POST # 27514 – This 10-hour Missouri POST Approved course was designed with off-duty and plain-clothes officers in mind.
The goal of the “Low Profile Pistol Skills for the Armed Professional” course is to provide armed professionals with an overview of functional defensive handgun skills, utilizing a concealed handgun, from beyond two-arms reach. These skills can differ significantly from the requisite skills needed to work with the traditional duty-sized handgun carried in a typical duty rig by a uniformed officer. This course was designed specifically for the armed professional who is operating under little/no observable color of authority.
Firearms Training Prerequisites
Students should already possess a mastery of safe gun handling practices and be able to load, unload, and reload their handgun in a safe and controlled manner while maintaining strict muzzle discipline. Students should possess the basic knowledge and skill to be able to disassemble their firearm for cleaning, maintenance, and problem-solving. Students attending this course must possess the desire to learn new concepts and techniques in a fast-paced environment.
Physical Requirements
Students must possess a level of physical fitness that allows them to repeatedly manipulate and fire their weapon during prolonged dry and live-fire exercises, from a standing position, in all weather conditions. Students must possess adequate mobility to move forward, backward, and laterally on outdoor surfaces.
Gear Requirements
As this is a “Low Profile Pistol Skills” class, students should bring their normal, off-duty carry gun (must be semi-automatic). If you normally carry a compact or subcompact pistol when you are off duty, we ask that you bring that particular gun on the day of the class. The handgun needs to be clean, serviceable, have all factory safety devices/systems intact, and in a centerfire caliber. In addition to your normal off-duty pistol, you will need:
- A Strong-Side or Appendix holster made for your specific make/model of handgun. “Floppy” holsters are NOT allowed! We strongly recommend a quality Kydex or leather holster. Please note that we will not allow any variety of cross-draw, shoulder, ankle, or small-of-back carry during the class.
- A quality gun belt made specifically for securing a holstered firearm to your person (no duty belts/rigs).
- At least 3 spare magazines for your handgun.
- 400 rounds of ammunition for your handgun.
- Proper range attire (including footwear) suitable for the weather. Please note that our range is outdoors. We ask that you please pay special attention to weather forecasts on the days leading up to the class and come prepared to spend the bulk of the day outside on the range.
- A cover garment. A good portion of the range work will begin with the pistol in a concealed condition, so you will need to dress in a manner that facilitates a concealed condition of the pistol. This may be as simple as an “untucked” T-shirt, or could involve the use of a jacket or vest. Please note that we will not allow the use of any jackets, vests, or shirts that have a drawstring and/or “toggle” anywhere near where your holster is located.
- Eye and ear protection (we strongly recommend electronic ear pro).
- Note taking supplies, i.e. – pen, pencil, notepad, etc.
Minimum Requirements for Course Completion
Upon completion of this course, students will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by completing a series of qualification exercises within specified time and accuracy standards, and by completing a 25-question written examination. Topics of Instruction Include (but are not limited to):
- A review of Safe Gun Handling rules and protocols
- Identifying the MOST IMPORTANT skills
- Mastering the four fundamentals of grip
- Refining the trigger press
- Developing a safe, efficient presentation from concealment
- Mastering recoil management
- Minimizing split times between shots
- Emergency and Tactical Reloads and where they fit in to our training paradigm
- Efficient sight tracking and target transitions
- Moving with purpose
- Transitional positions and moving with a handgun in your hands
- Combining moving and shooting
- Recognizing, and working within, our own individual limits