The military term 'survival instructor' is a good feather in the cap, then I would say that as I have been one, but it doesnt necessarily carry across to the civilian world in everyway.
Whether you've done SCBC, PCBC or whatever doesn't necessarily mean your a good commander, I have served with some excellent soldiers who never even made it onto a JNCO cadre and I have seen some officers and SNCO'S who frankly I wouldnt have followed into the NAFFI for NAFFI BREAK- equally I have taught military survival instructors, namely from the R.A.F, and while excellent students and instructors in their own rights they, like all military instructors, are trained to teach exatly what the pamphlet tells so them, even with the best will in the world they are restricted.
Further to this military survival usually means E&E the exact opposite to what should be taught in the civilian world - for the injured or lost hiker being found is their ultimate goal and here is where the military and civilian instruction must differ - and that is forgotting about kits ect too for here the difference is even more dramatic.
Speaking from experience, Military survival and most areas of bushcraft are as alike as chalk and cheese and while it is undoubtedly good to know and have practical experience of both it is not totally necessary - I know some good bushcraft instructors who would be as tactically aware as my dog.
Civilian survival and bushcraft are also different beasts - bushcraft should be focused on primitive living skills, teaching conservation and respect for nature, teaching the student to understand and live in harmony with the natural world around them. Civilian survival on the other hand is totally UN-PC - it is about keeping yourself alive until rescued (usually 72 hours being the expected time span) and if that means raping the local enviroment of all its resources then you would do it (having taken various aspects of your situation into concideration first of course).
As for regulation - no that is the last thing we should bring into bushcraft. Bushcraft is a gentle subject, loved by both the student and the instructor, it is something in the blood. Regualtion would kill it, just like our sue you culture is destroying so many things today - when it snows children cant have snowball fights or be allowed out to play for fear of their parents sueing the school for example. Can you imagine the day when a bushcraft student wasnt allowed to use a knife upon a course for fear that if they cut themself they would sue the instructor? No - well that is regualtion for you - all courses would end up as demonstration only with students signing disclaimer after disclaimer and the one thing which is most important - the one reason you should go on a course - practical hands on experience, would be a thing of the past.
In all seriousness a well thought out code of practise wouldn't hurt, but as as with all things its a fine idea until people get involved for as with all laws, regualtions and red tape the only people who really benefit in the end are the lawyers.
That is my humble opinion be it right or wrong.
