Protection and Security Services, St. Paul

After his security team escaped unscathed from an attack during a refueling mission, AJ Reyer received an ARCOM medal with valor from the US Army. He served eight years, during which he flexed his teaching muscles by training 140 soldiers in convoy security. When AJ returned home in 2004, he became a law-enforcement officer, patrolling Minnesotan streets and eventually joining the department's SWAT team.

He channels these experiences into classes at Protection and Security Services. While his beginning students learn gun safety and shooting techniques, his advanced pupils participate in real-life SWAT training scenarios that incorporate room clearing, hands-on self-defense, and firing airsoft replica handguns while moving. AJ also teaches private classes on a limited basis.