Dwight Smith
Instructor # 3467394 | Western Illinois Firearms Instruction LLC
Certified with the USCCA since 2/17/2019
Certification Renewal Date 2/28/2027
USCCA Certifications
- Concealed Carry & Home Defense
- Marksmanship Simplified: Foundations of Handgun Coaching
- Women's Handgun & Self-Defense
My Biography
Dwight Allen Smith is a retired 21-year Army veteran. He spent his first four years as a Small Arms Repairman in West Germany and Fort Irwin California. Then served 11 years as an Infantryman in the Illinois Army National Guard. After a 6-year break in the service, he returned to the Illinois National Guard in 2006. He served his last 7 years as a Small Arms and Artillery Repairman Non- Commissioned Officer with the 3637th Support Maintenance Company in Springfield. He completed a tour in Iraq from 2007-2008, where he was Sergeant of the Guard of a Control Entry Point, Convoy security missions and worked in the Small Arms Shop for several Company’s. During his time with 3637th, he would perform annual inspections of Units weapons, gave primary instruction classes for several firearms and lead firearm range training. Allen was certified a Concealed Carry Instructor in 2013. He has been an instructor in the Monmouth area sense. He completed the NRA Range Safety Officer course in 2015 and is a United States Concealed Carry Association Instructor. He has been a Monmouth resident sense 2006 with his wife and two daughters.
Current Classes Available
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In the class we will cover... Developing a personal and home protection plan. Self-defense firearm basics. Defensive shooting fundamentals. A preliminary look at The Legal Use of Force. Defending the home and property. Violent encounters and their aftermath. Gears and gadgets. Basic and advanced skills. Illinois supplement covering FOID, Illinois Concealed Carry License, Illinois Law, where you can carry and not carry.
In the class we will cover... Defensive shooting fundamentals. -A preliminary look at The Legal Use of Force. A detailed walk-through of the four pillars for justifying the use of deadly force. Defending the home and property. Illinois supplement covering FOID, Illinois Concealed Carry License, Illinois Law, where you can carry and not carry.
This class is for New and Existing shooter wishing to have one on one training with an instructor. We start with safety and familiarization with the firearm, then move to building the skills you will need to be a firearms shooter. If you do not have a firearm, we have a selection of Glocks, Sig Sauers and Smith & Weston pistols to rent. Rentals are $10.00 and you will have to purchase ammo from the store.
Key Components of the Class
- Firearm Safety and Fundamentals: • The course begins with the four universal firearm safety rules, ensuring veterans understand the foundational principles of safe handling. • Topics include proper handling, storage, and clearing of semi-automatic handguns and revolvers, as well as an overview of other firearm platforms like shotguns and AR-15s. • Veterans review handgun fundamentals, including grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control, building on their prior military training.
- Concealed Carry and Self-Defense Principles: • The curriculum covers the responsibilities of carrying a concealed firearm, including situational awareness and conflict avoidance. • Instruction includes how to respond before, during, and after a self-defense incident, addressing both physical and psychological responses to violent encounters. • Non-lethal defense options, such as tasers and pepper spray, are discussed as alternatives or complements to firearms.
- Legal Aspects of Concealed Carry: • A significant portion of the class focuses on the legalities of using deadly force, including state-specific concealed carry laws and regulations. • Veterans learn about de-escalation techniques, legal consequences of firearm use, and what to do in the aftermath of a self-defense incident to avoid legal pitfalls. • For states like Illinois, the course addresses eligibility requirements (e.g., no recent DUI violations or pending legal issues) and the importance of a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.
- Range Training: • The class includes live-fire range time to develop and refine shooting skills, such as point-shooting and accuracy under stress. • Veterans may rent a firearm and purchase ammunition from the range or use their own firearms and ammunition. • Practical exercises reinforce classroom lessons, focusing on real-world self-defense scenarios.
- Veteran-Specific Considerations: • The 8-hour format is designed for veterans who can waive the first 8 hours of a standard 16-hour course due to prior military training, provided they submit proof of service. (DD214) or (NGB22). Active Duty use Military ID card. • The course acknowledges veterans’ existing firearms experience, tailoring instruction to enhance their skills for civilian self-defense contexts.