Designated Reserves of the State () is a militia-style training program provided to civilian firearm owners under auspices of the Government of the Czech Republic. The program provides practical shooting training to participants in different levels, focused on individual defensive gun use, soft targets protection, defense against active attacker, and use of firearm during state of emergency. Members of the Designated Reserve may be called up with their private firearms as reinforcement of emergency services, and, apart from the basic level participants, receive free ammunition (or reimbursement thereof) for their shooting training., page 231-237.
Legal basis
Along with the 2021 Firearms Act Amendment, the Parliament passed also an Act No. 14/2021 Coll., on the handling of weapons in certain cases affecting the internal order or security of the Czech Republic. The Act's number 14/21 symbolically refers to the 600th anniversary of civilian firearms possession in the country. The legislation establishes "a system of firearms training, the purpose of which is to improve the knowledge, abilities and skills of persons authorised to handle firearms for the purpose of ensuring internal order or the security of the Czech Republic".Act No. 14/2021 Coll., Art. 4(1)
Details regarding the Designated Reserve and system of firearms training are dealt with in Government Regulation No. 255/2021. Within the system, private companies approved by the authorities provide advanced shooting training to firearm owners that have expanded (concealed carry) type of authorization.Act No. 14/2021 Coll., Art. 10 After passing a set of requirements and taking an oath, the participants become part of the Designated Reserve of the State, whereby they may be called up with their private firearms to support the work of police or armed forces in a crisis event. While the law anticipates founding of firearms training for both internal security as well as defense, as of 2023 only the former was in place.
Training under auspices of Ministry of Interior Firearms training for purposes of internal security consists of three general and one additional level. The training is provided by specifically licensed private companies and conducted under auspices of the Ministry of Interior. Participants become members of the designated reserve after accomplishing all Level 1 requirements, including oath taking.
For Level 2 and higher, the ammunition cost is reimbursed by the GovernmentRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 19(1). and selected parts of the training may be conducted by mutual combat with use of simunition.Regulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 10(3).
LevelMain focusExtentContent 1 General defensive gun use 8 hours theoreticalRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 5. Law, deescalation, tactics, practicalities of concealed carry, analysis of real DGU situations, first aid 8 hours practicalRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 6. 250 rds of ammunitionPistol or rifleShooting from various positions, on move, from concealment, firearm failures, etc. Shooting testRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 14. A stage similar to IPSC Taking oathRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 16(1). I pledge allegiance to the Czech Republic. - I promise that as a citizen and patriot I will respect the principles of the democratic rule of law and will selflessly perform the tasks that will be imposed on me as a member of the Designated Reserves of the State. - I promise to act responsibly, courageously and modestly in the performance of the tasks of the Designated Reserves of the State and in civic life. - If necessary, I will resolutely endure the discomfort and dangers involved. - I promise to always exemplify the principles of safe handling of weapons." Designated reserve 2 Soft targets protection and defense against active killerRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 7. 8 hours theoretical Best practices, safe handling in public spaces, aftermath, analysis of real cases, first aid in mass casualty incident, proper response to discovery of explosives, etc. 8 hours practical Pistol, 150 rounds, up to 50 meters.Complex decision making situations, moving and disappearing targets, one-handed shooting, transitioning between pistol and rifle, etc. 8 hours practical Rifle, 150 rounds, up to 100 meters.Similar as pistol above. 3 State of EmergencyRegulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 8. 8 hours theoretical Law, tasks of state services and private individuals, command and coordination, civil defense, use of body armor and CBRN equipment, first aid in state of emergency situations 12 hours practical Pistol, 300 rounds, up to 50 meters, in body armor 12 hours practical Rifle, 300 rounds, up to 300 meters, in body armor 4 Individual training Members of the Designated Reserve shall each receive 500 rounds (or reimbursement of 500 rounds) annually which they are bound to use for individual training.Regulation No. 255/2021 Coll., Art. 19(2).
Training under auspices of Ministry of Defense The legislation anticipates establishment of courses for internal security under auspices of the Ministry of Interior, and for state defense purposes under auspices of Ministry of Defense. As of 2026, only the former has been established.
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