I was getting to my last rope today on my equipment phase. I'm on month 3 of a 6 month equipment phase. Death by power point is an understatement. I think a big problem with our friend power point is that we treat it like an over head projector of which you don't need to flip slides. Most people don't have the knowledge, computer skills, or time necessary to make a power point lecture interesting and to the point (ultimately keeping you awake to absorb the skills).
My academics were as well organized as can be expected from ram rodding info in a short period of time. We had very well trained university quality Instructors and it was run for the most part by civi's and done well. Now on the military run equipment phase there are many not easily solved issues.
ie. Prep time for instructors, resourses for instructors, money $$$, and maybe the most important the will/motivation of the training system to change the way it works.
We train people the same way we did in the 80's and 90's from what I can tell. OHP's out and PPT and DVD lesson plans in. All the same crap just different media. We are still shown video from the 1960's which were taken from Real to Real put on VHS and now on DVD!
For our system a MS/PO is posted in. He receives a lesson plan that has never been complete or accurate (not for lack of trying). He is give minimum amount of time meterial and training aids (not for lack of requests) to try and make it functional. Teaches the material once maybe twice, finds all his own faults and then before he can change it, he is posted back to sea. The cycle starts all over again with a new PO and new courses getting sub standart training. If the lesson plan is ever sorted out a new QSP decides to change everything. I've been through a QL3, QL4 and now on QL5 and nothing has changed.
The biggest thing that should be realized with the training system is that wether you can admit it to your selves or not
most people with more than 15 years in are already dinosaurs with regards to teaching and keeping the attention of the new generation. The kids who go into the recruiting centers now at 17, 18 and even early 20's are the video game generation. In some cases they have been in contact with a PC since before they could walk. They live in an environment were they can go on google and find info on anything from 100000 different perspectives. How could any of these people be expected to learn from our system without frustration. Ultimately they (the smart motivated ones we want to retain) will seek other employment and release to an incredibly competitive modern work force. Even one person who gets this frustrated could be poison to a small course of people who could begin to think the same way.
To change any of this the military needs to maintain a pool of skilled and competent personnel to maintain its equipment and trade specific training system. 2 years at this point will not turn the tide you need these people for three or more years and a complete revolution in the way we teach people needs to occur.
If anyone reading this is in a postion to make changes to the system I hope my criticism is helpful and is not seen as disrespectful.
Thanks for letting me vent