Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you teach and train?

It all boils down to a love for our country, as corny as that may sound. In our military service, we have taught and worked with so many good people of other countries, but nothing compares to working with a mother who wants to be able to better protect her children, or the person who feels it is their duty to carry, but wants to do it responsibly. We get a real satisfaction from being able to pass on what we have learned and experienced to our fellow citizens. We feel that one of the greatest expressions of freedom is the ability to carry arms as a free man or woman. It is an honor to be of service to our fellow countrymen and help them to better shoulder the responsibility of the Second Amendment.

What kind of facilities do we need to host training?

You can host us to come to your range and conduct training. We have used gun clubs, public ranges and private ranges. A site survey is required for us to come and use your range. This can be very easy if you have a well-established range such as a gun club, or long-standing range. For a private range, we will have to physically inspect it to make sure it will meet our safety standards. We will make a strip map to the nearest medical facility that can treat a trauma patient. We will also, as a courtesy, notify the local law enforcement that we will be conducting a class.

For seminars, we have used homes, offices, churches and classrooms. All we need is space, chairs for students, and electricity for visuals.

If you are interested in hosting a class, please Contact Us.

Do you have classes for civilians?

All of our open enrollment classes are designed for civilians, unless specified. There is no reason why good, law-abiding citizens can't receive world-class training. We have had the privilege of representing you on the battlefront. Now we want to share what we have learned with you for the homefront. Our experience and lessons learned have a direct application for you. When that moment comes in your life, you will want the confidence of being trained by the best. In addition, we can customize and tailor classes for law enforcement and other groups.

Are your classes physically strenuous?

Some people have been concerned about not 'being in shape'. All of us could be in better shape. The question you should ask yourself is, if someone was threatening me or my family right now, what would I do? With that question in mind, you are in shape enough to train with us. Yes, a day at the range can be long and we will ask you to push yourself, but we will not expect you to do anything you can't do. We would love to see the older gentleman in the wheelchair at the range, rather than at home watching TV.

We have had students who have medical conditions or are recovering from injuries and can accommodate the needs of the individual.

Do I have to bring my own ammunition?

We do not provide ammunition for live-fire training. Round counts for classes can be found on individual class pages. You can also follow the link on class pages and buy through Ammo Supply Warehouse, have it shipped to us, and pick it up the day of training. We suggest that you do not use steel-cased ammo, unless you are using an AK-type carbine.

Do I need to bring my own personal firearms?

You must bring your own firearm to use in the classes. We do not rent or loan firearms for use during training. Make sure they are in good working order and are clean enough for a hard day's work. We also suggest that you bring a backup in case you experience any malfunctions with your primary gun during training. We have limited time and cannot stop training to fix anything but the simplest of problems. You should bring a good cleaning kit for your gun.

What are the age requirements?

You must be 18 years old to attend any hands-on firearm classes. We do make some exceptions, on a case-by-case basis. This will be up to the discretion of Lodestone Training and Consulting. Let's face it -- there are some very mature and intelligent 14-year-olds, and some pretty dumb 35-year-olds. In order to attend, the minor must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, and have permission granted by Lodestone Training and Consulting prior to the class.

At what experience level do I need to be at to attend training?

It does not matter what level you are at. We can take someone who has never touched a firearm before and teach them how to confidently use it. We can also work with someone who has years of experience in the military or law enforcement and help them to improve. There is always something more to learn. We have the background and experience to work with anyone at their level and help them to be a better shooter.

Where do I start?

If you are not sure where to begin, or what classes you should take, please take a look at our Suggested Training Paths.

If you have questions about specific classes and your experience level, feel free to Contact Us.

What do I do for lunch during all-day classes?

LTAC will provide lunch for all-day Live-Fire classes. For classes that start later in the day and go into the night (such as our Low-Light and Vehicle Combatives classes), dinner will be provided instead.

What if I don’t have a Concealed Carry Permit to provide for identification?

What we are looking for here is that you have proof that you can pass a background check. The easiest way to provide this is with a Concealed Carry Permit. If you do not have a permit, there are a few other options you have. You can go to your local Police Department or Sheriff to get a Statement of No Criminal History. They may charge you for a background check.

You can also use PA’s online background check system, PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History). There is a fee. You will receive an electronic certificate that can be printed off, or downloaded and sent in with your ID. This service can be used by both PA residents and non-residents.

Do you offer discounts or memberships?

We do have memberships available. There are two levels that will get you discounts on live-fire classes, repeat classes, classes for new shooters, and more. Learn more about our membership options here.

We do not currently offer Military, Law Enforcement, or First Responder discounts. We are all citizens of the United States of America.

Occasionally, you can get discounts through some of our friends (Lanco Tactical, Ammo Supply Warehouse, etc.).

What is your Cancellation Policy?

If class is cancelled by Lodestone Training and Consulting, LLC, the student’s payment is fully refundable, or can be applied to another available class.

If class is rescheduled due to inclement weather, students will have the option to attend the rescheduled class, attend another available class, or receive a full refund of the student’s payment.

If the student cancels at least 60 days prior to the first day of class, their payment is refundable OR the full payment can be applied to hold another available class.

If the student cancels with less than 60 days before the first day of class, their payment is totally NON-REFUNDABLE; however, their payment can be applied to another available class.

What is your Safety Policy?

Safety is the single most important aspect of all LTAC’s training. We provide an atmosphere for students to learn and try new things. We want you to push yourself in training. Before each activity, the drill or exercise will be explained. If the students do not understand what is expected, they need to ask so they can understand. Simple rules such as “keep your weapon on safe until your sights are on target” will always be followed. A first-time violation of any safety protocols could be grounds for immediate removal from class. This will be left to the discretion of LTAC Instructors on site. If allowed to stay in class, a second violation will require the immediate removal from class. Any questions after the event will be directed to Jared Ross and not any other representative of LTAC.