What is the Triple Nickel Society?

 

Guardian Coin Holders:

 

#11 – Bill Morgan

#506 – Josh Logan

 

#507 – Jesston Wilson

 

The TRIPLE NICKEL SOCIETY comprises former and current military and law enforcement personnel and trainers dedicated to the warrior culture. In today’s society, standards are often lowered to allow for maximum participation while not recognizing those who strive to excel. To counter this degradation of standards, our members intend to raise the bar within the military and law enforcement community. Specifically, our members believe in reaching beyond the acceptable proficiency levels within all aspects of the warrior culture. Once those goals have been reached, we still strive to improve.

This society is non-profit and member funded. Membership is intended to instill Esprit De Corps among fellow military and law enforcement personnel. As a society, we will never forget our roots or our heritage. Membership in this society is not exclusive to any unit, organization, department, or agency. But the Federal Air Marshal Service will always be responsible for the administration and maintenance of THE TRIPLE NICKEL course standards.

 

The Triple Nickel Society consists of:

 

1. The founding Members, the original 7 gun slingers, created this course of fire, wrote the rules and oath, and designed our coin. Their coins are gold colored. They are the only body to which appeals can be directed and have final say pertaining to rules violations as well as “PNG” status. They also approve the society Administrator.
2. The Administrator is the one who conducts the day-to-day operations of the society. They are responsible for maintaining the roster, coin supply, and ensuring adherence to the society rules during quals. The Administrator is authorized to raise moneys for the needs of the Society and organizes a five member committee.
3. Coin holders are essentially all members of the 555 society but aside from the original 7 carry nickel-colored coins. Coin holders are responsible for conducting qualifications, maintaining the rules of the qualifications, and submitting successful qualifications to the Administrator to ensure a timely delivery of the new members first coin.

 

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

The TRIPLE NICKEL SOCIETY is not a popularity contest. At least two current coin holders, in good standing, will assess shooters.  In the event of a single coin holder having to conduct the qual, because all efforts to get two coin holders on the range were exhausted, video of all three successful runs must be submitted to the Administrator.  The videos must show:

1. The shooter and their equipment / method of carry.
2. The targets, close enough to see holes.
3. The shooting runs.
4. Time recorded for the run.
5. There are to be no breaks in the video.

There are many ways these two members may wish to assess candidates for membership within the society. At a minimum, you must meet the following criteria and display the following traits and characteristics.

1. Be a current or retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces or its military allies in good standing.
2. Be a current or retired member of a domestic or foreign law enforcement agency in good standing.
3. Be a current or retired law enforcement or military trainer in good standing.
4. Show proficiency, competency, and consistency with your assigned firearms.
5. Show proficiency, consistency and professionalism while shooting the TRIPLE NICKEL course of fire. (Three-time rule)

 

THE COURSE OF FIRE

 

The TRIPLE NICKEL course of fire measures a shooter’s proficiency level and ability to consistently “PERFORM ON DEMAND” through the thorough application of the fundamentals of marksmanship and weapon handling. This advanced firearm drill evaluates a candidate’s capacity to save their own life against multiple assailants. The shooter must consistently demonstrate proficiency by maintaining 100% accuracy in the five-second time allotment. Just like in real life, there is no reward for losing.

To begin, the shooters will stand at the five-yard line centered and facing five targets. At the sound of the Pact timer or when targets face, the shooter will draw and engage the first target with 2 rounds, then transition to each target engaging with 2 rounds. The shooter MUST conduct a reload, slide forward or slide locked back, AFTER the first target, and any time BEFORE the fifth target. Shooters may engage from right to left or left to right, their choice.

That’s 5 yards, 5 targets, 5 seconds, 10 shots, and a reload between your first and last target. 

Three (3) Official targets are used for scoring the TRIPLE NICKEL course of fire. The Transitional Target II (PPC), the FBI QIT, and the IPSC/IDPA targets as pictured above. NO OTHER TARGET IS AUTHORIZED. Scoring zones are marked within the illustrations.

At a minimum, there must be a one-and-a-half-foot distance between targets, from edge to edge. A minimum of two feet, from the outer bottle edge to the outer bottle edge (scoring zone), will be used when shooting on paper FBI QIT and IPSC/IDPA targets. When in doubt, spread them out!

 

COURSE ADMINISTRATION

 

1. ALL FAMS are expected to qualify with a cover garment and concealment rig appropriate for flying. NO OTHER CONFIGURATION IS ACCEPTABLE FOR FAMS. VIPR is a secondary duty and not a full-time position—the same goes for any agency’s instructors. If there are any questions regarding this rule, please refer to your creds for clarification. They should read “Federal AIR Marshal ‘
2. The shooter MUST use the firearm and all equipment that would be used in real life, either on or off duty. For example, an undercover/plainclothes officer would utilize a pancake-style holster and cover garment to conceal all equipment. A uniformed police officer would utilize their duty belt worn while on patrol. A military member would utilize the appropriate tactical holster system worn while deployed. All retentions must be engaged. RED DOTs can only be used if they are department / agency issue. No “race guns” are allowed, and only LE/MIL spec duty and training ammunition are authorized.

 

1. Hits must be in scoring area.
2. Anything touching the line is considered a miss.
3. 2 Hits must be in each target for a total of 10 for each run.
4. One reload must be conducted somewhere between the first and fifth target
5. The last round must impact on or before the 5.00 second mark.
6. When in doubt, it does not count!

 

3. A minimum of three successful attempts must be accomplished to be awarded the Triple Nickel challenge coin. These attempts do not need to be consecutive. In successfully doing so, the shooter will be considered a full-fledged member of the TRIPLE NICKEL SOCIETY, with all rights and privileges afforded to members in good standing.

 

4. The shooter must complete all three successful attempts on the same day.

 

5. This qual was created by FAMs and will forever remain in the control of the FAMs.  Only a FAM can be the Administrator.  In the even that the Administrator steps down and a FAM does not step into the position, that Administrator will secure all coins and moneys until one does.

 

6. Video of at least one successful attempt must be taken and submitted to the administrator for verification. This video must include the shooters duty configuration and documentation of the scored hits. NO COINS WILL BE ISSUED WITHOUT VIDEO DOCUMENTATION.

 

The two TRIPLE NICKEL members administering the course of fire will make all decisions on proper scoring. If there is any doubt, it does not count.

CHEATING

 

Shooters found to be cheating will be removed from the range and barred from future attempts at the TRIPLE NICKEL. No questions asked.

All issues concerning this course of fire, issuance of the challenge coin, rules, regulations, or membership into the TRIPLE NICKEL SOCIETY are at the discretion of the founding members. They will make the ultimate decision in all cases.