Lots of good discussion points already posted on this thread, so I'll only add a couple of quick thoughts.
1. In cmgee's original post, the instructor said anyone who's completed the training could then submit an application to become an instructor. A slight caveat to this; attending a STB class is generally required before requesting to become an instructor, but only the categories listed here are actually eligible to become an instructor:.
https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/applicant/create
2. I've seen the statistic that field expedient TQs generally fail to completely occlude the arterial flow at an alarming rate, and as has already been posted an improperly applied TQ, even a commercially made TQ, can be worse than no TQ at all. At a quick glance the increased risk is threefold:
(1). the veins returning blood to the heart may be occluded, thus lowering the blood available to the heart/brain/organs;
(2). the artery isn't completely occluded which allows blood to continue either bleeding out, and/or blood pooling into the extremity resulting in compartment syndrome (so, increased blood pressure where the bleed is, but no return flow back to the body this increasing the risk of hypovolemic shock); &
(3). if the TQ is too narrow, the construction increases the risk of nerve & tissue damage (TQs should be 1 1/2" wide to ensure compression area is wide enough to occlude all blood flow to the extremity, & mitigate nerve tissue damage).
However, there are also MDs who have shown that a 'properly applied expedient TQ' can be just as effective in occluding arterial flow, albeit likely slower to apply as you're fashioning the TQ out of available materials (slower because you're scrounging stuff to make the TQ on the fly).
The leading talking point I've seen regarding the reduced efficacy of improvised TQs is the Boston Bombing, & the vast majority of those improvised TQs were found ineffective when the patient reached the hospital. I would postulate that those applying the TQs were untrained, & were doing the best they could under the circumstances.
3. I'm of the opinion that the best TQ is a commercially made one. For self-aid, my opinion is the CAT TQ is the best as it's a little easier to apply to your own upper extremities. For applying to others, especially if the casualty will be dragged to safety, I believe the SOFTT-W is better as there's no Velcro to bust loose (* note: regardless of TQ type, always re-check the TQ each & every time the casualty is moved. If it loosened, retighten immediately, or apply a second TQ immediately above the first one). This being said, I wouldn't hesitate to fashion an improvised TQ out of available materials in a mass-casualty event once I've run out of commercial TQs, as long as I can make it correctly & apply it properly. ((By 'proper', I mean flat materials that are at least 1 1/2" wide, & something to use as a windlass or 'stick' to twist until there's no pulse in the limb below the TQ)).
4. The Stop the Bleed campaign focuses on the major 'PREVENTABLE' cause of death in trauma (ie , major blood loss / bleeding out). Both TCCC & TECC (military & civilian versions of treating traumatic injury in a tactical or mass-casualty event) use the M.A.R.C.H. algorithm, which differs from the PHTLS algorithm of the "ABC"s, or "A.B.C.D.E." which I understand is used in a more traditional approach to medical evaluation. The ABC's put "Airway" & "Breathing" ahead of "Circulation"; MARCH puts uncontrolled "Major Hemmorage" first, as that's what will result in death before lack of O2 exchange. This is where Stop the Bleed puts it's focus. As also indicated in another post above, at the point of injury the only areas where massive hemmorage can be stopped using direct pressure, TQ, or wound packing is in the extremities or junctional areas (armpit; shoulder; groin; neck). Any internal bleeding inside the 'Box' (chest & abdomen) or brain has to be addressed by a surgeon; hence these casualties aught to be pointed out to first responders so they can assess/triage for evac if there's multiple casualties exceeding haul capacity of first responders.
The A & R in MARCH are where airways & respiration is covered; if a casualty bleeds out there's no use for an open airway & breathing. R is where a chest seal would be applied, & the most recent TECC guidance is only a vented chest seal should be used. I'm of the opinion anything is better than nothing, as long as the casualty is constantly monitored for a tension pneumothorax (air building up inside the chest wall where it shouldn't be, & pushing against the heart / aorta). If the casualty has signs of increasing agitation, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, & increased anxiety/panic as if suffocating, the chest seal may need to be 'burped', meaning a clot may have formed & not allowing the built up pressure in the chest wall to escape (or, your non-vented chest seal is causing more life-threatening problems than just leaving it alone...). Also, tension pneumothorax can result from blunt force trauma injury to the lungs even without a penetrating injury to the chest wall, so it's wise to monitor for that if the mechanism of injury is blunt trauma.
5. There's a concept called 'The Die Off Curve'. Some injuries are so bad no one could survive, regardless of proximity to surgical care. The longer the trauma casualty survives, the likelihood of survival increases, but the risk of death shifts from blood loss to other issues, such as multiple organ failure or sepsis days later.