Interesting facts about the Firearms Division

• FAD has approximately 49 buildings that include indoor and outdoor firing ranges, offices, ammunition and weapons storage, equipment and supply storage spaces.
• The indoor range complex and the outdoor ranges (to include 2 outdoor ranges currently under construction) have a combined total of approximately 384 firing points for live fire training.
• These do not include the various scenario-based training ranges that FAD uses for tactical training.
• FAD has approximately 9 training ranges used for scenario-based tactical firearms training.
• There are approximately 150 staff members assigned to the Firearms Division including managers, support personnel and instructors.
• The instructor cadre consists of former law enforcement and/or military personnel who now work for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and current law enforcement personnel detailed from many of the agencies who participate in training conducted at the FLETC.
• Training requires the use of approximately 15 million rounds of ammunition annually.
• The ammunition includes lead projectiles and reduced hazard (environmentally friendly) ammunition.
• The reduced hazard ammunition accounts for approximately 70 percent of the ammunition expended for training.
• FAD offers 8 advanced firearms training programs. These programs are open to Federal, state and municipal law enforcement personnel. Some international law enforcement personnel attend these programs when they are sponsored by one of the Federal partner agencies.
• FAD offers approximately 120 firearms courses.  Many of these are contained in FLETC basic, agency basic and advanced law enforcement training programs.
• FAD conducts advanced export training (off site) at other Federal, state and municipal facilities around+ the country on an as-needed basis.

Fad Innovations Through The Years

• 1978- Developed first electronic Firearms Training Simulator for law enforcement utilizing a video player to project a scenario onto a screen for law enforcement “Judgment Pistol Shooting (JPS).” The unit was a Beta Vision video tape player that projected onto a white screen made of paper. Live handguns were used to fire special plastic projectiles that would put holes into the paper screen when fired at the video images. A special microphone picked up the shot sound and automatically paused the video scenario) allowing instructors to evaluate both judgment and accuracy of students involving the appropriate application of or restraint from the use of deadly force.
• 1985- Developed first computer controlled Firearms Training Simulator using laser video disks rather than video tape with laser equipped handguns to improve on the original “JPS” system.
• 1992- Assisted F.A.T.S. (Firearms Training Systems, Inc.) with the first commercially produced and sold Firearms Judgment Training System for Law Enforcement)
• 2000- Worked with major ammunition manufacturers to develop the first frangible and reduced hazard ammunition for firearms training.
• 2010- In conjunction with military and military contractors developed the first law enforcement Virtual Force on Force Firearms Judgment Training Simulator System. This system takes the training to the next level allowing tactile feedback to the student (simulator can fire non-lethal projectiles at the student for immediate feedback as to their use of concealment or cover while also allowing the student to utilize different job tools in conjunction with the simulations, e.g.: flashlight, pepper spray, taser device, etc. for less than lethal applications of force. Laser equipped firearms are still used when students must use deadly force based on the circumstances they are engaged with during the simulation. Students are critiqued on their decision making, articulation of the facts, and appropriate use of the law enforcement equipment provided as everything relates to the legal requirements placed upon them.

If you need additional information or have questions about the advanced training programs offered by FAD, please contact the Law Enforcement Program Specialist for Advanced Programs at FAD (See below for contact information).

Law Enforcement Program Specialist- FAD Advanced Programs
FLETC
FAD, Building 221
1131 Chapel Crossing Road
Glynco, GA  31524

Telephone:  912 267 2278
E-Mail : FLETC-FADPOC@FLETC.DHS.GOV