money do you have?  I imagine most new Instructors are a bit shocked to find that there are many hidden expenses involved in being an Instructor. Here are a few to consider:

• You have the initial cost of the training.
  
• Your next step will be to pay the fees to the organization that you will be credentialed with.
  
• You will then need to purchase Instructor insurance.  This is different than the liability insurance you may carry as a gun owner.  It is specifically for Instructors to protect them from liability should something go wrong on the range.
  
• Then you will need a place to teach.  That is very often a huge obstacle for many new Instructors.  Public ranges often do not allow outside Instructors to teach at their range for liability reasons.  I imagine a lot of Instructors get stuck there simply because there is no place for them to teach.
  
• If you are fortunate enough to have a place to teach, they most likely are going to want to be paid for use of that facility.
  
• You are also going to need materials.  Those will cost you a certain amount too.  And don't forget the shipping cost, which can be high.    If you are teaching an NRA course, you are required to stick firmly to their materials.  They, and other organizations require you to stick to their materials and their ways of teaching for the purpose of remaining consistent.  Rarely are you allowed to just do your own thing, even if you have years of experience behind you. 
  
• Advertising.  How are you going to do that?  Social media is free and the approach most use but how do you get those posts or events to be "shared" so that people actually know about your class?  You think friends will share?  Some will.  Truthfully, most will not.  Its not that they don't want to support you, but they may not want to deal with the grief they may get from their family and friends for promoting the use of a gun.  Their job may frown upon their pro-gun stance and so, they may not share your event and help you spread the word. 
  
• All of this adds up to it being very difficult to find students for your class and then having to pay out of your income from the class to pay for materials, insurance, and facility.  Keep in mind too that if you are teaching a Concealed Carry class, in Ohio it is an 8-hour class - make that a 10-hour day for the Instructor. 
  
• Lets say you are one of the fortunate people who lands a job teaching for a range or a training organization in your area.  Yes, your earning potential goes way up in that instance, but it may be far less than you think.  In most cases the range or organization will be getting the lion's share of those profits and you will get an hourly rate.  You WILL start making money, but temper those expectations so that you are not disappointed.  I work for an elite training organization at one of the extraordinarily nice ranges in our area and I teach classes on a weekly basis and there is still no way I could begin to live on what I make.  

Here is a post I made on social media in 2014 to give you and idea of where things stood for me. 

Now lets consider other expenses that are not required but will certainly make a difference in the quality of Instruction you offer - your own personal training.

Any good instructor will always be pushing themselves to expand their own training.  Plan on traveling and paying big bucks if you want to get the best training available. 

Another thing you would be wise to consider is waiting.  Yes, waiting.  I know.  No one wants to wait for anything, but it really is the better way to ensure that you are offering quality training to your students.  Find a good Instructor that you respect and ask if you can assist or just watch them for several classes.  In the organization I work for EVERYONE starts as an Apprentice.  That means EVERYONE who starts with us puts in a minimum (maybe more) of 100 hours where you work without pay.  You observe.  You sweep brass and hang targets and make sure the Instructor has what they need.  You watch and listen and learn their ways.  There are number of people who balk at that.  They feel they are credentialed and they should be able to just jump right in and teach.  Credentialed does not always equal credible.  Credibility takes time.  By watching and assisting you may not be making money but you are gaining something that can not be bought - experience.  Not all Apprentices make it to Instructor.  Some do.  Most do not.  Even now, as an Instructor with that organization for over a year now, I still put in hours without pay.  I do so because 1, I am helping the organization be better and thereby helping myself, and 2, I am gaining valuable experience.  

So far this is sounding like a really bad idea,, right?   It is not.   Being an Instructor can be one of the most rewarding things you can do.  You just have to approach it for the right reasons. 

The bottom line, is why do you want to be an Instructor?  Ask yourself that question and be really honest with yourself.   If you are in it to make money, find another way.  If you are in it to serve others by assisting them in becoming skilled, go for it.  It is truly rewarding to watch people progress and gain confidence and know that you had a hand in  helping them better protect those they love.  That is the reason we do this.  

My Favorite Class to Teach - and Why

Sometimes people ask what my favorite class to teach is.  That is an easy question to answer - the Intro to Handgun class!   Yes, its true that some people see an instructor who teaches an introductory class as somehow not quite as good as an instructor who teaches intermediate or advanced courses, and yes, some instructors have no patience for the new shooter, but I LOVE it. 

I don't love it because I think I'm in any way better than another instructor, (I am not) but there are some reasons that do make me look forward to every single Intro class I teach.  

1.  New shooters know they don't know anything.  As a result, they listen.  And they learn!  Its hard to teach someone who thinks they already know it all.  I never encounter that kind of attitude in an introductory class.

2.  Usually the introductory class is the students first experience to formal training, and very often their first experience ever even holding a gun, much less shooting one.  What an opportunity!  As their instructor I get to lay the foundation for future training.  Whether they choose to continue shooting or not, may depend in large part on me.  That's a big responsibility, but its also a fantastic opportunity, and one that I welcome.  

A target of one of the students in
Intro to Handgun

3.  Maybe the biggest reason I love teaching new shooters is that I get to see a transformation occur right in front of me.  It is not uncommon for someone to approach their first shots with a good case of nerves.  I have had new shooters cry.  I have' had them flinch every single time a shot is fired.  I even had one proclaim that they were going to throw up.  (they didn't)  But then they fire their first shot ....and its usually right in the X in the center ring of the target.  I will tell them to put the gun down.  Once they have I tell them to look and see where they hit.  And then it happens....  They start to believe that they CAN do this!  As they continue to fire their confidence grows.  Nerves are replaced with big grins and a sense of relief.  There is just nothing like it.

Yes, its fun to teach a more advanced class where I can push people a bit more, and yes, its rewarding to see those shooters grow their skills too, but those new shooters are for me, as good as it gets.  

Vetting An Instructor

It seems I'm hearing more stories about bad experiences in training, or about people making poor choices based on their training.  

The wrong instructor can get you hurt, in deep legal trouble, or worse.  Whatever kind of self-defense training you do, it is important to vet out the instructor. 

Just the other day I was sitting in a bank talking to a bank manager who had recently put up a "no gun" sign.  He did so because a CCW holder had made a very poor choice in his bank and had endangered the lives of numerous individuals.  To this day that CCW holder believes he acted wisely.  Its important to note that this bank manager is NOT an anti-gun person.  He too has a CCW permit and shoots regularly. 

Sometimes its not the anti-gun people who are our enemy.  Sometimes our own ignorant actions make it harder to defend our stand.  DON'T BE THAT PERSON!

A good way to make sure you don't become that person is to vet your instructor.

Did you know that its very, very easy for someone to become an instructor?   Its a few days and a few hundred dollars and you too can hang out a shingle and start "training" people. Think about that.  Your life and the life of your loved ones may be hanging on the training of one of those folks. 

How can you tell?

Do some research!

• Ask them about not only their credentials, but their experience.

• Did they work under a more seasoned, experienced instructor, or did they just strike out on their own after getting their credentials?  

• Have they done further training themselves, and do they continue to do training themselves?  Ask!
  
  
• Ask other instructors who you trust.  In many cases other instructors know who is good and who isn't. 
  
  
• Don't trust ONLY reviews.  Basing your information only off of that instructor's reviews can mislead you because most people who take a class have no idea what is good and what is bad and tend to believe all training is good.  Trust only the opinions of people who actually  know something about their discipline and who are not looking to make money off of that class.  

This not only goes for firearms training, but for any self-defense training. If you believe that your life is worth defending, then its also worth a bit of time to check out an instructor. 

Teaching Women

Its no secret that I love teaching women.  And its something I am always seeking to learn more about and improve at. 

At the TWAW National Leadership Conference this year we had the blessing of having Vicki Farnam as one of the presenters.  Vicki is the wife of John Farnam, who is a well-known instructor and who in 1996 was selected to receive the "Tactical Advocate of the Year" award from the National Tactical Association.   Vicki has years of experience in teaching and has developed a program to help male instructors be more effective in instructing women.

This may come as a shock to you, but men and women are different.  We are totally equal, but we are different.  We (generally speaking) communicate differently.  Ask any couple who has been married for a while, we definitely communicate differently.  We process information differently.  There are even biological bases for the way our brains process information. 

To illustrate this at our Conference, Vicki asked 3 men who were present to come up on the stage and make a circle with the chairs.  They did.  Then she thanked them and told them to put them back where they belonged.  We all laughed, but this was much more than just a stunt to get laughs.  She made her point crystal clear when she said, "now if I had asked women to come up on the stage and make a circle with the chairs it would have gone very differently.  They would have asked questions.   They would have wanted to know how many chairs?  How far apart do you want the chairs?  Do you want the seats facing in or out?  Where on the stage do you want the chairs? 

And we laughed again because we all knew it was SOOOO true. 

Women, generally, like details. 

This is just ONE way in which men and women approach a task differently. 

Now can you imagine how that might relate to teaching someone to shoot? 

Vicki had made the point too that women like to completely understand and "master" one task before they move on to the next.   I had to laugh because I remember at one of our classes a woman became frustrated with one of the male instructors and said, "JUST TEACH ME ONE THING". 

It does all of us as Instructors well to consider these differences.  I do believe men can teach women. I have learned from some of the best male instructors out there, , but not every man is willing to adjust his approach to do so well.  We have all encountered students who we could not teach because they believed they already knew everything.  Instructors can be much the same.  Even great instructors can learn how to be better.  In fact, a great instructor WILL make an effort to learn how to be better.  If our goal is truly to impart a skill, we will be open to leaning new ways of doing that better.

I am grateful for Vicki, and for her influence on the TWAW founder Carrie Lightfoot who developed a course for instructing women.  Carrie now teaches the TWAW Instructor Certification Course at the prestigious Gunsite Academy in Arizona. 

You can check out Vicki's book and website at Defensive Training International

Are You A Believer?

Are you a believer?  

What I"m asking is, if you had a honest conversation with yourself right this minute, do you honestly believe that you might have to use deadly force before you go to sleep tonight?  

I don't mean that you live your life in fear.  I am NOT suggesting that at all!  It saddens me to see people living in fear. It actually annoys me sometimes to see people live in fear.  Fear is the opposite of freedom.  Most of what I spend my time doing is helping people to step out of fear and into preparedness.   There is really no reason to live in fear, but there is every reason to live in a relaxed preparedness.


I think most people, especially gun owners, would answer that they do believe it is possible that one day they may need to use deadly force in self-defense.  And yet, few work toward being adequately prepared.  Either they overestimate their ability because they are unaware of all that that will be required of them during a deadly force encounter (before, during and after), or they really haven't grasped the idea that TODAY may be the day.   

When I was at Gunsite Academy for a training class one of the cool things was that we watched  Col. Jeff Cooper presenting the "mindset" piece via video.  Col. Cooper passed away in 2006 so this was a real treat to see him teaching.   One point he drove home was that if and when you find yourself in a deadly force encounter, your first response should not be the response of so many - "I can't believe this is happening".   Rather your response should be, "I thought this might happen one day, and I know exactly what to do". 

The older I get the more I am convinced that mindset is the most important piece of your self defense program.  It is huge.  I mean its really, really HUGE. 

Most new shooters are not there yet.  They may have purchased a gun or taken a CCW class because they know the world is not getting any nicer out there and they think they should do something about that, just in case, but they really have no idea about the realities of self defense... yet.     The good news is, mindset will change over time.  You will grow both in your awareness and in your training as well as in your understanding of the reality of deadly force encounters. 

Me?  I'm a believer.  I am soon going to be 57 years old and I've never needed a gun a day in my life ... but I live like I might need it before the end of the day ... because I might.  Does that mean I'm afraid?  Hardly.  You see, and strange thing happens, the more prepared you are, the less afraid you are.    Being prepared allows me to live my life in freedom from fear.  

And should the day come when I do have to engage a deadly threat, I will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing I have done everything within my power to be prepared.  
Being unprepared is just not acceptable to me.   Too much is riding on my preparedness. 

Massad Ayoob puts it this way, "Its not about the odds.  Its about the stakes."   

Gunsite Academy

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending a Gunsite 150 class at one of their offsite campuses in Indiana.   For some time now it has been a wish of mine to be able to train at the prestigious Gunsite Academy, located in Arizona.   I had sort of moved it to my list of fantasy wishes because I really didn’t see any way I would ever be able to do that. 

 It can be a little pricey to attend Gunsite.  A basic 5-day Pistol 250 class is $1700 plus travel expenses and hotel for a week.  That can make it difficult for many to attend.    However, they do offer offsite classes, which are every bit as good as what you find at the ranch in Arizona and are taught by the same instructors that teach at the ranch.  One of those offsite classes is just 2.5 hours away from my home and cost a bit less (although not a lot less).  As an added bonus, the location is about 20 minutes away from where my son, daughter-in-law and grandkids live, making it easy to combine a training opportunity with a short visit with family.

For anyone who might be unfamiliar with Gunsite, it began as the American Pistol Institute, founded by Col. Jeff Cooper.  Col. Cooper created the Modern Technique of the Pistol.   They are known for their focus on the Combat Triad which consist of Mindset, Marksmanship, and Gun Handling.  Col. Cooper is also known for creating the Color Code of readiness.

I often joke that Col Cooper has achieved god-like status in the industry because of the respect almost everyone has for him and for what Gunsite does. 

 

Day One

I was really looking forward to getting away and getting on a range where no one knew me and I could just  be an "anonymous" student.  Sometimes when I do a training people know that I'm an instructor and that increases the pressure to do well.  It was nice to have a chance to go train where no one knew who I was or what my background was. I really wanted to look like a newbie.  And in fact, it had been a while since I had gotten to shoot so for all I knew, I was a newbie. 

I got off on bad footing by getting zero sleep the night before leaving.  At 5am I packed up and headed to Indiana for a great weekend of training.  I made the mistake of not drinking anything before I left so I wouldn’t have to stop for the bathroom.  Not my brightest idea. That would come back to bite me in a big way later and for the rest of the weekend. 

After an almost 3 hour, dark, foggy, construction ridden drive,  I pulled into the Lebanon Police Range and saw the familiar Gunsite sign just a little before 8am.  I had arrived and could not wait for my Gunsite experience. 

After signing in and getting our swag, the Instructors Introduced themselves and we got started.  I was immediately impressed with the number of women in the class.  I didn’t take a count but it seemed like close to half of the class were female shooters.   Another thing that impressed me were that there were 3 dads there who had brought their daughters to train at Gunsite.  Very often a dad (or husband) will attempt to teach their daughters (or wife) how to shoot and that almost never goes well.  It was great to see these dads bringing their daughters, shooting alongside them and encouraging them to train and be able to defend themselves. 

Some time was spent in the classroom covering Col. Cooper’s Modern Technique of the Pistol and the Combat Triad of Mindset, Marksmanship, and Gun Handling.   Then it was out to the range for some basic shooting drills. 

The range itself was nice.  Completely grass covered which made it a softer surface to shoot from and perhaps a bit cooler than cement or gravel.  The loading tables were under a shaded patio.  That said, it was HOT.  I mean really HOT.  As in gates of Hades kind of HOT.  I had hoped that a mid-September class would be a bit cooler but no such luck.  That sun was blazing and unforgiving.

The drills began with just basic single-shots to the target in the high center-mass area from the low ready position from 3, 5, and 7-yard lines.  Not too difficult.  Going into the weekend I was not sure how I would do since it had been a while since I had spent any real time behind the gun.  Its easy as an Instructor to get so busy teaching and training others that it can be difficult to do any shooting for yourself other than to demo something for a student.   Controlled pairs were also introduced at all distances. Basically the first day was getting everyone up to speed with the fundamentals. 

They harped on the “little things” like stance, grip, and especially the trigger press.  There is good reason for that.  Its those little things that make all the difference.   The first day tactical reloads were also introduced and let me just say that many instructors ignore or place little value on the tactical reload. Not Gunsite.  It’s a big deal to them and they harp on it constantly.  Gunsite runs a “hot” range and you are expected to “manage your ammo” as necessary, preferably without being reminded.  

There was also a chance for some friendly competition shooting with a “shoot off” on steel targets.   The class ended at 5pm after a long day that had been spent mostly in the blazing Indiana sun.  It was a great day but the heat had caught up with me and I was sick. 

Day 2

The instructors graciously started class at 9am rather than 8am on the second day.  I was grateful for a chance to try to catch up on some much needed rest.  I was however, still sick.   

Not to worry about time lost in that first hours though because day two was a LONG day and Gunsite does not waste a minute.  We began in the classroom covering Mindset and Mental Conditioning.  Mindset is one of my favorite topics so I ate that stuff right up.   One of the coolest things for me personally was being able to see the video of Col. Cooper teaching the mental conditioning piece and the four color codes that he created on video.  Its one thing to read it or hear it from another Instructor, its quiet another to hear it from the man himself. 

Very quickly that morning we were on the range where we did a cold shoot and Hammers were introduced.  Hammers are two rounds fired, one immediately following the first.  Speed Reloads and Malfunction clearing were introduced as was holster presentation.  Again, the Instructor harped on those ‘little things” and again there was a chance for a brief friendly competition.   

Range time wrapped up just after 5pm for a two-hour dinner break and then we were back at 7:10 for the evening shoot.  We gathered on the patio and  went over the essentials for low-light shooting as we waited for sundown.  Once the sun began to set, it was to the range to learn how to use a flashlight to identify a threat.  The “FBI” method and the “Harries” method were both taught and we practiced shooting both.  Most of the students had never had the opportunity to do low-light shooting.  I am blessed to be a part of an organization and at a range that does this on a regular basis.  The day ended around 10pm. 

Day 3

At 8am we met back at the range for the final day.  Again it was a full day of shooting.  The Failure Drill , a School drill, and Use of Cover were introduced.  We shot all of these from the 3, 5, and 7 yard distances.  We also covered “pivots” and turns, and multiple target engagement. 

And no Gunsite course is probably ever complete without ending with the “El Presidente” drill developed by Col. Cooper and which integrates many of the defensive shooting skills into one drill.  Usually they time and score this drill but because this was the 150 class and students had not had as much opportunity to shoot as many rounds as is done in the 250 course, the drill was not timed or scored. 

The Takeaway

This was perhaps the best class I’ve ever taken.  The Instructors were extremely professional.  Yes, it was a “basic” class and I can’t say that I learned anything new Mostly, it was stuff I teach to my students as well.  

My personal challenge was pushing through the three days while sick.  Did I think about quitting?  Oh yes!  Often.  Frequently.  Constantly.  But I was not about to give up and give in.  That is part of that mindset piece too - pushing yourself physically and mentally to do what you feel you can't, and finding out that you can.   I was also relieved to find that I can still shoot.  Well.  

Why would I spend the time and money to go take a “basic” class?  Well, because you really can’t hammer on the basics enough.  I tell my students that all the time and remind them that no one is ever so good that they can not benefit from revisiting the basics.  If you want to be a good shooter, or a better shooter, its all about the basics.  The “cool guy” stuff is cool and makes you feel awesome, but you can not do the cool guy stuff until you have mastered those basics.  So that is one reason, and besides … its Gunsite