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Cadre

Meet the Instructors

Military, law enforcement, and protection professionals — still operational, still teaching on the range.

  • Real-world experience
  • Veteran-led instruction
  • Protective operations experts
  • Scenario-based training

The team

Experienced. Credible. Committed to your success.

Max Joseph Featured

Max Joseph

Training Director

  • Tactical Breaching
  • Executive Protection
  • Special Operations Training
  • Anti-Terrorism Instruction

Founder and training director of Direct Action Group — Special Operations and training non-stop since 1990.

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Max is the founder and training director of Direct Action Group. Max has been involved in Special Operations and training non-stop since founding DAG in 1990.

He has trained and worked with Counter-Terrorist officers and troops from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America.

In addition to running Direct Action Group full time, Max also proudly served as the Senior Instructor for the Tactical Explosive Entry School both in the United States and Brazil.

He is recognized as a subject matter expert in explosives for Tactical Breaching and other Special Operations.

Max also has extensive experience in Executive Protection and has worked details in Central America, South America, Eastern Europe and Afghanistan.

He is currently still operational in several capacities both in and out of CONUS.

Certifications & training

  • Founder/Director Direct Action Group
  • Senior Instructor – Tactical Explosive Entry School USA/Brazil
  • Instructor U.S. Dept. of State Anti-Terrorism Program (20 Years)
  • Seven Years Marine Corps
  • Reconnaissance Companies (SGT.)
  • Graduate USMC Scout Sniper Instructor School
  • US Army Ranger / Airborne
  • USN Survival / Evasion / Resistance / Escape School
  • BSR Anti-Terrorist Driving School
  • SPIE / Rappel Master Instructor
  • Reconnaissance Indoctrination Program Instructor
  • Diplomatic Security Consultant
  • Writer for several Military / Police Publications
TC

Tony C

Instructor

  • SWAT / CQB
  • Defensive Tactics
  • Firearms Instruction
  • Use of Force

Police Sergeant and SWAT Team Leader with 21 years LE and lifelong martial arts mastery.

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Tony is a police Sergeant in Southern California for 21 years, and currently a SWAT Team Leader with 16 years SWAT experience. He has supervised his department’s Major Narcotics Team, Detective Bureau, Patrol, Canine Unit, investigations, and other assignments.

Tony is a lifelong martial artist with 33 years of experience, earning 10 black belt rankings, inducted in 2006 into the martial arts Master’s Hall of Fame and in 2011 to the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Tactical Trainer of the Year.

He has taught in Germany, France, and across the United States, and at the West Point Military Academy.

Tony is a California POST firearms, submachine gun, and defensive tactics instructor, and has developed curriculum for arrest & control and integrated tactical combatives programs. Tony is a publications author and Use of Force subject matter expert.

Certifications & training

  • 21 years law enforcement
  • 16 years SWAT / SWAT Team Leader
  • CA POST Firearms / Sub-Gun / Defensive Tactics Instructor
  • NTOA & CA POST Diversionary Device Instructor
  • Use of Force Subject Matter Expert
  • Black Belt Masters Hall of Fame / Tactical Trainer of the Year
  • Published author of several martial arts/tactics articles
  • Creator of several POST certified arrest and control courses
  • Combat Conditioning Instructor
  • Founder of Cortina Training Association (non-profit organization)
JB

Joel Bateman

Instructor

  • Active Shooter Response
  • SWAT Leadership
  • Use of Force
  • Explosive Breaching

US Navy veteran, detective, and SWAT team leader with deep active-shooter and use-of-force expertise.

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Joel is a US Navy veteran and has served as a police officer for 23 years in southeastern Wisconsin.

He has been a Detective for 14 years with 21 years SWAT experience, and 12 years as SWAT team leader. Joel is a certified instructor and Use of Force instructor with the State of Wisconsin holding over 30 instructor certifications. Disciplines include Defense and Arrest Tactics, Firearms, Vehicle Contacts, Combatives, and Tactical Response.

Joel is both an instructor and has operational experience in high-level active shooter response. He is a multiple course graduate of Tactical Explosive Entry School and Blauer Tactical Systems.

Joel is also a publications author, guest instructor, guest speaker, and Use of Force subject matter expert.

Certifications & training

  • United States Navy – Surface Rescue Swimmer, shipboard Security Alert Team
  • TEES / TFTT / DAG / Blauer Tactical – multiple course graduate
  • Certified Explosive Handler / Explosive Breacher (TEES)
  • LSU Academy of Counterterrorist Education – WMD & Tactical Operations
  • Certified State of Wisconsin Use of Force Instructor
  • Instructor certifications: Defense and Arrest Tactics, Firearms, Vehicle Contacts, Tactical Response, Officer Survival, Advanced Patrol Techniques
  • Patrol Response to Violent School Incidents instructor, CQB/Simulations Instructor
  • Martial Arts and Combatives – Ground Combatives, Tactical Weapon Control, Edged Weapon Defense
PF

Pete Forbes

Instructor

  • Protective Services
  • Breaching
  • Sniper Operations
  • SWAT Entry

Dual US/NZ citizen — WPS protective services contractor and Wisconsin SWAT sniper team leader.

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Pete is a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand and has over 10 years of law enforcement experience. He has deployed as a Worldwide Protective Services Contractor (DDM/PSS) working as a member of a team providing diplomatic security on high-threat projects in Afghanistan.

Pete was previously a full-time Sheriff’s Deputy in Wisconsin and a member of a Level 1 ALERRT Regional SWAT team. He is a certified Explosive, Thermal, Ballistic, and Mechanical Breacher in addition to an entry team assaulter, and sniper team leader. Pete has supported DAG by coordinating numerous training seminars for law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin.

He received a Commander’s Award in 2013 and the SWAT Valor Award & SWAT Officer of the Year – Wisconsin (2014).

Certifications & training

  • WPS-DDM/ERT/PSS Certified
  • 10 years Law Enforcement Experience
  • Level 1 ALERRT Regional SWAT team / NTOA – Tactical Team Leader
  • Certified Explosive Handler / Explosive Breacher (TEES)
  • TEES Mechanical, Ballistic and Thermal Breacher
  • DAG / TFTT / TEES / LFI Multiple Course Grad
  • FBI Basic Sniper – Great Lakes Naval Training
  • Firearms instructor, multiple weapons expertise, CQB instructor
  • Operational Experience High Risk Warrants, Barricaded Subjects and Hostage Situations
  • Background in Muay Thai and Boxing
JT

John Taylor

Instructor

  • Firearms Instruction
  • Mechanical Breaching
  • Tactical Team Ops
  • Active Shooter

USMC veteran and Southern California tactical team element leader — lead firearms and breaching instructor.

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John is a USMC veteran and has served as a police officer for 20 years in Southern California. He has 11 years of experience with his department’s tactical team and is currently an Element Leader.

He has worked a variety of assignments in high-crime areas and has extensive knowledge in tactics, use of force, and firearms.

John is currently the lead firearms instructor for his department, and a certified advanced armorer. He has testified as a firearms expert and he is a certified instructor in multiple firearms, tactics, active shooter, breaching, and Visit Board Search & Seizure (VBSS) Operations.

John has extensive subject matter expertise in mechanical breaching and has developed breaching course programs. John is a publications author and Use of Force subject matter expert.

Certifications & training

  • USMC Veteran
  • Over 20 years of Law Enforcement Experience
  • 11 years experience Department Tactical Team
  • CA POST Firearms Instructor (pistol, shotgun, rifle)
  • CA POST Diversionary Device & Less Lethal Munitions Instructor
  • Tactics / firearms / VBSS / CQB / Active Shooter Instructor
  • Mechanical & Ballistic Breaching Instructor
  • Advanced Armorer
  • Certified Explosive Handler / Explosive Breacher (TEES)
  • Subject Matter Expert in Firearms & Use of Force
RF

Roman Fisher

Instructor

  • Executive Protection
  • PSD / Mobile Security
  • Firearms & Tactics
  • Training Logistics

Executive protection specialist with overseas PSD leadership and DAG logistics / client operations.

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Roman has over 10 years Executive Protection experience.

Deployed to Iraq as a Protective Services Contractor / mobile team leader, he has worked on high-level VIP / PSD details.

Roman has conducted extensive DAG operations supporting ongoing DoD contract training and overseeing all aspects of supply and logistics for multiple-week courses.

He is an instructor for rifle, pistol, and tactics courses. Roman is also responsible for DAG client contacts, research, marketing, and public relations.

Certifications & training

  • 10 years Executive Protection experience
  • Overseas PSD experience
  • Overseas Mobile Security Team Leader
  • Rifle, pistol, shotgun instructor
  • TCCC certified
  • DAG Marketing Director
  • DAG PR / Public Relations

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