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ABOUT US

About Us

At Paladin Protection Academy , we provide expert firearms training designed for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced shooters. Our experienced instructors, who come from backgrounds in the military, civilian instruction, and the armed industry, are committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to safely and responsibly own and use firearms. We offer specialized courses, including concealed carry training and women’s classes, ensuring that every student receives tailored instruction that meets their unique needs.

In addition to training individuals, we offer instructor certifications and advanced courses to take your skills to the next level. Whether you’re looking to protect your home or pursue a career as a firearms instructor, our comprehensive programs prepare you for success. At Paladin Protection Academy, we believe in empowering our students to protect what can’t be replaced with confidence and responsibility.

CONTACT US

Experienced Professionals Committed to Your Training and Safety

Instructor Certification Courses

Founder / Training Counselor

Brian Gard

Brian has been in the industry full time since 2012 and teaches all courses including Concealed Carry, AR-15, Defensive Pistol, Shotgun, Medical, Mass Shooter, Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, and certifies other instructors as a USCCA Training Counselor. He also specializes in laws including use of force and lawful carry.

Brian has been training with weapons and training others since 2007 where he assisted co-workers in qualifications.  In 2012 Brian opened his own business in firearms training and has since been working full time in the industry.  Brian practices what he preaches, using every opportunity to attend ongoing training himself.  His focus is on meeting a student where they are at in their journey and helping them progress in their training journey.

“The ladder of excellence has no top, there is always more to learn, more to grow.  When crisis strikes you are the first responder.  Police and rescue may be on the way, but ultimately we are responsible for the safety of ourselves and our loved ones.  Training should be rounded.  We need to be able to perform at that moment of truth, and the firearm is an important tool in that, but we must not overlook study of the law, situational awareness, de-escalation, emergency medical training, and equipment selection.  Protecting what can’t be replaced requires a somewhat broader set of skills and knowledge than just having a concealed carry permit.”

Certifications:

  • USCCA Training Counselor
  • USCCA AR-15 Instructor
  • USCCA Defensive Pistol Program Instructor
  • USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Instructor
  • USCCA Emergency First Aid Fundamentals Instructor
  • USCCA Countering the Mass Shooter Threat Instructor
  • Illinois CCW Instructor
  • Wisconsin CCW Instructor
  • NRA Chief Range Safety Officer
  • NRA Pistol Instructor
  • NRA Shotgun Instructor
  • Simunition Instructor

Years Experience 17

Founder / Training Counselor

Jenni Gard

Jenni is an energetic instructor who focuses on our specialty classes. She primarily teaches all of our women’s classes, offers children and family private classes, and certifies and trains new instructors as a Training Counselor.

Jenni has been expanding her firearms experience since 2013 when she inherited her first firearm. Since then, she explored various firearms (trying a lot of different guns!) to find the right ones for her. As she learned more, she found herself teaching her friends and family more about being a responsible gun owner and, after earning her CCL, she continued her education with the CCHDF course and ultimately became a Certified Instructor and a Training Counselor.

She believes that education and practice are the keys to being a responsible gun owner and caters her classes to meet each students’ needs. While you’ll occasionally find her teaching WI CCW, Jenni focuses on teaching our women’s class, including training new female instructors on the curriculum. She’s found that women often face unique challenges in living the armed lifestyle and enjoys working with female students to overcome those challenges. While she teaches nearly all of our courses, she’s uniquely certified in Children’s Firearms & Safety Fundamentals where she can design a custom class to introduce kids as young as 3 to firearms safety.

Certification

  • USCCA Training Counselor
  • USCCA Certified Instructor
    • WI Concealed Carry
    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals
    • Women’s Handgun and Self Defense Fundamentals
    • Emergency First Aid Fundamentals
    • Countering the Mass Shooter Threat
    • Children’s Firearms & Safety Fundamentals
  • NRA Range Safety Officer

Years of experience 4 years

Instructor

Tom Coyle

Tom carries because his family and friends are worth protecting. He values nothing more than the life and well-being of those he holds dear.

Tom’s firm belief is that the Second Amendment is for everyone. It is a right granted to us by the fact that we are born free Americans; not by government decree. By exercising it, we can maintain the mutual safety and security of ourselves, our families, our communities, and our nation. Through teaching, Tom hopes to pass along what he has received from his teachers: the information necessary to make the best choices from those available to stay safe and legal, the drive to train with a purpose, the desire to help others stay safe and exercise their rights peacefully, and to encourage the protecting our rights so that we can stay free. Learning is a never-ending process, and it is made enjoyable by studying and training with others who have similar goals.

Certifications

  • USCCA Certified Instructor
    • WI Concealed Carry
    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals
    • AR-15 Fundamentals Instructor
    • Children’s Firearms & Safety Fundamentals
  • NRA Range Safety Officer

Years of Experience 5 year

Instructor

Belle Coyle

Belle began her journey in firearms after her eldest son expressed an interest in joining the military and she wanted to seek education for both herself and her son. Since then, she’s taken every class possible to continue her own education and educate others. Belle firmly believes your safety is important, the safety of your family is important, and the safety of our communities is important.

Belle has many passions, but nothing will ever eclipse her passion for her family. In 2015, her oldest son began talking about following in his father’s footsteps and joining the military. It was a wake-up call that she was no longer comfortable with firearms, despite growing up with them. She decided to seek education for both herself and her son. Then the summer of 2020 happened and the safety of her family and community was brought back to the forefront and she began taking every class she could find.

Certifications

  • USCCA Certified Instructor
    • WI Concealed Carry
    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals
    • Woman’s Handgun and Self-Defense Fundamentals
  • NRA Range Safety Officer

Years of Experience: 5 year

Instructor / Store Operations / Gunsmith

Graden Folsom

Graden is one of the first contacts you will see when entering Paladin Protection Academy. He enjoys meeting new patrons and helping them sign up for a class or picking out a new firearm.

Graden will be starting his 3rd year at Paladin Protection Academy and has enjoyed learning new platforms in the firearms world. Family is very important to Graden, which is the main reason he believes in pursuing more education and training with a firearm. He stresses the more you know, the better you can defend them from harm.

Certifications

USCCA Certified Instructor

    • WI Concealed Carry
    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals

Years of experience 2 years

Instructor / Store Operations / Gunsmith

Kurt Wagner

Kurt is a patient yet straight forward instructor who focuses on AR-15 Range and Building Classes along with Defensive Shotgun.

Kurt has had varying experiences in different professions, competitions, and as a past time with multiple platforms and caliber types. After taking other courses and qualifications along with independent study, Kurt pursued obtaining an instructor certification for concealed carry. His goal was and still is to pass on his knowledge and experiences to produce a more competent and proficient gun owner who own and carry for their families and self-protection.

Certifications

  • USCCA Certified Instructor
    • WI Concealed Carry
    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals
    • AR-15 Fundamentals Instructor
  • NRA Range Safety Officer

Years of Experience 2 year