From July 2004 until May 2005 James Yeager was on Protective Security Details in Baghdad Iraq. His Team was responsible for the protection of the 8 Iraqi Election Commissioners during the violent pre-election, election, and post election. His Team was also in charge of the physical security of their offices at the Interim Iraqi Government Building and we worked closely with the Gurkhan guard force there. Yeager’s duties as I.C. (on-site supervisor) included acting as a media liaison, coordinating the security force for the building (Contractors and Iraqi), coordinating with the security force for the compound (Global Risk and US Army), and coordinating with the two U.S. Army Force Protection groups for the area (82nd ABN). He also assisted with the planning, advances, coordination, and execution of the many meetings, plane rides, helicopter shuttles, conferences, and trips around turbulent Iraq that the 8 commissions took to set up and complete the electoral process.

May 1996 through September 1998 he worked as a Patrolman and K-9 handler for the Big Sandy Police Department. In the fall of 1998 he was asked to be the Chief of Police. It was during this time he trained and led the County’s first Tactical Team. He held the position of Chief until a new Mayor fired him in May of 2000. He was hired as a Deputy at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office in May of 2000. His duties at BCSO included patrol, Tactical Team leader, and trainer for the Multi-Agency Crisis Response Team. September of 2002 after a new Sheriff came into office Yeager decided the political strife of full-time Law Enforcement was too much for him and he went into private training full-time until July of 2004 when he turned his company over to his Board of Directors to go to Iraq.

January 1992 through May 1996 James Yeager worked with various Drug Task Force units as well as many local Departments’ Narcotics squads buying and selling illegal narcotics in an undercover capacity. He specialized in deep cover operations, used fictitious names, and moved frequently. The agencies he worked for included, but were not limited to, the 24th Drug Task Force, 23rd D.T.F., 27th D.T.F., Paris Police Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, and the DEA. He made hundreds narcotics buys and sales during this period and still continues to work in short duration operations as needed.

James Yeager has been a commercial firearms trainer since 1996 when he founded Tactical Response and has taught literally thousands of students with many students, Tactical Teams, and Special Forces Teams being successful in lethal force confrontations both domestically and abroad. He has taught multiple classes in North America (nearly every state and Canada), Europe, Central America, and the Middle East. He has been on the board of Directors of the Southern Lawman Association and has been an advisor to a major firearms manufacturer.

James Yeager is also a professional writer and has been published in magazines such as S.W.A.T., Southern Lawman, and STUFF. He wrote foreword for the book “Surgical Speed Shooting” as well as being on the cover of that book which was written by Andy Stanford. He continues to write and his articles are seen frequently on his website and in various police and tactical magazines.

James Yeager is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET), the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), the National Rifle Association (NRA) – Life Member, the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, the Tennessee Tactical Police and Paramedic Association (TTPPA) and a member of I.L.E.E.T.A.

* Louisiana State Police Firearms Instructor Number #0259
* F.B.I. Certified Firearms Instructor
* TN Department of Safety Certified Firearms Instructor
* FAA certified to instruct Law Enforcement “Flying Armed” courses
* A.L.S. Master Instructor (Less Lethal, Flashbangs, Chemical Weapons)
* Expandable Baton Instructor – Monadanock
* Bushmaster Certified Patrol Rifle/Carbine Instructor
* Aerosol O.C. Instructor – Fox Labs International
* Armor Holding - Gas Mask Instructor
* Armor Holdings - Pyrotechnic Munitions Instructor
* Armor Holdings - Distraction Device Instructor
* Armor Holdings – Chemical Weapons Instructor
* Armor Holdings - Less Lethal Munitions Instructor
* NRA Certified Handgun Instructor #11973397
* NRA Personal Protection Instructor #11973397
* Glock Certified Armorer
* Rangemaster Handgun Instructor Development
* Knife Defense Instructor
* Over 200 hours of DSS training for EP/PSD/BG
* Scientific Combat Method American Combat Masters 20 hour
* S.D.S.I. Tactical Rifle Course 16hours
* Tactical Knife Instruction- American Combat Masters 20 hour
* Black Water Lodge 32 hour Tactical Police and Military Shotgun Course
* Completed various 40 hour Officer Survival schools
* Attended Snipercraft 40 hour
* OPS - Advanced Low Light Shooting Instructor Course 40 hour
* OPS - Advanced Tactical Handgun Instructor Course 40 hour
* OPS - Handgun Instructor Course 40 hour
* OPS - Patrol Rifle Instructor Course 40 hour
* OPS -Shotgun Instructor Course 40 hour
* Jim Crews - Tactical Handgun 20 hour
* Halo Group - Advanced Tactical Handgun 18 hour
* Rangemaster - High Risk Personnel 16 hour
* Rangemaster - Crisis Response Team Training 80 hour
* S.W.A.T. UTM / Chief Tom Long 40 hour
* D.E.A. - Clandestine Lab Investigations 40 hour
* Criminal Investigation School UTM 40 hour
* Patrol Interdiction 40 hour
* Basic SWAT-Jackson SWAT Team 40 hour
* John Farnam Advanced Tactical Handgun Instructor Course 20 hour
* Military Counter Drug SRT course 48 Hour
* SWAT by Smyrna S.T.O.R.M. Team 40 hour
* 40 hours in-service 1996-through present
* Active Shooter Instructor Course / TTPPA 24 hrs
* 40 Hr Police Sniper School by Smyrna S.T.O.R.M.
* 28 Hour Carbine Instructor / Jim Crews
* 40 Hour F.B.I. SWAT course
* 5 day Strategos Spec-Ops Low-Light Team Tactics 50+ Hours
* Personal Security Course from Armor Group International (I.T.I. in VA)
* Tony Scotti Driving Instructor Course
* Pat Rogers 3-Day Carbine Operator Course
* Caliber Press - Street Survival 2 days
* Glock 2.5 day Instructor Workshop

Email: JamesYeager@TacticalResponse.com