Who do you call when you and your buddies finally decide to go on that bird hunt you have been talking about?...and who do you ca
ll when they add up the scores and you're buying the beer again?...and who do you call after that first Club Shoot and you say to yourself, I just need a little instruction?....and lastly, what do you say to your son or daughter who asks if they can shoot?
Well shooters, I have good news for you. Find the nearest NSCA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR! I have been to the top of the mountain....I have seen the Best of the Best. More importantly I have recently witnessed men and women become certified National Sporting Clays Instructors in one of the most challenging and complete training classes in the country. Not only were these instructors shooting habits analyzed, but their ability to train was tested AND a physcological test was conducted.
These selected Level I and II instructors begin their training with a class based on how to "get into your students head", 
by one of the countries best known teachers---> Gary Walstrom. When these instructors leave, they will not only have the skills to improve your shooting ability, but how best to instruct you while doing it. This is why the NSCA has become the "State of the Art" in Shotgun Training, worldwide.
I had just spent the past few days with GARY GREENWAY, Chief Instructor for the NSCA, as he oversaw the "Trap Setting/Course designing" class... we had dinner together, we ate lunch together and I thought I had come to know Gary pretty well---->until the Level III class began. Don't let that west Texas friendliness fool ya...if you don't have the right stuff, "America's Milkman", as he is better known by his friends, turns into a professional cowboy over night and he will sort you out quickly, son!
My invitation to stay over for the Level III class was an eye opening experence. Gary asked me if I would like to "look over his shoulder" during an upcoming Level III selection class. This class is only held every two years. Level III is the highest level an instructor can obtain in the NSCA and there are only 51 spread across the country. Level III instructors are primarily taught how to take the Intermediate shooter to the next logical step in his shooting. But that being said, these few instructors all began at Level I---> 6 years ago. They have taught hundreds, maybe thousands, of new and intermediate shooters before returning to apply for the level III certification.
Keep up readers, I have PODCASTS imbedded along the way. CLICK ON THEM!
Day one: Orientation
Arriving just in the nick of time, I rushed down the hall of the NSCA HQ and stopped the first person I saw, inquiring where the Level III class was being held. Opening the door, the "introductions" had begun. I entered just in time to announce who I was and why I was there...whew! Just made it! 
But you could see a glaze fall over the eyes of the instructors when I announced I was PRESS?? You could almost see the question forming in their minds--->"Why"?
I did a quick head count and saw the only female in the class....Deborah L. Wardlaw. If she is selected, she will become the 4th women to have climbed the ladder to Level III. As I came to learn, there were many areas of the country represented in the Class of 07. From Alaska, Mr. Clayton M. Rue, to Connecticut with Griffin & Howe shooting instructor, Mr. Roy Rohel, and Mr. Terry L. Musser from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. As I l
ooked around the class, I saw patches from other states. It was a good crowd. Hopefuls all, eager, willing and experienced. No one will fail, but only a few will leave with the Level III certification. Some were there only to audit the class. One of those was, Warren Osako, from Hawaii. He and I had shared time and a burger a few days eariler at "Stumps Grill". Warren realized that auditing the class would better prepare him for the Level III '09 Class. Oorah,Warren!
After a brief orientation, Gary introduced Vance Barnes, instructor # 2. My new old friend, Martin Jones, was the usual instructor at this class, but had to attend to a family situation, thus passing the baton to Vance. Vance, is a Level III instructor from Hondo,Texas, and recent holder of the Veterans Class V4 position at the Nationals. Vance is a strict technical shooter, who loves his position in the NSCA. He had much to offer, this hopeful Level III class, in proper shooting techniques.
Gary dismissed the orientation and instructed them to grab there guns and ammo and assemble at the 5-stand. The process began by calling up each student, reminding them of proper gun safety first, he pulled a few birds to check their shooting ability. Quickly the class was broken up into 2 groups. Group 1 would get Gary for the morning and group 2 would get Vance. They would switch after lunch.Download day_1_level_iii_010.MPG<-----PODCAST click here!
It was a little chilly this morning, the wind was up adding to the challenge. Of course Clayton Rue would have been in his short pants again, but he had received so much harrassment in the past few days, he decided to wear his jeans, today. Clayton is a graduate of Texas A & M, but he now resides in Alaska... so he knows COLD....this was not cold, it was summer weather for an Alaskan! The east coast students thought the same way as Clayton. But we 
Texans were satisfied accepting this weather as WINTER, and dressed for it.
As I follwed Gary and his squads around the field, I was not alone...yes, the Famous were there also to document the '07 Class for "SPORTING CLAYS" magazine----> Ralph Winingham! Yes, also know for his many books and hundreds of Outdoor articles and photographs AND...AND...he's a Camp Chef! Look for Ralph to be on the radio show telling us about his secret recipes for game, sooon. Right after he wins that COOK-OFF at Bass Pro!
Before days' end, I would hear Gary repeat gun safety over and over, at each station. Several students who I had exchanged business cards with me during the day, were pointing out that my business card displays an UNSAFE gun position! The muzzle of the gun is pointing over my shoulder and not pointing down, in front of my chest...gezzz guys,sorry. Your right, I'll get new cards, thanX! I guess they were listening, Gary!..lol..lol..
After a break for lunch, the class resumed, only this time, Gary and Vance exchanged squads. This gave each student the opportunity to be analyzed by the other head instructor, AND gave each student the oppurtunity to get feedback and direction from a different instructor. Around mid-day, the squads were called back into the classroom for the Physcological session. Lastly, Gary touched upon chokes, and told them to get some rest tonight and report back early---->40 local students were coming in for two days of instruction. Each instructor would be assigned students, ranging from new shooters to intermediate shooters, young shooters to older shooters. The bar had just been raised, the pressure was adjusted UP and you could read the reaction on the faces of the "would be" Level III instructors. They came to show their stuff, and this was their chance to do it. Throughout the afternoon Gary and Vance watched, listened and gave advice where needed.
Remember CLICK on any photo to enlarge and copy.
Day 2:
By the time I reached the practice field, the squads had been choosen and divided between the potential Level III instructors. I walked the stations slowly observing the small squads, listening and taking photos. Eventually, I found Gary for an explaination---> PODCAST--->Download MOV03212.MPG of the days assignment. As I passed from station to station
, I paused to listen. Some of my favorites are listed here. Watch as each instructor describes a solution to a particular problem their student is experiencing.
Download MOV03226.MPG <----- Joe Rankin, Brandon MS.
Download MOV03232.MPG <------Russ Arnold, Mansfield Texas
Download MOV03242.MPG <------Gary Walstrom, Kansas City MO
As I continued between stations and eventually found Vance Barnes, studying an instructor and his squad. I had been holding off for the right time to sit down and ask him a few questions.
After lunch, I decided I needed a few facts to round out the article. I roamed the NSCA HQ halls looking for someone who might have some answers. I caught Don Snyder just as he was returning from lunch. He had the answers.
#1.There are 51 Level III instructors, three are women.
#2.There are 210 Level II instructors, 10 are women.
#3. There are 1280 Level I instructors, 72 are women.
I thanked Don and continued down the hall hoping to catch Michael Hampton, but no luck. I headed back to the shooting g
rounds and snapped some random photos of what was taking place.
Mary Beth was excited and glad to have the opportunity to train with these instructors. The guest-students paid a minimum of only $25.00 to have their shooting improved by some of the BEST of the BEST instructions.
Rhys Arthur points out some of the finer aspects of quartering targets to his squad.
Joe Rankin's squad, Don Harmer & James Stewart.
Deborah L. Wardlaw with student Dana.
Gary Walstrom with student Richard.
Roy Rohel and students.
Part of Russ Arnolds' squad. The young shooter in the center won a $5.00 bet from the "PRESS GUY"!
These fellas seemed a little impatient when I spoke to them...but
hey, when you're good ...you're good. They were ready for a tougher station!----->
By days' end, we were all tired and ready for an adult beverage....but there was much more to come. Gary and Vance informed all of the guest shooters that they needed to assemble in the conference room for a de-briefing
. Gary and I drove up first. He wanted me to understand the difference betweeen a LUMPER a SLUMPER and a SPLITTER...hey, you had to be there. Ask Gary next time you see him. Ya gotta love these West Texas guys. They can take the most difficult problem and reduce it to simple cowboy logic. I now see everyone I know in one of these classifications. ThanX Gary!
Just when I thought I could go back to my computer---->things began to HEAT up. The shooting students of the potential level III instructors were issued a questionaire. It asked them to grade the instructors! Each grade sheet listed, in the far left column, 9 headings. Each heading received a grade from POOR to EXCELLENT and then asked for an overall grade from 1-10. After the sheets were handed back in, Gary asked for questions or comments. Some spoke. Comments were encouraged and noted. This information would weigh heavily in the selection process. After which they were thanked and asked to return tomorrow ,at the same time, for another day on the range.
Next day,the instructors entered the room. It almost seemed like a icy fog had settled over the room. Vance carefully and slowly collated each instructors grade sheets. Gary read them quietly before handing them out. The anxiety grew. Talk about dropping a pin....you could not have cut the tension, mounting in the room, with an ax.....it was the first meeting that the jokes and laughing did NOT rule the moment. Gary and Vance waited, allowing each instructor to read and study his and her assessment. Gary re-took control of the room by stating the purpose for the assesment. Serious, unsmiling faces stared back. Still no one spoke. He asked that, when the instructors had finished reading, they could leave. But anyone who received LESS than an 8 grade, must remain behind. 
Gary went over the grading system again with the remaining instructors. He explained they were asked to stay not because he wanted to embarrass them, but because he wanted to help them improve their scores. He offered himself and Vance to spend time with them the next day in their stations. Gary's intention was to alert those who were on the borderline, that all is not lost. There was hope. Scores can improve. They had read their criticisms, they knew where their weaknesses were, and they were offered all the help Gary and Vance could give them. Tomorrow was a new day. Like a bad shot on a target, you have to forget it and move forward. Most would improve their scores and become Level III instructors, because they asked for help and accepted it. Understanding criticisim, and changing, is the key to graduating. Some scores improved. Some did not. But for those who did not make the cut this time, there is always next time. The NSCA wants to grind out good instructors. The quest of the organization is in improving instructors and taking them from Level I to Level III.
My time with the Level III class had come to an end. The following day would be the last day. Sunday would be when final decisions were made on each instructors level. The instructors that passed the Level III tests and made the cut would receive the news by way of a letter of Congratulations, a Certificate of Accomplishment and a well earned patch.
Was the class difficult? Mike More explained it best when he said it this way.---> If you see a level I instructor's patch on someone who walks into your club, you know he is taking his shooting seriously. If you see a level II patch on an instructor, you know he deserves some respect, he has worked hard to be where he is... But if you see an level III instuctors patch on someone, you expect the most from him. He must be the BEST OF THE BEST!
See you on the radio, shooters! Hey, if you don't get my radio show in your area, send me your address and I will send you a free copy of my show every MONTH until you do!
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
amzn_cl_tag="claspo-20";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://cls.assoc-amazon.com/s/cls.js"></script>
Comments