Home

AFTT Handgun Instructor Development Course - AFTT Handgun Instructor Development Course - 007

Brief Description
AFTT 44-hour Handgun Instructor Course
Full Description
Under South Dakota State administrative rules 2:01:06:17.01and 2:01:06:17.05, this training fulfills one of the two requirements to establish a commission “approved” instructor and also serves as Continuing Education hours for those instructors.

This course is designed to develop instructors in the use of the Law Enforcement Handgun. It will include, both classroom and range drills, on the following topics; firearms safety, marksmanship fundamentals, handgun handling techniques, coaching, range organization, lesson plans, methods of instruction, training aids, developing practical range training, working with the problem shooter, legal considerations, cover/concealment, close quarter engagements, movement shooting, reduced light and off duty carry. On the range we will conduct both dry and live fire drills from: 0 to 50 yards. Student Instructor will design, document and run a practical range exercise during the week.  

Attendees must provide their own ammunition.

Mark A. Fricke has served 28 years as a law enforcement professional. His service includes 4 years in the United States Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist, 4 years with the York, Nebraska Police Department and 20 years with the Prescott, Arizona Police Department. During his tenure with Prescott he reached the rank of Sergeant and was the chief firearms instructor and rangemaster for the department

As both a member and trainer for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and Prescott Police Tactical Units, Mark served as a sniper for nine years.

In conjunction with Arizona POST Mark serves as a train the trainer, helping develop Arizona’s cirriculum for the state’s firearms instructor certification program. In addition, he is a member of the Subject Matter Expert Firearms Committee, which set the firearms standards taught to Police Academy students and in-service officers throughout the state.  Mark is a certified NRA Law Enforcement and private firearms instructor on all weapons systems.

Mark has authored dozens of firearms and tactical articles.  With his extensive knowledge and experience with firearms Mark has been utilized by courts as an expert witness in firearms related matters. Over the past 25 years Mark has been an instructor at IALEFI’s Annual and Regional Training Conferences.

In 1992, he began his private company, American Firearms Training and Tactics (AFTT) in Prescott Valley, AZ. which trains Police, Military, and qualified civilians on all types of small arms, (handguns, patrol rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns and submachine guns).  SWAT, Narcotics, tactical and other specialized courses are also offered by AFTT.

The National Rifle Association’s Law Enforcement Activities Division (LEAD), in 1997, hired Mark as an adjunct instructor. Mark is currently assigned as a train the trainer, for all weapon systems, for Law Enforcement Officers across the country.  
Training Dates
10/05/2026 - 10/09/2026
Hours
44h 0m
Fee
None Specified
Training Location
Sturgis Police Department
1400 Main Street
Sturgis, SD  57785 (Meade County)
Resources Required
The following equipment is REQUIRED and must be provided by the student for ALL firearm instructor development schools:

Any centerfire, LE type Handgun with iron sights. Pistol mounted Red Dot Sights are allow as long as the handgun is also equipped with back-up iron sights.  Examples; Glock, SIG, H&K, S&W, etc.

Normal duty belt, holster, mag pouch and support gear

Three magazines, minimum

700 rounds of practice ammunition

Off Duty/Plain clothes handgun, if different from duty gun

Concealment holster (I have limited number to loan out if needed)

6 rounds of dummy ammunition (I will supply if needed)

Duty Flashlight

Cleaning gear

In addition to the above mentioned required equipment, the following are also necessary for this school:

Back-up or off-duty firearm and equipment. May be a duty pistol or revolver. Holster may be IWB, ankle, paddle, fanny-pack, or other suitable concealed carry holster. At least one magazine pouch and 3 magazines or speed loaders are required. If off-duty or back up is a revolver, 50 rds of ammo is all that is required. Cover garment for concealed carry range exercises.  
Reporting Instructions
None Specified
Housing is optional
Check-In 10/04/2026
Check-Out 10/09/2026
Signup Details
Apply via course host.
Dylan Goetsch
Patrol Sergeant
Training Coordinator
Sturgis Police Department
1400 Main Street, Sturgis SD, 57785
Admin-605-347-5070
Dispatch-605-347-2573
Terms of Service  |  Feedback
Warning

Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported

Acadis® will no longer support Internet Explorer 11. Users who choose to continue using Internet Explorer 11 will not have full Acadis® functionality, which may include broken features that will not be updated for this browser. For the best experience, please switch to a supported browser.

Supported browsers:
Success

Email verification request sent

A message was sent to . If you do not receive an email within 30 minutes check your junk folder, try again, or contact your technical support.

Error

Please wait to submit a request

If you have not received an email within 30 minutes of your initial request, check your junk folder or try again later.