Citizen Firearm Training Contractor Selected

Firearms training for Borough residents will likely begin in September. Phalanx Academy, L-L-C, is the selected contractor for the training. Proposed by Borough District 7 Assemblymember Ron Bernier, funding for the training is a response to the lack of Alaska State Trooper presence in the Upper Valley.

Four firms responded to the requests for proposals, according to Mat-Su Borough Purchasing Director Russ Krafft. Three are located in Alaska and one in Texas. Phalanx Academy is located in Anchorage. The company will  provide firearms training to about 300 Mat-Su Borough residents.

Phalanx is responsible for handling registrations, all training materials, obtaining classroom space, and live fire training spaces. Though locations have not yet been finalized, they likely will be held at three locations in the Borough.

The Upper Susitna Valley classroom training will likely be held at Sheep Creek Lodge in Willow. Live fire training will be at Upper Susitna Shooters Association. The Northern Regional Training Center in Wasilla and Matanuska Valley Sportsmen Shooting Range in Palmer are the other locations for both classroom and live fire training. Class sizes will be limited to about 20 residents.

Classes are expected to run through June 30, 2025. Phalanx will handle online registrations and the waitlist. Training is expected to begin in September.