First Responder Instructor Certification Training Course

[Paladin]

#1

[Paladin]

I have a feeling a lot more instructors want the training than they have room for.

[Tex1961]

I have a feeling a lot more instructors want the training than they have room for.

Yeah, just by the number of correction emails it’s obvious they didn’t plan this one out very well. At least 400 rounds of ammo isn’t going to break the bank anymore.

[AF-Odin]

Yes, I responded with a yes, keep me on the list at 1720hrs this afternoon after I got home from teaching a class. Hope they have us on the waitlist in the order in which we responded to the initial invite rather than the confirmation today.

As for them not thinking this out, it is almost what did you expect.

I would guess that not all instructors are going to want the expense of going to Florence for three days for a course that will have limited applicability. There are approximately 4,000 instructors in Texas, but how many are actively teaching on a regular basis. Currently, at the place I teach, only 2 of the 4 active instructors are applying, one already in the first class and me on the wait list. Other two are not interested.

Even if only 25% of the total instructors apply, it would take about a year with a class every month to get them all through.

[Tex1961]

Yes, I responded with a yes, keep me on the list at 1720hrs this afternoon after I got home from teaching a class. Hope they have us on the waitlist in the order in which we responded to the initial invite rather than the confirmation today.

As for them not thinking this out, it is almost what did you expect.

I would guess that not all instructors are going to want the expense of going to Florence for three days for a course that wilhave limited applicability. There are approximately 4,000 instructors in Texas, but how many are actively teaching on a regular basis. Currently, at the place I teach, only 2 of the 4 active instructors are applying, one already in the first class and me on the wait list. Other two are not interested.

Even if only 25% of the total instructors apply, it would take about a year with a class every month to get them all through.

Honestly I’m more interested in the free professional training than anything. Even if nothing comes of First Responder classes the course will give me the bones to teach more advanced techniques to LTC students. Win win in my book.

[AF-Odin]

Concur with the training.

Also, my math was way off, at 12 students per class and if they only do one class per month, best case is 144 students in a year so would take about 7 years to get through 1/4 of all the instructors.

[extremist]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

[Tex1961]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

Well yeah. Getting training from DPS instructors at the academy in low light, running and shooting and firing from cover. I would call that professional training. Well for me anyway.

[Mike S]

Hope they have us on the waitlist in the order in which we responded to the initial invite rather than the confirmation today.

I understood today's email to say we'd be on the wait list in the order of applications received, not the order of responding to today's email.

[Paladin]

Yes, I responded with a yes, keep me on the list at 1720hrs this afternoon after I got home from teaching a class. Hope they have us on the waitlist in the order in which we responded to the initial invite rather than the confirmation today.

As for them not thinking this out, it is almost what did you expect.

I would guess that not all instructors are going to want the expense of going to Florence for three days for a course that wilhave limited applicability. There are approximately 4,000 instructors in Texas, but how many are actively teaching on a regular basis. Currently, at the place I teach, only 2 of the 4 active instructors are applying, one already in the first class and me on the wait list. Other two are not interested.

Even if only 25% of the total instructors apply, it would take about a year with a class every month to get them all through.

Honestly I’m more interested in the free professional training than anything. Even if nothing comes of First Responder classes the course will give me the bones to teach more advanced techniques to LTC students. Win win in my book.

Agreed. As an instructor I believe in continuing education to make sure that my courses are state of the art. This is a win win.

[extremist]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

Well yeah. Getting training from DPS instructors at the academy in low light, running and shooting and firing from cover. I would call that professional training. Well for me anyway.

Well okay then.

[Tex1961]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

Well yeah. Getting training from DPS instructors at the academy in low light, running and shooting and firing from cover. I would call that professional training. Well for me anyway.

Well okay then.

Trying to figure out why my snark detector keeps going off... I can't tell if your just being funny or trying to either insult DPS or us instructors that would like more training than we have already....

[Paladin]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

Well yeah. Getting training from DPS instructors at the academy in low light, running and shooting and firing from cover. I would call that professional training. Well for me anyway.

Well okay then.

Not everybody trains to SOCOM or USPSA Grandmaster levels. Honestly I'm excited when students take the opportunity to get holster training, which is vital for all those that carry a handgun.

[troglodyte]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

My interactions with the DPS officers, the staff at Florence, and the facilities have been nothing but professional. One thing I appreciated, and didn't expect, was when we were at the Florence facility we were treated with respect and dignity. Everyone I interacted spoke and treated me as an equal, not like some "civilian" there for a three day course. The training, at least thus far, has not been a "Gunsite" experience but it has been respectful to the nature of the course we were being trained in. They are not going to train us to be a SWAT team instructor but that doesn't make the training any less "professional".

It also adds to the credentials. Most people don't know who Tom Givens is or what Gunsite is or what IDPA even stands for. They do know the DPS. I see that as a plus...along with the training.

[extremist]

What is this "free professional training" being spoken of?

Curious. From DPS?

My interactions with the DPS officers, the staff at Florence, and the facilities have been nothing but professional. One thing I appreciated, and didn't expect, was when we were at the Florence facility we were treated with respect and dignity. Everyone I interacted spoke and treated me as an equal, not like some "civilian" there for a three day course. The training, at least thus far, has not been a "Gunsite" experience but it has been respectful to the nature of the course we were being trained in. They are not going to train us to be a SWAT team instructor but that doesn't make the training any less "professional".

It also adds to the credentials. Most people don't know who Tom Givens is or what Gunsite is or what IDPA even stands for. They do know the DPS. I see that as a plus...along with the training.

I'm certainly not disparaging DPS's professionalism, I just think "Getting training from DPS instructors at the academy in low light, running and shooting and firing from cover" is a stretch considering all of the "real" professional training for this from Gunsite, Front Site, Thunder Ranch, Suarez International and many others. I will be very interested in hearing how it goes. And I do know who Tom Givens is