09/17/2026
3 of the 5 attendees for the the class are your very own Pizza Penguins! And one instructor (who was also being graded on his instructing) is a fellow Pizza Penguin. Needless to say- the Pizza Penguins do it right and there are great things to come from them!
This past weekend, 10 commanders from Pen Florida, Georgia, and West Florida gathered at Camp Wilderness to become Certified Trainers and Instructor Trainers. We took a few minutes to gather their thoughts about the event and their growth journey…
· Tim Lastinger, OP 283 and Section 4 Coordinator
· David Oros, OP 322 and District NSSP Staff
· Chris Massey, OP 215 and District Training Coordinator
· Grant Harper, OP 169, Expedition Rangers Commander
Guys, I have a few questions to help us debrief and help others realize the importance of constant growth. I know the instructors helped me hone my skills. Let’s start with why you spent a day away from your family this Saturday to attend the Training Academy?
Grant - I haven’t been happy with most of the RR training I’ve been to. So instead of continuing to complain about how bad the training is, I decided to join to help resolve the problems I was seeing.
David - I want to be certified to instruct new leaders, and we need men who are passionate about Royal Rangers to teach with that passion. Also to be eligible to teach shooting sports at NRMC etc.
Chris - I attended the Training Academy to become a better Royal Rangers leader and be better equipped to serve the boys and leaders in my outpost. I also wanted to learn from experienced Royal Rangers leaders and gain a better understanding of how to effectively train and develop others.
Tim - I attended because there is a need for more qualified trainers and I can’t complain about the lack of trainers if I don’t also work toward solving the problem.
Those are all great reasons, and each of you have both similar and varying reasons. Next, what did you walk away with that you didn’t have when you arrived on Friday?
David - a certificate… and a respect for leadership to know they share the passion for Royal Rangers that I have. Some of my training courses have been boring, old guys talking about the old days.
Chris - I walked away with a better understanding of how to teach, lead, and communicate effectively with other adults. More importantly, I left with a greater appreciation for the responsibility we have as leaders to continually develop ourselves so we can better develop the next generation.
Tim - a certificate and more friendship connections.
Grant - I learned more about what it’s like to teach adults instead of boys.
Looking at the potential leaders across the Royal Rangers program, why do you wish other RR leaders would attend these kinds of events?
Tim - we need more quality trainers in our area that we can pull from to continue to teach new Ranger Leadership. When we have more to pull from, the burden isn’t as heavy for any one person as we can all share the workload.
Chris - I would encourage other Royal Rangers leaders to attend because you get out of the Academy more than just information—you gain perspective, practical skills, and an opportunity to learn from other leaders who share the same passion for Royal Rangers. It is also a great opportunity to connect with other leaders and build relationships that can continue beyond the weekend.
Grant - We need more quality instructors who are passionate about Royal Rangers.
David – Because they have a heart for Royal Rangers and need to see those leading the trainings aren’t just the old guys of the past.
Any other thoughts to encourage other RR leaders around training?
Grant - of all the RR training I’ve been to, this one was the most well managed. I was overall pleased.
David - Commander Doug’s and Mrs. Keel’s cooking was delicious!!
Chris - One of the things I appreciated most was being able to step away from the normal responsibilities of my outpost and intentionally focus on becoming a better leader. If we expect our boys to grow, we have to be willing to grow too. The Training Academy is a great investment in yourself, your outpost, and ultimately the boys we have been called to serve.
Thank you all again for your input, encouragement to other leaders, and placing growth at the top of your list to be the best for the Lord and the men (young and old) we serve.
If you are interested in future training opportunities stay tuned!
