Probationary Membership

Probationary Membership

Having completed your Induction and decided you wish to continue, you will need to complete an application form so that you can become a probationary member. Your probation will last for a minimum of three months as this is a legal requirement. Regular attendance will be required during this period to allow your training to continue effectively.

Following the trial / induction you will generally be at the point where you can get yourself ready and kitted up so you are ready to go on the range. An instructor / coach will then take you onto the range and, to start with, provide 1-2-1 tuition. During your probation you will be introduced to a spotting scope, the various range procedures, and operating under the command of a Range Conducting Officer (RCO) until we are happy you can shoot safely and competently by yourself in the same manner as a full member.

Your first step as a probationary member is to book your first session. Probationers can book sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays are reserved so that the instructors and coaches can get some competition cards shot themselves.

As a probationary member you will initially be supervised on a 1-2-1 basis. As you develop your skills this will move on to 2-2-1, 3-2-1 etc until you are a safe and competent shooter that can be supervised on the firing point (FP) just like a full member of the club.

During your probation (minimum 3 months) you will need to acquire the following skills / abilities. Don't worry. If not a coach, there is always someone around that will be happy to help you:

- Booking a session (so we know you're coming)
- Cancelling a session booking (because life happens!)

- Check in at Stats Office
    - Pay weekly levy
    - Pay membership fees on completion of induction.
    - Get correct key(s) for cabinet / rifle.
    - Return rifle key to Duty Officer
    - Lodge rifle tag with Duty Officer.
    - Get ammo from Duty Officer
    - Purchase additonal ammo as required. You are not allowed to purchase and hold more than 100 rounds at any time until you obtain a Firearms Certificate (FAC) [see full membership].
    - Complete the detail board.

- Be able to get youself ready to go on the firing point:
    - getting rifle out of storage cabinet and positioned in rack in the armoury.
    - Check settings on rifle    
        - sights not loose
        - handstop in correct location.
        - butt plate in correct location.
    - getting jacket from rack
    - checking correct sling is on jacket and settings are all OK.
    - checking you've got the correct glove
    - know when it's your turn to go on the FP.
    
- Get familiar with procedures on the firing point.
    - who is in charge?
        - Range Conducting Officer (RCO)
        - responding to range instructions
    - who winds the target.
    - getting club mat postioned on FP
    - getting ammo block from shelf
    - fetching supply of targets when stock on FP runs out.
    - fetching supply of sighters when stock on FP runs out.
    And then:
    - return mat to storage hook after completion
    - return all club kit after use.
    - clear brass off FP ready for next shooter
    - doing all the above while having a conversation!

- Practice your technique!
    - Be able to position and use a spotting scope so that:
        - you can use it with minimal movement of the head
        - you can monitor where each shot goes
        - you can report which shot went where in the group.
    - positioning mat on FP.
    - Laying on mat.
    - Building your position
    - Consistently getting Natural Point of Aim (NPA) on target
    - Adjusting position so NPA is correct
        - Hips and ribcage for large movements
        - triggering elbow for small movements
    - Head position
    - Triggering hand positioned so trigger finger lies naturally on trigger
        - centre (soft) area of finger tip on trigger
    - Breathing
        - relax, breathe normally
        - check position
        - breathe out
        - let it settle (take up first pressure?)
        - is it right?
        - squeeze the trigger (2nd pressure)
    - maintain the aim
        - watch the recoil
        - Post shot analysis (PSA)
        - confirm PSA by looking at shot with scope.
    - watch others - you can learn a lot!

- Check out at Stats Office
    - return remaining ammo to Duty Officer
    - collect rifle tag from duty officer.
    - return rifle to storage cabinet
    - confirm number of details / cards shot to Duty Officer.
    - Put name on practice card and sign it.
    - Hand practice card to coach or Duty Officer for witnessing and dating.
    - put practice card in training folder for future reference.

On completion of your probation you will be a safe and competent shooter. Whether you will be accurate or not is entirely down to you. We normally find that the required level of competency is achived well before the completion of the probationary period. This is good as the transition from probationary member to full member is then very smooth.

Your application for membership will go before the committee on completion of you probation period for promotion to full member.