Sorry to open a new "Military issues" thread but I did do a search and could not really find some clues on the issue I am having.
I have played 40d versions of DF and had little trouble making the dwarf training.
I am now using latest version (31.12) and managed to get my dwarf training, using weapons, uniforms etc.
The issue that I am having is that they do spar, they do perform and attend demonstration, they do perform individual training.
But the training is very very very slow, after few years the best I could achieve is "Skilled".
First fortress I did my usual "take a bunch of useless dwarfs and start the training" and tried to train them in wrestling to up their stats and overall battle skills as in previous version, did not manage to make them train above very low level like "proficient"
I then read that taking one dwarf on embark with high skill in one weapon and Teaching helped a lot.
I thus started another fortress with a dwarf with Axe and Teacher at maximum allowed on embark.
After the first batch of migrants I created a 8 dwarfs squad with the skilled dwarf as Commander.
Assigned to them all a training axe.
It has now been 6 years and the best is "Skilled" in axeman.
They have some low level in shield, armor and fighter as well.
I see reports of some (few) sparring.
From reading on the forums it seems that most are not having this issue and manage to get some Axelords (Or any -lord) in few seasons only.
Is there something I am greatly overlooking?
Thanks in advance