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About Us!
Meet Our Team
Phase 3 Training's Expert firearms instructors are active in the community and in the shooting sports.
Curtis Payne
Chief Instructor & Owner
Curtis’ shooting experience started as an adult but accelerated very rapidly! In Barbados where he grew up, the only people who had guns were bad guys and cops. After buying his first gun, a shotgun, he was hooked. He dedicated his time and effort to becoming very proficient in his knowledge, skills and safe handling of firearms.
Curtis became extremely passionate about dispelling the negative stereotype surrounding firearms. Through his years of vigorous training he became an NRA Certified Instructor as well as a NRA Certified Range Safety Officer. During that time, he recognized that the biggest issue with handling firearms safely and effectively is miseducation, ignorance and carelessness. He stresses the importance and methodical emphasis of proper techniques and handling under various situations and has an affinity for all defensive shooting classes and concepts.
Curtis uses a very interactive approach to learning. Through repetition of drills, procedures and the dissemination of vital information, students will acquire the necessary skills, confidence and technique to be very proficient themselves. Interpersonal interactions on the range and in the classroom are his specialty. Curtis has also included specifically training women as he feels very strongly about empowering women to protect themselves and their family.
His instructor credentials include the following certifications:
+ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
+ NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
+ NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
+ Defensive Pistol 1 and Defensive Pistol 2 Instructor
+ Defensive Shotgun 1 and Defensive Shotgun 2 Instructor
+ Defensive Rifle 1 and Defensive Rifle 2 Instructor
Gary Miller
Lead Instructor & Manager
If you ask, Gary will tell you that his shooting career began back when he was an 8 year old. He wanted a BB gun and sold greeting cards door to door to get one. After that, he graduated to a Crossman 22 pellet gun rifle and a Crossman 22 six shooter, blasting toy soldiers in Lincoln Log forts in his basement. Then it was on to the NRA Marksmanship program through Junior High School and High School and College ROTC Rifle Teams.
In the Army he qualified as an Expert with The M-14 and M-16. As a Sergeant in Military Intelligence he also had to qualify with a .38 snub nose revolver, his “TO & E” assigned firearm. While serving in the Military and stationed in Germany, he also started and competed on a Military service rifle team for the 430th Mil. Intel Group.
After the Service he was a regular competitor in Service rifle National Match Course Competitions, and During the 80’s coached Junior Rifle Programs here on Long Island sending his Junior Shooters on to NCAA and Olympic Competitions. Yes you read correctly, Olympic Competitions!
He and his club sponsored and ran Junior Olympic Rifle Championships locally for the various High School Rifle Teams here on Long Island.
After a 20 year Hiatus he returned to the shooting sports and continues to compete in Smallbore (GLISA) and High Power competitions. He is frequent handgun competitor in Precision Handgun and enjoys a new interest in Defensive Pistol shooting.
An Avid handloader, he has been known to say, “I only shoot so I can handload.”
He is a very active Second amendment activist. He is a Benefactor member of the NRA, and a member of the NYSRPA, and SCOPE 2A support groups. He is also one of eleven “Frontlines Activist Leaders” or FAL’s fin New York State the NRA-ILA and your Second Amendment Right.
Gary is also an NRA Life Member.
“Second only to freedom of religion and free speech, the Most Important Freedom we enjoy, is the freedom to enjoy the shooting sports. That being said, only the Second Amendment protects the first two. It’s not about hunting or target shooting, it’s about protecting our loved ones, unknown others, and the America we love.” Gary L. Miller 2/11/19
Certifications:+ NRA Certified Rifle Instructor+ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor+ NRA Certified Range Safety Officer (RSO)