Hello.  I’m Joe Woolley, President of Firearms Operations and Responsibility Training of Texas (F.O.R.T. Texas).  I am the License to Carry instructor at American Shooting Centers as well one of their primary rifle and pistol instructors. 

 I draw on over 35 years of firearms training and competitive shooting experience with the United States Practical Shooting Association – many of those as a Master Class Shooter. I also competed in Precision Rifle matches for two more years where I was ranked as a local Expert.  Old knees eventually told me to retire.

I have also earned six NRA instructor certifications.  In 2013 I was awarded a Regional Counselor certification for the NRA’s Refuse to Be a Victim® program and achieved Training Counselor credentials in 2016 for NRA firearms classes.

My wife Cherie, also an NRA instructor, adds another 18 years of competitive shooting and firearms training experience to the team.  Her smile, personality and the home-made brownies (not that kind) she bakes for all of our group classes combine to make our classes something different than you might expect.

We firmly believe in your right to carry a concealed handgun for personal protection.  We also firmly believe that using a handgun in a dangerous situation is the second worst thing that can happen to you.  You use it only to avoid the worst thing.  So we try to teach you the practical usage of a firearm in a deadly force situation, how to avoid that situation and what might happen if you can’t.

We offer individual and group classes that cover subject matter appropriate for the absolute beginner that doesn’t own a firearm yet to advanced personal, competitive and defensive pistol instruction.

We also offer a full spectrum of rifle instruction including Basic, Hunting and Long Range lessons utilizing SE Texas’ only public 600 yard range.  The long range classes have been extremely popular for those who want some good training before that once in a lifetime hunt.

To the best of my knowledge, I am the only active instructor in Southeast Texas teaching the NRA designed Metallic Cartridge Reloading class.  Classes are offered regularly throughout the first half of the year (I get kinda busy teaching rifle lessons during hunting season)..  

I was accepted as a Contributing Editor at Gun Tests Magazine in 2019 .  My first article on "How to Shoot a Pistol" can be accessed from this web site along with more recent content here.

I am also Prostaff for Hodgdon Powder Company.

We are here for you!

We teach basic, practical, defensive, competition and precision shooting classes.  Our goal is to make sure that you are safe, that you learn something and that you have FUN!