The Project Appleseed™ Instructor
Part teacher. Part storyteller.
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ecoming a Project Appleseed instructor isn’t easy, but it does offer its own unique set of rewards. After all, shooting instruction is only part of the job. The other part is being able to reconnect students with the people and events that helped shape our country, along with the ideals we all hope to preserve from that time.
To become instructor eligible for Project Appleseed, a shooter must attend at least two Appleseeds and achieve a score of 210 or better on the Appleseed Qualification Test (AQT) while shooting from multiple positions. If it’s determined that a potential candidate has the skills and temperament to become an Appleseed instructor, he or she may receive the “orange hat” of an Instructor-in-Training. Then the fun really begins.
Project Appleseed is only as good as its instructors. For that reason, it takes a lot for an individual to earn the coveted instructor’s “Red Hat.” As everyone who attends an Appleseed event quickly learns, the training and hands-on experience of Appleseed instructors result in an experience and level of excellence that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Instructor Boot Camp
An Instructor Boot Camp (IBC) concentrates on teaching instructors and potential instructors how to teach at an Appleseed. The emphasis is on how to teach — not how to shoot. Each student at an IBC should already know the fundamentals of how to shoot. If you’re interested in a fast track to instructor status, think about attending one of our upcoming IBCs.
Instructor Training Requirements for Project Appleseed
- Pass a series of five written, oral and hands-on tests.
- Mastery of RWVA Instructor Manual and other training materials.
- Understudy other instructors at a minimum of five Appleseeds.
- Perform selected teaching duties under the supervision of a full instructor including telling the three-part history of the events of April 19, 1775.
- Mastery of Appleseed’s safety protocols including running a safe line.
- Demonstrating an exact knowledge of Appleseed’s instructional method, including the proper positions, steady hold factors, natural point of aim, rifleman’s cadence, and the six steps of firing a shot.