Ketchikan, Alaska – Charley McAnally, a retired law‑enforcement officer with more than three decades of service, is broadening his online training program to reach individuals, agencies and remote communities across the state. McAnally founded McAnally Training and Consulting, a Ketchikan‑based company that delivers courses via telephone, tablet or computer, eliminating the need for costly travel.
Roots in Selawik drive a mission of self‑reliance
Although he now lives in Ketchikan, McAnally’s connection to rural Alaska runs deep. He grew up in Selawik and still maintains a family cabin near the river where his father’s ashes were scattered. Two of his children are NANA shareholders, reinforcing his family’s ties to the Northwest Arctic.
“Being raised in Selawik taught me the importance of community, responsibility, self‑reliance, and helping people when help is needed,” McAnally said. “Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career and are part of the reason I want this training to reach rural Alaska.”
Comprehensive curriculum built on real‑world experience
McAnally’s public‑service résumé includes law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, search and rescue, military medicine, industrial safety and instruction. He served as a Village Public Safety Officer, field training officer, methods‑of‑instruction trainer and public‑safety instructor. In the Army National Guard he was an advanced combat medic and spent roughly three years in Iraq training the country’s first police dive team.
Back home, he volunteered as a public‑safety diver on the Selawik and Kobuk Rivers, participating in body‑recovery missions that gave him first‑hand insight into the challenges faced by responders in remote, harsh environments.
Courses designed for Alaska’s unique conditions
“Public safety in rural Alaska is different,” McAnally explained. “Responders may work with limited equipment, long transportation delays, extreme weather, and very few available personnel. Training needs to recognize those realities and provide information people can actually use.”
The company offers courses covering law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, emergency management, hazardous‑materials handling, search and rescue, leadership, report writing, instructor development, policy creation, grant writing and community preparedness. Courses are offered at basic, intermediate and advanced levels, with new modules added continuously.
Flexible enrollment for agencies and individuals
McAnally Training and Consulting provides bulk enrollment and agency licensing options for tribal governments, municipalities, public‑safety departments, nonprofits, businesses and other employers seeking training for multiple participants. One highlighted program is a Grant Writer Certification Course that teaches participants how to identify funding opportunities, craft strong proposals, organize supporting materials, build realistic budgets and manage grants effectively.
When a funding program permits, organizations may include training expenses in grant proposals, though eligibility must be confirmed with the specific funding agency.
Personal oversight ensures quality
McAnally personally reviews all examinations and issues certificates to successful graduates, maintaining direct involvement to ensure accountability and a clear connection between students and the instructor who developed the material.
Supporting Alaska’s self‑reliant spirit
By delivering practical instruction online, the program allows participants to study from their own communities without the expense and disruption of travel. This is especially vital for rural agencies that must keep essential services running while staff attend training.
“Many people in Alaska already carry enormous responsibilities,” McAnally said. “They may be responding to emergencies, supervising employees, writing reports, developing policies, seeking grant funding, or helping keep their communities prepared. I want to give them useful tools that respect their time and experience.”
McAnally Training and Consulting aims to introduce its platform statewide, reaching tribal governments, municipalities, public‑safety organizations, emergency responders, nonprofit groups, private employers and individual professionals throughout Alaska. For current course listings, visit McAnallyTraining.com.
Original reporting: Must Read Alaska (Anchorage) — read the source article.
