[chaim]

Hey guys. I was looking over the training requirement since I no longer have a certificate from the one formal safety course I took (a real course, not the silly video the state of MD requires you to sit through before buying handguns and "assult rifles"). I see that they will take a DD214 as proof of firearms proficiency.

Usually when a state takes a DD214 as proof of anything they require an Honorable discharge. I am in an unusual (actually not that unusual) situation. I was discharged early, right at the end of basic training (officially the day before graduation, in reality the day after) due to a bad ankle. I was in just shy of 4 months so I wasn't in long enough for an Honorable discharge, I did nothing wrong so I don't have Dishonorable, so my discharge is a General Discharge.

Well, the FL law looks like simply being in the military and having an FFL that shows firearms proficiency (I scored Sharpshooter, I was only two hits short of Expert though that doesn't show on the 214). That I have.

Does anyone know if this will be enough in my case or do they unofficially require an Honorable Discharge after a full, or almost full, contract like just about everyone else who uses the 214 for anything?

I am hoping this will be enough because most training classes I have found locally are offered on Saturday and being an Orthodox Jew I can't so much as drive on Saturday so that is out of the question (I also can't shoot unless it is an actual life or death situation). Using my DD214 would make my situation much easier as I could get the paperwork started before I go to a week long course (during the week of course) at one of the bigger training schools (hopefully this summer).

[sm]

chaim,
well I was going to cut and paste the Training Documentation under question 6 in the Application Instructions...but they are not on the site as they once were.

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/index.html

It may be easier to have the formal training courseyou took send you a new certificate, and perhaps a letter of validation.

We had students do this, and accepted by FL.

We also had students that took the NRA firearms course and used this.
Less hassle with some retired LEO/Military persons that had moved about , to take NRA and be done with it.

HTH

[Lennyjoe]

I would assume that the Military training certificate is enough but its a $117 bet that I didnt feel comfortable with so I sent the CCW one along with mine.

Best to make a call and see.

[Hkmp5sd]

The way the state considers it, a dishonorable discharge makes you ineligible. That would mean anything else would be ok.
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/eligible.html

If you can contact one of your previous instructors, you can submit a notarized letter from them attesting to your training. That is what I provide students I teach for the CCW just to make sure it goes through since they don't know of all the assorted "schools" that hand out training certificates and they will occassionally kick one back.

[Ed Ely]

Honorable discharge
An honorable discharge is made when the quality of the member's service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for military personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate.

General discharge
A general discharge under honorable conditions is made when a member's service has been honest and faithful. It is considered warranted when significant negative aspects of the member's conduct of performance of duty outweigh positive aspects of the member's military record.

I would go for it.

[Real Bill]

Why don't you just call this lady who is a supervisor and ask her opinion. I had a question concerning training requirements and she was nice and very helpful. I scanned and e-mailed the documents in question to Ms Herring to find out if they would qualify beofore sending in the application. I'm sure you could also fax the document to her. Part of her reply is posted below.


If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me either via e-mail or telephone at 850/488-6960 ext 166.

Amanda F. Herring, Supervisor
Concealed Weapons Section
Bureau of License Issuance

[NeverAgain26]

Contact a Certified NRA Firearms (Pistol) Instructor in your area (find out from the NRA who is around) and explain your situation. I am sure you can get a Sunday course and cert test. Take a basic course and get certified. That's what I did.

I later became an NRA Pistol Instructor and I would be happy to certify you if you wanted to come up for a course in New Jersey. I could send you the materials to study and we coud wrap it up in a few hours.

I would be happy to help.

NA26

[Standing Wolf]

I could send you the materials to study and we coud wrap it up in a few hours.
I would be happy to help.

Is this forum a wonderful thing, or what?

[chaim]

I would be happy to certify you if you wanted to come up for a course in New Jersey. I could send you the materials to study and we coud wrap it up in a few hours. PM sent