Boise State University offers a unique opportunity for students to study military history through direct engagement with period weaponry. The “History of Firearms and Tactics” workshop, taught by Professor David Walker, combines classroom instruction with live-fire training at a local gun range, giving undergraduates hands-on experience with weapons spanning centuries of warfare. The course is open to students from any major and provides academic credit through the history department.
For 15 years, Walker has developed the workshop into one of Boise State’s most distinctive history courses. The class meets twice per semester—first for a Saturday morning lecture on campus, followed a week later by a supervised session at a shooting range where students load, aim, and fire the historical weapons they’ve studied. This structure allows students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical understanding of how soldiers actually used these tools in combat.
Course Content and Historical Coverage
The spring 2026 session exposed students to an expansive timeline of military technology. Participants handled and fired a 14th-century hand cannon, muskets spanning the early modern period through the American Civil War, World War II machine guns, and Cold War-era assault rifles. By progressing through these eras, students gain insight into how technological advancement shaped tactics, training, and military organization across generations.
Walker emphasizes that the workshop goes beyond simply firing guns. “We discuss the change in technologies, but also how armies are using the weapons,” he explained. This approach roots the firearms instruction in historical context, helping students understand the relationship between weaponry, military strategy, and institutional evolution.
Origins and Expansion at Boise State
The workshop began in 2011 as a specialized course for ROTC cadets preparing for military service. Over the following years, Walker expanded enrollment to include all interested students, transforming it into a general-education offering that attracts history majors, military science students, and undergraduates seeking a distinctive learning experience. The course is officially listed as HIST 494, with Walker serving as instructor of record.
Since its inception, the workshop has grown from a niche military program to a regular offering that runs once per semester. This expansion reflects Boise State’s commitment to experiential learning and the university’s recognition that hands-on instruction deepens historical understanding in ways traditional lectures cannot replicate.
Safety, Expertise, and Community Partnerships
The workshop maintains rigorous safety protocols under expert supervision. Volunteers from the Idaho Military Museum and the Fort Boise Garrison re-enacting group assist Walker with instruction and safety monitoring during range sessions, ensuring that all students receive proper training before handling any weapons. This partnership with local military and historical organizations strengthens both the educational quality of the course and community ties to Boise State.
Funding for ammunition and range costs comes through a grant from the National Rifle Association, which has recognized the educational value of the workshop. This support allows the university to sustain the program without imposing prohibitive course fees on students.
Understanding Military Institutions Through Historical Engagement
Walker stresses the broader educational significance of the workshop. “It’s important for historians—and people—to see how these military institutions functioned, because that can help you understand how they function today,” he told Boise State. By studying the weapons soldiers carried, the tactics they employed, and the constraints or advantages those tools imposed, students develop critical insight into how militaries organize, train, and adapt to changing circumstances.
For students interested in military history, international relations, technology studies, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of how warfare has evolved, the workshop offers an educational opportunity rarely available at universities. The combination of academic rigor and practical experience creates a learning environment that textbooks alone cannot provide.
How to Enroll
The “History of Firearms and Tactics” workshop is open to all Boise State undergraduates regardless of major. Students interested in registering should contact the history department or search for HIST 494 in the course catalog. The workshop runs once per semester, with registration typically available during standard course-enrollment periods. Prospective students should confirm specific dates and range locations through the university’s course registration system or the history department office.
For more information about hands-on learning opportunities at Boise State, students may also explore the university’s Faculty Mentoring Network for Undergraduate Research, which supports student-directed inquiry across multiple disciplines.