Thanks for that summary, Bingley. I think most of us who have gone through similar training can relate to a lot of what you noticed. I think CERT is a gateway, a stepping stone. It's like Emergency Response 101 that everyone needs to take to graduate, and for those who are more interested and want to "major" in it, there are always more in depth classes/experiences out there afterwards.

And even in the same city, I'm sure that CERT or CERT-like training can vary considerably over time because I suspect that most instructors change every time the courses are offered. Let's face it, not everyone is a good instructor but all it takes is one great one to really make you appreciate the experience (especially if the material is new to you). Or just the luck of who your classmates are can make a huge difference, too.