Being a good student

[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 what makes 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) Figure 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 the AAR's. 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.

After the Class:

1) Conduct and write an AAR / Hotwash. Ruthlessly examine your performance for weaknesses. Mistakes are how we learn. We should strive to maximize the learning value of these mistakes and pass on the lessons learned. Many of us that seek 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.

[Batteriesnare]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

[dan512]

I agree with what's been said. I have to say during the training just listening and being willing to learn is key. Just because you've done something a certain way for a while doesn't mean there isn't a better or more efficient way.
However, I think something that has helped me tremendously is reading AAR's. I like having a feel for who a trainer is and what they are about before handing over money. There are a number of folks I have bypassed based on AAR's. I feel like that is something we could improve on this forum, we owe it to each other.

[Irving]

I wish you had posted this before last week. I really could have used some of this mind set reminder for a non-firearms related training I had to do last week.

[MarkCO]

Great post Mick

[Mick-Boy]

I wish you had posted this before last week. I really could have used some of this mind set reminder for a non-firearms related training I had to do last week.

Sorry Irving. The muse strikes when the muse strikes. 99% of the time I've got nothing to say worth hearing so when an idea pops into my head I try to get it down.

A couple of other points have been brought to mind.

At training:

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.

[YammyMonkey]

From what I've seen the biggest problem a lot of people have is honesty. Honesty about the problem, honesty about what they're most likely to face, honesty about their own skill level, honesty about the usefulness of their training, etc.

Even a guy like Mick-Boy, who slings up a rifle in a foreign land for a living, has to come home and deal with the same criminal threat that your local Wal-Mart checker has to deal with. He doesn't really have the luxury of paying for entertrainment.

Think about that before you sign up for your next class. If you can run a carbine like it's part of your body or shoot .15 splits on a Bill Drill, but can't patch up a bullet hole, you are wrong. Never been physically, emotionally and psychologically crushed by a hard dude with a Sims gun and a FIST helmet? Fix that. Learn the hard lessons when it's just your ego on the line, and not your life. Running around in the wilderness playing infidelinsurgentsnipersneakyman can wait.

[Mick-Boy]

Learn the hard lessons when it's just your ego on the line, and not your life.

There's a threads worth of awesome in that sentence.