What keeps you from seeking out, or attending, training? POLL

[hank2165]

I think the cost of the tuition vs the quality of instruction is right on for me. I've been selective and trained with the same folks multiple times. DeFoor with 3 different organizations, USTC, and TS.
Ammo cost is to me part of the tuition in a sense. It's a fixed cost generally speaking. The round counts are closely on par with the course descriptions.

It's the gas, food, lodging that sucks. A two day course in VA requires a total of 4 days. I have over the last 4 years developed some freindships with guys I've trained with and now we can share some of these expenses.
I just save as I can and then plan selectively. Only way to do it.

[Preliator]

For me the big deal is the cost of travel, most other places in the country you can jump in your POV and drive a couple of hours to get to a decent training course if you so desire, maybe pay for a hotel, or maybe bunk up in your car/truck/creepy van. Eat PB&J and drink tap water from the bathroom of a nearby 7/11.

Coming from AK is a little bit different. gotta fly or have a TON of extra time to drive the 3600 miles to Seattle and then on to your final destination.

If we had more local courses (there is one local guy I would pay for courses) I would be happy to spend the several hundred dollars on tuition and ammo because those are directly impacting my skills as a shooter. But the travel part really kills it for me, its just a mean to an end.

[tamabrand]

Getting my vacation time lined up with dates for classes nearby is the main issue (weeks are bid by seniority, if anything I'm junior). I don't mind driving a few hours, and I can budget for the tuition/ammo/gas/lodging. Secondary reason would be I'd like to shoot on the move before hitting a class just to get a feel for it.

I'd actually like to go with a few buddies of mine but they'd rather buy car parts and play weekend fast and furious racer (decals are +5hp, and when you change your oil use RoyalPurple and shake it before pouring it in, another +10hp right there!)

[DeltaSierra]

For me the main thing is fear of the unknown.

I cannot stand crowds of people, and hate crowds of unknown people...

I also have issues with the way that many instructors treat students.

I don't like being treated in a way that makes me feel inferior, just because I truly don't know the "best" way to do one thing or another...

[ZombieDefenseHQ]

Time away from work for me. Even though I have a nice work schedule working in nuclear power... they can force you to work overtime which has always screwed something up in my free time. I would hate to drop some money on a class and then end up at work for the day.

[adh]

I said cost of travel, but it's more of a cost of travel/time issue for me. Closest training that I can attend is in Houston (when available). Gotta take time off work to just get there, then pay for a hotel/motel, gas, meals, etc. none that terribly expensive compared to the cost of a class and ammo, but it all adds up and pretty quickly too. Something local would be ideal but training classes in the San Antonio area are few and far between. 4 hour drive to Houston from my home outside San Antonio.

[rob_s]

I don't like being treated in a way that makes me feel inferior, just because I truly don't know the "best" way to do one thing or another...

FWIW, I've never seen an instructor treat a student badly for being ignorant. Stupid maybe, but never ignorant.

After about the third or fourth time a student put himself in harm's way, I recall Pat Rogers asking him "did your mother ever have any kids that lived?"

[DemonRat]

I had a hard time with this poll as it could have been all of them as a hole except the one that said "I don't need anymore training". I can always use more training.But I narrowed it down to the cost of tuition for me. I can handle sleeping in my car or even a tent to be able to go to a class. I was mad at myself on not seeing the Magpul Dynamics at Douglas Ridge. I know where that place is and well I guess I can wait till next year. Gives me time to save money for the class and to stock up on ammo. I know a few people in that area so finding a place to sleep shouldn't be to hard. So far I got my Douglas Ridge jar with 200 bucks in it and I have 1500 rounds already from just buying it in bulk a few times. I still have to shoot cause I know I am going to be the one that's not the greatest shot there. I know I will be going to those classes next year.

[товарищ]

It's a combination of time constraints, lack of funds and not having a kit that I'm comfortable with. Hopefully I'll have myself in order by next summer.

[itsturtle]

For me it is mostly the coat of the class, followed by cost of ammo, and then travel costs. I purchased my gear when I was doing decent financially, then hit a rough patch. I try to go buy a box or two of rounds every few weeks, but at this rate I won't have a decent stockpile for a while. I have a small car and enjoy roadtrips, so as long as a class is on a weekend, travel is not as big a burden.

Hopefully I'll pull out of this rough patch and can take another class soon. But for now, keeping my car, job, and feeding myself are at priority.