ABOUT US
River Valley Training is located in the Mankato River Valley area of southern Minnesota. Instructor Rick Bruels has been doing state-certified firearm safety training for the state of Minnesota since 1993 and NRA firearm training since 2002. With the 2005 changes in the Minnesota permit-to-carry laws and training requirements, River Valley Training was formed to meet these new standards and was the second training organization approved by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension under these new standards. Our courses are based on proven training techniques and have since evolved to meet better the needs of our students and the requirements of obtaining a permit to carry.
River Valley Training is a Minnesota-approved and recognized training organization for a permit to carry, and it is listed on the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) website.
Instruction and certification is provided that meets the Federal LEO's Safety Act of 2004 - HR 218 as listed in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Firearms Training Standards as outlined on the Minnesota POST Board website.
Instructor Rick Bruels carries NRA instructor certification in several areas of instruction, and because of this, he is recognized and his courses accepted by several other states as approved training for applying for a permit to carry a firearm for self-defense.
River Valley Training is a Minnesota-approved and recognized training organization for a permit to carry, and it is listed on the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) website.
Instruction and certification is provided that meets the Federal LEO's Safety Act of 2004 - HR 218 as listed in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Firearms Training Standards as outlined on the Minnesota POST Board website.
Instructor Rick Bruels carries NRA instructor certification in several areas of instruction, and because of this, he is recognized and his courses accepted by several other states as approved training for applying for a permit to carry a firearm for self-defense.
Instructor Rick Bruels is certified by the NRA as -
- NRA Rifle Instructor
- NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor
- NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor
- NRA First Steps Pistol Instructor
- NRA First Steps Rifle Instructor
- NRA Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor
- NRA Chief Range Safety Officer plus other NRA disciplines
Rick's training background includes attending -
- Final Option Advanced Concealed Carry Course
- Blackwater Advanced Skills Handgun
- Suarez International Close-Range Gunfighting
- Front Sight 4-Day Defensive Handgun - Graduate
- Massad Ayoob Advanced Stress Fire
- Massad Ayoob Judicious Use of Deadly Force
- John Farnam Defensive Handgun
- John Farnam Advanced Defensive Handgun & Shotgun
- John Farnam Urban Rifle
- Lt. Col. Dave Grossman The Bullet Proof Mind
- ShivWorks Extreme Close Quarters Concepts
- and continues to further his training
Rick is an International Defensive Pistol Association competitor, rated as Expert in the CDP class and competed at the state level in handgun competition with local, state and regional wins to his credit.
With the NRA certifications, the Minnesota certification, plus many others, our courses are recognized by Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and several other states when applying for their permit to carry.
With the NRA certifications, the Minnesota certification, plus many others, our courses are recognized by Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and several other states when applying for their permit to carry.
