Firearms Training School
Firearms Training School has been operating since 2015 with a straightforward mission: teach firearms safety and marksmanship in a professional environment. The instructors are the real differentiator here. Most of the staff are former Marines or retired law enforcement. They've trained at Sig Sauer...
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Full description and what we offer
Firearms Training School has been operating since 2015 with a straightforward mission: teach firearms safety and marksmanship in a professional environment. The instructors are the real differentiator here.
Most of the staff are former Marines or retired law enforcement. They've trained at Sig Sauer Academy and other professional instructor schools. They're also competitive shooters—this isn't theoretical instruction.
Key staff include:
- •Michael F Darche (President/Co-Founder): Retired Marine 1stSgt with 23 years service, former firearms instructor at Quantico. NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Sig Sauer Master Pistol Instructor. Teaching since 1987.
- •Joe Prosper (Chief Instructor/Co-Founder): Been with FTS since day one. 30+ years in firearms, trained at Sig Sauer Academy, competitive shooter.
- •DJ Cicotte (Chief Rifle Instructor): 8 years Marine Corps as Primary Marksmanship Instructor. Taught and qualified thousands of Marines with 100% passing rate.
- •Steve Godfrey (Director of Training): 33 years Massachusetts State Police, decorated Marine infantryman. Trained since 1982, Sig Sauer Academy graduate.
- •Joe Mota (Rifle/Pistol Instructor): Former Marine machine gunner and rifleman (2016-2020). Worked as combat contractor. Considered the best shooter on staff.
- •Tom Robinson (Rifle/Pistol Instructor): Former Marine, retired Brockton Police officer. Competitive shooter, certified Glock armorer.
- •Ken Tucker (NRA Rifle/Pistol Instructor): Started shooting at 10 with his dad at Norwood PD. U.S. Marine trained on M-14 and Colt 1911. Commercial pilot since 1973.
- •Dave Chapin (NRA Rifle/Pistol Instructor): 25 years U.S. Army, 5+ years Iraq/Afghanistan. Army Basic Rifle Marksmanship Instructor, CQB trained.
- •Andreanna Arabatzis (Director of Course Development): NRA certified, advanced tactical and competitive instructor. Black Belt in Taekwondo. Built her own firearms company after training with FTS.
- •Moe Palmer (NRA Certified Range Safety Officer): Active in Braintree Rifle and Pistol Club, Second Amendment Sisters instructor, Gun Owners Action League volunteer.
Many instructors started their firearms journey by taking courses at FTS themselves—they understand the student experience.
- •Rifle training and instruction
- •Pistol and shotgun courses
- •Competition-level training
- •License to Carry (LTC) courses
- •Safety-focused curriculum
Contact: (508) 631-1503 | 510 East Street, Mansfield, MA 02048
"All of the instructors have many years of teaching experience and some of them started their own journey by taking their first gun safety course with us."