STEP 1: In-Person Training

Ongoing in-person training is one of the most powerful ways we can strengthen ourselves as protectors. It is about more than simply refreshing our knowledge in a classroom. We must also dedicate ourselves to being lifelong learners. In-person courses allow you to customize your own learning experience, interact with other members of the protector community and discover new lessons from instructors who dedicate their lives to self-defense and firearms training.

Requirements: Take a 4-hour in-person course with a certified firearms instructor. Add your course into your protector academy account after completion.

STEP 2: Complete your Level 02 Shooting Qualification: Loading, Reloading, Clearing Malfunctions and Unloading

Course Overview: Defensive firearms training is not just about shooting hundreds of rounds. It is practicing real skills like reloading and clearing malfunctions under stress.

We will simulate this stress with timed drills. But you are also responsible for every round you fire in a self-defense situation. So you must also accurately hit your target 100% of the time.

Required Gear & Supplies: You will need (1) USCCA Silhouette Target with 9’’ center, (1) semi-automatic handgun in any caliber, (45) rounds of ammunition in the same caliber, (2) snap caps in the same caliber, (2) magazines and (1) shot timer (either a dedicated shot timer device or a phone app).

This qualification was designed for a semi-automatic handgun, if using a revolver, the qualification can be completed using either a Moonclip or a revolver Speedloader.

Train with your personal self-defense firearm whenever possible.

Success Criteria: You must complete the following:

• Competency check: Load, unload and show clear (using snap caps).
• Load firearm with a 3-round magazine, shoot until empty with the slide locked back and then clear your firearm and place it on the table. You must achieve 100% hits within the 9-inch center of the target in the allotted time.
• Load firearm with a three-round magazine, shoot until empty and the slide locks back, reload the firearm with the second three-round magazine and re-engage the target by shooting until empty with the slide locked back. Then clear your firearm and place it on the table. You must achieve 100% hits within the 9-inch center of the target in the allotted time.
• Load firearm with a three-round magazine plus 1 snap cap. Shoot, clear malfunction, re-engage the target, reload the second magazine, re-engage the target, clear malfunction and re-engage the target until empty with the slide locked back. Then clear your firearm and place it on the table. You must achieve 100% hits within the 9-inch center of the target in the allotted time.
  Course of Fire: You will now complete a series of drills meant to test your ability to load and unload, load and shoot, reload, and clear malfunctions while engaging a target at the distance of 3 yards. Every drill will be timed. This course of fire is designed to test your ability to complete these tasks under the stress of time while accurately engaging your target at a plausible self-defense distance.

***You MUST be facing downrange at your target BEFORE you pick up and secure your firearm for any drill***

***Your firearm MUST be secured in a proper grip with the barrel facing downrange at your target BEFORE you chamber a round***

Competency Check:

Using snap caps — load, unload and show clear (three repetitions, not timed)

Part 1: Load & Shoot Drill
You must complete this drill in under 6 seconds with 100% hits inside the 9-inch center of your target.

1. Place your target 4 yards away from you on the range.

2. Load three rounds into one magazine. Place it on the table. Do not load your firearm.

3. Lock the slide of your UNLOADED handgun to the rear. Place it on the shooting table with the ejection port skyward and the barrel facing your target downrange.

4. While facing your target downrange:

• Start drill & timer (Required time = 6 seconds or less):
• Pick up your firearm and secure a proper grip with the barrel pointing downrange at your target while in the high compressed ready position.
• Insert your loaded magazine with the barrel still pointing downrange, chamber a round, extend and fire all three rounds at the 9-inch center.
• Clear the firearm and return it to the table.

If allowed by the range, start by facing away from your target, turning after starting the timer.

5. Repeat three times. The first time is an untimed warmup. The second and third repetitions are timed and count toward qualification requirements.

Part 2: Reloading Drill
You must complete this drill in under 12 seconds with 100% hits inside the 9-inch center of your target.

1. Keep your target 4 yards away from you on the range.

2. Load three rounds each into two magazines. Place them both on the table. (Or you may keep one on the table and one in a pocket or magazine pouch). Do not load your firearm yet.

3. Ensure your firearm is completely unloaded with no rounds in the chamber. Place it on the shooting table with the barrel facing your target downrange.

4. Leave your firearm on the table, barrel facing downrange. If under the supervision of a certified firearms instructor and it is allowable at your range, face away from your target (If not, face your target directly downrange):

• Start timer & drill (Required time = 12 seconds or less):
• If starting turned away from your target, turn your whole body until it is facing the target (If not, continue to face your target directly downrange).
• Pick up your firearm and secure a proper grip with the barrel pointing downrange at your target while in the high compressed ready position.
• Insert your three-round magazine with the barrel still pointing downrange, chamber a round, extend and fire at the 9-inch center until the slide locks on empty.
• Drop the empty magazine from the firearm while returning to high compressed ready.
• Reload using your second magazine with three rounds, chamber a round, extend and fire at the 9-inch center until the slide locks on empty.
• Clear the firearm and return it to the table.

5. Repeat three times. The first time is an untimed warmup. The second and third repetitions are timed and count toward qualification requirements.

Part 3: Correct Malfunction & Reload Drill
You must complete this drill in under 15 seconds with 100% hits inside the 9-inch center of your target.

Note: You will be using two snap caps to simulate malfunctions (one in each magazine). You will have to clear the simulated malfunctions when they occur by using the tap/rack method and then finish firing your remaining rounds to complete the drill.

1. The target remains at 4 yards away from you on the range.

2. Load two magazines with three rounds and one randomly loaded snap cap in each magazine. Place them both on the table (or you may keep one on the table and one in a pocket or mag pouch). Do not load your firearm yet.

3. Ensure your firearm is completely unloaded with no rounds in the chamber. Place it on the shooting table with the barrel facing your target downrange.

4. Leave your firearm on the table, barrel facing downrange. If under the supervision of a certified firearms instructor and it is allowable at your range, face away from your target.  (If not, face your target directly downrange.):

• Start drill & timer (Required time = 15 seconds or less):
• If under the supervision of a certified firearms instructor and it is allowable at your range, turn your whole body until it is facing the target. (If not, continue to face your target directly downrange).
• Pick up your firearm and secure a proper grip with the barrel pointing downrange at your target while in the high compressed ready position.
• Insert your three-round-plus-one-snap-cap magazine with the barrel still pointing downrange. Chamber a round, extend and fire at the 9-inch center. Clear any malfunctions as needed and continue firing until the slide locks on empty.
• Drop the empty magazine from the firearm while returning to high compressed ready.
• Reload using your second loaded magazine. Chamber a round, extend and fire at the 9-inch center, clear any malfunctions as needed and continue firing until the slide locks on empty.
• Clear the firearm and return it to the table.

5. Repeat three times. The first time is an untimed warmup and the second and third repetitions are timed and count toward qualification requirements.

Assessment:

If you successfully placed 100% of your shots (30) inside the 9-inch center target in under the required times, you have completed your Level 02 USCCA Qualification.

Required Times

• Load & Shooting Drill Time: 6 seconds x 2 repetitions (3 rounds/rep)
• Reloading Drill Time: 12 seconds x 2 repetitions (6 rounds/rep)
• Malfunction Drill Time: 15 seconds x 2 repetitions (6 rounds/rep)

If you failed this drill, consult with a certified firearms instructor who will be able to diagnose any issues and help you correct them. Then shoot your qualification drills again.