NATIONAL SCHOOL PROTECTION FORCE (NSPF)

Goal: Provide vetted, trained, and equipped armed low-profile presence in public and private schools, with little to no impact on existing budgets.

Where the Volunteers Would Be Sourced From: NSPF would be composed of active or prior-service law enforcement and military members. These individuals have already separated themselves from the general populace by deciding to put their lives on the line for our nation or their communities. They have received standardized training through Department of Defense channels or police academies nationwide. While that training may or may not be directly applicable to every situation they could encounter in a school, by default they have far more experience handling stressful scenarios than the average civilian.

Vetting Process: NSPF applicants would have to

1. Show prior service (DoD or law enforcement), with an honorable discharge required.
2. Already be licensed to carry in the community they intend to serve.
3. Pass advanced psychological screening above the standard for local law enforcement officers, ensuring they meet or exceed the bar set for sworn officers in the community they will serve. Testing would include:
   • PTSD Checklist
   • Beck Depression Inventory
   • Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD)
   • Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
   • AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
   • Independent interview
4. Demonstrate firearms proficiency by passing the highest standardized shooting qualification administered in the state where they wish to serve. For most, this would be the state's SWAT or SRT shooting test.
5. Be interviewed by the School Resource Officer (SRO) in the community they will serve, to ensure their personality and temperament are compatible with the school environment. If there is no SRO, the police chief or another designated officer in the department would conduct the interview.

Administration: The program's administration would fall under the SRO or another designated law enforcement officer.

1. The SRO would be responsible for coordinating volunteers to provide the best coverage in the community they serve, given the total hours available.
2. The SRO would designate when and where NSPF members would be assigned. Assignments could include standing watch at schools, attending school field trips, off-site school events, and sporting events.
3. The SRO would be responsible for ensuring each NSPF member meets the annual standards set by the local law enforcement agency. This would include annual firearms qualifications, participation in drills, psychological re-screening if warranted, and any additional training the local law enforcement office might open up to NSPF members.
4. Once an NSPF member is fully accepted into the program and all training is complete, they would be introduced to the specific school administrators in the community they will serve.
5. The SRO would ensure annual background checks are conducted on all NSPF members.

Note: School administrators would have nothing to do with the conduct, administration, or application of this program. If an NSPF member is not the right fit for a school, the school administrator would raise the issue with the SRO. This is a law enforcement tool and should not be politicized by school administrators.

Conduct: The basic scheme of maneuver for the program:

1. NSPF members would notify the SRO in advance of their availability for the month.
2. The SRO would schedule NSPF members to provide coverage at designated locations during the times they are available.
3. NSPF members would check in with the SRO at the start and end of every shift.
4. NSPF members would ensure their firearm is always concealed in a modern holster approved by the local law enforcement agency, just as officers serving in detective or undercover roles do.
5. NSPF members would dress appropriately to blend in with their environment. No tactical-looking gear; keeping a low profile is key.
6. NSPF members would do their best not to develop habits — entering the school in the same location, hanging out in the same places, and so on.

Funding: Who would pay for the training? This is a volunteer force, so each individual would be responsible for the costs associated with screening, training, and refresher training. Outside funding for the program would be acceptable.