Active Duty Army and the Shooting Portion of the CHL

[cabindoor]

Gentlemen,

I'm Active Duty Army stationed at Ft. Bliss, TX right now. I'm scheduled to take the October CHL Instructor's Course down in Georgetown. I've got soldiers from a lot of units that are waiting in line for me to complete the course so I can come back and teach it. I'm sure I'll learn this when I complete the course, but I can't really seem to find the right answer for a specific question and I know you guys would definitely know. For the Shooting portion of the course, are Active Duty Military members exempt from this requirement? If so, do they need to provide a copy of their last pistol qualification? Thanks so much for any help you guys can provide. This is just one of those things that would bug me until I find the answer. I can't wait to get the course completed and get busy teaching this course. My Commander and First Sergeant even want to pay for and take the class. Thanks again.

Art

[Teamless]

I am no expert, but I understand that all applicants need to shoot the course as defined by DPS, by an approved CHL Instructor.
While they should be exempt in my opinion, DPS doesn't think so, or didn't find it prudent to put various exemptions in the system.

[Stubble]

I stand corrected, see below....

[apostate]

Texas Government Code Sec. 411.1881. EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION FOR CERTAIN PERSONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a person may not be required to complete the range instruction portion of a handgun proficiency course to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license issued under this subchapter if the person:(1) is currently serving in or is honorably discharged from:(A) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States or an auxiliary service or reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed forces; or(B) the state military forces, as defined by Section 431.001; and(2) has, within the five years preceding the date of the person's application for an original or renewed license, as applicable, completed a course of training in handgun proficiency or familiarization as part of the person's service with the armed forces or state military forces.
(b) The director by rule shall adopt a procedure by which a license holder who is exempt under Subsection (a) from the range instruction portion of the handgun proficiency requirement may submit a form demonstrating the license holder's qualification for an exemption under that subsection. The form must provide sufficient information to allow the department to verify whether the license holder qualifies for the exemption.

However, I can't find anything that reduces the required minimum course length for such individuals. In other words, it seems the class must still be at least ten hours, so you would have to add classroom time to make up for the eliminated range time.

Personally, I'd rather shoot.

[cabindoor]

Thanks for the info. Honestly, I'd rather shoot as well, but being able to do away with the shooting requirement for Active Duty Members does make things a bit easier. The law says that I have to teach a minimum 10 hour course, so that's what I will do to the TEE, though. I still have to make sure that I pass the Instructor's course first of all. :-) Thanks again for the info.

[jdlott74]

I would just call DPS and ask. I haven't been able to find anything on DPS website except law enforcement and certain other people are exempt but it doesn't say anything about active duty military. Just from what I know about military is that they just because you are in the military doesn't mean you can shoot. Not that it is any different from law enforcement because there are some law enforcement that can't shoot either.

[MasterOfNone]

However, I can't find anything that reduces the required minimum course length for such individuals. In other words, it seems the class must still be at least ten hours, so you would have to add classroom time to make up for the eliminated range time.

Personally, I'd rather shoot.

All my military students have expressed agreement with this preference. For a 10-hour class, they prefer to spend as much of that time on the range as possible.

being able to do away with the shooting requirement for Active Duty Members does make things a bit easier.

This would make the logistics easier, as you would not need a range facility; you could do the whole class at your HQ or other building. If you do need to locate facilities you could use, we have found a couple ranges (police, college) that allowed us to use their facilities free for military personnel classes.

[cabindoor]

Thanks. I didn't even think of that. There's a County Sheriff's range near my house that would be perfect, as I don't live far from Fort Bliss. There's been a few soldiers that would rather take the class and be done with it if possible, though. I'll make 'em shoot though.

As for the facilities, my commander said that our HUGE conference room at our Company HQ will be free for use by me at anytime as well as the "cyclops" projector, so I lucked out there.

[Heartland Patriot]

Thanks. I didn't even think of that. There's a County Sheriff's range near my house that would be perfect, as I don't live far from Fort Bliss. There's been a few soldiers that would rather take the class and be done with it if possible, though. I'll make 'em shoot though.

As for the facilities, my commander said that our HUGE conference room at our Company HQ will be free for use by me at anytime as well as the "cyclops" projector, so I lucked out there.

cabindoor, I don't know who your commander is or how he/she is in other respects...but on this they get a thumbs up!

[MoJo]

I've taught several active duty military personnel mostly Coast Guard, and a couple of Army. All but one wanted to shoot including one Coast Guard firearms instructor.

[steven8669]

I am Active Duty USAF and I didn't have to shoot. My instructor said if I had qualified on 9MM in the last 5 years I was good. I picked up the form from the range on base and mailed it in with the rest of my package and had no issues. He did offer me the option to shoot if I wanted to.