Most important: resume or ability?

[rizzo]

When you are selecting an instructor for shooting/competition/combatives, do you focus more on their resume or do you focus more on their ability to perform the given tasks and teach you how to do that?

I try not to confuse participation with proficiency when I am selecting an instructor for myself or those I care about. There is a lot of silliness out there.

 

[Jack Dupp]

Ability to teach is number one in my book. Some people with amazing talent can't teach and relate to students. And some people with great resumes also suck at teaching and communicating effectively. Some people have neither, but have an awesome ability to instruct.

 

[Tim McBride]

In order of importance to me:
Ability to instruct
Proven proficiency in subject matter
Depth of knowledge

 

[SweetKnuckles]

Ability to instruct IMO far outweighs trainer resume.

Also the breadth of what one teaches (variety of courses) correlates to the quality of the training in my experience.
When one branches out into many different types of firearms, first aid/trauma, and combatives training, it's usually not simply to 'keep busy' but due to demand from a large group of past and potential students

 

[Crippledtrigger]

You don't need seal team 6 skills and resume. What you need is outstanding competence and, maybe more importiant, the communication skills to actually impart that knowledge effectively. Unless you can express it in a way others can learn it then it's useless.

 

[Hansen]

I look for the following areas as already mentioned.

Ability to instruct
Proven proficiency in subject matter
Depth of knowledge
Instructor that speaks to you, NOT above you! AZ is loaded with shitty instructors....

 

[h8pvmnt]

Ability, i don't care how many black ops missions you've been on or what agency's you've worked for. Just that you can teach, explain and communicate.

 

[Flash]

Ability to instruct.

Unfortunately, it's hard to tell unless you take a class yourself and if they don't have the ability you're kind of hosed.

 

[What]

Ability

 

[Berd]

Ability to teach. And that they teach something useful to me.

Does learning small unit tactics and the proper way to do bounding overwatch with my squad sound fun? Hell yeah it does.

Will I ever do that?

Probably not.

Does learning how to deal with one or two committed attackers possibly in or around vehicles sound as fun?

No.

Is it more applicable to me as me as a dude carrying a gun everyday?

You bet your ass.

 

[Razai]

I've never hired anyone without first wanting to interview them.
I've never interviewed anyone without an impressive resume.
I've never hired anyone post-interview unless their in-person skillset felt strong enough.

Not sure how to separate one from the other without firsthand knowledge of the individual.

 

[Shootist]

Depends on the instructor & subject.
Specialty subjects like competition; Ability.
a history of success in the sporting field along with public coaching experience.

Combatives ;
Resume heavy
How long have they been training others?
Who have they trained (reference) and what teaching methods do they use?
Who and where did they learn the material from?

In other words, I don't need an instructor who can presently jump into the Octagon - but he should have the experience of live fights.

Shooting: general or specialized?
There are plenty of SME's out there.
Choose wisely.

 

[rjscolonel]

Ability to instruct which translates into an improving student.

 

[Chumpwagon]

Ability to instruct.

Unfortunately, it's hard to tell unless you take a class yourself and if they don't have the ability you're kind of hosed.

He's right. It can be difficult separating those good at teaching and those good at self promotion. I've been pretty lucky and haven't taken any poor quality classes.

 

[Azbuilder]

I look for the following areas as already mentioned.

Ability to instruct
Proven proficiency in subject matter
Depth of knowledge
Instructor that speaks to you, NOT above you! AZ is loaded with shitty instructors....

Totally agree ! The ability to Communicate is severely lacking among many ........'

 

[till44]

I think it depends on the subject in some regards.

If you're looking for simple marksmanship, then proficiency and ability is more important.

If you're looking at improving your tactics, I think a lot can be said for experience. Obviously they need to be proficient, but a guy with real world experience will trump a guy that may look a little better but has only done it in training.

Of course, neither matter if they can't convey the message.