WWW.NJCOPSMAGAZINE.COM ■ DECEMBER 2014
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TRAINING STATION
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What makes a good firearms instructor?
The ability to pass the minimal semi-annual qualification course does not make a good
firearms instructor. Basic firearms and tactical
proficiency is only a small part of being an
instructor. Most importantly, instructors must
know how to effectively convey their expertise
and
Jan Wright to recruitspoorveteran officers, many of whom
have had
skills throughout their careers.
An effective instructor can work with all levels of officers, especially people who do not
seem to care about firearms training.
Unfortunately, some firearms instructors are very good
shooters, but not very good teachers. Teaching officers to pass
their qualification is the bare minimum of what a quality
firearms instructor should be doing. As I have often said, “I
can get my kids to call the line at qualifications.” A quality
instructor needs to be able to improve on officers who are
having issues, and also push good shooters to be better
shooters. A good instructor has to be able to put together
training programs with a limited budget and minimal
resources. Training needs to be relevant, frequent and challenging. This alone can be a challenge for an instructor.
A sign of an excellent instructor is one who can diagnose
problems quickly. There is nothing worse than an officer who
is shooting poorly and is told “just move your shots over
some.” The ability to diagnose the actual cause of an inaccuracy is a skill that can take years to master, and once mastered
can fix a shooting problem very quickly.
A good instructor needs to keep updated not only with current use-of-force policies and procedures, but also with current trends that affect officers. If officers know why they are
doing something, they will likely be more interested in learning a skill. Instructors need to keep current with new equipment.
One of the concerns I have is that instructors at the police
academy are yelling at recruits as they try to pass their qualifications. I have had several recruits who came to me at RTSP
for lessons because they were failing qualifications. Some of
them have told me the instructors “just yell at us.” I asked the
recruits why the instructor was yelling at them and they
expressed to me what they were told: “they need to know ho w
to shoot under stress and pressure.” I understand that officers
need to be able to function under stress, but many of these
recruits haven’t ever been taught how to shoot at all. It would
be like taking a 17 year old and teaching them to drive at the
Indianapolis 500. Effective instructors need to teach with
calmness, confidence and positive motivation. Officers must
learn how to shoot well before they can learn to how shoot
well under high stress situations.
Good instructors know that each officer is a different person. Often instructors teach with a “there’s only one right way
to do it” method, without taking into consideration that the
officer may not do as well that way. I have found that slight
variations to grip, stance, etc. can make a big difference in
outcomes.
A professional instructor is well prepared. There is nothing
worse than officers coming to training or qualifications and
realizing that the instructor is not prepared. Officers will
quickly lose respect for an instructor who is just making up
training as they go along. A lesson plan is needed before the
training begins, not during training.
I have also found that I learned a lot from poor firearms
instructors; I learned exactly what not to do. If you are planning on being a firearms instructor, be the best. Find people
who are excellent instructors and model them. Practice often,
learn new skills, and listen to your students’ fears and concerns. Be a calm, reassuring, professional expert. d
Jan Wright is the Director of Training at RTSP in Randolph, a
retired chief of the Hamburg Police Department with 25
years of service and a retired member of PBA Local 138.