The Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship Training requirements are as follows:

This training is being taught by the BSA National Pistol Instructor Team of Berne Holman and Mark Belli. . Each course location will be able to handle a maximum of 12 students for the entire course. Therefore, a total of 6 councils with two people from each council will be guaranteed spots in the training and additional candidates will be accepted on a space available basis. At least two of the instructors on the range must hold a Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship program certification. In addition, one of these instructors must hold an NRA Range Safety Officer rating. At least two people who have attended this training must be present on the range at all times while Boy Scouts are shooting pistol in their camp.

The person attending this training must agree to the following criteria in order to attend the training;

1) Be approved by the local council professional and the local council shooting sports chairman to participate in this event.

2) Agree to help the local council in their year-round and summer camp Scouting Pistol Safety & Marksmanship program.

3) Must already be a certified NRA Pistol Instructor. (At least one person on the range must be a NRA Range Safety Officer.)

4) Must have read and reviewed the NRA First Steps Pistol Instructor Syllabus.

5) Must have highlighted and numbered (the question number from the student test) the pistol student manual with the areas where a student may find the answers to the First Steps Student Basic Exam.

6) Must have rehearsed and practiced delivering the First Steps Pistol Instructor Training as they will be asked to deliver several sessions to the BSA National evaluation team. The evaluation team will be making recommendations for improvement and then the Pistol Instructor Candidate will have a chance to rehearse again at lunch on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon all instructor candidates will be evaluated again when they deliver lessons to Boy Scouts who will be present for the entire BSA Safety and Marksmanship class.

7) If Instructor Candidates pass the evaluations, then they will be awarded the privilege of being the chief personnel on the range to operate a Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship program within the council, based on council conditions and policies and the application acceptance by the National Council.

8) This is a pass/fail course and everyone will do the best to help instructor candidates to succeed but there is no guarantee of passing.

Weekend Information and Schedule

  • Training will be held at the selected ‘Camp Whatever xxx’.
  • All attendees must register to attend. Please register online at ncsbsa.org. Please register at least 10 days prior to the class date so that plans may be made for food, housing, materials and supplies. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
  • Training will begin promptly at 8:00am on Friday and end approximately at 5pm on Sunday. You may arrive on Thursday night if you would like to.
  • Food and housing will be provided by the local council for a fee of XXXXXXX.
  • Housing will be in tents so bring the appropriate gear for camping out for the weekend.
  • DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN FIREARMS!
  • You may bring your own personal hearing protection and eye protection.
  • Make sure to bring your NRA Instructor Syllabus for First Steps Pistol along with the student Scouting Safety and Marksmanship handbook. The handbooks may be obtained from your LOCAL SCOUT SHOP.

For questions regarding this training please contact: Mark Belli, Cell: 703-267-1550, Email: , Hours: 9am to 11pm Pacific Time.