Monthly Archives: June 2014

“Instructor” Courses

2014 Training Calendar

JULY 28- AUGUST 1 – Carbine/Subgun Instructor – Yakima
AUGUST 25-29, PISTOL INSTRUCTOR, Kent WA
Sept. 22-26, Basic SWAT School, Spokane WA
Oct. 20-21, Ballistic Shield User, Spokane WA
Nov 3-5, Tactical Carbine/SubGun, Union Gap, WA
Nov 6 & 7, Tactical Pistol, Union Gap, WA
Dec 1-3, SWAT Team Leader, Richland, WA.

I have been teaching a Subgun/Carbine Instructor course for a long time. I initially started the course because there was a lack of these courses for the MP5’s that were prevalent in the 90’s and early 2000’s. My team transitioned to AUTO Colt Commando’s in the late 90’s and there was very little for instructor courses on the AUTO 5.56 guns. As time went on, the AUTO subguns and carbines started to disappear, so I kept the course going for SEMI carbines. I have taught the course from it’s inception with a SEMI gun, I would borrow students AUTO guns for demos. Just a little history there.

Recently I was asked why I don’t teach a pistol instructor course. I started to build a pistol course several years ago because several Oregon agencies wanted it. The class ended up not going forward so it got put on hold. For the current inquiry, I started thinking about how an instructor course should be set up. This was timely since guys on my team have also been having the conversation with me. My experience with instructor courses are thus; you go through a user course to learn the guys doctrine, then you do a teachback, then you get the sheet of paper. A sprinkling of lesson plan development, adult learning, etc. Indeed my subgun/carbine course is set up just like that. But is this the best way?

I dont think so. As a result I am revamping the carbine/subgun class and the pistol instructor course that I will be teaching soon. (Dates above) In lieu of that, I am structuring the courses more in line with what most police instructors do at their agencies. They teach/coach individuals, not large classes. In addition, the focus is always on the “problem” shooter, but what about the slightly above average shooter? What are we doing as an industry to improve that guy? He wants more knowledge, more time on the gun, he will do some things on his own; but we never get to him because we are stuck with “keep pressing” as if that solves everything. Documentation is huge, and once we wear the mantle of instructor, you automatically become risk managers for the organization. Last, I have been involved with my agencies firearms program for over 20 years, as a coach, instructor, training officer and now as the supervisor of the unit. I have learned more than a few lessons on boss relations to meet the end goal; get better equipment and more training for the officers in my agency. I think it’s important to pass on those lessons as best I can.

So, the courses will not look like anything you’ve ever attended before. These first two will likely be improved upon as I get student feedback and time teaching. I am confident that they will produce a better end product than other courses. More than anything I hope to pass on that instructorship, like team selection, is a never ending process. You are never done learning, you don’t have all the answers and you are required to continue to improve your craft. Because in the end, it’s not about you.

And we will shoot. I have developed the “Jill Drill” in honor of Mrs. Tap-Rack. Fail not, at your peril.

“You’re confusing”

2014 Training Calendar

JULY 28- AUGUST 1 – Carbine/Subgun Instructor – Yakima
AUGUST 25-29, PISTOL INSTRUCTOR, Kent WA
Sept. 22-26, Basic SWAT School, Spokane WA
Oct. 20-21, Ballistic Shield User, Spokane WA
Nov 3-5, Tactical Carbine/SubGun, Union Gap, WA
Nov 6 & 7, Tactical Pistol, Union Gap, WA
Dec 1-3, SWAT Team Leader, Richland, WA.

On the list above, please take note that the Carbine/Subgun Instructor course in Yakima has been updated with dates. In addition, I will be doing a pistol instructor course in Kent, August 25-29. The course is only one week and the tuition will be $600 per person.

This blog tells me how many days it has been since my last post and it shows 55 days. During the last two months I have done a few classes, open enrollment and closed courses. I leave to day for a closed course. I had a really hard time with one of those classes. The course itself is one that I have taught many times, I know the material very well, I have received positive feedback from students on many occasions, and being as subjective as I can about it I think it is an excellent program.

For some reason this one class seemed to struggle. Not everyone, but some of the guys. I preach in the instructor courses that I teach that if the student is getting it, it’s your fault. You’re delivery of the material, the order it is presented, the means to deliver (Tell, Show, Do) is lacking or isn’t working. On those occasions you have to modifiy/adapt/re-work what you’re doing on a nightly basis. Figure out how to touch each student so that they get the most out of the class. If need be, start back at the beginning. I tried this during this class on several occasions, and at the end one student in particular told me “You are the most confusing person I have ever listened to”.

Now I gotta tell you that this comment is not normal for me. In fact the opposite is true as far as feedback from students is concerned. I have certainly had some classes sruggle more than others, and without some students pick things up faster than others. But confusing?! The comment stung me and it made me wonder where I had gone wrong. I re-evalauted what I had taught and how I had presented the material. Did I change something without realizing it? I asked other students on the side if they were confused to determine if this was a class wide issue or just this guy?

Some people would say that just becasue he was confused doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m confusing. He might get confused trying to figure out which shoe goes on which foot. He might be out of his element regarding the tactics being taught, meaning he might need more time than others or his brain might not be wired to do this kind of work. Even though he might think it is. It could also be that I failed as an instructor. It is easy to blame the student, but the reality is that I was unable to get this guy straight in the time allotted. Due to his honest feedback, I have changed the method with which I will deliver the material in future courses, hopefully making it easier for everyone to understand and apply. I have to check my ego, even though I dont like it. I beleive that is the hallmark of a great instructor, and goddamnit I want to be considered a great instructor. 

Last point is that I was also told the critiques after each run with role players were “too hard”. After much consideration, I intend to continue pointing out major mistakes. If there are a lot of mistakes, then I will tell you. I will never go easy and hand everyone a blue ribbon. I dont waste time pointing out every little thing you did right, that is the expectation. I will tell you everything you did or didn’t do that could cost someone their life. If that costs me future students, then so be it. I would recommend that you read the paragraph above this one, check your ego, and recognize that when your performance doesn’t match your impression of yourself, you re-group, re-think, and re-apply yourself to the task at hand. Maybe it’s you? Either way, dont come to my classes expecting to get a pat on the ass every time you walk through a house without falling down. It’s simply not going to happen.  

As always, I apologize for typos.