Would you have a problem being trained by me?

[Sean Smith]

Prove you are better and people who aren't idiots will shut up and listen. It has worked for me.

Don't brag or be arrogant, just deliver the goods.

 

[fix]

Age does not automatically equal wisdom.

 

[Harold Mayo]

Make sure that you're competent. That'll give you the confidence and bearing that you need.

Make sure you're professional and courteous.

Those things should make all the difference.

I would still have a problem with learning advanced skills from a guy that young but I've also had a bunch of training from the older "been there, done that" crowd so my perceptions are skewed. Still yet, I would avoid recounting stories or trying to make yourself appear to be something that you aren't unless and until you have some stories of your own to tell (assuming that you are a LEO or military or some profession that puts you at risk sufficiently to give you stories).

 

[J Jones]

If you can demonstrate you know what you are doing, I don't see why you couldn't teach a class.

 

[ysr_racer]

Sorry, but if you're in your early 20's HOW much experience can you have? I'd say not much.

 

[duckfoot]

Gun safety, CC and shooting basics, yes, no problems with a younger fella teaching the wife (me? too old too foot weary). Defensive pistol, rifle, or shotgun, I think that some one with more miles on 'em and more road wise would be the person I'd go to.

 

[Glacius_the_Invincible]

I'm also in my early 20's so my opinion may not mean much. However, I have been a student in school, the martial arts, firearms classes, first aid classes, and various other types of training for 15, or so, of those 21 years. So I have at least some experience being taught.

I see a lot of people writing about skill being the most important prerequisite to being an effective teacher. I'm not sure I entirely agree with that. While having the skills you are trying to teach is very important, I don't think it's important to be the best they've ever seen. You can know how to teach something and how to get a point across very well and therefore be a very good teacher, but maybe not have the experience to be the best at it yet. Olympic track coaches probably can't run the 200m in 20 seconds like the athletes can, but they are very good at watching the athletes and telling them how to improve.

I think if you're a good teacher, have the knowledge you need to teach the class, and you work hard to help every student learn what you are teaching as best they can, then there is no reason why anyone should have a problem with taking your class.

 

[NRA Instructor]

I would suggest that you print out the reply from fastbolt and keep it with your course book. He has hit the X ring with this response. In fact, I think all Instructors should also print it out.
Age itself will not be a factor unless you let it become one.
There are good instructors, excellent instructors, and a few that are marginal and only our students know the difference. But age is not the deciding factor.
I also agree that from each course we learn something new, or should.
This is from an OLD NRA Instructor who is still learning.

 

[wingman]

Know your stuff and treat everyone with respect, as an oldtimer it took me
a lot longer then 20 something to figure this out.

 

[Jack19]

just wanted to see if anyone would have a problem being trained by someone of my age.

It depends on two things.

One. What it is you intend to teach? If it's just basic firearms handling and safety.....maybe. If you're planning to teach classes beyond that, probably not.

Two. Again depending on what you're teaching. Before signing up I'd wonder what, practically, you're bring to the table that I couldn't get from another instuctor who also has years of experience. If you're 22 and ex-Delta or SEAL, I respect everything you can tell me....although I'd wonder why at that age you were out. If you're 22 and have simply been to a bunch of classes, odds are I'd keep looking for the caliber of instruction provided by instructors at Gunsite, Thunder Ranch and the like.

There are all sorts of levels of instuction. And, you may have answered your own question. Fill a niche that's untapped. Younger, qualified, people teaching younger unqualified people. Might be an excellent idea.

It's not so much the age, as the experience. Excellent places to get that....police departments, SWAT teams, and, depending oh what you do there, the military.

Don't forget your liability insurance.