Editing Paintball Training Institute (section)

== History ==

=== Establishment ===

PTI was founded by [[Worr Game Products]] founder [[Bud Orr]], Bob McGuire of the [[American Paintball League]] and John Henry, formerly associated with ''[[Paintball 2 Xtremes]]''.[2]

A 1999 WARPIG interview with Orr discussed his involvement in PTI and his willingness to teach technicians to repair equipment made by manufacturers competing with Worr Game Products. PTI was therefore operating by 1999, although its precise formation date has not been established.[2]

The organisation emerged during a period in which increasingly complex semiautomatic and electronic markers, high-pressure air systems and commercial paintball fields created demand for specialist technical and safety training.

=== March 2000 course ===

From 4 to 8 March 2000, PTI conducted a certification programme at the Worr Game Products facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. The programme was documented by Raymond Gong in ''Action Pursuit Games''.[1]

The course initially included 18 students from California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. Attendance increased to 23 for the advanced airsmith section.[1]

Instruction and support were provided by personnel including:

* Bud Orr of Worr Game Products;
* Bob McGuire of the American Paintball League;
* Kevin Polk of Worr Game Products;
* Cole Krebs of Krebs Paintball Store and Godessen Paintball; and
* Tim Arnold of The Alternative Sport in Blountville, Tennessee.[1]

Jeri McGuire managed registration and prepared the course materials.[1]

The programme included the C1 Basic Air Technician, C2 Advanced Air Technician, C3 Player Safety Instructor and C5 Advanced Airsmith courses. The C1, C2 and C3 courses were prerequisites for the advanced airsmith programme.[1]

=== Technical instruction ===

The opening portion of the March 2000 programme addressed:

* workshop tools and threaded fasteners;
* barrel theory;
* blow-forward, blowback and closed-bolt operating systems;
* paintball-marker design;
* fault diagnosis;
* carbon dioxide and high-pressure air systems;
* pressure-vessel construction and inspection;
* compressed-gas filling equipment; and
* relevant United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Transportation requirements.[1]

Students received instruction in visually inspecting compressed-gas cylinders, identifying damage to fibre-wrapped tanks and understanding cylinder-test periods. Practical work included removing and installing tank valves and burst discs, fitting anti-siphon systems and operating carbon-dioxide and compressed-air fill stations.[1]

The course also addressed workshop safety. Students used eye and hearing protection and were warned about hazards from machinery, long hair, loose clothing and jewellery.[1]

=== Advanced airsmith course ===

The C5 Advanced Airsmith course occupied the final three days of the March 2000 programme. Each student received a toolbox containing workshop tools and parts used during the practical sessions.[1]

Exercises included drilling and tapping metal, installing thread-repair inserts, disassembling markers, inspecting components, diagnosing deliberately introduced faults and reassembling the equipment into working condition.[1]

Manufacturer representatives and technicians supplied instruction and equipment. Companies represented included:

* [[Worr Game Products]];
* [[Kingman International]];
* [[Indian Creek Designs]];
* [[Brass Eagle]];
* [[Airgun Designs]]; and
* [[Tippmann Pneumatics]].[1]

Markers used during instruction included the Autococker, Tippmann Model 98, Brass Eagle Rainmaker, Raptor and Stingray, Indian Creek Bushmaster and Desert Fox, Kingman Spyder models, and Airgun Designs Automag, Minimag and RT.[1]

Students who completed the programme received certificates from participating manufacturers. Airgun Designs issued a PTI-trained certificate rather than a manufacturer factory-training certificate.[1]