I paid, (not payed but I only have a 2 year degree so am probably wrong. Oh, and the quickie course in forest engineering--Go Beavers!) and went to a 2 day GOL training thing. I was curious. It was a good safety session for beginners like me who are not, and I am still not, confident about falling trees. Our instructor had actually worked in the logging industry and was down to earth. He had trouble pronouncing Oregon correctly and joked about that.
Contrary to popular belief, he did not tout only bore cutting. We went over other methods too, and fell a couple of trees apiece on the second day.
It was a good safety training session and I don't think anybody left thinking they were an expert afterwards. I sure didn't.
It was not a competition. I don't think they have those in this part of the country, but I don't keep up on it.
I should think if you are going to "oversee" falling operations, it would be better to learn about log scaling and timber cruising, contractual requirements, safety regs. and then ask questions of the production fallers--IF they still exist.
Remember to stay away from the feller buncher and don't get close until they shut down the engine. That's probably what you'll be around the most, if you are hired. And, there is a Reverse gear on that machine so they can maneuver it around a bit. Some of the bad operators don't seem to know about that gear.