ACPS LLC

Welcome to ACPS! I named my training company ACPS – which stands for Armed Citizen Preparatory School. You are probably thinking “hmmm…another shooting school”. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. There are plenty of places that can teach you how to shoot a handgun or a rifle, but that is not what you will learn here at ACPS. We arm you with the things you need to survive a gunfight.

Don’t worry – you will learn how to shoot, but shooting is just one part of what you will learn. We will teach you the foundational elements you will need to know to successfully make it out of a gunfight alive and hopefully with the same number of holes you were born with – and no additional holes!

We call these three foundational elements (Skills, Mindset and Tactics) the Warrior Triad. By establishing and building up your Triad, you will have all the necessary elements to protect yourself and others when evil decides to enter your life.

NEW SHOOTERS

I love teaching new people – you haven’t established any bad habits to overcome. Those of you that have been shooting, or even gone to a “shooting school” – I encourage you to come with an open mind. I will show you how I do things, and more importantly why I do what I do, and after trying it you can decide if it is best for you.

ACPS — ACPS Handgun 1 class

By the way – about 50% of my students are females. It great to see the ladies taking responsibility for themselves and others. GO LADIES!!

Please visit my other websites, there is a lot of information available there for free, then come and take a course (or two or more!) I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

tire iron’s corner

tire iron channel

Professionalism above all

....Once we started, Mark put my wife at ease very quickly with his training style and personality. His teaching technique of using his real world experience combined with practical use not only put my wife at ease, she quickly caught on. This really reinforced to me what he was teaching us. The teaching technique that

LeWayne McGrew Utah

Mark is a Mentor

Mark (T.I.) has been a foundational figure in my training after meeting him in 2003. His contributions to my development span well beyond teaching simple rote skill; the key difference between Mark and other training venues is the "bottom up" approach. You won't learn how to accept knowledge, instead you'll be taught how to think

Aaron M. USAF Washington State

No bluster, no big ego

Mark is a fantastic instructor. Coming from a sport shooting and slow-fire competition background, I had no prior military/law enforcement/defensive shooting experience. He was able to work with what little I did know to quickly establish the fundamentals and advanced techniques of defensive and combat shooting. This is someone who's been there and done that

Ryan VanOrden author - USCCA ( usconcealedcarry.com )

Its the smart choice

I believe that training is an essential part of firearm ownership. If you've decided to purchase a gun for family outings where your targets will likely be cans and fruit, good for you. Chances are you don't need professional training. But if you've decided that your gun will play an essential role in your protection

John Carpenter Firearms Instructor and Author - "The Price of Our Sins"

Unflappable

I have had the pleasure of recieving training from Tire Iron (Mark). In taking a three day course I found him to be a very proficient instructor. He displayed an obvious proficiency in what he teaches coupled with an understated training methodology that both challenges and puts at ease his students. His depth of knowledge

Phil Webb Oregon

We (women) deserve the best!

Because I believe that my personal safety is my responsibility, I searched for an instructor to teach me how to defend myself using a gun. I am a complete novice when it comes to firing a gun, so I looked for a person who was highly skilled, and more importantly, patient. I talked to a

Adrienne M. Washington State

Safety is the first priority

Safety is the first priority, and at a certain point, a great deal of skill is needed to progress in training in a safe manner without compromising the lesson. You are the only trainer I would trust with that.

John B - firearms instructor Washington State

…more prepared to defend myself…

Mark Jones is an excellent instructor! After participating in his Handgun 1 and Pepper Spray classes, I feel more prepared to effectively defend myself. His focus on mindset, skills, and tactics provided me with the valuable information I need to protect myself and my family. I highly recommend these courses!

Heather T stay-at-home-mom - Utah