Unlike any other subject, teaching dangerous or even lethal force carries a responsibility like no other topic. In addition, students in these courses could be called on to use the information provided within hours. This is a serious dose of reality and a reminder that lives can be at stake. For those who have been in this field a very long time, another more challenging component arises: training those who will teach. The most difficult task is training the trainer.

Training the Trainer – The Future of Firearms Training

Teaching can appear to be an easy gig. You just stand there and tell people how to do things. While this is an oversimplification of the attitude, it is essentially true. Few will see the methodology used to pass on this critical information relatively quickly. Mastering this methodology is crucial to teaching instructors how to teach. Those who attend an instructor’s course are proficient in the skills that will be taught. The task of the master trainer at this point is to teach them how to teach. While the core of this section could fill an encyclopedia, there are certain areas we can focus on, known as the three “P’s.”

The Three “P’s”

Presentation of the given material must follow a logical and methodical path. Skills and principles should build on each other successively until the student has been exposed to multiple layers of information. A great way of putting it: Make the pieces of information bite-sized so they are easily taken in.

Professionalism has become a cliché in much of life but is a cornerstone to building solid instructors. Unless it is a military course, boot camp is over. Yelling and screaming accomplish nothing other than boosting your ego. Treating new trainers as professionals is the best way to develop a solid product. Be firm and consistent, and establish a strong rapport with students.

Performance is the final part of this trifecta. As a professional instructor, you should be able to do anything you ask your students to do cold. This means that, without any warm-up, you should be able to walk to the line and perfectly execute whatever you are teaching. This is a standard that I hold myself to, as does every other serious professional in the training business.

Stay Current

The refinement of technique and philosophy should be at the forefront of every instructor’s mind. Times change, weapons improve, and society evolves. In many cases, what was excellent information 20 years ago can now be antiquated. Ensuring you are teaching future instructors the most current and relevant information is vital. To do that, you must continue to train yourself. We must park our egos and put our “student hats” on as much as possible. Seek out training from a variety of respected instructors around the country. While there are many big names on this list, do not be quick to dismiss smaller instructors who quietly provide world-class training. These instructors will often be much more current on related techniques and tactics.

The skills in this realm are perishable and must be maintained. Even beyond taking part in other courses, master instructors need to practice their teaching craft. Once again, we will examine one of the “P” principles: performance. This does not happen magically. It can only be managed through serious training and repetition. Holding yourself to a high standard will put you in elite company and make you a strong role model for students in your classes.

Training the Trainer Methodologies

There are many schools of thought on teaching methodologies. Regardless of the style, it is essential to provide the students with feedback. If your students are professionals, to begin with, you will rarely gain any ground with them by being demeaning and loud. These people have already been through their basics and should be treated as such. As you work the class through drills, you must provide students with feedback on their performance and how it rates compared to what you require.

Make corrections and keep them on track for success. Be quick to praise and slow to punish. The mistake you just saw a student make may have been the only one they made up to that point, but you happened to witness it. If it becomes a pattern, make corrections. Students undeniably respond better to positive contact than negative. Do not confuse this with coddling students, which is equally destructive and builds a false sense of confidence. But, in simple terms, let them know when they are doing it right. Set high expectations and show the students how to meet those expectations.

Organization is Critical

You must be serious about your actions when you run a training course. Having set beginning and end times and lunch breaks is essential to building a sense of professionalism in the class. Once again, you are setting the standards that many of these students will emulate. Being late to class, having extended lunches, or running late is unacceptable. I consistently live by the phrase: “If you are five minutes early, then you are ten minutes late.” Instructors need to be in the class long before the first student arrives. This sets a good example and allows the instructor time to prepare for the class. It is also a beneficial time to get your head in the game. While some will just “wing it,” you will be better served by reviewing the curriculum and revisiting your game plan to cover it.

One of the greatest assets any instructor can have is their teacher. Take time to follow up with your students. More importantly, make yourself available for questions after your students enter the training field. You can be an exceptional resource for them when dealing with challenging students and situations. By offering this assistance, you once again put yourself at a level of professionalism that can be rare today. More importantly, you could help an instructor teach a student who may have never succeeded without you.

Training the Trainer

What you say as an instructor matters. While you may think it is an off-the-cuff remark, people will remember it—the standards that instructors are held to are much higher than anyone, and rightly so. The consequences of poor instruction can cost someone their life. Be thoughtful and humble about your techniques. Always remember that a student might be called on to fight for their life with your training. This should never be forgotten. Ultimately, you have a hand in creating a new set of instructors who will approach teaching with the same enthusiasm and passion as you—a passion for excellence and a commitment to help everyone get home safely at the end of their shift.

For more information, visit: https://www.gunsite.com/