Thinking Man's Corner

Article By: Leo H.

Current Georgia statute authorizes Georgia POST to require annual training of the peace officers employed throughout the State.  These officers are required to obtain at least twenty hours of POST recognized training each year. Within those twenty required hours lies annual firearms “requalification.”  In the past, officers generally “requalified” by successfully scoring a minimum of 80% on whatever course of fire was currently being utilized in the Basic Law Enforcement Training Course to initially “qualify” students seeking peace officer certification. Since 2006, when this requirement was implemented, the course of fire has changed several times.

However, in 2024, Georgia POST published new information regarding the Annual Firearms Requalification Requirements. They indicated authority under GA O.C.G.A. 35-8-16, establishes only the minimum qualification standards and training requirements for peace officers and encouraged each law enforcement unit to prescribe such additional requirements as it deems necessary and appropriate to “requalify” their personnel. The Georgia POST website provides a list of “standards” which can now be utilized by the various departments when designing courses to measure the firearms proficiency within that agency.

Specifically…

“The POST Council approved the setting of minimum standards for the Annual Firearms Requalification:

• Using the approved SQT-A1 target (8 and 10 ring scoring required)
• 30 rounds of ammo
• Rounds fired under time (max 2 seconds per round, additional time can be added for movements and reloads)
• Rounds fired from the 15-, 7-, and 3-yard lines (round should be spread somewhat evenly)
• Rounds fired from the Holster, High-ready, and Low-ready
• Achieve an 80% score to pass   

From these minimum standards an agency can develop a course of fire to meet their specific training needs, agencies can do so by:

• Adding multiple targets
• Round placement on target
• Increasing rounds
• Adding movements
• Barricades
• Kneeling or prone positions
• Adding distances like the 25-yard line, 10-yard line, and 5-yard line.” Georgia POST. (2025, February)

As you can see, these “standards” are extremely liberal providing a wide base for individual course design. Surprisingly, many instructors throughout the State have voiced displeasure with this opportunity.  Instead, choosing to continue using the current basic course as the means of evaluating their personnel. The primary reason being offered is a belief there is a degree of liability protection offered if the “State Course” is utilized rather than one which has been individually created to meet department needs. Also expressed is the opinion employee termination based upon a demonstrated lack of ability while firing the “State Course” will be easier to defend in a complaint of wrongful termination.

To further muddy the waters, in January of 2025, POST implemented a new “qualification” course for the students attending the Basic Law Enforcement Training Course (BLETC). While the course utilizes the same round count (30 rounds), target (SQT-A1), and percentage requirement (80%) as the “old” course; shots fired from the 25-yard line have been removed and additional shots have been moved forward to the 03-yard line. The current outcry is… “this course is too easy.” But… I wonder if the issue might really be a misunderstanding in what is accomplished by a recruit who successfully fires two scores of 80% or better on any “qualifying” course of fire while attending the BLETC. They have met the minimum standards established by POST… nothing more.

Let us look at a couple of definitions:

1. Qualification – “a quality or accomplishment that makes someone suitable for a particular job or activity.” (Oxford, 2025) “a condition or standard that must be complied with.” (Webster, 2025)
2. Qualified – fitted (as by training or experience) for a given purpose: Competent, having complied with the specific requirements or precedent conditions.” (Webster, 2025)
3. Standard – “something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality.” (Webster, 2025)

Based upon Georgia statute, and an agreement the above definitions accurately reflect a working understanding of the listed words, it would seem Georgia POST has the authority to create the standards by which the minimum competency of a Georgia peace officer’s firearms skills is to be measured. If so, the liability mantle is then firmly placed upon the shoulders of each department’s Chief Executive Officer… do you want your personnel to train to the minimum acceptable level or beyond? The answer to that question may only be important when asked by a litigant’s attorney.

Today, it is very difficult to find applicants who are interested in becoming a police officer. Administrators are faced with the problem of finding qualified individuals in a world where the pool of interested parties is becoming smaller and smaller. Establishing “standards” that may seem relevant, but are obtainable by few, does little to solve this employment issue. If we use the Occam’s razor principle of looking for a solution with the smallest possible set of elements, we may have to agree an “easier” initial qualification course is the best solution at the entry level. Establishing “standards” which demonstrate a skill set of safe weapon operation rather than a measurement of all skills required to prevail in all possible situations may appear “easy” to some.

The training pendulum swings away from the academy as the recruit takes the stage to receive a BLETC certificate of completion. Responsibility and accountability for the continued advancement of knowledge, skills, and ability shifts to the department… and the individual officer. No matter the length of the initial academy program, there is always more to learn. There is no doubt the firearms program offered during BLETC does not prepare the officer for every encounter requiring the use of a firearm they may face during their career. I’d suggest such training becomes the responsibility of the departmental firearms instructor or the end goal of a self-driven officer. In the end, the first responder to the call that may end your life is you. Stay hungry.

“Don’t decrease the goal. Increase the effort.” —Tom Coleman

Semper Optimum!