Over the next few weeks I’ll be interviewing Tim Sharpee, the course director and primary instructor for our Tactical Commanders Courses. The first thing I asked Tim to talk to us about is how he has the broken down and how he teaches it.
Breakdown of the Tactical Commanders Course – Methodology of Instruction.
This course is best described as a class based on the theory of guided discovery. None of my Tactical Commander’s classes are ever the same. I try to evaluate the political climate, socio-economic environment and crime associated with the location that is hosting this class. Much of the material is then built around these factors, but that’s not all. Once class starts we will dive into the expectations of each student, and has a group quickly identify what’s most important to cover, discuss, research and find a solution for.
Information will be taught through a variety of methods. There will be some lecture, but the majority of the information is taught through group exercises, and case studies. For example, I instruct this course like I would be instructing a new tactic in the field or course of fire on the range. There is the demonstration/introduction phase (lecture). There is the practice phase (group exercises) and finally the competency phase (group project and testing).
Throughout this three day course we will work together to develop an understanding of best tactical practices based on the challenges we all are facing today, and not based on the challenges that we faced 20 years ago.
In the next post, Tim will talk about, “Exercises and experiences: A way to develop best practices in every type of tactical operation.”