Instructor Bio: Jason Dandridge

Jason is a skilled and dedicated firearms instructor with over two decades of experience in law enforcement and tactical training. With a distinguished career spanning multiple high-stakes environments, Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to his role as an instructor.

Background and Experience

Jason began his career in law enforcement as a patrol officer, quickly rising through the ranks due to his exceptional performance, professionalism, and leadership skills. His extensive experience includes working on SWAT teams, conducting high-risk operations, and providing critical training to fellow officers. Jason’s commitment to excellence and his deep understanding of firearms safety, marksmanship, and tactical strategies have made him a respected figure in the field. Jason began instructing in law enforcement as a Field Training Officer in 2005. He received his first Instructor Certification through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in 2008 and soon felt the reward of helping others to learn in areas of critical training. Jason began teaching firearms to recruit officers years ago to prepare them for what to expect at the Police Academy. Of the hundreds he’s taught, he’s never had a recruit not graduate from the Police Academy due to failure with firearms, and his students often excelled on the range. Jason has had numerous recruits take Top Shot honors in their classes. Jason eventually became a supervisor in the Training Division of one of the largest police agencies in the state of South Carolina. During that time, and his time at his current department, he enhanced and developed new firearms programs in the areas of handgun, patrol rifle, and SWAT, to better train officers. Jason also developed a proven Pistol Mounted Optics Transition program that multiple departments have used when upgrading their officers to new handguns with red dots.

With over 25 years of public service, Jason has just retired from full-time law enforcement. He still enjoys serving in a part-time capacity on a local SWAT team and continues to train law enforcement personnel. He is also an Adjunct Instructor with the Warrior Poet Society, where he has grown in his ability to coach citizens in firearms around the country. Jason believes in a systematic approach to teach citizens from all experiences how to be better prepared in the area of firearms and tactics for self-defense. He prides himself in being able to do this in a way that makes the nervous beginner comfortable enough to enjoy the process.

Coaching Experience: Jason has taught hundreds of people, from many different walks of life, how to better use firearms and tactics.

Real-World Experience: Benefit from Jason’s extensive operational background and firsthand knowledge of high-stress situations.

Customized Training: Receive personalized instruction tailored to your skill level and specific goals, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced shooter.

Commitment to Safety: Learn from a professional who prioritizes safety and responsible firearms handling above all else. Jason has also been trained in trauma care through the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (TECC) and is CPR-certified.

Instructor Certifications:

  • Firearms Instructor - South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

  • Tactical Shooting Instructor - National Rifle Association Law Enforcement Division

  • Patrol Rifle Instructor - South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

  • Advanced Firearms Instructor - National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association

  • Red Dot for Duty Instructor - National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association

  • Red Dot Instructor - Centrifuge Training

  • MOS Instructor Workshop - Glock

  • Vehicle CQB Instructor - Centrifuge Training

  • Response to Active Shooter Instructor - Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

  • Paramilitary Attack Counter Offensive Plan Instructor - PACOP Fairfax County Justice Academy

  • Exterior Response to Active Shooter Events Instructor - ALERRT

  • Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Instructor - ALERRT

  • Force on Force Instructor - Simunition (General Dynamics)

  • Specific Skills Instructor - South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

  • De-escalation Instructor - Force Science Institute

Tactical Training:

  • Basic Training - U.S. Army

  • Police Academy - South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

  • Tactical Explosive Entry SWAT - Tactical Energetic Entry Systems

  • Patrol School - Tactical Energetic Entry Systems

  • SWAT School - Charleston Police Department

  • FBI SWAT Week Quantico- Federal Bureau of Investigations Washington Field Office SWAT

  • Patrol Rifle - North Charleston Police Department

  • Plain Clothes Response to Violent Encounters - ALERRT

  • Various shooting classes from private training schools in handgun, patrol rifle, red dot for pistol, and vehicle operations.

    Other Training:

  • Range Safety Officer - National Rifle Association

  • Advanced Armorer - Glock

  • AR15 Armorer - Smith & Wesson

  • Ar15 Armorer - Remington

  • M4 Armorer - Daniel Defense

  • Force Science Analyst Certification - Force Science Institute

  • Tactical Emergency Casualty Care - NAEMT