Tactical Defense Institute Instructor Bill Kurtz fires off a round during a reloading drill at the small arms range on September 8, 2018. TDI offers classes in everything from physical self defense and knife combat to five different firearms classifications.
Tactical Defense Institute owner, John Benner, (center) demonstrates a room clearing technique called "pie-ing" in one of three live fire houses on TDI's Campus. Benner started the range in 1985 because he "always liked doing training... felt that citizens had a right to defend themselves and a right to learn how to do that."
Bill Posey (right) yells at a student during a pistol drill on September 8, 2018 at the Tactical Defense Institute. TDI believes in high volume training with students going through in excess of 1,500 rounds over the three day introductory pistol course.
From left to right TDI Instructors Forrest Sonewald, John Benner, Chris Wallace, Lynn Freshly and Billy Espich mock the spray painting technique of instructor Wyatt Roush before the a 100 yd rifle drill on September 15, 2018. Instructors come from a variety of backgrounds from military and police to civilians and have even trained the West Point Pistol team, which Benner said they didn't advertise until the third year of hosting the team because ranges who advertise training elite units after only training a few members are "just bullshit.”
Targets are arranged in a "Christmas Tree" as part of a rapid target acquisition drill on September 15, 2018.
Coltin Espich reaches for a rifle round while reloading between drills during the 1-3 Rifle class at TDI on September 16, 2018. Espich wrapped some of his fingers to help with hot spots, blisters that form due to the volume of shooting during the classes.
Jeff McElravy Sr. of Cincinnati, OH, calls out his movements as he runs through a vehicle maneuverability drill on September 19, 2018. TDI owner John Benner says the reciprocal nature of his classes are one of his biggest prides. "They come here to learn stuff that we know more about than they do, but there is always something they can teach me. That keeps me from thinking that I'm something that I'm really not."
A target sits shredded after 4 drill rotations during the Rifle III class at the Tactical Defense Institute.
Taylor Espich of Indianapolis, Indiana, watches Jim Stitt as he marks her hits on a target after a rifle drill on September 19, 2018. Taylor Espich and her brother Coltin Espich took the class at the invitation of their father, Billy Espich, who has been an instructor at TDI since 1997.
John Benner inspects a first responder challenge coin from the 2017 Las Vegas shooting given to him by a student on September 15, 2018. Benner has been a part of law enforcement since 1971, now offering training classes at TDI to various law enforcement agencies and even teachers to help respond to active shooter situations.
Students walk down the rifle range to inspect their targets after a drill on September 15, 2018.
Phil Armada of Cleveland, Ohio, cleans a H&K MP5 after class at TDI ends on September 28, 2018.