Becoming a Trainer

[Wind]

I'm going to chime in here, not because I want to, but because I can!    

I was a trainer in AW for a short time before it's demise.  If you want the whole story of how I became one, ask, but it's too long to post here.  

What I experienced as a trainer (perhaps) answers the following:

Originally posted by BTW
Show me films of a player being taken from newbie to a threat. It doesn't exist.

And you will never see them.  Here's how it works..

A trainer takes someone who (at ANY level--beginning to advanced) wants to learn to get better.  Let's take a beginner, for example.  Pilot 1 takes beginning ACM everyday for a few weeks from several different trainers, because the same trainer isn't available every time he comes in.  Mr./Ms. 1 has been using this useful information in the MA and has become confident enough and (perhaps) is invited/joins a squad.

The squad makes 1 a better pilot because of winging and squad tactics.  Several months/years later, "1" comes back to training because there is a desire to be as good as, or better, than the "perceived best".

"1" is already much better than before, and there is no recordable measure of progress because of the gap in training.  Threre's not really a way around that.  I suppose you could get films from training "1" (who keeps those?) and compare them to current films shot by "1".  That's a tough task, though, considering how many folks go through training..

As for this:

Nobody is going to see you get better than them.

Not true.  I saw trainees in AW who started at the basic ACM level I taught to go on to train with Drano, KGann, and others.  I had a hard time fighting them.

It is actually one of the rewarding things about me being a trainer--seeing a former student come up and kick butt.  I had to re-think some of my flying.  Why?   Because these students were using the same things I was because we were teaching them how we flew.

It's actually funny when you can identify a (former) student in the main arena by the way he/she flies!

Well, good luck!  and when all else fails, have fun!

Wind
--------------
The Damned Air Group
(former) AW Trainer
(former) WWIIOL Head Trainer

[Wind]

Lew,

Can I have Drano's Lavendar pumps back?  I need to get them back to his wife before he realizes she knows they are missing...

W~

[BTW]

>>Nobody is going to see you get better than them.

I'm embarrassed of that line. I'd like to think that was the beer.  Most trainers I've met put up with more bull than anyone should have to. If you've ever worked with the public, you can imagine how trying a trainers job could be. Anyone doing a trainers job for prestige, would quit after the 50th time of explaining how to raise the landing gear or turn on smoke. They do enjoy teaching, I know that, and I don't for a second believe they would hold back in teaching someone something. That was a dumb thing to write - and I'm an expert in writing dumb things.

[stantond]

In my opinion,

And this is just that, persons such as Ted should be given the opportunity to be a trainer on a probation basis.  I know Silat will be a good trainer, because he is addicted to the game and wants others to help feed his addiction!  Seriously, Silat will help any who ask (and has done so on many occasions).  

Perhaps, Ted can work on developing that type of reputation?  Maybe in the MA when another has some question Ted can help them out?  I expect he probably already does this.  I know Silat always has.  

Again with my opinion... being a leader, or a trainer, or a (fill in the blank) starts with the desire to do so.  I don't know why Ted wants to become a trainer, but his desire to become one means he will (most likely) work hard at the role.   Maybe, he really wants to learn AH and realizes the only real way to master a subject is to teach it?

But then, I don't think you need a title to do that. With 10K accounts, 10 trainers is covering the need pretty thin.  Rarely when I go into the TA will I see a trainer (not a criticism, just a comment).  Being in the TA and training people makes you a trainer by default.  It helps to be curtous, kind, cheerful, and friendly.



Regards,

Malta

[Shaky]

As a former member of the AWTA, and a mod on AOL AW, I take exceptio to the idea that AH is SO different that ther is no corellation to training in both games.

Training anything, in essence, is the ability to communicate your knowledge to another. You have to have the ability to recognize what your student needs (its rarely what they're asking for), make the student understand what it is that you can offer him, present this opinion to the student in a way that causes him to trust your judgement while at the same time showing the student that he does have the capability to perform what you ask him to do and MORE (respect your student), communicate the information to the student in such a way that he can not only understand it, but build upon it on his own.

All this leaves the student with a good learning experience that he feels was a valuable use of his time, and causes him to want to return for more training with you or another instructor.

Training is not a place for egos, rather is neccesitates a squashing of the trainers ego while building up the students ego in a non-patronizing way (nothing sucks more than false praise).

it also requires a sense of humor, both the ability to laugh at yourself, and to PRIVATELY find humor in the student. Without that humor, frustration and condensation enter rapidly, resulting in another burned out trainer just going through the motions. A trainer must also remember that he can learn from his students, if not how to play the game, at least how to regain the happy glee of someone trying something new for them Nothing is more dangerous than a trainer who thinks he has nothing left to learn.


Salute to all the trainers! I may be seeing some of you soon...I need help .

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Wind
I'm going to chime in here, not because I want to, but because I can!    

I was a trainer in AW for a short time before it's demise.  If you want the whole story of how I became one, ask, but it's too long to post here.  

I belive it involved the Witness Protection program.  Problem was, once they saw him fly no one would believe he was a trainer.  


"1" is already much better than before, and there is no recordable measure of progress because of the gap in training.  Threre's not really a way around that.  I suppose you could get films from training "1" (who keeps those?) and compare them to current films shot by "1".  That's a tough task, though, considering how many folks go through training..

Wind, I STILL have training videos from AW on my old hard drive.    Matter of fact, I still have some squad night videos with you in them.  I'da used them for blackmail, but people here can recognize a dweeb too.  

As for this:

Not true.  I saw trainees in AW who started at the basic ACM level I taught to go on to train with Drano, KGann, and others.  I had a hard time fighting them.  

It is actually one of the rewarding things about me being a trainer--seeing a former student come up and kick butt.  I had to re-think some of my flying.  Why?   Because these students were using the same things I was because we were teaching them how we flew.

It's actually funny when you can identify a (former) student in the main arena by the way he/she flies!

You can always tell the one's Wind trained.  They fly upside down with the smoke on and their gear out.  They HO people (because really, do you think they are ever gonna get a 6 shot flyin like that?) and often fly C-47s.  Someone has to bring the sheep and the beer when you take a base!  Wind always made sure we had cold kegs and warm sheep for the party.  

Well, good luck!  and when all else fails, have fun!

Wind
--------------
The Damned Air Group
(former) AW Trainer
(former) WWIIOL Head Trainer

<> bud

[daMIG]

Salute to all the trainers including Silat, Ren, Ghosth.... and to all those who have taken time to help, when they did not have to. The strongest dynamic in Aces High is the community of great people in here.

<>
daMIG  

p.s. WTG HiTech at pushing the envelope as well!

[Ghosth]

BTW, its ok, no offence taken here.

But  I can quite easily prove its not true.

 
The List of students who have suprassed their trainer is a LONG one.

I can say however that ever now & then someone comes along. Probably happens to have perfect reflexes, and a photographic memory.

When it happens, its magic, its also rare.
I think Ammo went from newbie to killing machine in less than  6 months. he was one of the better p-47 pilots AH has ever seen.

He also worked at it very very hard. Couple hours a day of flying, another hour reading shaw, or plane data.
That sort of dedication adds up.

[humble]

From my personal experience as a trainer I can tell you I got more than a few tire tracks up my back. At the same time I dont think I met more then a handful of guys I didnt help in some way.

Now back then the TA really did triple duty as a TA/FFA/DA (yes we had some problems)....but truthfully I felt then (and do now) that it was an ideal enviornment.

I'd work with guys who would then go FFA or take a run at one of the "big guns" {DMF (levi), citabria (fester) Jase Nash and a host of others....then come back and work some more. Or they'd tag along as an observer and watch me get stomped on (most of the time) by the above mentioned or FFA for a bit.

When things were slow DMF Jase or Nash (among others) would take me out to the woodshed...but I actually felt in some small way that I even contributed something back some of the time.

IMO a good trainer doesnt need to be the "best" pilot (although he needs to be pretty good)...he needs to be able to help the "student" get the most out of his ability.

After all, I bet Tiger gives Butch Harmon more then a couple strokes a side:).....

[BTW]

I've worked with the public in other areas of my life (hehe believe it or not ) and you couldn't pay me to do with you guys do.
Again that was a dumb, way out thing I wrote. I shoulda ended that message one line sooner:rolleyes:

[Silat]

Originally posted by Wind
Lew,

Can I have Drano's Lavendar pumps back?  I need to get them back to his wife before he realizes she knows they are missing...

W~

Im feeling a slight BREEZE in here.

[TequilaChaser]

Originally posted by Shaky
As a former member of the AWTA, and a mod on AOL AW, I take exceptio to the idea that AH is SO different that ther is no corellation to training in both games.

Training anything, in essence, is the ability to communicate your knowledge to another. You have to have the ability to recognize what your student needs (its rarely what they're asking for), make the student understand what it is that you can offer him, present this opinion to the student in a way that causes him to trust your judgement while at the same time showing the student that he does have the capability to perform what you ask him to do and MORE (respect your student), communicate the information to the student in such a way that he can not only understand it, but build upon it on his own.

All this leaves the student with a good learning experience that he feels was a valuable use of his time, and causes him to want to return for more training with you or another instructor.

Training is not a place for egos, rather is neccesitates a squashing of the trainers ego while building up the students ego in a non-patronizing way (nothing sucks more than false praise).

it also requires a sense of humor, both the ability to laugh at yourself, and to PRIVATELY find humor in the student. Without that humor, frustration and condensation enter rapidly, resulting in another burned out trainer just going through the motions. A trainer must also remember that he can learn from his students, if not how to play the game, at least how to regain the happy glee of someone trying something new for them Nothing is more dangerous than a trainer who thinks he has nothing left to learn.


Salute to all the trainers! I may be seeing some of you soon...I need help .

GREAT POST / THOUGHTS  

[Angry Samoan]

what shaky said

[Shane]

i waited long enough to chime in here...

you can train people without having to be a formal part of the "Trainer Corps"


honestly, your opening remarks gave the impression you merely wanted the bwanas for booting people - that's a fringe benefit, not a goal unto itself.

so feel free to continue training people on your own, start your own "training corps" for that matter, even if it doesn't involve any formal recognition by HTC. Just tell poepl to make sure they click that credit thingy (that still exists, right?) and you can earn your freebie account so to speak by hustling for bidness.

do it better than the existing corps and who knows... darwin, free market and all that.

my dos pesos.

[Silat]

Originally posted by Shane

do it better than the existing corps and who knows... darwin, free market and all that.

my dos pesos.

Darwin???
Dont you know that the new science is Intelligent Design:)