Pacific West Academy

08/25/2026

AI is reshaping office work fast, but executive protection is one of the least AI-exposed fields in the country. Physical, situational, human by design.

Pair that stability with $85K–$150K+ earning potential, Executive Protection is a career built to last.

Our students are benefiting from the income based student loan option through Edly.

Pay based on what you earn, not a fixed bill upfront

Incomebasedstudentloans BodyguardTraining CloseProtection ProtectiveServices SecurityTraining CareerChange FutureOfWork VeteranTransition NoDegreeNeeded ExecutiveProtectionTraining LosAngeles

08/24/2026

One second left on the clock.

Chris "Taco" Padilla — part of the instructor team at Pacific West Academy — locked a standing arm-triangle, slammed Nasrat Haqparast to the mat, and put him out as the horn sounded. 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Sacramento.

Still unbeaten in the UFC.

That's the same close-quarter control he drills with our students. 👊

Congrats, Taco. UFC Chris Taco

08/21/2026

Exciting news! Pacific West Academy is now an approved Edly partner school.

Students enrolling in our Certified Executive Security Specialist (CESS) program now have a flexible new way to fund their training.

✅ No cosigner required
✅ No credit history needed
✅ Payments that flex with your income after completion

If the cost of training has been holding you back from starting a career in executive protection, this could be the option you’ve been waiting for.

Learn more:
https://na2.hubs.ly/H07nbGR0

08/12/2026

The sights were aligned. You still moved the gun off target.

That's the problem Mark Ackenback takes apart in Episode 6 of our Technical Shooting Series, on precision marksmanship and trigger control. He covers what trigger prep is, why timing is where most shooters struggle, and the pressure mistake that moves the gun.

Mark is the owner of First Defense Fi****ms Training and a POST-certified member of the PWA fi****ms faculty.

Pacific West Academy | Los Angeles and San Diego

****msTraining

08/05/2026

Recoil management is not how flat you can keep the gun.

That is how Mark Ackenback opens Episode 5 of our Technical Shooting Series. He explains what the real measure is, and the grip problem that stops most shooters getting there.

Mark is the owner of First Defense Fi****ms Training and a POST-certified member of the PWA fi****ms faculty.

Pacific West Academy | Los Angeles and San Diego

****msTraining

08/05/2026

07/29/2026

You lose more time between targets than you lose on any single shot.

Episode 4 of our Technical Shooting Series is live. Mark Ackenback breaks down pistol target transitions, and the fix is not speed. It is sequence.

You can only engage one target at a time. Everything about that shot is already decided by your grip, your trigger, your stance. So the gap between targets is the only thing left to fight for.

Finish the shot. Then the eyes go, not the gun.

And here is where most shooters fall down: do not look at the next target. Pick a spot on it. Something small, something exact. Then let the pistol catch up to your vision.

Look at a target in general and the gun has nowhere to be. It arrives late, it overswings, or it stalls short, and now you are hunting for your sights. Give it an address and it shows up clean, with the sights already close to where they need to be.

Eyes lead. Gun follows. Everything else is wasted motion.

For anyone working in protective services, this is not a range-only skill. Multiple-threat engagement, working around a principal, and shooting in a compressed environment all run on the same https://na2.hubs.ly/H06YbJb0 lose more time between targets than you lose on any single shot.

Episode 4 of our Technical Shooting Series is live. Mark Ackenback breaks down pistol target transitions, and the fix is not speed. It is sequence.

You can only engage one target at a time. Everything about that shot is already decided by your grip, your trigger, your stance. So the gap between targets is the only thing left to fight for.

Finish the shot. Then the eyes go, not the gun.

And here is where most shooters fall down: do not look at the next target. Pick a spot on it. Something small, something exact. Then let the pistol catch up to your vision.

Look at a target in general and the gun has nowhere to be. It arrives late, it overswings, or it stalls short, and now you are hunting for your sights. Give it an address and it shows up clean, with the sights already close to where they need to be.

Eyes lead. Gun follows. Everything else is wasted motion.

For anyone working in protective services, this is not a range-only skill. Multiple-threat engagement, working around a principal, and shooting in a compressed environment all run on the same principle.

Programs and admissions: https://na2.hubs.ly/H06Y6LJ0 or (818) 906-3753

07/20/2026

When it comes to your exposed pistol draw, does moving faster actually make you slower? 🔫🤔

In Episode 3 of our 10-part tactical pistol series, PWA Lead Instructor Mark Ackenback shows us why "trying to be fast" usually introduces wasted movement. Throughout this series, we're giving you the best tips on how to improve your speed and accuracy shooting a pistol—covering everything from establishing your grip and refining your trigger work, to acquiring that perfect sight picture. Economy of motion is the real secret to a lightning-fast draw stroke!

At Pacific West Academy, we don't just teach tactics; we build careers. 🇺🇸 If you know a military veteran, former LEO, or anyone looking for a hands-on career change that pays well, PWA offers an accelerated, ~10-week GI-Bill®️ approved Executive Protection program. No 4-year degree required!

🛡️ Learn about our training programs: https://na2.hubs.ly/H06MZ8d0

👇 Drop a comment below: What's the hardest part of perfecting your draw stroke? Is it the grip, clearing the holster, or picking up the sights? Let us know!

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