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ABOUT US

At Hill Country Training Group, we are a veteran / law enforcement owned company who employs highly skilled and qualified staff. We include our real world experience from our decades of service in the military and on the streets. Our goal is to build capable shooters and high quality security officers by developing skills and confidence in your ability to handle a self defense encounter. We will also give you the information you need to navigate the possible legal factors during the aftermath should you be involved in an incident.

Handgun training in Georgetown Texas

MARK RYAN

Owner / Head Instructor

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

While serving in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer and Light Infantryman, Mark was trained in many different weapon systems in the Army’s arsenal. He also specialized in the preparation and deployment of explosive charges and landmines. After his military service, Mark began his law enforcement career working in the East Los Angeles area as a patrol officer. During his career, Mark worked in numerous capacities within the department. Mark worked as a Gang Investigator, Special Occurrence Response Team member, K9 Agitator, Field Training Officer, Instructor, and worked as part of numerous interagency gang task forces with the ATF. As a corporal, Mark has also worked as acting patrol supervisor and has investigated numerous officer use of force incidents.

During his career, Mark conducted hundreds of gang related investigations ranging from street level narcotics up to murder investigations. He has also conducted numerous high risk search warrants and arrest warrants as a result of these investigations and developed an expertise in surveillance and counter surveillance.

 

Mark has worked as a personal protection officer for over two decades and has protected everyone from politicians, Hollywood elites and high net worth private citizens in both California and Texas. He has also provided service to many major international corporations in both states, working plain clothes protection and active shooter incident response.

 

After being medically retired due to injuries received in the line of duty, Mark spent over two years volunteering as a rifle and shotgun instructor for the Boy Scouts of America at their Firestone Scout Reservation location in Los Angeles County. He has also worked as a range safety officer and firearms instructor for Shady Oaks Gun Range and as lead instructor for Carry The Day Firearms Training here in Texas.

 

Mark has worked for many years with a group of attorneys who are experts in self defense law. This has allowed him to increase his knowledge on the use of force and how it is viewed and processed through the legal system. He uses that information to heighten the training of his students and better prepare them for self-defense encounters.

FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATIONS

  • NRA Rifle Instructor

  • NRA Shotgun Instructor

  • NRA Pistol Instructor

  • NRA Range Safety Officer

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

  • California POST Certified Chemical Agent Weapons Instructor

  • California POST Certified Less Lethal Weapons Instructor

  • California POST Certified Active Shooter Response Instructor

  • Level 2, 3, and 4 Texas Security Licenses

  • Texas Security Company Manager’s License

MEMBERSHIPS

  • National Rifle Association – Life Member

  • Firearms Policy Coalition – Member

  • U.S. LawShield – Member

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

  • Defensive Pistol – ITTS (Scotty Reitz)

  • Carbine Course – ITTS (Scotty Reitz)

  • Officer Involved Shooting Investigations Course – LA HIDTA

  • Use of Force Investigations Course – LA HIDTA

  • K-9 Agitator Course – Adlerhorst International

  • Texas Level 2, 3 & 4 Security and Personal Protection Training

  • Instructor Development – Jeff Gonzales (Trident Concepts LLC)

CHUCK LEAMING

Instructor

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Chuck Leaming brings over 50 years of firearms experience. He began competitive rifle shooting at the age of 8, Chuck has competed at all levels to include the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Chuck regularly attends training at Gunsite Academy in Arizona.

 

He served 3 years as a certified police officer in the State of Nebraska. Chuck also retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 25 years military service in the US Army as an infantryman and ordnance officer.

Chuck Leaming Firearms Instructor

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

  • Certified by the State of Texas to teach the Texas License to Carry Course, School Safety Certification and Level III security officer course, both classroom and firearms portions.

  • Certified by the National Rifle Association to teach basic rifle, pistol, shotgun, personal protection-in-the-home and home firearms safety.

  • National Rifle Association Chief Range Safety Officer.

  • Certified by the United States Concealed Carry Association as a Concealed Carry / Home Defense Fundamentals, AR-15, and Defensive Shooting Fundamentals Instructor.

  • Certified as a Training Counselor for the United States Concealed Carry Association.

  • Certified by the United States Concealed Carry Association as a Range Safety Officer.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • National Rifle Association Benefactor Life Member

  • United States Concealed Carry Association

  • Texas State Rifle Association Life

  • Member Gun Owners of America Member

Luis Velasquez Range Safety Officer

LUIS VELASQUEZ

Range Safety Officer

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

While serving as a paratrooper in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division, Luis has had several combat deployments. Once to Afghanistan in 2005, Iraq in 2006 as part of a joint task force with special operations command, and Iraq again in 2007. Luis has had specialized training in multiple weapon systems from his time in the infantry. After leaving the military, Luis spent time at the US Embassy in Kabul Afghanistan as part of an emergency response team for the embassy security forces. He also  managed foreign contract security forces for the Department of Defense in Kuwait.

 

Luis then went on to work in law enforcement with the Austin Police Department for 10 years, 5 of which he was part of a Counter Assault Strike Team, which  specialized in active shooter response. Luis now works as a corporate protection specialist in the Austin area.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

  • CAST Active Shooter Course (APD)

  • Supervisors Training Course (Armor Group)

  • Glock19/M4 Weapons Training Program (Armor Group)

  • Patrol Rifle Handlers Course

  • ALERRT Level 1

  • TCOLE Peace Officer License

  • Texas Level 2 Security

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