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Concur with the training.

Also, my math was way off, at 12 students per class and if they only do one class per month, best case is 144 students in a year so would take about 7 years to get through 1/4 of all the instructors.

Yes, I responded with a yes, keep me on the list at 1720hrs this afternoon after I got home from teaching a class. Hope they have us on the waitlist in the order in which we responded to the initial invite rather than the confirmation today.

As for them not thinking this out, it is almost what did you expect.

I would guess that not all instructors are going to want the expense of going to Florence for three days for a course that will have limited applicability. There are approximately 4,000 instructors in Texas, but how many are actively teaching on a regular basis. Currently, at the place I teach, only 2 of the 4 active instructors are applying, one already in the first class and me on the wait list. Other two are not interested.

Even if only 25% of the total instructors apply, it would take about a year with a class every month to get them all through.

Date/Time on my invite Friday was 1439. I was in Bastrop at the TSRA HQ for a meeting and got a call from my colleague who got into the class about 1530 telling me about it. Could not do anything until I got home so my application did not go in until 1905 Friday evening. We shall see how it shakes out.

Well, guess I did not make it into this first class. Talked with another instructor at the indoor range I teach at, and he did. Said he had his completed application back to them in less than 15 minutes after receiving the notice on Friday afternoon. Takeaways:

Class size is limited to 12 per class; Handgun must be .38 or .380 or larger; Semi-auto with minimum 10 round capacity recommended; NO optics; Minimum 400 rounds of ammunition-extra recommended; Minimum of three spare magazine or two speed loaders; Normal DPS range gear-hat, rain gear, closed toe shoes, eye pro, ear pro; Belt or paddle holster that must have either retention mechanism or enough friction to hold the firearm and "overcome gravity" (I assume this means that it won't fall out during movement into unusual positions); NO holster that uses index/trigger finger release allowed (Blackhawk Serpa); Handheld flashlight of 200 lumens or greater (500 lumens preferred), tail cap switch, < 6" long; Weapon mounted light is optional if appropriate holster; Physical ability to move into various shooting positions and to stand for extended periods of time. Bring your own water, snacks, lunch; Some more stuff, but this pretty much covers the "Specialized equipment" and physical requirements I was asking. Interesting that they ask for extra magazines, but did not say anything about mag pouches.

Future classes TBD

Just got a follow-up email, though not the one I was expecting. They just corrected the code citation. Looked up the one on the original email and could not understand why that particular one was cited. The new citation is 411.184. This one states the subjects that must be taught which includes Instinctive/Reactive shooting, Tactical shooting (not sure what their definition of this is), and low light shooting.

Agree with Trog, would not feel too safe if there was more than 20 or so in the class if folks are drawing and firing and there is movement involved. When I took the School Safety Class, we only had 8 in my class. Good group and we had a lot of fun. Will continue to wait to see if I made it into the 20 April Class and see what their equipment list is.

Yep, got the email yesterday. Sent the completed 71 back last night. I only live about 35-40 minutes from Florence and am retired so (with current gas prices) will cost me about 30-40 bucks for 3 round trips to Florence in my truck and am retired so have the time.

What intrigues me is their statement about required "specialized" equipment for the class that we must provide as well as the physical requirement. I can still run and gun in a 3-gun match, but not nearly as fast as I used to and wind up taking the 600mg Motrin afterward, but I can do it.

Some of the matches I did on military installations required a minimum Level-II vest and a retention holster. Wonder what DPS will require.