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Old 09-18-2006, 04:35 AM   #2
NoBoxes
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Provided that you are a bonafide Subject Matter Expert in the skills that you wish to teach, you may simply be lacking teaching credentials. While a Masters degree often qualifies one to teach at university level and a Bachelors degree (with coursework in methods of instruction) may qualify one to teach grade school and/or paraprofessionals, there are provisions in the US Armed Forces for specialists in various tradecrafts to become instructor qualified.

For example, as a Senior NCO, I was a US Army Special Forces Medical Instructor credentialed through the Academy of Health Sciences (AHS), Fort Sam Houston, TX, which is the medical proponent for all branches of US Armed Forces. Every AHS instructor, from medic to orthopedic surgeon, is required to go through the AHS Faculty Development Course. The course consists of 2 weeks of didactic training in methods of instruction, followed by 6 months of formal (i.e. evaluated) apprenticeship as an assistant instructor, then another week of didactic training in advanced teaching techniques. Those with advanced degrees and professional licensure are exempt from the apprenticeship phase [as are all Special Forces qualified personnel since that is included in their training (i.e. the Green Berets - Fighters/Teachers)]. I not only taught 6 iterations of 50 students per year at the Special Operations Medical Course [Army Green Berets & Rangers, Navy Seals, and Air Force Para Rescue]; also, I worked in Training and Doctrine where I wrote a training manual and skill qualification test that everyone in my specialty was required to take annually. Additionally, I was designated a Special Operations Medical Subject Matter Expert at large for AHS which entailed teaching the medical aspects of Low Intensity Conflicts to classrooms full of military physicians (from all branches of the Armed Forces; also, the occasional CIA doc) and liaison duties with other major commands (e.g. Training and Doctrine Command & Special Operations Command). Not only did I do the job [Be all that you can be!], I did it well and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for it.

I recommend that you first find out who the proponent is for the skills you wish to teach and contact that organization about becoming instructor qualified. Even though the Coast Guard falls under the Dept. of Homeland Security (DoHS), a Dept. of Defense branch (DoD, e.g. Navy) may be the proponent for those skills. Then find out about the availability of both resident (i.e. active duty) and non-resident (i.e. correspondence) instructor training courses. There may be reciprocity between DoD and DoHS courses of instruction. If the Coast Guard Auxiliary won't spring for resident instructor training, you may be able to eliminate the cost to them by taking non-resident course didactics and having a qualified local instructor supervise your apprenticeship.

Those with advanced formal education have become acquainted with teaching skills as consumers of those skills just as you have become acquainted with your tradecraft skills by practicing your trade. Simply knowing what you are doing is not enough. You have to demonstrate that you know how to teach to the satisfaction of teaching industry standards. This can be accomplished through generalized formal education to a certain level; or, through specialized (adjunctive) training in education (methods of instruction). You can do it; but, you don't have to do it. It's up to you!

PS: All Green Berets are required to be cross-trained in a second specialty. I was cross-trained in Operations and Intelligence (O&I, i.e. Sneaky Pete stuff). I'm not going to do the legwork for you; but, if you come across any stumbling blocks that your Commanding Officer can't resolve, feel free to contact me.

Last edited by NoBoxes; 09-18-2006 at 06:09 AM.
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