http://www.tridentconcepts.com/varsity-versus-junior-varsity/
I have observed over the years so much chest beating in the community, but few who can step up to the plate and perform better than their peers… Students who I believe need to be challenged are put to task during classes to facilitate growth and improvement. Many times, we all need that push to get us to the next level.
NEXT LEVEL TRAINING
Those who have trained with us are well aware of our performance standards. We are the only organization within this industry who first off collects metrics on performance and second holds students accountable to standards. I find it mind boggling we are the only ones and while some have their own system the integrity of our standards has not been compromised nor will it on my watch. It is the key why so many hard shooters continue to train with us, they can be evaluated versus observable, measurable and repeatable standards. Once we see a student reach a certain level, usually passing in the high 90% the next step is to lay the gauntlet at their feet.DO WORK
You see, most who train with us have no idea the scoring conditions they must meet are our junior varsity standards.
I didn’t realize Jeff Gonzales/Trident Concepts was the only organization measuring shooting performance objectively and comparing the results. Would’ve sworn others have been doing this already and for some time, but I guess I was wrong.
Firearm User Network 
Dec 23, 2016 @ 10:02:01
Gunsite had graduation testing and standards – going back to probably the late 70s. The Rogers school is widely recognized as being the hardest handgun school to earn an Advanced rating in. Paul Howe’s school, Tom Givens’ school, Massad Ayoob’s school, my own school just to name a few that have been in the private sector training business longer than he has – many within the industry have standards and graduation tests required to earn certificates. His statement that his is the only school with standards is either deliberate misinformation as marketing (likely given his new position as director of training for the gunctry club about to open in Austin), or his lack of knowledge about the history and programs at the major schools within the industry. Had he been attending the annual Rangemaster Tactical Conference (as many within the industry do), he could have attended the talk I gave a few years ago not only listing the standards to which major school hold their students, but comparing the relative difficulty of those tests, using the standards USPSA uses for the 100% classifier scores as the yardstick.
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Dec 23, 2016 @ 10:04:17
So it would seem Mr. Gonzales might have exaggerated his “the only organization in the industry” claim. :-)
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Dec 23, 2016 @ 10:10:53
Requiring students to pass a test to earn a certificate in a shooting course is nothing new and certainly not unique to his program. Gunsite and the Rogers school give students ratings based on their scores. The Rogers “Advanced” rating requires shooting about 90% of IPSC GM to earn. Many, many others who have been in the training industry longer than he has have graduation standards: Tom Givens, Massad Ayoob, Paul Howe, me, just to name a few. The claim is either deliberately deceptive marketing (trying to create differences between his program and others), or an indicator that he’s not really familiar with the history or the programs beyond his own. Had he been attending the annual Rangemaster Tactical Conference (attended by instructors from most of the top tier training companies), he could have heard the talk I gave a few years ago not only presenting graduation standards from multiple schools, but comparing them against each other and the metrics used to set the 100% classifier scores for USPSA (which define the skill level required to be a competitive GM).
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Dec 26, 2016 @ 10:27:38
Regardless of the claim’s accuracy, I think the important point is training to a an established standard is a foundational component of any program that claims to produce quality performers. Stating that students will automatically be better because of attendance at their school and the associated huge round-counts these schools incorporate is questionable at best. You need to have a measurable performance objective, conditions the objective must be performed in, and the formal performance criteria need to meet the standard pre-established. Anything less is fluff and an example of everyone gets a trophy mentality.
While I’ve never attended A Trident Concepts training course, I believe his training methods and standards meet the conditions I’ve described. I base this on my readings of his material and what I’ve discovered during my own personal research for better training methods.
As always, good post John. Keep em honest.
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Dec 26, 2016 @ 10:30:04
Great points! I applaud Jeff Gonzales for establishing such standards, of course. Just found it odd he thought he was the only organization doing so.
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