For years I've ignored USCCA because their heavy handed email marketing is so darn annoying. I've trusted NRA as the baseline source of firearms training. Lately I started shifting views for a couple of reasons, and I would like to see comments here from those experienced both as students and as instructors.
First, while the NRA education and training programs are well recognized and have solid history, problems with the political and financial aspects of NRA now jeopardize the very existence of the association. (No comments here on that mess, please.) My concern: Are there contingency plans in the works to preserve the NRA Education & Training Division as a new, reborn organization, should NRA overall succumb to the NYAG assault? It would be a shame to lose the strong links of NRA E&T with military, law enforcement, and youth organizations, as well as the status with many state concealed carry license training programs.
Next, as I finally looked into details of USCCA training, I have noted significant differences between the two organizations. NRA is very heavily focused on training for initial handling and safety, as well as training for various target competitions. USCCA, by comparison, is strongly focused on training for self defense. I recently completed three NRA self defense courses, Personal Protection in the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, and Defensive Pistol. I also completed an online USCCA Fundamentals of Self Defense. My impression is the USCCA program is much more up to date, complete, and better organized than NRA's for self defense programs. On the other hand, I see little in the USCCA program to support sport shooting and hunting.
So, for the crowd: As students who have had training from both, is my initial impression accurate?
For instructors, have you considered, or are you, certified by both organizations? Do you see value in current NRA instructors adding USCCA certification in case NRA blows away in the wind?
To repeat, please keep this thread on comparing the training programs, and avoid diving into commenting on the NRA mess other than acknowledging that NRA is in jeopardy.
Thank you.
First, while the NRA education and training programs are well recognized and have solid history, problems with the political and financial aspects of NRA now jeopardize the very existence of the association. (No comments here on that mess, please.) My concern: Are there contingency plans in the works to preserve the NRA Education & Training Division as a new, reborn organization, should NRA overall succumb to the NYAG assault? It would be a shame to lose the strong links of NRA E&T with military, law enforcement, and youth organizations, as well as the status with many state concealed carry license training programs.
Next, as I finally looked into details of USCCA training, I have noted significant differences between the two organizations. NRA is very heavily focused on training for initial handling and safety, as well as training for various target competitions. USCCA, by comparison, is strongly focused on training for self defense. I recently completed three NRA self defense courses, Personal Protection in the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, and Defensive Pistol. I also completed an online USCCA Fundamentals of Self Defense. My impression is the USCCA program is much more up to date, complete, and better organized than NRA's for self defense programs. On the other hand, I see little in the USCCA program to support sport shooting and hunting.
So, for the crowd: As students who have had training from both, is my initial impression accurate?
For instructors, have you considered, or are you, certified by both organizations? Do you see value in current NRA instructors adding USCCA certification in case NRA blows away in the wind?
To repeat, please keep this thread on comparing the training programs, and avoid diving into commenting on the NRA mess other than acknowledging that NRA is in jeopardy.
Thank you.
