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What does it take to become an RSO?

phddan wrote:What does it take to become an RSO?

Apparently, public speaking!

Halfway through the NRA course, I was informed that I would have to take part in a presentation to the rest of the class.

I chose to leave. I don't speak in front of people for any reason.

I have no problems as acting range officer at my club and controlling a firing line.

I still can't imagine what speaking to a group has to do with being an RSO!

Mike1951 wrote:

phddan wrote:What does it take to become an RSO?

Apparently, public speaking!

Halfway through the NRA course, I was informed that I would have to take part in a presentation to the rest of the class.

I chose to leave. I don't speak in front of people for any reason.

I have no problems as acting range officer at my club and controlling a firing line.

I still can't imagine what speaking to a group has to do with being an RSO!

I think it is meant to make sure you can clearly and precisely communicate your information and instructions to the folks on the range. Many individuals have problems speaking to people they don't know. You may end up as an RSO somewhere that you aren't familiar with the shooters and have to be able to step up and make a presence that is commanding and authoritative so they will listen to the stranger who is directing them.

Maybe. As ex-LEO, I've never had difficulties making myself heard or getting a point across.

I still consider it a ridiculous requirement.

Unless something has changed since I became RSO certified through the NRA, all you have to do is contact the NRA for the RSO packet, take the test provided at your leisure, and send it back with the appropriate dollars needed to get the certification. I did mine at a shooting sports camp in July 2008 and we didn't have to do any presentation. Like I said, something may have changed since then but I would call the NRA and inquire as to what exactly is needed. Sounds to me like that was an instructor preference again, unless the requirement has changed.

My .02

That was one reason I wanted to post my experience, to learn whether it actually is required.

It appears that you make take the home class if you are already an NRA Instructor.

We just did the NRA RSO course during the TSRA weekend. No presentation was required. But, this was the first NRA class I have done that did not require it.

Mike1951 wrote:I still can't imagine what speaking to a group has to do with being an RSO!

Talking to a group of shooters sounds like an important part of the job.

Standing in front of an audience in a room has NOTHING to do with keeping a firing line safe with 30 shooters.

Mike1951 wrote:Standing in front of an audience in a room has NOTHING to do with keeping a firing line safe with 30 shooters.

I have to disagree to a point. Depending on circumstances, there may be times when a RSO would have a group of 30 shooters that are all fairly new to the sport. I can see where (depending on who else was available) you might have to speak to the whole group in a classroom setting telling them the rules for the range and running them over some basic safety items before they proceed to the firing line. That is presenting in front of a group.

I can see both sides of this.

As a former LEO myself, I knew lots of brother officers who would have had extreme stage fright at the very thought of speaking in front of a crowd, even a small class room presentation. But any one of them would have no qualms stepping up and ordering people about on a range or in a donkey kicking session.

A classroom presentation seems to be very different from the authoritative role one plays in being a range officer. I've often done both, and they are very different environments and each requires you to adopt a very different persona, so to speak.

A role playing scenario where the rest of the class was pretending to be shooters while the "presenter" played the range master would be more appropriate than a presentation, IMHO.

An NRA RSO can be far more then just a line RSO. This being the case the NRA wants to be sure that anyone they certified can handle all potential roles of an NRA RSO. I personally feel that this is a good requirement.

Having established that I will never be an NRA RSO, I must apologize to the OP for stealing his thread.

NRA shows two classes which happen to be a reasonable distance from you.

Manor - Saturday, March 21, 2009, Austin Rifle Club, $100
Earl Wellbor, 512-294-8321. , earlwellborn@sbcglobal.net
Class types: Range Safety Officer

Manor - Saturday, April 18, 2009, Austin Rifle Club, $100
Earl Wellbor, 512-294-8321. , earlwellborn@sbcglobal.net
Class types: Range Safety Officer

Unless you're another glossophobic, you'll do fine.

Well we did assume that the OP was interested in NRA RSO. There are others such as IDPA and USPSA range safety officers.

I don't know about USPSA but IDPA is generally a 4 hour class given by an approved IDPA instructor. The class goes over the rules and how to run shooters through scenarios at matches.