Even though GST is growing at an unprecedented rate, we are always looking to partner with new hosting departments/organizations to continue making the course available in as many territories as possible.
This page is intended to detail the benefits, eligibility requirements and the expectations so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not hosting is the right option for your organization.
How to Host a GST Law Enforcement Course (for Free!)
Benefits:
- The host will earn one (1) complimentary slot for every 10 paid slots in the course. It is not uncommon for host agencies to earn 5-8 complimentary slots in a single course. Keep in mind that most or all of the paid slots typically come from outside agencies, so it’s very common for the hosting agency to have no out-of-pocket expense.
- By becoming a host agency in a new territory, you make a significant impact by providing access to the GST course for officers throughout your region who would have never otherwise had the opportunity.
- It is common for a GST host to form bonds with many fellow law enforcement professionals across the nation as they become part of the large GST family. These bonds often extend beyond DT training as GST agencies commonly partner with each other in a variety of LE subjects/courses.
- Gracie University does not charge the host agency any fees, unless the host wishes to purchase additional slots beyond the number of complimentary slots that they earn.
Eligibility:
The most important requirement for a prospective host agency is a leader who is highly motivated and enthusiastic, demonstrating a strong commitment to the success of the GST seminar. This individual should be proactive and demonstrate a strong initiative in reaching out to and coordinating with potential students within their region.
Once this requirement is met, the following qualifications must also be satisfied:
- The hosting organization must be a first-responder government agency (federal/local/state/tribal/county/college police/hospital police/etc.).
- There must not be an active GST host already established in the region (start by contacting [email protected] today to inquire about availability of the region). If there is no established host in the region, then the first agency that can complete Step 1 below will get the priority right to be the official GST host in the region.
- The standard requirement for host’s facilities is 3400+ square feet of continuous mat space. However, as long as the floor space is sufficient, we can start the process with significantly less mat space with the understanding that the mat space will need to be expanded, or a new larger facility will be obtained, if the enrollments look like they will outgrow the starting mat space. Gracie University can help obtain mats for qualified hosts.
- All of the mat space must be in one large room such as a gymnasium. The mats and the facility can be rented or borrowed if not owned by the agency. Often agencies will ask to use the facility from a local high school, recreation center, or BJJ academy if they don’t have enough space at their police facility.
- Host’s facilities must have basic amenities such as restrooms and water fountains.
Once a prospective host has contacted us and been confirmed as qualified, here are the four steps they will need to complete to bring the GST course to fruition:
Step 1: The First 15
Send us a list of 15 individuals who are seriously interested, and qualified, to attend the prospective GST course hosted by your organization. The following individuals are qualified to attend:
- First Responders who are employed by government agencies.
- Active members of the Military and Military reserves.
- Corrections officers who are employed by government agencies.
- Probation officers who are employed by government agencies.
“Seriously interested” is defined as someone who states that they are “highly likely” (90% chance or greater) to attend the course if your agency was to host it.
This list does not include the complimentary slots that the host will earn.
Once the list of 15 is compiled, the prospective host will send it to [email protected]. Someone from Gracie University will then contact each prospect to confirm they are, in fact, likely to attend. It is highly recommended to gather more than 15 as it is not uncommon for 3-5 of the listed prospects to fall through (usually due to: injury, budgetary changes, command changes, staffing shortages, life changes, etc.).
Once 15 individuals are verified as seriously interested and qualified, Gracie University and the agency will choose a mutually acceptable course date at least 6-8 months from the date of the completion of this step. Gracie University will then put a temporary hold on that course date (maintaining the hold on the date is contingent on the completion of the subsequent steps).
Step 2: Course Listing and Collaborative Marketing
Once Step 1 is complete and a tentative course date is confirmed, Gracie University staff will list the course on the GST website and open registration. The host agency will be notified as soon as registration is open.
At this point, a collaborative marketing effort begins. Gracie University will provide marketing materials and support to the host agency. The host agency will play a key role in promoting the course within their region, reaching out to potential students and coordinating with local agencies. While Gracie University will assist with broader marketing efforts, the host agency's regional expertise and connections will be crucial in generating interest and maximizing course enrollment.
Step 3: 20 Registrations
20 individuals must either pay the tuition or send Gracie University a purchase order. This must typically be achieved at least 60 days before the course date.
Step 4: 30 Registrations
To confirm the course and solidify its place on our schedule, we require a total of 30 individuals to have either paid their tuition or sent Gracie University a purchase order no later than 45 days before the course date. The 20 registrations secured in Step 3 count towards this total, meaning only 10 additional registrations are needed in this step. Once this threshold is met, we will officially confirm the course and update its listing on the website by removing the “tentative” label.
Beyond Level 1
It's a fair amount of work to get the first one going, but almost every host who successfully completes their first GST course, describes it as challenging but well worth it. In fact, after the first course is complete, almost all hosts become repeat hosts for several years thereafter, some agencies have been hosting annual GST courses for over 18 years!
Many agencies who host a Level 1 Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) course are eager to offer a Level 2 course as well. This is because Level 2 provides advanced GST instruction covering a wider range of law enforcement scenarios and now includes the SafeWrap Lateral Restraint Instructor Certification as well. In essence, a Level 2 course offers three certifications in one: Level 1 recertification, Level 2 certification, and SafeWrap Instructor certification.
However, hosting a Level 2 course presents unique challenges due to the prerequisite of Level 1 completion. To address this, agencies have three options:
- Host multiple Level 1 courses: Accumulate approximately 150 Level 1 graduates across two or three Level 1 seminars. This usually takes 2-3 years.
- Conduct a Dual Certification course: This 8-day course combines Level 1 and Level 2 instruction, allowing officers to achieve both certifications concurrently. However, with this option officers cannot attend the Level 2 portion by itself.
- Host back-to-back Level 1 and Level 2 courses: Offer a full week of Level 1 training followed by a full week of Level 2 training so that attendees can attend either week (Level 1 or Level 2) or complete them both, back-to-back for dual certification.
The optimal option depends on the agency's circumstances. For agencies with a substantial pool of Level 1 graduates, hosting a dedicated Level 2 course (option 1) is often the most efficient approach. If an agency hasn't yet reached the 150-graduate threshold, back-to-back courses (option 3) may be more suitable. While the dual certification course (option 2) offers efficiency and is ideal for new hosts in regions that do not have many GST L1 graduates and wish to progress through all the material in one course. However, on the same note, it may not be ideal for regions that already have many Level 1 graduates who may be seeking standalone Level 2 certification.
Connect With the GST Team If you are interested in hosting a Gracie Survival Tactics Instructor Course in your region, we can’t wait to hear from you! If you have any questions about the process or you would like to inquire about territory availability, please contact us at [email protected] or call 310-893-0400 ext. 3.