Student Reviews

The information provided in this class is absolutely necessary for anyone who believes they as an individual are the best first line of defense for themselves and others that they care about. If you think that task is best left to someone else (e.g. the police or some other entity) you're probably not going to benefit as much from it. Then again, if that's your thinking you probably won't be on this website.

The WAGINAO class - in March 2023 - was very good. All of the course content / examples were very good. It clarified - for me - the proper use and laws of all the alternative products available. Class length was just right. I have taken the Medical Class and learned alot also. I will attend more classes and I will highly recommend them to others. Thank you for the high quality instruction and instructors.

There were 5 of us from our family at this class. Trek covered a lot of information that was new to a lot of us. He did a great job of providing times of questions and feedback so we all could engage in the material. We all hope and pray we never need to defend ourselves from the worst. This class educated us in several ways to either "not be present" when trouble happens or how to "deescalate a potentially bad situation". This learning is priceless to our family! We suggest you take multiple members from your household so you can continue to compare notes afterwards and keep the information fresh.

This was my first class with the MDFI. I learned more from Treck in 8 hours about situational awarness and how to handle situations, than I did taken 2-3 day long seminars. The training and information is brokn down so its easy to learn and remember. I look forward to taking more classes at the MDFI.

Ive taken other classes that were 2-3 days long on situation awarness, but walk away with more

Trec broke this all down into an 8 hours course.

So much of what we like to train is around the sexy gun craft stuff. Yet so much of life's potential conflict problems are not in the realm where use of lethal force is justified. WAGINAO is an essential part of being a well-rounded, responsibly armed and equipped citizen. The class balances mindset, legality, real-world examples, and gear selection. And it's executed in the MDFI style we've come to love: Safe, Fun, Educational.

This class is worth way more than they charge. The cadre is tremendous, and so is the training. I struggled during class (that was a me issue), and the instructors never gave up and were always positive and encouraging the entire class. They kept working with me and helped till the very end. I learned a ton and plan to work on what they taught us and come back to this class in the future. The whole group was positive and safe. I saw everyone grow a ton in the accuracy and handling of their pistols. So if you ever worry, "What if I suck and don't want to look stupid" don't and come take this course. I had my worst day of shooting and still came away with a lot and feel comfortable going back. Plus I got to see the other teammates have their best days of shooting.

I had long wanted to take this class, and I'm so glad I finally did. I will be taking it again at some point, as well as the You Still Suck It's Not the Gun class. I had taken a few MDFI classes before this, and this one definitely improved my pistol shooting and fundamentals. I think everyone who owns or carries a pistol should take this class. It really is that good, even for experienced shooters. There were people who had taken this 3 times and are still improving. There's a reason so many people repeat this class. News flash: we all suck; it's not the gun!

I sucked, not the gun. I came in shooting an embarrassingly bad group, and left with something respectable. I was very nervous, as I'm not a "new" shooter but I had 0 training, just a lot of wasted rounds at the range not understanding how to get better. After taking the class, I am not an expert by any means, but I have the ability to understand why my shots aren't going where I want them to. I also feel empowered to take more classes, and will definitely be taking whatever I can at MDFI. The amount of instructor care and attention was worth it alone.

I really can't say enough about this class and MDFI. As a new student to MDFI I can confidently say Trek and his team hold by far one of the most safest, informative and fulfilling classes I have ever taken. They have far exceeded my expectations. MDFI holds a very high bar for safety which I greatly appreciate. Second to that, MDFI covers every aspect of the fundamentals of a handgun and teaches you multiple ways to correct multiple problems you could be experiencing. Not to worry about skill! Everybody there varies in skill so there is no shame in showing up even if you think you really suck (just like I did!). The class is set at a slow pace allowing for all the time you need with no time limitation. There are enough qualified instructors there to assist everyone and it felt good to have plenty of 1v1 attention even with as many students as there were. The difference I saw in my shooting from the morning vs the afternoon was noticeable and satisfying. I can now take everything I learned and continue to apply these tips towards my shooting at the range. I'm so glad I decided to give MDFI a try and I really can't wait to try some of the other classes. If you're browsing the internet and are trying to decide which organization to train with, I can't stress enough the professionalism, intelligence, and articulate delivery of information that MDFI has to offer.

This was my first time taking YSINTG. It was very informational and hands on. The instructors really helped pinpoint issues and work on improving. I am so glad that I went! I would highflying suggest this class to any shooter.

There were only five of us in class. While i believe most places would have canceled the class, Trek stepped up and did what i would not expect a business man to do. He held the class and we got a huge dose of "Trek on one." And because my blaster had an uneven rail setup,and could not be zeroed, He told me to use his brand new three gun rig!

You just don't find this kind of "ego free" environment very often.

I look forward to training with MDFI as often as possible.

Al D

Took Carbine Basics in Aug 2020. This is my 3rd course with MDFI. Excellent as always. I've owned carbines but never took the time to actually learn some fundamentals about the platform. My expectations were more than exceeded. My takeaways evolve around the basic inspection of all parts (I even found broken/ loose parts that I never normally check) to the simple zeroing techniques provided (maximizing your ammo usage). If you are new the carbine platform, start here, you won't be disappointed.

I took Carbine Basics and Foundation Carbine back-to-back. This was a great way to go. Carbine Basics will ground you in the most critical aspects of your carbine. The tools and techniques I learned in 'Basics around the principles of zeroing and offset were the biggest takeaway for me. No doubt this is where you want to begin your carbine journey.

Another great class by the MDFI crew. Safety and instruction is top notch.

The instruction quality at MDFI is unmatched. The attention to detail and ability to articulate information and techniques from a factual standpoint is amazing. The instructors are personable and professional; any level of responsible shooter will enjoy this class. My biggest take away from this class is the focus they have on techniques and skills that are often glossed over or completely forgotten in other classes. It is a true and whole foundation course that really helps shooters progress to the next level.

Great instruction, lessons and pace. Walked away learning a lot and truly feel I've improved. I'll be back for all of the other Foundational classes. Had a great time. Highly recommend.

Sunday April 2, 2023, one of the safest places to be in Michigan, was at Barrack 616 with Tim, Grant and Roman,

This is the third class I have taken this year with MDFI. My first was YSINTG! in the spring. I highly recommend taking that class before attending the foundation handgun class. If you are like me, you can always brush up on marksmanship. And I certainly need to do that. The foundation handgun class takes marksmanship to the next level by incorporating shooting techniques with additional requirements such as quick reloading, weapon manipulation and emergency tactics to keep your gun working. The class is challenging and fun. My classmates came from a variety of backgrounds and locales. We all worked to stay on task in an "ego-free zone" Tim and Thomas were great instructors that walked me through the drills in a collegial way.

Finally, and a big part of what has brought me back to MDFI, is the instructors' high regard for safety. Learning and having fun with inherently dangerous objects like firearms requires attention to detail by EVERYONE involved. Thank you to Tim and Thomas for addressing that issue straightaway and early on so that the day was safe, fun and educational for all of the students. Thanks again, MDFI. See you in the spring!

This was my first time taking a class with MDFI. I had some hesitations, as I am a female and was stepping into a male dominated field of training. Tim, Grant, Adam, and Brandon were amazing. They were extremely helpful, kind, and never treated any question I had like it was a dumb question. I highly recommend this to any and everybody, especially women! I am a stay at home Mom and feel extremely confident protecting my home now with my AR-15. I also want to state that I felt incredibly safe the entire 10 hours I was there. They were extremely diligent with ensuring everyone participated in the safest manner possible. This in turn made the training that much more beneficial as I was able to solely focus on the teaching at hand, and not worrying about what other students were doing with their firearms. 10/10 would recommend!

First time training w/ MDFI and will be back for more. Tim and Roman were friendly and helpful instructors, and knew how to keep the class flowing. Safety was clearly the top priority, and it never stopped anyone from getting the knowledge or coaching they needed to succeed in the situations we were put into. Definitely recommended to anyone interested in the curriculum above.

2nd class taken with MDFI. The instructors are great, very knowledgeable in their field and have more patience that I thought possible. They truly wish for you to succeed for the sake of the entire fire arms community. Already Sighed up for the next class, cant wait... full tour here i come.

Legit training, Legit instructors!!
Prior Detroit Police and now in the suburbs of the city. I have attended multiple rifle courses and training throughout my career, no matter what skill set you are you can take away from this class. It's fun, very knowledgeable and detailed. The level of training, material and instructors are hard to find and especially at this price point.

The class was outstanding. Coming in I was quite confident in my marksmanship but realized quick, fast and in a hurry that marksmanship is just one component of many when it comes to being proficient with a carbine. I identified many areas where I need a lot of work. It didn’t stop with identification, I was also patiently shown proper technique for each aspect of the class. I left chewing a bit of humble pie, but also left with the knowledge needed to keep practicing at home. This was my first of hopefully many classes with MDFI.

This is hands down the best foundations class for any platform I have ever taken. Regardless of your experience level with shotguns you will walk away better than you were at the beginning. The staff is exceptionally knowledgeable, communicates the information clearly and concisely with an emphasis on safety that is well above and beyond what I have seen from other training institutions. I cannot recommend MDFI highly enough.

The drills are extremely practical, emphasize heavily mastering ammunitions management and recoil control. The weather was hot for the class and the staff gave students ample time to hydrate and hit shade as needed without wasting time.

If you are considering taking this class do it. I will be taking more classes despite the nearly 6hour drive.

Like many reviews on this class mention, the shotgun was the platform I had least experience in. I ran the class with a Mossberg 590, and I really get how the pump-action requires a lot of thinking and a need for constantly "managing" the weapon. Tim and Thomas ran the show as they always do with the perfect balance of rigor, fun, and humor. The students were almost equally divided between those running pump-actions and those running auto-loaders, and the instruction was well crafted for both platforms. In a time when shotguns are becoming somewhat of a lost art, MDFI is keeping the craft alive.
Two thumbs way up.

Honestly, I'm not sure where to begin. This class blew my mind. Of all the tools I have in my security bundle, "the gauge" is my weakest platform. Let me assure you, the MDFI cadre will go above and beyond to teach you more about the shotgun than you ever thought possible. There will be some gear validation, science of patterning, and manipulations that you may not have ever thought of. This class may even make you consider a shotgun for your primary security option because of how versatile it is. DO NOT be afraid of this class because of what you think of recoil and the round count. They quickly teach you how to mitigate the recoil, but it'll be something you will have to practice for sure. I was able to get a boat load of data from this course and I only shot about 120 rounds. I found out quickly that there is a lot to think about when trying to run a gauge efficiently, but MDFI gives you plenty skills to work it out. A fantastic course, and I couldn't have asked for a better group of alumni and new members to train with. Thank you Trek, Tim, and Thomas for the incredible knowledge transfer.

If you own a shotgun, whether it be a pump, semi auto, hunting, defense or sport. Take this class and bring it. You'll see shotguns of all sorts and people running them well and working past issues. Like Foundation Handgun and Rifle, you will learn about your shotgun, you will learn what it likes and what it doesn't, how to manipulate it. Great class, for sure will take it again.

DO NOT FEAR THIS CLASS! If you have not taken this class because of the round count, fear of recoil, or your lack of knowledge about shotguns then think again. I was an absolute beginner with a shotgun when the class started and by the end I felt completely competent. The recoil mitigation technique they teach you is like magic and you WILL enjoy shooting a shotgun forever afterward.

LLHG is one of the courses I take every year, because night training is an essential part of being a competent defensive gun-handler.
MDFI's course doesn't just address firearm manipulation in the dark, and not just manipulating hand-held and weapons-mounted lights, it also stresses threat identification, defensive use of illumination, and the mechanics of human sight in low-light. Everything that's necessary for responsible decision-making and effective firearms use in low-light conditions. And, needless to say, MDFI's habit and history of range safety is maintained 100% by staff and students, even though it's dark out.
I've taken this course four or five times now, and I get something valuable from it every time.
Hats off to Trek, Tim and Derek for another A+++ training.

Fantastic course! This is a must take course if you carry on a regular basis and want to push yourself! Low light situations bring a whole new set of problems you have to work through. Even if you thought you were proficient in the daylight, the darkness will bring out all your weaknesses. Gear validation is always present in classes like these, and I'm glad that my gear held up okay. Tweaks and changes are all part of the process. There was plenty of critical thinking and failure that lead me to a fantastic learning experience. The last exercise was incredibly important to me after extensive failure to bring it all together. Thanks to Trek, Derek, and all the rock solid alumni for a great night of training.

TAKE THIS COURSE. Sure you're proficient in the daylight, go to complete darkness and everything you've learned, trained and practiced goes out the window (or it did for me) Weapon manipulation, red dot acquisition, malfunctions and even simply reholestering in the pitch black darkness was very eye opening. More work to be done in this skill set for sure. The team was excellent as always! Very worthwhile course to take, you wont regret it!!

My total take of the class was eye opening on what is correct and what is not correct.
I learn a lot as to ID the bump in the night. Is it friend or foe. Style of light and how to use it for your benefit and not the bad guys. It was a great group of Alumni to work with. Thanks to Trek!

To start off, this review covers both times that I took the lower light handgun glass about 2 months apart. The first was outdoor in September and the next was indoor in November.

The first class I was very much unprepared with my inferior equipment (weapon mounted light and handheld one) but also my lack of mental prep. Engaging a firearm in very low light does interesting things to the mind. Confusing is an understatement. However, Trek and the crew did a great job of breaking down the fundamentals while encouraging us to keep our heads in the game and staying safe.

After coming down from my initial anxiousness a couple days later I started to upgrade my equipment quickly. Both the weapon mounted and handheld lights were upgraded. Then I started dryfiring in my basement with them. It felt much much better. However, I was determined to make a better go at it so I signed up for the next low light class on MDFI's schedule. I had also learned that about 80% or so of dangerous situations occur in low light conditions. Equipment upgrade was great but I needed to mentally improve on the first go around.

Now, I can't say that I was fantastic in all my results in the second class, however, the second time around didn't feel like I was playing from behind and/or drinking from a firehose. So glad I took the cues from the first class and quickly jumped back in. Thanks MDFI!

Well, where do I start... Being that I've never used a rifle to defend me and my family this was the best way to learn and make correction to my lack of using a rifle in the dark. After this night I learned a lot, slings that are not setup correctly can and will hinder you. PI your target in the dark correctly. This class will show you where you need to work on and keep working on. Training never stops after this or any of the class MDFI have.

Gear Reflection.

That would be my take away. I had my rifle set up a certain I thought worked. This class proved me wrong. I found I did not like how it was set up and changed a few things. Specifically, the location of my rifle light and no longer using a pressure pad. This class will show you how well your gear will work, you will learn how to utilize your gear properly and effectively. This is a must take class.

This is a unique and outstanding course! It’s one thing to handle a long gun during daylight hours when you can see what it going on and don’t have to worry about managing a light source at the same time you're aiming your weapon. It’s entirely different when the sun goes down. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to deal with that in a live-fire environment, something that most of the ranges we use don’t allow.

Trek and the cadre stepped us through how to BYOL (“Bring Your Own Lumens”), how to manage the light along with the weapon, and the necessary steps for defending ourselves after sunset. I was surprised by the viability of the different combinations of light sources and weapons (long gun light/long gun; hand-held light/long gun; long gun light/handgun; handgun light/handgun; and hand-held light/handgun). I was also surprised by how darkness increased the difficulty of even simple tasks.

If you’re serious about learning to defend yourself and your family with a long gun, this course is a must—not only don’t the bad guys stop when the sun goes down, many of them are just getting started. I’d further suggest that if your primary home defense weapon is a shotgun (mine is), than take the course with your shotgun—in my opinion (for what it’s worth), if you haven’t trained to use your primary weapon in the dark, your training is deficient. To date, not many have taken this course with a shotgun—but I did, and found the experience to be very valuable. If I could survive the experience at my age, so can you!

This has been the best firearms training class I have taken to date. If you haven't trained from unusual shooting positions, this will certainly put you and your gear to the test, even if you consider yourself a strong, competent shooter. It will definitely highlight weak points in shooting fundamentals, gear, and your own fitness (strength, stamina, and flexibility). You will come away from this class dirty and sore, having learned much and with a sense of accomplishment. I highly recommend taking this class to boost your shooting competency to the next level after taking the Foundation classes.

This class is an absolute homerun. I would consider myself a competent shooter but once the vertical movement and cover gets added into the equation, it completely changes everything. You don't want your first time shooting from a weird position to be the time your life depends on it and this class is getting you familiar with how to do that.

If you've taken foundational courses, this is a great next step! Practice the qualifier before hand!!

I have been to many firearms classes/ trainings, this is by far the best class I have been in. I am sore and you will be to but is worth it. The movement and information are awesome. Great instructors who know what they are doing.

I have been a many other classes. This is HANDS DOWN the best class I have ever done. You will be sore when it is out, but it is worth it. I will be taking more classes from MDFI

challenging class, a lot of vertical movement, stretch those legs! every lesson was a take-away moment. It will open your eyes to the possibilities of what you can do besides being static. Trust the processes that have been garnered in the prior building blocks.

Highly recommend this one, very, very applicable.

Welp, it's confirmed... I STILL suck! However, YSS really helps you to diagnose reasons why your shot, especially with speed, can fall apart quickly and what it takes to mitigate that from happening. It'll take practice and reps for sure, but trust the process. Tim and Brandon do a fantastic job breaking it all down and teaching everything from the ground up! I can also appreciate the fact that Tim and Brandon are always finding ways to revamp or adjust the curriculum to suit the needs of the students. Don't be afraid of this course. I highly encourage anyone who wants to take their shooting to the next level to enroll and embrace the suck... you won't be disappointed. This course will definitely make you a better shooter.

My favorite MDFI class so far. It's mentally challenging but as always tons of fun. I saw significant improvement as the day went on.

This class did not disappoint. Pushed my skills and abilities faster and farther than I thought I could do and gave me the confidence to go even farther. Immediate feedback and correction provided increased performance throughout the class and have encouraged me to continue training with MDFI. Well done Tim and Brandon, what an honor to train with you guys.

This one was tough but very, very good for those that want to push themselves to be more controlled and confident. Great curriculum, taught by great teachers. I highly recommend this class for the qualified alum.

Just completed YSSINTG training and thoroughly enjoyed this class even in the storm! The range in Holland is amazing and always trying to create a better range area thank you Derick! Tim and Brandon give you that one on one instruction as needed and break down the class for everyone to understand their instructions. Continued practice is needed to develop the situational aspects of being a responsible concealed carry citizen. Thank you for having this class it was very informational and will be taking all of this to the range to keep training.

Excellent course in teaching real world scenarios. Nothing in life is ever easy or predictable. Multiple examples and setups to challenge how to handle yourself when things break bad. Careful and thoughtful feedback on techniques and gear. Plenty of new ideas to takeaway and practice on your home range. Highly recommend.

I can't recommend this class enough. The things I learned here are things I've never thought about before, let along practiced through. Life isn't nice and convenient and learning techniques to work through difficult problems are a must. This class taught more new, eye-opening, skills than any other class. Highly recommend to anyone who's serious about training.

Awesome class. Anyone who carries a gun regularly owes it to themselves and others around them to know these techniques. After taking most of MDFI's curriculum, and classes with other outfits, I'd say I took more away from this one than any others. Trek and cadre were great as always with personal instruction where needed and making sure we had fun and worked hard from start to finish. Looking forward to taking this one again someday!

Incredibly helpful class. If we ever find ourselves in a self defense situation, obviously things are already going bad. I came away with a much better understanding of how to solve problems with the conditions aren't ideal. As always with MDFI the day was beyond safe. Highly recommend for anyone looking to expand their skills/confidence.

This is the most important MDFI class on the list. Not only is it useful it is also the most fun class I have taken with MDFI. Do not be afraid of this class, the ego free zone is real and this class WILL make you a better shooter and more dangerous to people who want to hurt you and your family.

Great class again, great feedback from every run. I've never done any structure clearing in my life, notes I have a basic idea on what to look for and expect.

Wow..... Coming from zero structure clearing experience, this course was the foundation I needed. I'll never look at buildings the same way. Some students had MIL/LE experience in structure work, and there were insightful discussions throughout the two days on differing approaches.
Ground rules and procedures for handling simmunitions were rigorously laid out - they are to be treated as full-blown live firearms. The controls that were put in place around safety and handling were impeccable.
Although the only mandatory prerequisite MDFI class for this is the Foundation-level course of whatever firearms platform you're using (handgun, carbine, shotgun), I am glad I had done Cover & Movement, as well as Low Light - I think I got more out of this class as a results of having done those other classes prior.
Overall, 5-stars all the way.

An excellent eye-opener for folks who have never done door entry and room clearing, and a great refresher for folks who have some prior training. It really reinforces how hard it is by yourself.

One of the best classes I have ever taken! The instruction and feedback from Trex and the other cadre was very helpful. They catch even the smallest things that you can improve on, and don't make you feel bad when there are big things that need improvement as well. I came away from this class with a much better understanding of how to move in and around structures, yet still feel like I could take this class many more times and learn just as much each time. Thanks for a great class and a great time!

I am incredibly happy I took Beyond a Door this Spring (2019) because Trek and his cadre are excellent teachers and by performing new tasks I identified (and they helpfully highlighted) multiple areas of improvement for me. Each run showed me multiple aspects of my abilities I need to focus on to improve and Trek et. al. showed me additional behaviors I was not aware I did or did not exhibit, which was very important for me to learn.

Watching other students run through their scenarios was also quite helpful because it acted as virtual additional runs for me to help me learn more and solidify as much of the new information as possible. Taking the course multiple times would be very helpful, I believe!

Thank you Trek and Cadre for all of your hard work and excellent teaching!

Incredible opportunity to audit the true state of your abilities. Many of us train and excel at shooting, some of us train our verbal agility. Rarely do we have a chance to combine all of that with decision-making in a dynamic simulated environment where we don't have complete information, and "processor speed" determines (simulated) life or death. This is that class. The scenarios are designed to address specific themes encountered in human confrontation. Difficulty amplifies when multiple characters come into play, and of course there is often not one correct answer. A must-do class for anyone serious about being an asset to yourself, your family, your community, and society.

MTAC is a versatile facility; MDFI has fantastic role-players and well-crafted scenarios. I've been through a lot of scenario-based training in the past and this class was amazing. It gets you out of your comfort zone, but that's how you grow and learn, which is critical when you're potentially making life-or-death decisions.

This is a great culminating class. After completing many MDFI courses this is the course to put everything you have learned to the test in every day scenarios with role players and simunition. I have trained with many different trainers from military to law enforcement, NONE compare to Trek's knowledge, presentation and constructive feedback. Trek's focus on safety and application make him and his cadre a top tier trainer in the United States. I recommend this course to anyone who wants to put their skills and mindset to the test.

This class is top notch. The role players do such a good job allowing you to really get into the scenarios and make them as real as possible. Everytime I take a class with MDFI I am amazed at how well the classes are set up and organized and how good the instruction is. Trex and his cadre are the best instructors out there. It was helpful to see which areas of my training were able to kick-in as a reflex, but also to know what I need to work on next. This class really humbled me and showed me how much more I still have to learn. I can’t wait for The Human Element 2!

I just wanted to extend a sincere thanks for the Human Element experience this past weekend.  The course was the best I've taken across disciplines.  It really exemplifies the thought, work, and experience you've put into the MDFI curriculum.

The cadre were a key part of the class, and their dedication to the students was incredible.  I really appreciate their long hours and hard work.

The G19 UTM slide also ran flawlessly -- didn't have a single malfunction.

Looking forward to training with MDFI in 2020.

This past weekend, I participated in the new Skills and Drills classes and they were fantastic. Tim, Brandon, and Derek are great instructors and provide students with information and feedback that is easy to understand and apply. I got more out of this weekends sessions of Skills and Drills than I have at several of the past classes I have taken. The reason is simple, these classes are not about teaching you something new, it is about refining what you already know. I recommend everyone who is looking to enhance their shooting performance take these classes when they are available. You will come away with practical information and a score card you can use to measure your performance as you go back and practice what you learned.

While the class description does say "no two classes will be the same", their needs to be more emphasis on this. I took the handgun session on both Saturday and Sunday and came away with a completely different set of drills to focus on from each session. This is the value of S&D, to learn something new each time you attend a class.

I enjoyed this past weekend so much, I have already signed up for the next Skills and Drills sessions.

I attended the 2019 JUN29 Skills & Drills for both rifle (AM) and handgun (PM). What a great experience to gather with committed alumni and focus on sharpening skills. Tim, Brandon, and Derek were amazing guides in "training how to practice." In the end you'll receive a personal report card with descriptions of all the drills and your times for the day. This gives you baseline and structure to practice on your own.
The class size tends to be smaller, which is good for personalized coaching by instructors, but it still needs to be a sustainable business case, so we alumni need to do our part is sharing and encouraging others to take it on. I loved the class!

Where do I start? I believe if you are serious about improving your skills and finding you weekenesses, whether that be in your gear or your ability, you MUST attend Skills & Drills classes. I found issues with my handgun while pushing speed against a par time I never found on a static line shooting for bullsyes. Better there than in a self defense senerio. At the same time par times and quick reloads can humble you, they also make you a more efficient and responsible firearm owner.

Do you shoot competition? These classes WILL improve your stages in your respective disciplines. And like all MDFI classes, SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST. Ego Free remains the theme.

If you're an MDFI Alumni, do not pass over Skills and Drills because it isn't a Full Tour Black Card requirement. These classes will help with the other Full Tour required classes. Don't be put off what is perceived by some as "low round" count. It's not how many rounds you shoot, it's what you get out of each round you shoot. If you shoot 500 rounds in a day and just have a pile of brass on the ground and no improvement, it won't beat 50 rounds and learning what it is you're doing that's not working.

Lastly, the Cadre take the time to demonstrate every drill. No, they aren't showing off. They are showing you that what they are asking of you can be done and giving you something to work towards. And if there's a topic you're struggling with, you get one on one coaching.

I'll hope to be taking Skills and Drills again.

I wanted to take a moment and give honest feedback about this class “Skills & Drills - Handgun”. l I am truly impressed with this class and the sheer amount of great info and topics covered. Whether planned or not, to me this class is the next logical progression of handgun manipulation skills for the MDFI curriculum. You get to take the skills you learned in YSINTG taming those wolves and the foundations from FHG and apply them both. This class stretches and tests those skill sets just enough to really find your personal level of ability and even provide a measurable to be able to have a benchmark for future growth. Tim, Brandon, and Derek provided a safe, fun, and ego free environment that I feel is necessary to help effective learning. One thing I really enjoyed about this class is it’s really sets the stage for repeating the class over to see a personal growth which is sometimes hard to see in other venues. I have come to think as MDFI as the place “I” train and it’s great to see the positive evolution while maintaining the standards and environment I love.

Both Pistol & Rifle “Skills & Drills” are excellent courses that fill a niche between “Foundations” courses and MDFI advanced and specialty courses. I came away with personal performance baselines for the weapons I used, a number of new drills to develop different aspects of weapons proficiency, and a systematic, metrics-based approach for developing (and tracking) my skills between classes. As I learned long ago on the job, “If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” We drove down into the granular elements that add up to accurate, performance-based shooting, and thoroughly wire-brushed the way I plant my feet, how I position my body, how I grip the firearm, how I manage recoil, and how I reload. I was amazed at how much I found myself improving with both the handgun and the AR in short investments of six hours each. A trip to the range on my own the next day revealed that the improvement was real. The cost of each course was roughly equivalent to 300 rounds of AR-15 or 550 rounds of 9mm handgun ammo at today’s prices—I cannot begin to imagine how many thousands of rounds I might have expended before improving as much as I did in one weekend with the S&D courses. Tim and Brandon (with support from Tom and Derek) did an excellent job of teaching. If you’re serious about your shooting, this is a course to put on your “must take” list.

Think of this as "Foundation Red Dot." Everything you need to get started with a red dot on a handgun will be covered. You also learn what to practice for best results. Tim lives and breathes the curriculum. I felt confident I was getting the best possible advice.

This was another great MDFI class. It was a great mix of teaching red dot skills and applying them. The instructor-to-student ratio allowed for a lot of attention and refinement. And the quality of instruction (Tim, Derrick, Grant, and Roman) was amazing, friendly, and very personable.

This class is a great learning experience for shooters across all ranges of experience in regards to running a dot. As an assistant principal my everyday job is to evaluate instruction and learning. Good teaching is evident and easy to spot regardless if it is in a math classroom or on the range in a defensive firearms course. Tim, Brandon and Grant did a great job of providing thorough explanations of the curriculum and frontloading shooters with the information that they needed. They would then break it down into manageable chunks/smaller drills that would then be scaffolded into a larger drills that put all the pieces together. The instructors would then model/demonstrate each drill before beginning to instruct it. They also provided great immediate feedback to shooters as they were conducting the drills, including pushing the more advanced shooters further and spending more time with novice shooters who needed the additional instruction/help. This is exactly what I would want to see when I walk into a classroom in my building. They did a great job overall and I highly recommend any class that Tim, Brandon or Grant are instructing.

MDFI never disappoints, I have been shooting with a dot on most of my handguns for 7-8+ years and this was my first time taking "A Dot" class and it was well worth it. Brandon & Tim did an amazing job keeping everyone engaged and switched on. The flow of the call and curriculum covered everything for shooting with a dot and proved many myths that you hear about wrong. They kept the line extremely safe and made sure that everyone had a great time. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who has a dot on a blaster no matter how long you have been running it, you will defiantly take away things that you can work on for your future training.
Jonesey
Actions Sports Agency

This class really helped me to further my skill set with using the red dot in the defensive use of a pistol. Learned some great "nuggets" to speed up the process. Brandon and Tim went above and beyond to make sure everyone was tracking, and no one was left behind. You will be hard pressed to find this level of instruction being done in such a safe professional manner than what Trek and crew do at MDFI.

I am Retired USAF and a firearm instructor/TC. I have had many Self Aid and Buddy care, combat lifesaver type courses over my careers along with taking First Aid/CPR with Red Cross and the American Heart Association multiple times and so I was a little hesitant about attending and spending the time/money on another training of this kind.

This course was well worth the time/money and DID NOT disappoint! It exceeded any of my expectations and is by far the best lifesaver class that I have ever attended! It should be a mandatory life course for all! Kerry Davis is the best! He is so passionate and keeps the class interesting and fun and simple! He inspired me to want to do and be better as my own First responder. I walked away more knowledgeable and confident with my ability to apply lifesaving skills to myself and others! I am forever grateful to him for his passion and sharing his gift of skills/knowledge with us!” ~ Margie Walden

I recently took the Direct Action Response Training class from Dark Angel. It was an excellent class that covered much more than I expected. The instructor, Kerry Davis, is highly knowledgeable with a lot of field experience and is a great teacher. I highly recommend this class not only to those who carry concealed but to all responsible citizens.

I am a non fire arms user, but a medical professional. When my husband suggested the class I was game for it, but had my doubts on its usefulness. I was surprised, impressed and will be forever grateful for the education taught during this class. This classes bridges your standard first aid knowledge and access to a medical facility, which lets face, is when time really matters. Kerry emphasizes the reasoning behind, the skill and the muscle/mental memory needed for life saving care. He's a dynamic instructor with real world experience and expertise. Highly recommend.

The class gives you the ability to help someone survive until first responders arrive. The instruction was not someone showing slides they did not prepare. The instructor had knowledge about each situation presented. Highly recommended course!

This class was an incredible resource. Kerry was so passionate about the subject matter and kept it interesting using real world examples to study from including his depth of knowledge in the field spanning multiple decades. This class is the single most important class I have ever taken. When seconds count, the importance of being able to tackle a situation right then and there is paramount. This class has instilled this mindset in me, and I can honestly say I look at the world differently as a result of this class and most of all, Kerry.