Foley-Belsaw And Penn-Foster

[TurnerGOFP]

I am currently trying to enroll in both of these courses but the problem is I'm cheap and don't want to pay for either of them. I'm an active duty Marine and the Marines pay for online schooling but I do not know if this would be covered. Is their any way I could work this to my advantage and get the Marines to pay for these courses? Question is directed to fellow military menbers but all help is appreciated.

[globallockytoo]

I implore you for choosing to fight for our country and support you as a marine, but I have to say that it is distressing and incredibly disappointing to hear that you dont value the trade of locksmithing by investing in education "because you're cheap".

This seems to be the problem with the trade in this country. Many people want to get into it, but they want everything for nothing.

Lesson 1. You get nothing for nothing.

If you are serious then you will invest in your future, because it is more than just a job, it's a passion and a career.

I tell you what - come and work for me - I'll train you - and pay you apprentice wages for 4 years and then you'll leave and set up your own business. But you must commit to 4 years.

[TurnerGOFP]

I implore you for choosing to fight for our country and support you as a marine, but I have to say that it is distressing and incredibly disappointing to hear that you dont value the trade of locksmithing by investing in education "because you're cheap".

This seems to be the problem with the trade in this country. Many people want to get into it, but they want everything for nothing.

Lesson 1. You get nothing for nothing.

If you are serious then you will invest in your future, because it is more than just a job, it's a passion and a career.

I tell you what - come and work for me - I'll train you - and pay you apprentice wages for 4 years and then you'll leave and set up your own business. But you must commit to 4 years.

When I said I was cheap I meant I would like to save money whenever possible. In the past month I have spent at least $500 on Picks/Locks/Practice Aids/Etc. alone so I'm looking to save the money elsewhere. No matter what I am going to take these courses but I would like the Marines to pay for it. If they won't pay for it then I am perfectly fine with paying out of my own pocket. I would love to be your apprentice but I currently live in Camp Pendleton and odds are you live no where even remotely close to that. Also I deploy in 4 months so I couldn't make a commitment to you as an apprentice.

[Eyes_Only]

First time you send away for the Foley-Belsaw information packet the initial cost of the course is somewhere around $1000. But if you're able to drag it out with with them and wait up to 6 months or so they will USUALLY start sending you a couple offers within that 6 month period where they come close to slashing their price in half to get you to enroll. I bet if they still do that you can show the Marines the original price and the eventual lower price (once FB offers that to you) and maybe then they will be more inclined to help with paying for that course.

But hey, I thought the military has their own locksmithing courses that they use to train their soldiers? Or does that depend on what branch of the military you're in?

[tjweaver84]

I have a friend from my old ship who is doing the Penn Foster course. He is using TA to pay for as much as TA will pay for and then paying the excess out of pocket. I am not sure how much the Navy is actually paying for though. I would check with your base college office and see what they say especially since they changed it so you can use the assistance for distance learning not too terribly long ago. I'll also try to get ahold of my buddy and see how much they made him pay out of pocket.

[TurnerGOFP]

I don't know about the other forces but the Marines don't have any locksmith courses. It would be nice if they did though. I've heard of a lot of people getting them down to $600 but that's the lowest. Does anyone know if the Foley-Belsaw course is considered an online course/school?

[globallockytoo]

www.lockquiz.com

[TurnerGOFP]

I have a friend from my old ship who is doing the Penn Foster course. He is using TA to pay for as much as TA will pay for and then paying the excess out of pocket. I am not sure how much the Navy is actually paying for though. I would check with your base college office and see what they say especially since they changed it so you can use the assistance for distance learning not too terribly long ago. I'll also try to get ahold of my buddy and see how much they made him pay out of pocket.

Tjweaver84 - So is it safe to assume your in the navy as well? I appreciate all the help.

Globallockytoo - I went to the site you posted and it redirected me to "Security Technical Institute". Honestly this site looks a little sketchy as far as locksmith courses go. I feel I would learn more from Foley-Belsaw.

[globallockytoo]

what do you mean by sketchy?

FB will give you just the basics and if you ask just about anyone who has done it, they will say that they would have preferred something else as the learning curve afterwards is still pretty high.

STI is designed by locksmith industry stalwarts and many experienced professionals. The syllabus is second to none (except the Aussies, of course) and far better than ALOA or Penn-Foster and FB all put together.

[TurnerGOFP]

what do you mean by sketchy?

FB will give you just the basics and if you ask just about anyone who has done it, they will say that they would have preferred something else as the learning curve afterwards is still pretty high.

STI is designed by locksmith industry stalwarts and many experienced professionals. The syllabus is second to none (except the Aussies, of course) and far better than ALOA or Penn-Foster and FB all put together.

It seems sketchy because the site looks like it was put together in less then an hour. Plus with a normal website you put all your information in a form and it sends them the information but on this one you have to email it to them. Foley-Belsaw is popular so I know it's not sketchy. I also think I should start out with a basic course and work my way up from there.

What course did you first start with?

[unlisted]

what do you mean by sketchy?

FB will give you just the basics and if you ask just about anyone who has done it, they will say that they would have preferred something else as the learning curve afterwards is still pretty high.

STI is designed by locksmith industry stalwarts and many experienced professionals. The syllabus is second to none (except the Aussies, of course) and far better than ALOA or Penn-Foster and FB all put together.

It seems sketchy because the site looks like it was put together in less then an hour. Plus with a normal website you put all your information in a form and it sends them the information but on this one you have to email it to them. Foley-Belsaw is popular so I know it's not sketchy. I also think I should start out with a basic course and work my way up from there.

What course did you first start with?

I think just because something is popular, does not mean it is "good". The "Gap" store is popular, but you won't catch me shopping in there, nor is their products quality. Its just "popular". (that goes for old navy as well!)

IF you asked for suggestions on training, and globallockytoo offered you some information- I would take the advice. I have not once known him to give bad advice to anyone.

And finally, why start off with just the basic, when you can learn lots more, for possibly close to the same cost? In My Opinion, if you are a member here, I would suspect you would not get much out of a "basic" course. (if you have been self learning from the material on this site)

I used to have a website for my business- I started with a simple "online form" for orders, inquiries, etc- and it got flooded with spam, no matter what I did. Changed to email contact only, and actually got more orders done- and no business loss. ( will admit that the website does seem a tad "mickey mouse" that globallockytoo linked you to- not even a contact page? gmail email account...? Hrm) ...


Thats my 2 cents.

[TurnerGOFP]

I think just because something is popular, does not mean it is "good". The "Gap" store is popular, but you won't catch me shopping in there, nor is their products quality. Its just "popular". (that goes for old navy as well!)

IF you asked for suggestions on training, and globallockytoo offered you some information- I would take the advice. I have not once known him to give bad advice to anyone.

And finally, why start off with just the basic, when you can learn lots more, for possibly close to the same cost? In My Opinion, if you are a member here, I would suspect you would not get much out of a "basic" course. (if you have been self learning from the material on this site)

I used to have a website for my business- I started with a simple "online form" for orders, inquiries, etc- and it got flooded with spam, no matter what I did. Changed to email contact only, and actually got more orders done- and no business loss. ( will admit that the website does seem a tad "mickey mouse" that globallockytoo linked you to- not even a contact page? gmail email account...? Hrm) ...


Thats my 2 cents.

I didn't choose Foley-Belsaw because it was popular. I chose it because every single person that I've talked to had only good things to say about it. The reason I want to start off with something basic is because I deploy in 4 months so I only want to join a course that I could finish before then.

[Eyes_Only]

Honestly the Clearstar website looks just as "sketchy" as the link globallockytoo posted. And during my short time working in the industry I've seen lots of "professional" locksmith websites, tools and literature that looked like some amateur hobbyist slapped together quickly but once you start checking them out and use them you wouldn't believe how useful they really are.

[globallockytoo]

I dont think you'll knock over the FB course in 4 months. But of you do, you can also ask for cheat sheets to gain your CRL too.

[TurnerGOFP]

I dont think you'll knock over the FB course in 4 months. But of you do, you can also ask for cheat sheets to gain your CRL too.

If I can't complete a basic course in 4 months then why would I try a more advanced one? All valid tests shouldn't have a cheat sheet. Plus how would using cheat sheets help me become a better locksmith?