Interview With Youth Industry Leader, Chet Alvord, Of Tactical Solutions
Story and photographs by Eric M. Saperstein
Youth shooting in America is flourishing; it’s a sport where the young can compete with seniors, and families can engage in an atmosphere of recreation and competitive spirit unlike that of any other venue. This is where physical attributes take a second chair to skill and attitude. Youth are not only the future of the shooting sports, they are the future of our nation. Kids today will gain the American right to vote in a timeframe that can seem like moments from now.
When we discuss kids, many jump in and shout “Let them just be kids!” We couldn’t agree more! Let them be kids, but there’s absolutely everything right about creating an experience that is fun, educational and develops them for success in life. I had the opportunity to engage with a man at the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits who is, let’s say, handling some logistics behind the front lines of the youth shooting movement. His name is Chet Alvord, vice president of marketing at Tactical Solutions, a Boise, Idaho-based firearms manufacturer specializing in perfecting the .22-caliber rifle and pistol for competition shooting.
When we met, I was introducing a young lady named Shyanne Roberts, an up-and-coming competitive shooter who was simply melting with interest when she got the chance to check out the TacSol lineup. Chet quickly engaged her and took a commanding role in the conversation; I was (humorously) brushed aside, giving Shy her first opportunity to negotiate on her own. I smiled and gave her a quick pep talk as I patted her on the back and walked away; I knew he didn’t stand a chance!
You can read the interview with Chet Alvord here!