Being a Good Student: Selecting and attending training

[Mick-Boy]

Someone posted something on another forum that sparked an idea for a thread. With his permission I’ve taken his post, cannibalized it, and expanded a few areas with additional thoughts. I’d like to address some things that make a good student and see what you gentlemen have to add.


Most of us have attended training of some kind. Whether it is as a member of the military, an LEO, or a civilian there are some things we can do to maximize our time and money when we’re seeking firearms training.

Before Training:

1) Start by figuring out what you need to work on. - Most people, myself included, like to spend time on the things we do well. Take a hard look at what your needs are and where you’re weak. Seek training in that area. Working on what you’re good at may make you feel cool but it won’t make you better.

2) Do your research. - Find out as much information about the class and the individual teaching it as you can. Identify what, in their background, gives them expertise in what they are teaching. Look up their websites, forums they frequent, social media sites, and read AAR's from their classes. They are by far the best information source out there.

3) Prepare your gear. – Look at the gear list and make sure your stuff is squared away. This should be common sense but I’ll say it anyway. Fresh batteries, loaded mags, a zeroed and lubed rifle, etc. are all things that can and should be set up before Training Day 1 so that you aren’t detracting from training.

At Training:

1) Pay attention. – Again, I feel like this should be self-explanatory, but I’ve been in training environments where students (who paid to be there) are grab-assing. Stow that noise and listen to the instructor. You sought them out to get their perspective. Listen to it.

2) Ask the question. – If you don’t understand something, stick your paw in the air and ask. If you didn’t get it there’s probably someone else missing the info as well.

3) Execute the drills. – There are no keys to the kingdom. Try new ways to solve a problem. That’s what you’re there for. If you like your old way better, switch back after class. Debating the merits of something like the high ready vs. the low ready takes away from everyone’s training time. If there is something tactically or technically wrong with what is being taught, handle it off line and let the instructor make an adjustment. If there is a safety issue, sound off. The life you save may be your own.

4) Be respectful. - Not just to the instructor but to the other students as well. You never know who you're on the line next to. Quiet professionals often tend to be just that. A piece of advice I received from a salty individual I used to work with was to treat every class like a job interview.

5) Don't be a loner. - Classes are a great place to network and meet like minded folks. I think I've picked up about as much sitting around listening to BS sessions at classes as I have from formal instruction. You get some seasoned pros sitting around with guns and gear and there will be an amazing amount of knowledge dropped.

After Training:

1) Conduct and write out an AAR / Hotwash. - This is where we get our monies worth out of the class. Ruthlessly examine your performance. Identify areas for improvement and figure out how to train them. We're not going to be a rockstar at every class. Sometimes you're going to dick the dog. That's OK. That's how we learn. We should strive to maximize the learning value of these mistakes and also pass on the lessons learned. Many of us that seek out this training serve in a high risk profession. We should not endanger ourselves further having to relearn something that someone else paid for in blood.




I've had the opportunity in my life to work with and spent time around some genuinely hard dudes. Guys that have killed more people than cancer and look like an African dictator in their dress uniform.

One of the things that these men have taught me is that ego detracts from learning. Cruising into a room with a chip on your shoulder and trying to compare dick size with every type A personality in the joint is a sure way to be branded an asshole and probable way to land a pretty good beating at some point. Most of the guys with real experience don't have much left to prove.

If the instructor can't handle people asking questions, go somewhere else.

If the instructor spends all their time talking about how badass they are, go somewhere else.

If the instructor claims to have the way as opposed to a way, go somewhere else.

At the end of the day, there are no keys to the kingdom. There are little pieces to the puzzle and multiple ways to solve most problems.

Sites like M4C and Lightfighter have pretty good areas with AARs from classes and that can be a good place to start looking.

[cmailliard]

Very nice, Mick. Many nails hit on the head with this.

As an instructor it is nice when participants are engaged, paying attention, and asking questions. In my own courses when students pay it is very rarely an issue. When I teach for the college or other places where participants are forced into training by their company it is more of a problem. I am doing a HazMat refresher today for a governmental agency here in Denver and it is like pulling teeth to get questions or any sense of enthusiasm out of the participants.

As a participant I always show the instructor the respect I would want. I am glad you spoke about instructors with ego's. I hate these type of instructors. I already know I have a little dick so can we just move on to the training, mmmm kay, thanks.

[stoner01]

Two things I will add.
1. Do not let frustrations travel down leash. Yes it is a K9 adage but it is something I always take to training. If you have issues that are affecting you negatively, excuse yourself. Sit a relay out. Take 5 minutes and clear your head. Going into training with a poor mindset detracts from that training not only for you, but for those around you.
2. Try to always end on a positive note. It can do wonders.

[Mick-Boy]

1. Do not let frustrations travel down leash. Yes it is a K9 adage but it is something I always take to training. If you have issues that are affecting you negatively, excuse yourself. Sit a relay out. Take 5 minutes and clear your head. Going into training with a poor mindset detracts from that training not only for you, but for those around you.

That is a terrific point and one we (I) often forget is an option. Especially when I'm a paying student.

A few years ago dan512 and I were at a classup in MT. T-day 5 rolled around and my wheels just came off. I was shooting like shit, my manipulations were inefficient and a couple of hardware problems popped up (piston on my LWRC broke, flashlight with fresh batteries died). I was freaking pissed. I even made the comment after one evolution that if I was at the range at home I'd just pack it in and train another day instead of throwing good ammo after bad. Yet it never occurred to me to pull myself off the line except to fix the hardware problems... It was definitely a personal take-away from that class.

[MarkCO]

Excellent, especially:

If the instructor can't handle people asking questions, go somewhere else.

If the instructor spends all their time talking about how badass they are, go somewhere else.

If the instructor claims to have the way as opposed to a way, go somewhere else.

At the end of the day, there are no keys to the kingdom. There are little pieces to the puzzle and multiple ways to solve most problems.

A few things to add...take notes and when you do your AAR, go through them and type them out. This helps reinforce them and gets rid of the short hand. The next day or so, distill the notes down to 3 or 4 areas to focus on. I put a one page sheet on my safe and a shortened version in my e-notes on the cell. This helps you keep focused on the skills/drills you need to work on. If you have any questions going through this, contact the instructor and get support.

Break out those skills/drills you need to work on into areas that must be worked on at the range and those that can be worked on off the range and schedule time to turn the weaknesses into strengths.

[<MADDOG>]

Good post Mick, thanks!

[KestrelBike]

This is an awesome thread. Thanks all for your input!

[CHA-LEE]

I have something to add. Its good to let students know that everyone has a limited amount of focused attention span and if you dedicate too much of your attention to any one single thing most of everything else will start to suffer. I like to use the following analogy "Everyone has about $10 worth of attention span to spend on getting things done. If you spend $8 of attention span on trying to do something new or different, then that only leaves $2 to get everything else done which is not enough so something else will suffer while trying something new". Its good to set this expectation up front so the students don't get frustrated with other skills degrading as they try something new or different.

[SuperiorDG]

Two things I've picked up and it ties in with OP.

1) I have enough mags loaded for the day's training and a few extras for those drills that require certain numbers of rounds. Having these mags allows me to hydrate, snack, and walk around and look at everybody's setup and talk to them or just listen in on other conversations. Also not being rushed is a big help with my learning.

2) I use both electronic ear pro and surefire ear plugs, at the same time. I can still hear the instructions, but at the end of the day I feel fresher for some reason.

[JohnTRourke]

Things I"ve learned that nobody seems to do at training classes.

BRING BACKUPS. I KNOW you have more than one gun, bring a spare. If it goes down (and you learned something), just go get the other one and keep going. Mags, ammo, sights, whatever, bring spares.
Bring Water. dehydration wipes out more people than most anything (instructors, ring in here).
You're paying for the program (whatever it is), DO THE PROGRAM. (you alluded to this in the OP). Try it their way, learn the new way. Maybe it's better, maybe it's not, but it's another tool in the toolbox.

You can pay tuition with instruction fees or you can pay tuition in ammo and time, but you are going to pay tuition.