Train With a Plan

Academy membership starts with an intake and skills assessment, then a year of training built around your level at our private range near Culpeper, Virginia. Individual, couples and family memberships.

Enrollment opens soon. Join the waitlist below to hear first.

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WHO IT’S FOR

Built for Every Level

New Gun Owners

Learn it right from the start

Couples & Families

Train for home defense together

Experienced Shooters

A plan, not just range time

The Academy year at a glance: Intake and Assessment (3 sessions); Core: The Resilient Citizen and Reflex Pistol; 9 electives including Concealed Carry Tactics and Two Person Tactics (choose 6; couples share 6, families share 8, counted per seat); Graduation Exercise with certificate of completion; 5 supervised open range sessions and 12 monthly group Zoom calls with John all year; Extra-Curricular courses: Shotgun Skills, Home Defense Shotgun, Practical Revolver. CITIZEN-DEFENDER ACADEMY The Year at a Glance 2027 · Founding enrollment · Limited to 50 members 1 STEP 1 Intake & Assessment 3 sessions 2 STEP 2 Core 4-hour modules 3 STEP 3 Electives Choose 6 · 4-hour modules STEP 4 Graduation The endpoint Skill and knowledge inventory The Resilient Citizen Reflex Pistol Home Defense Pistol Winter Concealed Carry Night Shoot Hit at Distance Movement and Cover Car Problems! That’s Odd! Concealed Carry Tactics Two Person Tactics Couples share 6 · Families share 8 · Counted per seat Graduation Exercise Certificate of completion ALONGSIDE, ALL YEAR 5 supervised open range sessions 12 monthly group Zoom calls with John EXTRA-CURRICULAR COURSES Open to everyone · Members save $50 Shotgun Skills Home Defense Shotgun Practical Revolver Not a member? Every class except Intake & Assessment can be booked on its own.
The Academy year at a glance: Intake and Assessment (3 sessions); Core: The Resilient Citizen and Reflex Pistol; 9 electives including Concealed Carry Tactics and Two Person Tactics (choose 6; couples share 6, families share 8, counted per seat); Graduation Exercise with certificate of completion; 5 supervised open range sessions and 12 monthly group Zoom calls with John all year; Extra-Curricular courses: Shotgun Skills, Home Defense Shotgun, Practical Revolver. CITIZEN-DEFENDER ACADEMY The Year at a Glance 2027 · Founding enrollment · Limited to 50 ALONGSIDE, ALL YEAR 5 open range sessions 12 group Zoom calls with John 1 Intake & Assessment 3 sessions · Skill and knowledge inventory 2 Core 4-hour modules The Resilient Citizen Reflex Pistol 3 Electives — choose 6 4-hour modules Couples share 6 · Families share 8 · Counted per seat Home Defense Pistol Winter Concealed Carry Night Shoot Hit at Distance Movement and Cover Car Problems! That’s Odd! Concealed Carry Tactics Two Person Tactics Graduation Graduation Exercise Certificate of completion EXTRA-CURRICULAR COURSES Open to everyone · Members save $50 Shotgun Skills Home Defense Shotgun Practical Revolver Not a member? Every class except Intake & Assessment can be booked on its own.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

A Full Year of Training

Individual Membership

One student, one full year

  • 3 Intake & Assessment sessions
  • The Resilient Citizen
  • Reflex Pistol
  • 6 four-hour electives
  • 5 supervised open range sessions
  • 12 monthly group Zoom calls
  • Unlimited private calls or Zooms with John

Couples Membership

Two adults, one household

  • Each person gets 3 Intake & Assessment sessions
  • Each person takes The Resilient Citizen and Reflex Pistol
  • 6 electives shared by the couple, counted per seat
  • 5 supervised open range sessions shared by the couple
  • 12 monthly group Zoom calls for both of you
  • Unlimited private calls or Zooms with John

Family Membership

Up to four people, one household

  • Each member gets 3 Intake & Assessment sessions
  • Each member takes The Resilient Citizen and Reflex Pistol
  • 8 electives shared by the household, counted per seat
  • 5 supervised open range sessions shared by the household
  • 12 monthly group Zoom calls for every member
  • Unlimited private calls or Zooms with John
  • Families onboard and take Resilient Citizen together in the scheduled sessions

Open Range

Practice on our private range

Every membership includes 5 supervised open range sessions. Come out, practice what you learned in class, and train with an instructor on hand.

Membership runs 12 months from purchase.

HOW IT WORKS

Join. Book. Train.

01

Join

Choose an individual, couples or family membership.

02

Book

Start with an Intake & Assessment, then book your classes online. Members pay nothing extra per class.

03

Train

Show up and train. We’ll have your details before class starts.

BEFORE YOU JOIN

Common Questions

What happens at Intake & Assessment?

It's a check of where you are now, not a test, and there is no leaderboard. John measures your current skills and knowledge, then your year of classes is built around what you need. Intake runs in four-hour blocks: show up, get your assessment, then move on to the next event or an open shoot as time allows.

How does scheduling work?

Classes run on set dates throughout 2027, and you book them online. Enrollment for each class closes 7 days before it starts. That is also the last day to cancel or reschedule. The full 2027 schedule goes live when enrollment opens, so you can plan the whole year ahead.

Can my family split up for a class?

Yes. Couples and family electives are shared and counted per seat, so you use them however works for you. If two of you take Night Shoot on Saturday and the other two take it another day, that uses 4 of your family's 8. Each member still takes their own Resilient Citizen and Reflex Pistol.

How old do kids need to be?

The minimum age is 14. Members under 18 must have a parent or guardian with them at every class and open range session. Members 18 and over can attend on their own.

How big are the classes?

Small. Academy classes are capped at 6 students. Permit classes and open range sessions are capped at 10, and one-day extra-curriculars at 16.

What is an open range session?

A four-hour block on our private range near Culpeper. Each session starts with a safety brief, followed by supervised, coached shooting. It's your time to practice what you've learned in class. Come and go as you like during the block. Sessions are capped at 10 people, so book your spot ahead.

What happens on the group Zoom calls?

Once a month, John hosts a group call for members. A typical call covers a current event, the skills it showed or lacked, and a gear review. Calls are recorded, so you can watch any you miss.

Does the VA/Utah Permit Class Plus count toward my membership?

It’s part of the Prep Academy, not an Academy elective. Join the Academy within a month of taking it and you’ll get a $125 credit toward your membership.

What do I get when I graduate?

A certificate of completion from Citizen-Defender, and a full year of training to show for it.

FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP

Lock In Founding Pricing

Individual

$1,250/year

One student, full Academy membership

Couples

$1,550/year

Two adults, one household

Family

$1,750/year

Up to four people, plus $250 for each additional person

  • 2027 members keep this price through 2028.
  • The Academy is limited to 50 members for 2027.

Join the Waitlist

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Be First in Line

Enrollment for the 2027 Academy opens soon and is limited to 50 members. Leave your email and you’ll hear first.

NOT READY TO JOIN?

Book a Single Class

Every class except Intake & Assessment is open to everyone. Most Academy classes are $200, or 3 for $400. Extra-Curriculars are $295, and members save $50.

A membership covers eight classes worth $1,600 on their own, plus open range sessions and monthly Zooms.

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