Safety is important to us at the NMLRA, so much so that our Range Officer program is one of the best in the country.
APPLY FOR YOUR RANGE OFFICER CERTIFICATION RENEWAL
The NMLRA National Range Officer Certification Classes, a comprehensive course, will be held on the Friday before the National Shoots in June and September at 4:00 P.M., on the first Sunday during the National shoots in June and September at 8:00 A.M., and a second class at 6:00 P.M. in the Education Building in Friendship, Indiana. Preparation for this intensive class includes a prior study of the NMLRA Range Rules and Regulations.
The course will include a multiple-choice examination of fifty-five questions; any person getting fifty or more correct will receive a “50” patch. A score of 80% must be attained before you can proceed to the second phase of the examination—working as a range officer for one day on the Walter M. Cline National Range under the supervision of the Chief Range Officer.
You will be notified of your acceptance or rejection as a certified NMLRA National Range Officer in a fair and transparent manner before the end of the shoot.
Purpose of the Program
To provide training and information for range officers who will be conducting shooting events of competition involving muzzle-loading guns.
This is intended to ensure that All Certified Range Officers:
Have the same understanding of the rules of competition.
Receive notification of all rule and procedure changes adopted by the NMLRA.
Have a means of expressing concerns and making recommendations to improve the program.
Have a means of sharing information about situations encountered while serving as a range officer with other range officers nationwide.
The goal of the Program
To ensure that muzzleloading competition events are conducted similarly across the nation regardless of geographic location in as safe a manner as possible.
This is intended to provide a competitor with:
The same competition experience at the local level as they will find at any other level of sanctioned competition.
Familiarity with range commands, safety procedures, and consistent range operation.
Levels and Descriptions of Certifications
1) Range Officer Certification Chairman: A National Certification Instructor appointed by the NMLRA President.
2) National Certification Instructor: A Certified National Range Officer appointed by the certification chairman to assist in preparing for and conducting certification classes at the national level.
3) Field Certification Instructor: A Certified Field Range Officer appointed by the Certification Instructor to conduct field certification classes.
4) Certified National Range Officer: A current NMLRA member who has completed the national certification course and required range duty.
5) Certified Field Range Officer: One who has completed the field certification course and required range duty. (one does not need to be a current NMLRA member).
Description of Responsibilities for Each Level of Certification:
Range Officer Certification Chairman
a) To prepare one new test for each year's certification courses. The test should consist of fifty-five multiple-choice questions.
b) Prepare information about situations that a range officer might find himself or herself in while serving officially. This information will be used during the open discussion phase of the classes and distributed to all existing certified range officers at the end of the year. Information is collected from certified range officers about situations that they have experienced in previous years. This information is intended to assist other certified range officers in better preparation.
c) Make sure that all questions on the tests can be backed up with the current edition of the rulebook.
d) Keep the Instructor’s Manual up to date.
e) Prepare an instruction sheet to be sent to all Field Certification Instructors to ensure they know what is expected while conducting the tests in the field.
f) Assist the education secretary of the NMLRA in any way necessary to ensure that the program does not get bogged down in bureaucracy.
g) Make sure that everyone connected with this program stays informed.
National Certification Instructor Responsibilities
a) Assist the range officer certification chairman in conducting classes at the national range.
b) Send a list of items you feel are essential and should be included in next year’s test to the range officer certification chairman.
Field Certification Instructor Responsibilities
a) Take notes on how the courses are conducted nationally and attempt to repeat this procedure in the field during your classes.
Inform anyone who intends to take your field test that they must obtain a study kit from the NMLRA before taking the certification course. Each study kit is free and includes some study information and a current copy of the NMLRA rulebook. Whether the person takes the test or not, the information included in the packet will be useful.
b) Before conducting field tests, you should contact the NMLRA office and request the field test materials. You will be getting test sheets, one answer sheet, a copy of the study materials, and enough study kits for the size of the class you anticipate having. A new test packet will be prepared each year, so you should destroy any remaining copies of that year’s test at the end of each year. If more copies are needed, you are free to make copies; ensure they stay in your possession. Do not allow anyone to take a copy of the test home to study.
c) Each time you schedule a class, you must contact the NMLRA office and request more study kits. It is best to distribute these materials before the class. This will give the people plenty of time to study at home. The test results and class roster list should be sent to the NMLRA office for certification within ten days.
d) Hold an open discussion period before passing the tests to the people taking the course. Remember that we are trying to teach people how to be range officers, not how to read the rule book. This open discussion period should cover the materials in the study kit and include you sharing some of your experiences gained while serving as a range officer.
Certified National Range Officers Requirements
a) Offer to work as a range officer whenever you attend one of the national matches held each year in Friendship, Indiana. Your term of duty can be as little as a few relays to a few days, depending on your other commitments and the need for range officers at the event.
b) If needed, you are also encouraged to serve as a range officer at local black powder shooting events, including the National Territorial Matches.
c) Remember to only use the commands in the rulebook and enforce the rules in the shoot program. Do not attempt to implement rules that are not written in one of these two places.
d) If you feel a new rule is needed, request a rule change to the range rules committee for consideration.
e) Submit a list of unusual range officer situations you have experienced during the year to the Certification Chairman. Include comments or suggestions for improvements in the program that would help you become more effective as a range officer.
Certified Field Range Officer Requirements
a) Offer to work as a range officer whenever you attend one of the national matches held each year in Friendship, Indiana. Your term of duty can be for as little as a few relays to a few days, depending on your other commitments and the need for range officers at the event.
b) If needed, You are also encouraged to serve as a range officer at local black powder shooting events, including the National Territorial Matches.
c) Remember to only use the commands listed in the rulebook and only enforce the rules that are either in the rulebook or listed in the shoot program. Do not attempt to implement any rules that are not written in one of these two places.
d) If you feel that a new rule is needed, request a rule change to the range rules committee for consideration.
e) Submit a list of unusual range officer situations you have experienced during the year to the Certification Chairman. Include comments or suggestions for improvements in the program that would help you become more effective as a range officer.
Keeping Your NMLRA Certification Current
All classes of certification are dependent on three things:
a) NMLRA membership must be kept current for National Range Officers. Field Certified Range Officers do not need to be current NMLRA members.
b) Remaining active within the description of your certification by working at least 8 hours every two (2) years.
c) Satisfying the requirements necessary to receive the information package.
Range Officer Certification Chairman
a) The term of Certification is two years from the issue date.
b) All requirements listed for this position must be completed at least once yearly to retain certification.
National Certification Instructor
a) The term of Certification is two years from the date of issue.
b) All requirements listed for this position must be completed at least once yearly to retain certification.
Field Certification Instructor
a) The term of Certification is two years from the date of issue.
b) All requirements listed for this position must be completed at least once every two years to retain certification.
Certified National Range Officer
a) The term of Certification is two years from the issue date.
b) To retain certification, all of the requirements listed for this position must be completed at least once every two years.
c) Range officer duty that will qualify to satisfy this requirement can be any one of the following:
a. Either one of the two National Matches held in Friendship, Indiana
b. Any of the NMLRA-sponsored Territorial Matches held across the nation.
c. Rendezvous by the NRLHF.
Certified Field Range Officer
a) The term of Certification is two years from the issue date.
b) To retain certification, all the requirements listed for this position must be completed at least once every two years.
c) Any of the NMLRA-sponsored Territorial Matches are held across the nation.
Increase of Certification
Any certified field range officer may have their certification advanced to national range officer by working two shifts at the Walter Cline National Range in Friendship, Indiana.
Reduction of Certifications
a) For the following reasons, the certification chairperson, the national certification instructor, and the field certification instructor classifications may be reduced to certified national range officer.
b) The individual holding the certification should write to the education secretary of the NMLRA or the certification chairperson requesting a reduction in certification.
c) Failure to satisfy the requirements outlined in “Keeping your NMLRA Certification current.”
Loss of Certification
Any level of certification may be revoked for the following reasons.
a) For National Range Officers, failure to maintain membership in the NMLRA. Field Certified Range Officers do not need to be current NMLRA members.
b) Failure to meet the requirements listed for the specific level of certification.
c) Conduct or actions determined to be “Not in The Best Interest of the NMLRA.”
Reinstating A Previously Held Certification
A certification that has lapsed may be reinstated if:
a) The reason for the loss of certification was not for actions that were “Not in The Best Interest of the NMLRA.”
b) The education secretary of the NMLRA receives a written request.
c) The person making the request must attend a class on the desired level of certification. Written examinations and range officer duties will not be required.
Certification Test Procedure
a) It is essential that all NMLRA certification classes are conducted similarly.
b) If some classes are conducted in a way that makes them extremely difficult to pass, while others are conducted in a way that allows everyone taking the test to get 100%, the program becomes ineffective.
c) The written certification test requires a passing grade of 80%. Therefore, 80% of the questions will be covered during the open discussion phase of the class. Any questions that pertain to safety will also be included in this discussion. Any person who is paying attention will be able to pass the test.
d) Ten percent of the questions are taken directly from the rulebook and are not covered during the open discussion phase of the class. These questions give the person who has studied the materials in the study kit a distinct advantage.
e) The remaining 10% of the questions are based on a commonsense application of the rules about situations that range officers might find themselves in. These questions give the person a working knowledge of the rule book and a fair amount of common sense to obtain a passing grade.
f) After the class has concluded the open discussion phase, the class should be given a short break before the test papers are handed out. When the tests are handed out, each person signs the front page and initials all remaining pages. This will allow the test papers to be kept together if they should become separated.
g) The test is now an “open book test.”
h) During the test, if a person does not understand one of the questions, they should be allowed to ask for clarification. If any questions are worded in an unclear way, this procedure will enable everyone taking the test to make an explanation.
i) There is no specified time limit for completing the test, but most tests are completed in less than an hour. When a person has completed the test, they should be allowed to turn the test into the instructor and take a break. If one person has trouble finishing the test after everyone else is done, allow another ten minutes and declare the test period over.
j) The instructor will read each correct response to each question. If any person correcting a test has an incorrect response to one of the questions, they should raise their hand. When this happens, the instructor will read the question aloud and explain the correct response. This procedure is intended to teach each person the correct answer even if they got it wrong on the test.
k) Any person who gets a score of 50 or more correct answers on the national test will receive a Range Officer 50 patch from the NMLRA.
l) Every person who passes the test will be required to serve on the range as a range officer. Each person’s performance will be graded as excellent, good, fair, or ineffective. A grade of ineffective will not be sufficient to pass the course.
m) National certifications will require two and a half days of supervised range duty, and field certifications will require a minimum of two hours.
Qualifications Needed to Take the Certification Class
a) To become a National Range Officer, you must be a current NMLRA member at least 18. Field-certified range Officers do not need to be current NMLRA members.
b) Must have previously received a course study kit from the NMLRA. This will give everyone taking the course an equal chance of getting a good grade and provide these same people with ample time to prepare. There is no cost for this study kit, and any member of the NMLRA can obtain it by contacting the primary office and making a request, or it may be obtained through a field certification instructor. Each study kit will include a current copy of the rule book and additional study information about range officer duties.
c) After the examination and the required range duties are completed, the course instructor must complete the test papers and send them back to the primary office. The NMLRA office will enter this information into the database and send a certification card to anyone with a passing grade. The certification will be valid for two years beginning on the issue date.
Certified Range Officer Information
a) During the year, every certified range officer and the instructor is encouraged to send recommendations to the Certification Chairman about changes and improvements needed in the program. This should include an explanation of difficult situations experienced during the preceding year.
b) This information will be used to make changes in the program and help prepare the information package for next year.
c) This information package is intended to keep everyone updated with current trends nationwide and provide everyone with the latest NMLRA-approved range officer procedures.
d) It is also a means of sharing our experiences and advice on the best way to manage each situation mentioned.
e) It is vital to keep all members of the certification program up to date.
Chain of Command
a) The Chief Range Officer, a certified range officer, controls all ranges and is appointed by the President.
b) The Chief Range Officer appoints the Head Range Officer to control a specific range, for example, the rifle and pistol lines. Their responsibilities include the complete operation of that range. Also, they must find range officers to work for time slots. Working with them becomes their responsibility if they cannot find someone to fill those time slots.
c) Range Officer NMLRA certified to work on any range they want to volunteer for.
d) The Block Officer does not need to be a certified range officer but can help the Range Officer operate the range, such as timekeeping for Limited-Time Fire (LTF) and silhouettes. They may also watch for other safety concerns and report them to the range officer.