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Statewide Training Calendar

Defensive Tactics Instructor

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40 POST Hours Approved!

Location: MLEA , 2260 Sierra Rd.E., Helena, MT

This integrated comprehensive course of instruction will provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to deploy force legally and tactically as a means of defense or to affect an arrest.

  • Survival & Escape Strategies: The Montana Law Enforcement Academy Defensive Tactics Instructor curriculum trains students to use proven techniques to neutralize the initial barrage of strikes and escape from a subject to regain a position of advantage.
  • Weapon Retention Techniques:  weapon retention principles that will defeat an attacker’s attempt to disarm the officer from any position in the fight, standing or on the ground.
  • Tactical De-escalation: non-violent submission holds, with emphasize on strikes and de-escalation.
  • Arrest & Control Procedures:  highly effective handcuffing techniques that can be applied from any position in the fight and are effective in both solo and multi-officer arrest scenarios.
  • Use of Force: Instructors need to understand how to apply agency-specific use of force policies as well as the Graham Use of Force Calculus to all defensive tactics techniques.

Pre-requisites: This is a physically demanding course that is taught at the instructor level. A prospective instructor student should have at least an introductory background in a grappling or proven defensive tactics/combative program. This is not a “show up and you will pass” course.

Mandatory:

  • Within 90 days of class start date, prospective instructor students must conduct an MPAT with a time of 5:00 or below.
  • Review FLETC Use of Force Parts I-IX (https://www.fletc.gov/use-force-part-i). A multiple-choice exam on Use of Force will be administered Monday morning.

At least one of the following:

  • Graduate of LEOB class #177 or later
  • Graduate of CDOB class #177 or later
  • Graduate of P&P basic class # 33 or later
  • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt or higher
  • Judo orange belt or higher
  • High School wrestling varsity letter
  • Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) gray belt or higher
  • Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) level 1
  • Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 graduate
  • Team Hardy Ground Tactics Basic Level 1 Coach’s Course certificate
  • High School Wrestling varsity letter
  • Code4Combat (C4C) Police Jiu Jitsu Level 1 certificate
  • Krav Maga level 2 or higher
  • Effective Force Combatives Instructor certification
  • Shivworks Extreme Close Quarters Concepts graduate
  • Other experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

CHANGE: Fee: $300 no lunch provided but can be purchased for $10.00. Breakfast $8.00, Lunch $10.00, Dinner $10.00 Full Meal Plan $28.00.

CHANGE: Lodging is $25.00 per night.

Registration: Fill out the Professional Programs registration form below and send it to [email protected]

Professional Programs Application 2025

Point of contact: Matt Smith 444-9958 [email protected]

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