NRA Instructor Course

RideOrDie Gun Training operates out of the Cincinnati area with two lead instructors who bring actual street experience to every class. Joe Porter is a Certified NRA Pistol Instructor and NRA Training Counselor (instructor-level certification) who's trained extensively with Navy SEALs, retired SWAT operators, and active military. Terrence Forte spent 28 years with Cincinnati Police Department, including 5 years in the Drug Task Force, and holds 7 black belts in Tang Soo Do.

These aren't firearms 101 classes dressed up as tactical training. The curriculum focuses on the gap between "I can shoot at paper" and "I can function under extreme stress."

• •Basic CCW Course ($115–$130)
• •Meets Ohio, Florida, and other state concealed carry permit requirements
• •Indoor range sessions in the Cincinnati area
• •All about applying fundamentals in real scenarios, not just punch holes in paper
• •2-hour format; bring your unloaded handgun (ammo stays in the car)
• •Private group discounts available; can be taught at your business location, church, conference room

• •NRA Basic Pistol Course ($125)
• •Foundation course; private group scheduling available
• •Prerequisite for moving into instructor-level or advanced training

• •Tactical CCW (Pistol) – Two intensity levels
• •Prerequisite: Valid CCW license + Basic Pistol/CCW course completion + range time
• •Tactical CCW I covers drawing from holster, malfunction clearing, shooting and moving, combat accuracy, and mental preparedness
• •Tactical CCW II moves faster, adds multiple-attacker scenarios, shooting from behind cover, down-and-dirty positions, and team shooting (husband-and-wife home defense drills)
• •Bring 250 rounds minimum (FMJ brass only), eye/ear protection, your daily carry holsters and guns

Tactical Rifle - Prerequisite: CCW license, Basic Pistol course, rifle zeroed before arrival - Tactical Rifle I: Deploying rifle as primary, transitioning to handgun, malfunction clearing, shooting and moving, CQB fundamentals - Tactical Rifle II: Fast-paced advanced work—moving from cover, dynamic team drills, much higher physical demand - Bring 100 rounds handgun + 250 rounds rifle minimum (FMJ brass for handgun); modern 5.56x45mm or 7.62x39mm rifle; handgun not exceeding 1300 fps/600 ft-lbs; rifle sling, open carry holster, eye/ear protection

• •NRA Instructor Courses ($350, 2 days)
• •For candidates serious about teaching: must pass NRA Basic Pistol online (90%+ grade) + have prior formal training (USPSA/IDPA competitor, tactical pistol, law enforcement firearms cert, military small arms qualification, etc.)
• •Instructors prefer candidates complete at least one Advanced Pistol course first—because "teaching CCW is teaching people how to fight with a handgun, not just the basics"
• •Become certified to teach and certify others for state CCW courses

"When innocent lives are at risk we can Ride into battle or do nothing and die for sure. For us the choice is easy, RIDE!" — Company motto

Joe Porter's Training Lineage: - Trained by Carl "Bud" Moore (NRA Training Counselor, Navy vet, formerly Weyer Tactical) - Combat Pistol Course under Dave Spaulding (36-year LE, SWAT training officer, FBI SWAT School) - Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting with Greg Ellifritz (25-year retired LE, TDI instructor) - Naval Special Warfare Skills & Drills under Kenneth Bigbee Jr. (U.S. Navy SEAL) - Extreme Gunfighter course from Chief Warrant Officer James Gibson (23 years US Army, 8 years SWAT LE) - IDPA competitor; Stop the Bleed trauma training through UC Hospital - Extensive violence survivor with published accounts in Combat Handguns Magazine - Firearms training since 2004

Terrence Forte: - 28 years Cincinnati Police Department (recently retired) - 5 years Drug Task Force/undercover work - Certified A.L.I.C.E. instructor (active shooter response) - Attended Tactical Defense Institute and OPOTA courses - 7 black belts, 45+ years martial arts training - Patrol rifle qualified

Guest instructors include law enforcement officers certified in firearms instruction, MMA practitioners, and martial arts instructors.

RideOrDie's "Good Guns for CCW" guide cuts through the marketing noise:

• •Recommended carries: Glock 19/17/26/43X/48 (Gen 5), S&W M&P 9mm Compact 2.0 or Shield 2.0, Sig P320/P365/P365XL/P229/P226, H&K VP9/VP9SK, Walther PPQ/PPS M2, Ruger, Beretta, FNH, CZ, Springfield, Canik

• •Acceptable but not ideal: Taurus, Kahr, Bersa, S&W SDVE, Kel-tec

• •Avoid: Hi-Point (30–40% failure rate in their courses), Jimenez Arms, Cobra, Phoenix Arms

• •Their take on caliber: 9mm is the personal choice for duty and carry. 380 ACP or .38 Special minimum unless you have severe recoil sensitivity. Shot placement matters more than caliber, but that doesn't mean carry a .22LR. Get quality JHP ammo from Federal, Remington, Speer, Winchester, or Hornady. Use a good kydex IWB holster for concealed carry.

• •Security Consultation – Available for custom security needs
• •Force-on-Force Training – Simunitions (Tier 2 Training certified)
• •Home Defense Courses – Dedicated defensive home training
• •Private Group Training – Custom scheduling for businesses, churches, organizations
• •E-store – Bravo Concealment holsters ($35, IWB/OWB options, local pickup only), RideOrDie branded apparel and hats

• •Cincinnati area – Indoor range for shooting portions; convenient central location
• •Payment: Cash, credit card, Cash App, Venmo
• •Deposits: $50 to reserve a spot (confirm date first)
• •Contact: Facebook is the primary method; message through the website or reach out on their FB page for scheduling

• •Ohio CCW application links and reciprocity agreements
• •Federal firearms laws overview
• •Sheriff appointment scheduling for Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Warren, Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Preble, Franklin, Licking, Delaware, Fairfield, Madison, and Union counties
• •Rules of gun safety (the four rules, clearly explained)
• •Diverse Gun Group networking forum for Q&A
• •Ohioans for Concealed Carry forum
• •Articles on stopping power myths, kinetic energy, and defensive scenarios