Why Do You Need NASA?

The North American Shooting Academy (NASA) was founded to introduce those who desire to master shooting skills to the professional firearms instructor. NASA employs teachers only certified as firearms instructors by The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET).  

The current CLEET firearms training program is one of the best and most rigorous in the United States and was developed and implemented by Glen McEntire,  the director of NASA. CLEET firearms instructor training is divided into 6 Phases.

Phase1: The instructor candidate must have at least 2 years experience as law enforcement officer and must have passed an MMPI test. He or she must have successfully passed a 40 hour CLEET Instructor Development course and must shoot a minimum score of 480 out of a possible 600 points on the NRA PPC course. This course must be witnessed by a CLEET certified firearms instructor. The instructor then sends a letter to CLEET attesting to the score.  The student’s application must be signed by his top administrative official. 

Phase 2: The candidate must complete a 3 day, 24 hour marksmanship school. To pass, the student must score a minimum of 540 out of 600 points on the NRA’s PPC course.

Phase 3:  The candidate must complete a 28 hour Defensive Shotgun School. To pass, the student must score a minimum of 90% on a nomenclature and function pretest, Shoot a 5 target Dossier Drill in 3.5 seconds or less, and shoot a minimum score of 90% on the official CLEET Shotgun Course.

Phase 4:  The candidate must complete a 34 hour Line Coach and Tower Operator’s School. To pass, the student must Coach and run the range tower to the satisfaction of the CLEET firearms staff, pass a written Safety test with a minimum score of 100%, pass a written General Knowledge test with a minimum score of 90%, successfully complete the Shooting Decisions portion of the class, and shoot a minimum score of 90% on the official CLEET Handgun Qualification Course.

Phase 5:  The instructor candidate must complete the CLEET 28 hour Semi-automatic Pistol School, and shoot a minimum score of 90% on the official CLEET Handgun Qualification Course.

Phase 6:  The candidate is observed by the CLEET firearms staff and senior instructors in a 66 hour basic law enforcement academy firearms block and must successfully coach several students in the use of both handgun and shotgun.

The CLEET firearms school is 226 training hours in length, and only those officers who successfully pass each of the 6 phases wins the coveted title of CLEET Firearms Instructor.