The International Firearm Training Academy (ITA) has launched two new firearms training modules to support career development in the firearms industry. The Maintenance Fitter and Firearm Custodian modules are two-part certification programmes within a larger Certified Gunsmith Programme. These were designed to address the growing need for training within State and parastatal organisations, the security industry, gunshops, dealerships, and firearm training centres. It includes firearm safekeeping, issuing firearms to officers on duty, general maintenance and, most importantly, serviceability inspections to ensure that firearms are fit for purpose. Candidates are required to have already secured a Business Purposes competency qualification before gaining entry into these training programmes. Anyone wanting to work as an armed security officer must have the necessary firearm competency in place.
In order to apply for and be granted this Business Purposes competency, a candidate must first complete the same training as someone wanting to licence a firearm for self-defence
(Knowledge of the Act and Handle & Use of a Handgun, for example), and then also complete the Business Purposes Unit Standards for the respective firearms he or she will be issued with when on duty. The training includes the safe and legal handling of the firearm by the officer.
Closing the firearms skills gap
The Firearm Custodian module focuses on foundational skills, including training security officers and police officials, among other firearm professionals, to field-strip firearms, conduct serviceability inspections, and ensure firearms are clean and safe for use. Foundational skills are the basic skills required to handle firearms safely and proficiently. They include skills such as safe handling, the fundamentals of using a firearm, the parts and functions of the firearm, how to clear malfunctions and safe storage, etc. These skills are important because they form the basis for more advanced firearms training and ensure that everyone, from security officers to police officials, can use firearms safely and responsibly.
The Maintenance Fitter module equips participants with the expertise to disassemble and reassemble firearm actions, identify and diagnose broken parts, and liaise with certified armourers or gunsmiths for repairs. Maintenance Fitters can perform basic repairs such as replacing a firing pin or the sights on a firearm. This ensures that firearms requiring basic repairs can now be handled internally. Repairs that can be done on-site result in firearms spending less time in a safe waiting for a qualified gunsmith to do a basic repair.
“Security officers are often issued firearms that are either unserviceable or missing critical components such as sights. This poses serious risks to both public safety and the officers themselves,” explains Andrew Fuller, Master Gunsmith at ITA. “These training modules not only address these risks but also offer a structured pathway for career progression in a field with limited formal development opportunities.”
Imagine driving down Chapman’s Peak, a scenic coastal road on the western side of the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, known for its breathtaking ocean views and popular hiking trails, on a perfect Sunday afternoon. As you approach a sharp bend, you press the brakes – nothing happens, causing panic and a wave of helplessness to wash over you, accompanied by the split-second realisation that what should save you has failed.
“Now, imagine facing an imminent threat, reaching for your firearm in self-defence, drawing from the holster, sights on target, a deep breath, the squeeze of the trigger and… click, nothing happens. Training and preparation can be the difference between survival and catastrophe,” highlights Andrew.
He further stresses the importance of responsible ammunition control and firearm serviceability, stating that the new modules aim to instil a culture of responsibility and accountability throughout the chain of firearm handling, management, operation, and maintenance.
“We must bridge the gap between the Business Purposes Unit Standard training and firearm custodians and maintenance fitters. This is why ITA is setting a new benchmark for how firearms should be handled, serviced, and maintained in compliance with the Firearms Control Act, ensuring that all firearms issued for use are indeed fit for purpose,” concludes Andrew.
For more information about the Firearm Custodian and Maintenance Fitter modules, contact us.
Article first published in On Target Africa – Issue 69 – Februray 2025
