Rifle/Carbine Instructor Course - 40 Hour
Notice
- This event meets the criteria for specific mandated training
- Non members please click here to contact us to request access to online registrations.
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Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Ends On: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Class Time(s): 4/16-18/2026: 10:00 AM -- 6:00 PM
4/24-25/2026: 10:00 AM -- 6:00 PM
Ends On: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Class Time(s): 4/16-18/2026: 10:00 AM -- 6:00 PM
4/24-25/2026: 10:00 AM -- 6:00 PM
Instructor Location:
Will County Sheriff's Department
Instructor: Jeff Chudwin and Kimberly Heath-ChudwinWill County Sheriff's Department
16911 W. Laraway Rd
Joliet, IL 60433
Driving Directions
Joliet, IL 60433
Member's Fee: $0
Non-Member & Civilian Fee: $0
Friday-Saturday, April 24-25, 2026
10:00 am till 6:00 pm
Course Description:
This five-day, 40 hour course has been designed with expert practitioners from the fields of law, firearms instruction, and forensic science to address the legal, practical, and policy considerations that must be taken into account when designing rifle carbine programs and when teaching experienced firearms instructors how to train their departments patrol specialists in the use of the rifle/carbine. As offenders acquire sophisticated firearms and ammunition and use them to commit violent acts, appropriate law enforcement response, including the use of the rifle/carbine, enhances public safety and officer survival.
Goals:
The goal of this course is to provide trainers with the specialized skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to implement, design, and teach officers the effective use of the police carbine/rifle. Student instructors will learn how to evaluate the effective use of the following weapons and the ammunition they use:
COLT AR-15/M16-type weapon system in calibers .223/5.56mm or 9mm
HK MP 5 .40 caliber or 9mm or other applicable police rifle/carbine
Other training goals for this class will be met when students are able to do the following:
- Identify and describe the various rifle/carbine types, their component parts, and operation
- identify, discuss, and demonstrate safe handling, carrying, and deployment of the rifle/carbine during police operations
- Perform basic disassembly, cleaning, and maintenance of the rifle/carbine
- Demonstrate proper sighting and basic marksmanship skills
- Describe and perform both supported and unsupported basic shooting positions including: standing, kneeling, squat, and prone
- Describe and demonstrate the proper shoulder mount position, principles of sight, stance, breathing, and trigger control
- Explain ballistic considerations, including maximum range, effective range, and penetration potential of various calibers and bullet types for street use
- Explain and demonstrate range safety and management
- Identify accessory equipment and their uses including night sights, optics/scopes, flash suppressors, compensators, scope mounts, and cheek pieces
- Formulate general orders, establish job tasks, and identify use of force and tactical considerations as to the role and deployment of the officer armed with the rifle/carbine
- Conduct dry fire drills addressing proper body mechanics, positioning of the weapon, sight picture, and trigger control
- Perform live fire range drills, including malfunction clearing and immediate action drills
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses in designing a variety of rifle/carbine courses of fire
- Identify the principles of adult education as they are best employed with individuals being trained to use the police rifle/carbine. (Continued)
- Identify the budgetary concerns and resources needed for repair and maintenance, record keeping, and planning to begin and maintain an ongoing police rifle/carbine training program
- Participate and pass alive fire instructor course qualification with a score of 90%
- Pass a written examination with a 90% score on a 50-question exam
Required Equipment and information:
- Duty handgun and duty belt
- 100 rounds of handgun ammunition
- AR-15/M-16/M-4 Rifle or Carbine (preferred), .223/5.56 m/m
- 3 or more 30 round magazines
- Magazine pouches/means to carry extra magazines
- 1000 rounds of .223/5.56 m/m ammunition--factory ammo in either commercial or military configuration. NO GREEN TIP 62 GRAIN 5.56 m/m STEEL CORE AMMO
- Eye and ear protection are MANDATORY, and no one will be allowed on the range without both items.
- Knee pads are highly recommended, elbow pads optional.
- Cleaning equipment (rod, bore brush, chamber brush, patches, solvent, lubricant)
- Sling - MANDATORY
- Scope/red dot or magnified optic -optional
- Notebook and pen
- Baseball type cap with bill is MANDATORY for protection against hot brass
- Appropriate clothing for weather – long pants only – no shorts.
- Students should wear comfortable boots and bring sun block and/or rain gear, if necessary.
- Food and drink in a cooler for breaks and lunches.
Instructor:
Jeff Chudwin served 38 years and retired as the Chief of Police for the Village of Olympia Fields IL. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1974 and continues as a sworn officer with the Peotone IL Police Department. He served as an Assistant States Attorney for both Will and Cook Counties IL. Chief Chudwin is a founding member and president of the Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA). A competitive shooter of over 35 years he designed and instructs a number of firearms training courses including; basic patrol rifle, patrol rifle instructor, designated marksman/advanced patrol rifle, 40 Hours Firearms Instructor, Firearms Instructor Update, Close Quarter Pistol, and rifle-pistol armorer courses for MTU’s state wide.
Combining his experience as an attorney, prosecutor, and career peace officer, he writes for law enforcement and firearms publications and has presented at conferences nationwide regarding police use of force, firearms training, patrol functions, and tactical operations. He is the executive editor of the ITOA Journal and has authored numerous articles for law enforcement publications on the issues of police use of force, firearms training, and SWAT and patrol functions.
Instructor:
Kimberly Heath-Chudwin is a retired Will County Sheriff's Deputy and Range Master. Deputy Heath-Chudwin is the President of the Women's Tactical Association. She has been a firearms instructor for 11 years. She instructs firearms training classes for the Illinois mobile training units #3 and #16, and for the ILEETA and ITOA conferences. Retired Deputy Heath is a competitive shooter; the 2016 and 2018 National Patrol Rifle Competition champion and has done work with the NRA Women's Network and Guns and Ammo TV. (CONTINUED)
All attendees must be on-duty, sworn law enforcement personnel registered by their respective Law Enforcement Agencies.
*This course is partially funded by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
This training covers the following mandates:
- Use of Force: De-escalation Techniques - 14.5 Hours (11 Hours Scenario Based) hours
- Use of Force: Officer Safety Techniques - 4.5 Hours (3 Hours Scenario Based) hours
