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Professional Programs - Defensive Tactics Instructor Feb 2026

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Brief Description
Instruction will provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to deploy force legally.
Full Description
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 $10.25.  Full Meal Plan $30.00.
CHANGE: Lodging is $30.00 per night.
NOTE: You will be billed after completion of your training.

Point of contact: Matt Smith 444-9958 Matthew.smith@mt.gov
Training Dates
02/16/2026 - 02/20/2026
Training Times
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Prerequisites
None Specified
Registration Dates
02/17/2025 - 02/11/2026
Available Seats
12
Fee
$300.00
Training Location
MLEA
2260 Sierra Road East
Helena, MT  59602
Reporting Instructions
None Specified
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