Course Leader - George Gaines
Course Fee - $25.00
The fundamental principles of security are the same for Houses of Worship and large gatherings or events. This is 8-hour classroom course introduces students to security fundamentals that underlie a safe environment for congregational events, without hindering normal routine and activities.
Students will master fundamental concepts, methods, and limited skills to detect, prevent, and neutralize threats to the safety of a church congregation or members of a large gathering.
Although this course addresses the importance of physical self-defense and firearms skills in security, such skills are necessarily developed through additional training in these areas. For students wishing to develop these skills, the instructor offers laboratory (range) courses in physical self-defense, safe pistol handling and defensive shooting, and advanced tactical pistol shooting.
Goals:
1. To provide the theoretical and practical know-how of guiding principles governing security
2. To enhance technical and tactical skills necessary for the prevention and effective engagement of a variety of security threats
3. To provide a foundation for communicating with other members of the security team
Objectives:
1. Identify and explain the three (3) elements of the Security Model
2. Apply the Security Model to an event setting
3. Explain the importance of having a deterrence strategy
4. Name at least three (3) types of level one (physical) deterrence
5. Explain why having easily identifiable security may be a bad idea
6. Explain the role of church greeters in security
7. Describe how rings of security should operate in an event
8. List at least five (5) sources of intelligence
9. Diagram the continuous outreach & reporting process
10. Explain differences between lone wolf and hate group attacks
11. Outline a plan for involving the congregation in security
12. Describe how law enforcement should work with event security
13. Given case studies that reveal advance knowledge of threats, propose actions to prevent
14. Given case studies without advance knowledge of threats, propose actions to prevent
15. Name at least five (5) characteristics of an effective greeter
16. Distinguish between racial and predictive profiling
17. Explain the three (3) things that we must look for in order to recognize threat
18. Explain the rapid process for friend or foe determination
19. Recognize suspicious indicators at various event functions
20. Demonstrate skill in asking probing, friendly questions
21. Recognize the inherent danger posed by the spotlight effect
22. Identify steps to be taken should the threat be allowed into the event
23. After viewing video interviews with first responders and witnesses of church shootings, identify
security breakdowns and propose ways in which these tragedies could have been minimized or avoided
24. Identify organizational and legal requirements and options for a security team
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The instructor is Dr. George Gaines, Chief Instructor, Gaines Tactical Training, Hayesville, NC.
Dr. Gaines holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Georgia, with specialization in training
psychology, performance testing & measurement. He worked in academia and corporate life for over 40
years. As a firearms instructor, he has trained thousands of students, civilian and law enforcement, and
has certified more than a hundred firearms instructors and range safety officers. He has achieved the
following certifications:
• NRA Certified Instructor (Pistol, Home Defense, Refuse to be a Victim)
• NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
• USCCA Certified Instructor (Concealed Carry, Home Defense, Pistol)
• USCCA Certified Training Counselor
• Florida-Approved CCW Instructor
• North Carolina Justice Academy Certified CCP Instructor
• Florida Public Safety Institute Instructor
In addition to the training required for his certifications, Dr. Gaines has accumulated nearly 3,000 hours
of advanced training with professional security. He has adapted these principles to the security needs of
houses of worship, having trained over 300 members of house of worship security teams.
Winter 2026 classes are posted for viewing but you cannot register for a class until