This is Rangemaster’s “Drill of the Month” – a piece that has become a part of our feature rotation. It is part of that company’s monthly newsletter. As always, start slow before trying to progress. If you’re not familiar with use of the holster – especially from concealment – and, the most dangerous thing you’ll do at the range, REholstering – seek education first. You can shoot the whole thing from low ready, just to see how you fair. The Rangemaster instructors travel. Check the website.
DRILL OF THE MONTH
(Throughout 2025 we will be running a Drill of the Month in each edition of the newsletter. The goal is to help motivate folks to get to the range and actually shoot their defensive weapons, and to have some fun in the process. Each month we’ll post a drill or a short course of fire. You are encouraged to go to the range, shoot the drill, and then post your thoughts and a photo of your target on the Rangemaster Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/rangemaster/)
Federal Air Marshals’ Qualification
The “Sky Marshals,” as they were once called, are a specialized law enforcement unit, currently operating as part of the Transportation Security Administration. This has not always been so.
The ancestor of the current unit was formed in 1962, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Peace Officers Program. For the first decade, this was a fairly small outfit, and they were made Deputy US Marshals to give them authority to carry guns and make arrests anywhere in US jurisdiction. In response to a wave of hijackings, the program was expanded in the 1970’s, and moved to the Treasury Department, under US Customs. During this time period, teams of 2-3 Sky Marshals worked selected domestic and international flights that were deemed to be at risk for hijacking.
Mandatory passenger screening was instituted in 1973, and it was assumed that would put an end to hijacking, so the unit was disbanded and the officers were transferred to other duties within US Customs.
1985 saw a rise in international hijacking again worldwide, and President Reagan directed that a new force be set up and fielded. An elite force was put together, authorized 50 field positions, although on 9/11 there were only 33 such officers. Of course, 9/11 resulted in a huge expansion of the program and there are now approximately 4,000 agents in the TSA Air Marshal Service under the Department of Homeland Security.
When the unit was small and elite, it had arguably the toughest pistol qualification course in US law enforcement.
The Tactical Pistol Course (TPC) is actually quite demanding, and passing it is a sure sign of competence with a handgun. When the program exploded in size, the agency was unable to find enough personnel who could pass the TPC, so the standards were lowered enormously. Any time government is faced with the choice of training people up, or dumbing the standards down, guess which way it goes.
The course of fire is appended below. The original target used is not commonly seen now, so we substitute either an RFTS-Q5 silhouette, or the IPSC/USPSA target with its vertical A-zone. If using the IPSC/USPSA target, the D-zone is a miss. The A-zone is 5 points, the C-zone is 2 points. The course must be shot from concealment. Take 5 points off for every overtime shot.
Original Federal Air Marshal Qualification
Two targets, side by side, at least 3 feet apart. Any hit in the 8” chest circle is 5 points. Any other hit on the silhouette, above the belt line, is 2 points. Subtract 5 points for any shot fired overtime. 30 rounds total, 150 points possible, 135 or above to pass (90%). The entire Course of Fire is shot from 7 yards.
Draw and fire 1 round, in 1.65 seconds - twice
From Low Ready, fire 2 rounds in 1.35 seconds - twice
From Low Ready, fire 6 rounds in 3.0 seconds – one rep
From Low Ready, fire 1 round, reload, and fire 1 round, all in 3.25 seconds – fired twice
From Low Ready, fire 1 round at one target, and 1 round on the other target, all in 1.5 seconds – fired twice
Start holstered, concealed, back to targets. On signal, pivot 180 degrees, draw and fire 1 round on one target ,1 round on the other target, and 1 more round on the first target, all in 3.5 seconds – fired twice
From Low Ready, fire 1 round, drop to one knee, reload, and fire 1 more round, all in 4.0 seconds. Start with only 1 round in the gun - fired twice
I recently shot this with my concealed EDC pistol. I had 100% of the points on the targets, but I had three over-time rounds, all on reload stages. The times are really tight on the reload stages with concealed gear. That made my score 135 (90%). It’s a fun exercise. Give it a try.
— Tom Givens, Chief Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services
