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Armorers Course schedule
- Thread starter thoml
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Since the M&P is not in use in any great numbers by our military, and since it is not officially adopted, our military handguns being the M9 Beretta and the M11 SIG Sauer, I doubt that many military persons have taken the M&P Armorers course. Therefore, by definition, nearly everyone who takes the M&P Armorers course IS a civilian. Police in the United States are civilians, unless on active duty in the military.
The question, therefore, is whether S&W will allow a person who is not in law enforcement to take the course. I know that some dealers and distributors have done so, as the S&W web site lists dealers with M&P Armorers on staff.
If you are willing to pay the fee and travel to the course, and if seats are available, I cannot see why they would not allow it, as they are not likely giving out "state secrets" or "nuclear launch codes," however, strange rules often accompany training of any kind associated with law enforcement as sworn personnel seem uncomfortable in such settings around non-sworn personnel, at least in my experience in taking the Glock Armorers course six or seven times over the years since 1985. Perhaps you could call the factory and ask.
The question, therefore, is whether S&W will allow a person who is not in law enforcement to take the course. I know that some dealers and distributors have done so, as the S&W web site lists dealers with M&P Armorers on staff.
If you are willing to pay the fee and travel to the course, and if seats are available, I cannot see why they would not allow it, as they are not likely giving out "state secrets" or "nuclear launch codes," however, strange rules often accompany training of any kind associated with law enforcement as sworn personnel seem uncomfortable in such settings around non-sworn personnel, at least in my experience in taking the Glock Armorers course six or seven times over the years since 1985. Perhaps you could call the factory and ask.
Last edited:
Fastbolt
Member
S&W generally requires students attending armorer classes to be active LE (incl reserves, as I've seen in some classes), Military or Security Services. I'd imagine "exceptions" are at the discretion of the company on a case-by-case basis.
There are "open" classes, for which eligible persons may register, and "closed" classes, which are usually specific to a particular LE agency. While the academy's armorer training unit teaches both factory & field classes, occasionally some LE field reps have been taught & authorized to teach armorer classes to their LE agency customers.
The factory maintains info about their armorer training on their website, which contains other links about tool kits and field class scheduling. Product: M&P Pistol Armorer
FWIW, Glock & SIG have both offered opportunities for private citizens to schedule themselves for basic armorer classes, but you;d have to check their websites for current info. Last I was told, SIG required private owners to attend the basic pistol armorer class at their factory, and it's not inexpensive. Glock allowed field classes, and it's both a shorter and less expensive class.
I once read about a "M&P Pistol Armorer" offered by a company (not S&W), but I have no idea who taught it and what their qualifications might have been.
As far as I know, only classes put on by the factory make someone a factory-certified S&W armorer, and most classes have to be repeated at 4-yr intervals (to keep up-to-date on manufacturing & materials changes, revisions, new procedures, etc).
There are "open" classes, for which eligible persons may register, and "closed" classes, which are usually specific to a particular LE agency. While the academy's armorer training unit teaches both factory & field classes, occasionally some LE field reps have been taught & authorized to teach armorer classes to their LE agency customers.
The factory maintains info about their armorer training on their website, which contains other links about tool kits and field class scheduling. Product: M&P Pistol Armorer
FWIW, Glock & SIG have both offered opportunities for private citizens to schedule themselves for basic armorer classes, but you;d have to check their websites for current info. Last I was told, SIG required private owners to attend the basic pistol armorer class at their factory, and it's not inexpensive. Glock allowed field classes, and it's both a shorter and less expensive class.
I once read about a "M&P Pistol Armorer" offered by a company (not S&W), but I have no idea who taught it and what their qualifications might have been.
As far as I know, only classes put on by the factory make someone a factory-certified S&W armorer, and most classes have to be repeated at 4-yr intervals (to keep up-to-date on manufacturing & materials changes, revisions, new procedures, etc).
Last edited:
Fastbolt
Member
You might call the LE sales rep for your region, as some of the basic classes (M&P pistols & rifles) have been taught by the sale reps in recent years, who have been trained to teach them. They were even having some of the 3rd gen pistol armorer classes taught by a couple of sales reps some time ago, and not just the training academy instructors.
I don't know if they're still scheduling Field Classes through the training academy, as they've shifted some people around last I asked.
Law Enforcement Sales & Training | Smith & Wesson
Let’s agree to disagree on your definition of CIVILLIAN.
Civilian | Definition of Civilian by Merriam-Webster
