HCCI Tactical Training Solutions LLC

Back in Israel - Day 8

Yesterday was another incredible day of training and learning.

One of the recurring themes throughout the day was resilience and the importance of choosing to stand strong in the face of adversity. A defeat only truly happens when we choose not to fight anymore.

We talked extensively about how those who seek to harm communities are not simply looking to cause damage. They want to break people's spirit. They want people to lose hope, lose courage, and eventually lose their identity.

That is why building resilient communities matters so much.

Sadly, the majority of communities, organizations, and schools are choosing not to fight. They are choosing not to prepare. They are choosing not to protect. Instead, they are placing their faith in the assumption that someone else will save them, that help will arrive in time, or that the threat will never come to them.

That is exactly the mindset we have been discussing throughout this trip.

Later in the day, we traveled to a remote area outside Jerusalem that dates back to the Roman occupation. During that time, Jewish people who refused to surrender their identity and culture transformed underground cisterns into a complex cave system where they could live, communicate, and survive.

We had the opportunity to go underground and see firsthand what people were willing to do to preserve their community, their faith, and their way of life.

One of the discussions that came out of that experience was the difference between freedom fighters and terrorists.

The conclusion was simple. Freedom fighters seek to preserve people, culture, and freedom. Terrorists seek to impose fear, destroy identity, and force others to submit to their ideology.

That conversation stuck with me because it ties directly into why we are here.

If we are unwilling to preserve our communities, our culture, and our values through preparation and real security measures, then we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who would gladly take them away.

We finished the day with Krav Maga training and instruction on Israeli pistol methods and deployment during active threat situations.

As with much of this trip, the training itself was only part of the lesson.

Again, the principles come back to standing strong in our culture, our identity, and our community. It comes back to building resilience into our communities with truth and intention, and protecting the people we are responsible for before anything goes wrong, before anything happens, and before the threat arrives.

Because if we do not choose to prepare before anythinghappens, the consequences after will be far more dire.

The larger lesson continues to be about responsibility.
Responsibility to our communities.
Responsibility to our families.
Responsibility to prepare before something happens instead of reacting afterward.

The more time I spend here, the more I see that resilience is not built during a crisis.
It is built beforehand.
It is built through culture, community, relationships, preparedness, and a willingness to stand up for what matters.

That lesson applies just as much at home as it does here in Israel.

Back in Israel - Day 7

Yesterday we spent the day visiting multiple kibbutzim that were attacked on October 7 and hearing firsthand accounts from those who lived through it.

One lesson continued to come up over and over again: collect information quickly and make decisions. In a crisis, information matters. You may never have all the information you want, but you need enough information to begin acting and adapting as the situation changes.

We discussed analyzing terrain, identifying choke points, recognizing likely avenues of attack, and thinking ahead before a threat arrives.

Preparation before anything happens matters.

One kibbutz shared how they now train weekly, not once or twice a year as before October 7th. Equipment is staged throughout the community so it can be accessed immediately when needed. They maintain a constant state of readiness because emergencies do not happen on a schedule.

Another lesson was the importance of relationships. Relationships save lives. Knowing your neighbors, knowing your community, and knowing who you can depend on often makes the difference between success and failure during a crisis.

One statement that stood out to me was:

"Do not trust technology. Trust your people."

Technology can fail. Communications can fail. Systems can fail. But trained and committed people can overcome tremendous challenges.

We also discussed emergency preparedness. Radios. Maps. Floor plans. Medical equipment. Emergency kits. Resources staged and ready before they are needed.

One of the most powerful lessons came from hearing how different communities responded to directives requiring weapons to be locked in centralized armories. Some communities complied. Others maintained immediate access to defensive tools.

The outcomes were dramatically different.

The communities that were prepared and able to respond immediately protected their people more effectively than those forced to wait.

Another reality became clear throughout the day.

Nobody waited for help.

People did not stay inside hoping someone else would solve the problem. They moved immediately to protect their families, neighbors, and communities.

The time spent waiting for help is often where the greatest loss occurs.

Law enforcement and military are critical, but they still have to arrive. The attack is already happening.

The question becomes: what will you do before they get there?

One final lesson struck me.

Before October 7, many people believed it would never happen.

Now they understand it can happen anywhere.

The difference is they no longer live in denial.

They live prepared.

That lesson applies far beyond Israel. It applies to schools, places of worship, businesses, and communities everywhere.

Preparation is not fear.

Preparation is responsibility.

And responsibility is how we protect the people entrusted to our care.

Back in Israel - Day 6

Yesterday I finally got to meet up with the team I will be training with for the next two weeks. These are great people from across the United States who are dedicated to protecting the Jewish communities they serve.

It takes courage to willingly place yourself in harm's way for the protection of others. It takes courage to choose to pay a cost so others do not have to.

After meeting up, we took a bus to the Nova Music Festival site, where we had the privilege of hearing from two survivors who survived the attack together.

There were many lessons that apply not only to Jewish communities, but to all communities.

One of the first lessons was the importance of having a plan of ex*****on.

That plan may need to change as events unfold, but you must have a plan. You cannot wait until chaos arrives to start thinking about survival.

You must analyze the terrain, the environment, and the threat in order to build a path forward.

They talked about maintaining awareness of your surroundings so you can make sound decisions. Otherwise, the situation begins forcing decisions upon you that you may not be prepared to make.

One lesson that stood out to me was that our ability to continue learning is one of our greatest survival tools.

They also emphasized listening to your gut instinct.
There is something primal about it.
When something feels wrong, we need to pay attention.

They talked about avoiding cluster points, using terrain to your advantage, identifying barriers, cover, concealment, weapons of opportunity, and constantly evaluating how to move toward safety.

Most importantly, they talked about the mindset of survival.

There is no time to waste.
There is always something you can do.
When facing a threat, ask yourself, "What can I do next?"
Do not choose to be a victim.
Choose today that you will fight to survive.

After leaving Nova, we began a 5-kilometer trek to the kibbutz where we will be staying for the next several days.

The final kilometer was done carrying one of our team members on a stretcher. We rotated through the carry, alternating between a standard walking pace and double time all the way back to our living quarters.

It was a reminder that resilience is not an individual pursuit.

Strong communities are built when people are willing to carry one another through difficult times.

Perhaps the most important lesson from the day came from a simple question:

Who saves the day?
The answer was not law enforcement.
The answer was not the military.

The answer was the people who were already there and ready.

Trust law enforcement. Support law enforcement. But understand that they still have to arrive to an event that is already happening.

That reality exists in Israel.
It exists in the United States.
And it exists in every community we serve.

These lessons apply to active shooters, bombings, stabbings, vehicle attacks, terrorism, and countless other forms of violence.

If we fail to prepare before something happens, we are choosing to leave our future to chance.

Preparation is not paranoia.
Preparation is responsibility.

And responsibility is one of the greatest acts of service we can provide to the people we are entrusted to protect.

Back in Israel - Day 5

Yesterday was a wonderful day.

It was a much slower and more restful day centered around Shabbat, community, family, and reflection.

I had the opportunity to participate in some Jewish cultural experiences with my friend and his family, slow down from the pace of travel and meetings, and simply enjoy the day.

As the evening approached, we headed out for a night hike through the Negev.

What an incredible experience.

The desert at night is peaceful in a way that is difficult to describe. As we hiked several kilometers through the darkness, I found myself spending a lot of time in deep thought and reflection.

Reflecting on life.
Reflecting on purpose.
Reflecting on where this journey is headed.

We finished the evening sitting around a fire, drinking fresh mate prepared traditionally, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying good company.

It was exactly the kind of day I needed before the next phase of this trip begins.

Today I meet up with the training group I will be spending the next two weeks with.

People from across the United States who have come here with a common purpose: to strengthen their ability to serve, protect, and build resilience within their Jewish communities.

As I look back on my first five days in Israel, I realize they have all been preparing me for this moment.

The meetings in Tel Aviv.
The conversations about helping young women overcome trauma.
The walks through Jerusalem.
The time spent with the Bedouin people.
The history of Ben-Gurion.
The lessons of Shabbat.
The hospitality, friendships, and relationships being built along the way.

None of it has felt accidental.

Every experience has reinforced the same lesson.

The tactical matters.
The training matters.
Community safety matters.

But if we forget the people, the communities, and the reason we do this work, then the skills themselves mean very little.

Everything I have experienced this week points back to one mission:
Building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.

That is why I am here.
That is what I hope to bring home.

And now the next chapter of this journey begins.

Back in Israel - Day 4

Hello from Israel.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. What a treat it was to spend time in the Negev with one of the trainers I will be working with for the next few weeks. His family has been incredibly hospitable, kind, and gracious, and they bring such a unique perspective and background to life.

We started the day with a hike into the Negev toward a natural spring. Along the way, I had the opportunity to meet some of the native people of the land known as the Bedouin.

What a tremendous family.

They live off the land, raising sheep and goats, herding them across the desert, and growing their own grain in an environment that can be incredibly unforgiving. They were welcoming, gracious, and kind, sharing traditional tea and some delicious dates with us.

From there, we continued our journey deeper into the Negev.

For hours, we hiked up and down through the desert, crossing terrain covered with natural flint and winding through the desert floor until we finally arrived at a natural spring. A small oasis in the middle of a harsh and unforgiving landscape.

There, I was invited to take part in something meaningful.

I was asked to submerge myself three times.

The first time, to ask the water to wash away something I needed removed.

The second time, to ask the water to strengthen something I needed.

And the third time, simply to surrender to the peace of the water and be present in the moment.

It was an inward moment.

A moment focused on the heart and the mind.

A gift I could not have planned for and something I never expected to encounter on this trip.

Much like my last visit to Israel, so much is happening beyond the training itself.

We eventually made our way back, receiving partial rides from two different people who were driving out of the area.

Later, I had the privilege of visiting a kibbutz not far from where I am staying, which happens to be where Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, chose to live after his years of leadership. I learned more about the history of the area and the life he built there.

I ended the day touring the visitor center and refuge built around Ben-Gurion's legacy before sharing a wonderful Shabbat dinner filled with prayer, singing, conversation, and community with my good friend and his family.

One of the things I continue to learn here is that many of the most important lessons happen beyond the tactical.

They happen in the heart.
They happen in family.
They happen in community.
They happen in understanding why we do what we do.

If we forget the why, then the tactical training means very little. It simply becomes another skill or another task.

The why is what gives it meaning.

For me, that why has always been building safer communities.

Places where people can grow and thrive.
Places where families can flourish.

Places where communities can build relationships, raise the next generation, and live without fear.

That is why I train.
That is what I hope to bring home.

And that is what continues to drive me to build safer, stronger, and more resilient communities for everyone.

Back in Israel - Day 3

Yesterday was a wonderful day that completely threw me for a loop.

My entire day changed at the last minute when I got a call around 11:00 PM the night before from the people I will be training with for the next two weeks. They asked if I could come train with them for a day because one of the Engineering Corps commanders is leaving, and they were putting together a training day and history tour around Jerusalem.

So the day started in a park where I got to help them set up a military zip line and rappelling lines. I also had the opportunity to help run some of the Engineering Corps soldiers through the courses.

For those unfamiliar with the Engineering Corps, many of these individuals operate more in support roles and are not always on the front lines. This was a significant change of pace for many of them.

After that, we toured Jerusalem, discussing the history of the city, why it is important to be capable of protecting their people, and why their role within the IDF is so critical.

An even bigger surprise came at the end of the day.

One of the instructors I will be training with invited me to his personal home for Shabbat, which begins Friday at sundown. He lives in the Negev, so today, as I am writing this, I am heading to a completely new part of Israel that I have never visited before.

While I intentionally arrived a few days early before training began, this trip has already taken on a life of its own.

I am learning things in ways that simply cannot be planned or expected. I am meeting incredible people, building meaningful relationships, and gaining perspectives that can only come from being here.

The people of Israel are truly resilient.

Part of the Jewish Resilience Program that I am becoming an instructor through is bringing those principles back home to the American Jewish community. But it goes beyond that.

It is about helping all people build stronger and more resilient communities. Our schools. Our community centers. Our places of worship. Our businesses. Our corporations.

We owe it to the people we are responsible for to prepare before anything happens so that we are capable of responding if something does happen.

If we only think about safety and security after a tragedy, then we are paying a price that can never truly be recovered.

I will continue sharing updates as this journey unfolds, but I am incredibly grateful to be here and excited to see what this experience continues to become.

Day 2 back in Israel.

Yesterday was a slower day business-wise, but an important one.

I traveled from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv for a meeting and had the opportunity to sit down with my dear friend Reuven, a public speaker and tour guide who teaches about Israeli history and how both past and present conflicts have shaped not only Israel, but the world around it. He also helps organize and guide trips throughout Israel for those wanting to experience and better understand the country, its history, and its people.

Afterward, I took a scooter from Azrieli Mall down toward the Mediterranean, grabbed a cold coffee, some cheese, and a coconut pudding, and took a moment to slow down and absorb the experience.

Later that evening, I took the train back to Jerusalem, walked through the Yehuda Market, and returned to my quarters for the night.

By the end of the day, I had walked roughly 22,500 steps.

Not just walking aimlessly, but observing.

Observing culture.
Observing security.
Observing community.
Observing how people live, interact, prepare, and adapt.

Every conversation and every meeting here continues opening doors toward stronger training partnerships, better relationships, and new ideas for how we continue improving our programs back home.

This week includes more meetings with training partners, new friends, and opportunities to continue building stronger and more resilient communities through better training and preparedness.

I also have plans to train with a military unit while combining some history and sightseeing, which I am incredibly excited for.

Looking forward to seeing what Day 3 brings.

Day 1 back in Israel is complete.

Honestly, I am exhausted.

By the time I landed in Tel Aviv yesterday, I had been awake for nearly 60 hours with almost no sleep. No sleeping on the flights either. I landed, dropped my bags, and immediately stepped into business meetings and conversations about the growing relationships and training partnerships we are building here in Israel.

What is interesting is how natural it felt returning here.

Back in October 2025, during my first three weeks training in Israel, I had to learn how to navigate the country, the culture, and even the public transportation system, which honestly is far better than most public transit systems I have experienced in the United States.

One of the people I met with today, whom is training me these next 3 weeks, was surprised I navigated from Ben Gurion Airport through central Tel Aviv with no issue. That may seem small, but it reminded of my three weeks in October of 2025, where I spent most of the time with my feet on the ground.

One of the most impactful conversations yesterday was learning about a project this trainer does focused on helping young women and girls from traumatic backgrounds through self-defense and empowerment training. Because of the war, that work has slowed down significantly.

I immediately connected with it.

Coming from the trauma background I came from, I understand what it feels like to believe there is no way forward. I told him that if we can figure out a path through my company, I would love to help support that mission and potentially make recurring trips to help teach and invest in those young lives.

Trauma does not have to define a person forever.

Even after being awake for almost 60 hours, I still ended up walking nearly 10 kilometers through Jerusalem. This trip is giving me more opportunity to walk though than last time.

Jerusalem feels very different from Tel Aviv. More observant.

But it also feels different from October.

Slower.
Quieter.
Less tourism.
Some market areas that were once alive felt almost barren.

You can still feel the impact of war and tension here.

Today I head back into Tel Aviv for more meetings with training partners and organizations we began building relationships with during my last trip.

The goal remains the same:

Build stronger security professionals.
Build stronger communities.
Bring those lessons home.
And continue helping create safer environments for people everywhere.

I’m excited to share this journey with all of you over the coming weeks.