Frequently Asked Questions - Changes to Practice Regime for Armed Officers

 

What are the changes to the mandatory practice sessions?

The amended policy continues to require armed officers to attend two mandatory live-fire practice sessions every year. During the first year following successful completion of the Duty Firearm Course (DFC), the two mandatory practice sessions will be ‘’structured’’ and supervised by use-of-force trainers.

In the second and subsequent years (i.e. once officers have successfully re-certified once), the mandatory practice sessions will become ‘’scheduled’’ practices. These practice sessions will be conducted by either a CBSA use-of-force trainer or a range officer that is acceptable to the CBSA. This person will primarily be responsible for ensuring that the practice session is conducted efficiently, and for maintaining range safety. This change will provide regions with greater flexibility in scheduling practice sessions while maintaining some structure and range safety during the sessions.

Am I allowed to practice more than twice a year?

Yes. Up to 1000 rounds of ammunition will be provided to armed officers each year for additional ‘’unsupervised’’ practice. These additional rounds will allow officers who wish to practice particular aspects of the course of fire to do so. Officers that request additional practice will also be provided with CBSA silhouette targets.

Additional practices are optional, and must take place on the officer’s own time and at their own cost (with the exception of the additional 1000 rounds of ammunition and the targets that the CBSA is providing).

In this case, are the two annual practice sessions still mandatory after the first year?

The two annual practice sessions, whether they are ‘’structured’’ (during the first year following completion of the DFC) or ‘’scheduled’’ (once an officer has successfully re-certified), continue to be mandatory in order to ensure that officers remain familiar with their duty firearm and continue to maintain their firearm skills. Armed officers also continue to be re-certified every year.

How will I know I need to attend practice sessions?

The mandatory practice sessions will take place during working hours at a range booked and paid for by the CBSA. Officers will be notified of their scheduled time in the same manner as today. Additional unsupervised practices are organised by the armed officer themselves, and will occur on their own time and at their own cost.

Can I choose any firing range for additional practice?

Armed officers who choose to undertake additional unsupervised practice must do so at a CBSA-approved range. The list of approved ranges is currently under development, and will be posted on Atlas shortly.

Where will I find the ammunition, targets, etc. for additional practice?

CBSA silhouette targets and up to 1000 rounds of training ammunition will be available to each officer each year. This is intended to cover the ammunition needs for additional practice.

Requests for sufficient ammunition and targets to attend additional practice are to be made through your manager/ superintendent.  You will also be required to complete a BSF390 (Authorization to Transport and Store Firearms at a Place Other Than a Canada Border Services Agency Office) prior to removing the duty firearm from the workplace.

What if I want more than 1000 rounds of ammunition?

Officers have the option of purchasing additional ammunition from the CBSA for additional practice. It is important to remember that only CBSA-issued ammunition can be used in the duty firearm.

Can I keep the unspent ammunition for future use?

Officers who do not use all of the ammunition that they receive to attend additional practice are required to return unspent ammunition to the CBSA.

Is there a specific routine that needs to be followed during practices? 

A practice handbook, outlining safety protocols and a suggested practice curriculum for unsupervised practices, is being developed and will be available to officers. Officers must adhere to all CBSA safety protocols while practicing on their own time, including the wearing of protective vests, duty belt and holster.

Can I use any ammunition or any firearm?

As mentioned above, only CBSA-issued ammunition may be used, and only the officer to whom the duty firearm is issued is permitted to use it for additional practice. 

Will I be able to take my duty firearm home for a longer period of time in order to practice?

No. For the purpose of practicing, officers will not be permitted to take their firearm home for extended periods. Local management will determine the period of time that is reasonable, taking factors such as the distances between the work location, the officer’s residence and the firing range into consideration. 

Am I required to clean and maintain my equipment after I practice on my own?

Yes, the firearm should always be cleaned immediately after use and inspected regularly to ensure it continues to function properly and safely.