The Best Way to Spend a Training Dollar
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The Best Way to Spend a Training Dollar
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By Richard Crays, Lead Firearms Instructor, Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy
Late in 2010, Mike Boyle with the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI) identified a disturbing trend occurring with the training of firearms instructors... they weren't getting sent to out of state training, and in some cases, no advanced training at all. The problem was, as is with many industries and government agencies, money.
The cost to send officers out of state has forced many agencies to suspend all training other than in-service, inter-agency programs. Of those agencies surveyed here in Wyoming, this held true as there were few who can afford the per diem and air-travel associated with out of state training. This puts officers in a dangerous position of getting rusty, complacent or out of date.
Mike Boyle, a retired Captain with the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, proposed an innovative idea, 'if they can't come to the training, we should take the training to them'. This training has taken the form of the Master Instructor Development course.
Beginning in 2011, IALEFI worked with host agencies to bring the best instructors in each area of law enforcement firearms together for a more cost-effective means of keeping all the firearms instructors in the United States informed on the most current teaching methods, tools and techniques. Charging a minimum amount per course ($225 for both 2011 and 2012) per student, IALEFI uses that money to cover transportation and expenses for the three guest instructors. The three guest instructors provide the training without honorarium or reimbursement and are often working 'on loan' from their parent agency, or working 'pro bono', all in an effort to make sure every instructor has what she or he needs to get their people up to the 'survival speed'.
Wyoming was very fortunate in that we were the third agency to host this Master Instructor Development (MID) course in July of 2011. The course was taught by Mike Boyle, Bill Garland, and John Krupa. With a combined 75 plus years of experience, those three trainers provided insight, techniques and practical exercises that enriched the 17 firearms instructors who attended. The sharing of knowledge and information, both ways, made it a great opportunity for everyone. The interest has pushed the Academy to bring the MID course back again this year from August 6 to 8, 2012.
As part of this program, this author was afforded the opportunity to go as a guest trainer to Escondido, CA for the MID January 4th to the 6th this year. Attended by instructors from California, Colorado and Idaho, Virginia and Washington, the three days spent in unseasonably warm 88 degree weather offered much more than sweat, a sunburn and several hundred rounds of spent brass. Representing all variety of agencies (municipal, county and federal agencies), the instructors interviewed at the end of the intense 3 days all expressed success in learning, improvement and education.
Instructing the patrol carbine session, I made the focus on "teaching" the advanced skills currently offered in WLEA's Advanced Firearms course and in cost-effective training related to decision-making, movement and binocular sight pictures. Also discussed in this session was differentiation in teaching. The course work included coach/student sessions, gear assessment, diagnosing the student and shooting drills designed to aid in the diagnosis of shooter problems. As one might expect, they had to shoot in order to be able to diagnose each other, which is clear in the cache of photographs included here.
Bill Garland, retired Assistant Director of the Oregon Public Safety Academy, served as the Chief Firearms Instructor at that institution for many years, and that was evident when he taught the 8 hour handgun session. Bill set up a fast-paced training session that fostered a true 'learning environment' and evoked a free and multifaceted exchange among all students on the best way to 'coach the prospective gunfighter'. With the free-flowing exchange of ideas, it was hard to catch all the good stuff. Good thing Bill has an email!
Rounding out the three days of training was Mike's low-light courses of fire and the concealed carry portion of the training. We all know that not enough time is spent training officers for the 'shot in the dark' encounter, and Mike brought that point home with several great anecdotes and current statistics. Mike then promptly took everyone outside and had them shooting with flashing lights, ambient light and even off muzzle flash. Later, Mike combined that with demonstrations and drills on drawing from seated positions, from under a vest or sweatshirt and working multiple threats. By the end of the session, the students seemed close to being overwhelmed with information.
As a whole, and as I mentioned earlier, the consensus was that everyone took something away, and most took a lot. And to be certain, it was a lot for the money and that is probably going to be the name of the game for the foreseeable future. More training for less money isn’t an option we want to see, but one we will have to make work.
What did I take away from this training?
1. One size does NOT fit all. When we are coaching a student, looking at their learning style, physical make-up and equipment should be the first thing we do, and we should do it well. We are not teaching recruits at Boot Camp with government surplus equipment, we are teaching civilians to be gunfighters with a wide range of gear designed specifically for the peace officer. Explore differentiation, alternate approaches and keep a ledger of what works and what doesn't... you will be using it again!
2. Firearms Instructors, regardless what state they are from, want to be better teachers and have answers for all their students. The effort I saw put forth there is consistent with what I see during every Instructor Re-Certification course we have here. Our success will be measured by other's survival.
3. As a whole, we are still not teaching enough about movement and gear familiarization. If we, as instructors, are struggling with our gear, what is that 18 month officer doing? We need to demonstrate perfectly, as that is behavior that they are going to model.
4. Escondido is a lot warmer than Douglas in January, but they have way too many people per square mile to be comfortable.
5. And a quotable pearl of wisdom; "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning." Benjamin Franklin (via Ken Hardesty)
For more information on the Master Instructor Development program, go to www.ialefi.com/IALEFI/training/Master
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Photos courtesy of Ken Hardesty, San Jose Police Department, Mike Boyle, IALEFI and the author.
Richard is a 31 year veteran of law enforcement and currently a staff instructor, and lead firearms instructor for WLEA.