Training and Instructors
Our philosophy of performance-based training, rather than objective-based, stems from the greats like Pat McNamara. Rather than mandate a certain standard, we typically focus on making you better by the end of the day. This allows us to teach students with a variety of skill levels in the same class.
We partner with experienced firearms and medical instructors to provide practical training options for both civilians and professionals. We offer a variety of training tracks, niche subjects, private options, and large scale custom programs for students of all skill levels.
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Our goal is to make good training accessible to everyone, creating economical yet jam-packed training for the average citizen and experienced student alike. We teach a lot of material in day-long classes, providing the skills, thinking, and drills required to continue practicing after class.
Training Supported By
Practical training for prepared citizens
You may own a firearm, but are you realistically capable of defending yourself? Do you know how to administer first aid? Most people don't know what they don't know and we can help you build the skills to keep you and those around you alive.
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Handgun, rifle, and shotgun disciplines
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Tactical and basic first aid training
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Classes for beginner, novice, or experienced students
Professional training
Law enforcement and medical professionals seeking to expand their skills or specialties have come to the right place. Our expert training partners have decades of experience training first responders and can build customized classes that will satisfy your requirements and meet the standards you desire.
About our instructors and training partners
Craig French (French Quarter Consulting)
Craig is a retired police officer with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office (IL) and has over 27 years of experience in law enforcement. He has served as a tactical officer, juvenile officer, field training officer, investigator, evidence technician, public information officer, school resource officer, special response team (SRT) member, supervisor, firearms instructor, and in-service training committee member. He is currently an instructor with Spartan Tactical out of Illinois.
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He has an extensive instructor background in specialized training in less-than-lethal munitions, PepperBall, CPR, TCCC, MACTAC, Below 100 programs, and ILEAS mobile field force operations. Craig has worked as a state of Illinois certified firefighter holding various specialty fire certifications, as well as an emergency medical technician (EMT). Craig is currently a CPR and Illinois concealed carry instructor.
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Craig has dozens of training and instructor certifications, and is a member of the Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA), Indiana SWAT Officers Association (ISOA), American Heart Association (AHA), and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA).
Adrian Alan (Critical Impact Group)
Adrian Alan is the owner and lead instructor of Critical Impact Group LLC. As a 16-year law enforcement veteran, Adrian has a broad range of experience in personal security, firearms training, personal-defense, tactics, and law enforcement training. Adrian began his law enforcement career in the State of South Dakota and moved to Wisconsin where he spent the next ten years working for a large police department in Southern Wisconsin. Adrian has worked patrol, community policing, crime suppression, as a SWAT team member and sniper, as a firearms, tactics and emergency vehicle operations instructor, field training officer, and more. Over the course of his law enforcement career, Adrian has responded to over 10,000 calls for service, and logged thousands of hours of specialized training, providing him front-line insight into the realities of personal and property crimes. Adrian continues to serve as a part-time deputy in Southwest Wisconsin and shoots competitively in his spare time.
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From 2014-2021, Adrian and his two partners ran Performance on Demand Shooting, conducting open enrollment firearms training as well as contracted training to law enforcement agencies and military units. In 2015, he was the recipient of the Chudwin Award for Patrol Rifle Excellence, for his response during a critical incident in 2013, and his on-going commitment to promoting the advancement of patrol rifle programs and training in law enforcement.
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From 2017-2021, Adrian worked as a consultant, and then Director of Vortex Edge & Range Operations, overseeing the design and construction of the 55,000 square foot indoor shooting & training center. Over the next three years, Adrian oversaw the development and launch of the Vortex Edge shooting school, guiding curriculum development, strategic planning and daily operations of the indoor range facility as well as a 1,000 yard long range complex.
Adrian holds multiple Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board law enforcement training certifications, including pistol & rifle, firearms master instructor trainer, emergency vehicle operations, tactical response and more. He currently serves on the LESB Training & Standards Board committee for red dot pistol optic curriculum development and has consulted law enforcement agencies on firearms range & training facility construction, policy implementation and training programs. He spent eight years as a department armorer, tasked with developing and overseeing the maintenance program for over 450 department and individually owned rifles. He is a trained and experienced law enforcement sniper instructor, with experience in mission planning, and conducting protective over-watch duties at large public events and even Presidential visits.
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Adrian has previous experience in the private security field, having served as an area supervisor for the G4S Group, overseeing dozens of commercial security sites across the Midwest where he conducted site inspections, security assessments and other commercial-security related planning functions. Adrian has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lives in Southwest Wisconsin.
Aaron Busche (Primer Firearms Training)
Aaron Busche is a 17-year veteran of a southeastern Wisconsin suburban police department, with extensive experience in training and operational leadership. He has served as a Field Training Officer, a Detective on a DEA Task Force specializing in high-level narcotics investigations, and has been a SWAT Team member for 10 years, including 3 years as Team Leader.
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As a senior firearms instructor, Aaron has planned and taught countless firearms training sessions for both the department and SWAT Team, including specialized firearms and force-on-force drills. He has been integral in planning and executing hundreds of high-stakes operations, including arrests and search warrants. Aaron is also a member of the Waukesha County Technical College Law Enforcement Advisory Board, contributing to the development of law enforcement curriculum and training standards.
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Aaron is also a member of the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, assisting in the investigation of Officer Involved Shootings, offering insight into the decision to use deadly force. He is a certified Handgun and Rifle instructor through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board and an active member of the National Tactical Officers Association.
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Aaron’s training philosophy has been built and shaped through his work experience and personal firearms journey. He finds it important to emphasize dynamic, real-world scenarios to build confidence and self-awareness, a mindset he applies to both law enforcement professionals and civilian firearm users alike.
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Aaron believes shooters need dynamic, life-like situations to build confidence and self-awareness of their shooting abilities. This is not unique only to law enforcement; this applies to anyone who desires to learn how to effectively, safely and confidently use a firearm.
Levi Gotte (Praxis Defensive Concepts)
Levi Gotte is the owner and lead instructor of Praxis Defensive Concepts. He brings nearly two decades of experience in public safety and law enforcement firearms instruction, with a background centered on preparing individuals to operate safely, confidently, and effectively in demanding environments.
As a law enforcement firearms instructor, certified master instructor, and armorer across multiple firearms platforms, Levi’s instruction reflects the standards, accountability, and real-world considerations found in professional training settings. In addition to firearms instruction, he is an experienced instructor in lifesaving medical and trauma response skills, as well as instruction focused on responding to violent critical incidents, integrating emergency care principles, movement, and decision-making where appropriate. His courses are structured around applying skills under realistic conditions, reinforcing sound judgment, and ensuring students can consistently demonstrate competence rather than simply meeting minimum course requirements.
Levi’s teaching philosophy blends technical shooting skills with mindset, situational awareness, and practical problem-solving. He emphasizes training that requires students to apply what they’ve learned, think through problems, and take ownership of their decisions — building confidence through demonstrated ability rather than theory alone.
Levi is committed to delivering training that is challenging, supportive, and rooted in purpose, helping students leave with skills they understand, can apply, and can rely on when it matters.
John Czerwinski (Reality Based Firearms Training & Tactics)
John is a recently retired 27 year Law Enforcement Veteran of both major city and semi-rural jurisdictions. He has served as a Special Assignments Officer, Field Training Officer, SWAT Team Member, Team Leader, and Assistant Commander. He was the lead firearms instructor for his department for over 15 years and was a SWAT and Tactical Response instructor for over ten years. While working for the Police Academy John was a Master Firearms Instructor, Master Tactical Response Instructor, and an instructor in defense and arrest tactics, professional communications, and emergency vehicle operations. John assisted the Wisconsin DOJ Law Enforcement Standards Board in teaching their tactical updates for several years and has taught with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College at the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) Conference. John is also a U.S. Army Veteran serving both as an Enlisted Man and a Commissioned Officer for ten years in both The Army and the Army Reserves.
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Reality Based Firearms Training & Tactics creates custom training programs designed after a discussion of goals with the client. Instructor John prefers small class sizes so each student gets the attention they deserve. Inclusion of video evaluation using “Coaches Eye” software facilitates a faster learning curve, reduces the amount of ammunition needed, and increases the value of dry fire exercises for improvement. When ammo is in short supply or highly priced, non-live fire training, evening, and half-day training events are available. Evaluations of your security plan for your residence are also possible.
Peaceful Warrior Training Group
PWTG is made up of numerous Instructors/First Responders who have multiple real-life experiences responding to actual active shooter events. These Instructors have studied, researched, and trained across the country with active shooter experts, victims, and academic researchers to formulate the PW Active Shooter preventative techniques, incident response, and tactics along with active shooter first care methods that have been battle field tested for saving lives. PW Training Group classes teach all you need to know for surviving extreme violence – prevention, response, and minimizing the aftermath effects.
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PWTG has the expertise and experience to teach how to prepare for, prevent, and respond to an active shooter situation:
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Preventative Planning: Hear Something, Say Something. What to do when you hear planning of an act of violence.
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Active Shooter: Prepare and Respond. How to prepare for an incident and how best to respond during shooter violence.
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When Run and Hide Are Not Options: Learn powerful techniques and tools to act when necessary.
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Total Self Defense Tactics: Fear management strategies and how to respond to a variety of physically violent scenarios.
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Active Shooter First Care/Aid Trauma Treatment: How to effectively treat yourself and others before professionals arrive.