MRJ Strategy

09/12/2026

09/02/2026

National Preparedness Month is here.
FEMA’s Ready Campaign encourages everyone to understand their risks, make a plan, and build a basic emergency kit. Preparedness isn’t about fear — it’s about giving yourself and your loved ones the best chance when the unexpected happens.

If your workplace, organization, or community group wants to take the next step, I offer practical training that helps people respond confidently in critical situations.
Small actions today can make a big difference tomorrow.

More resources:

Quick Links More Steps You Can Take Resources

08/18/2026

⚡ CPR/AED/First Aid Training with Helios Energy

Yesterday I had the pleasure of running CPR/AED/First Aid certification training for the Helios Energy team in Clinton, IL.

This was a blended learning class, so yesterday’s session focused on hands‑on skills verification - and it was great to see the entire step up to build real‑world readiness together.

A huge thank‑you to Helios Energy for inviting me out and making safety a priority out in the field.

If your business or organization wants to do the same, I offer on‑site blended learning certification classes across Central Illinois.
Let’s make sure your team is prepared for the moments that matter most...and that we hope never happen. Message me to schedule your class.

08/07/2026

This is why I teach, and why I train so much: to ensure that I give my students the best education possible for the scenarios that hopefully will never happen.

07/04/2026

This story has been all over the news lately, with very heated discussions about whether the shooting was justified or not. I've seen multiple videos from different angles, and while I'm sure there's more information out there that the public isn't seeing yet, here are my thoughts on this:

Was this something worth getting into a fight about? Absolutely not. It's a parking space. Both of them were wrong in arguing about this. So yes, both of them were in the wrong. And yes, when someone pulls a gun on you (legally or not), it's probably a good time to disengage. But you can't shoot someone just for being an idiot.

Was there anything else she could have done? This is exactly why I train my students that even if you have a CCL and carry a fi***rm, carry a non-lethal option as well (e.g., pepper spray). When all you have is a fi***rm, everything starts to look like a lethal threat ("When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"). This is an ideal situation (and long before it got to this point) to use pepper spray and get out of there.

Why did she decide to shoot at this moment in time? Florida is a 'Stand Your Ground' state, but you still must be able to articulate a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm. She had been retreating for a while (moving around the other vehicles), so why all of a sudden did she pull the trigger? He didn't lunge, he didn't square up, he didn't have a weapon, so what made her change her mind, stop retreating, and pull the trigger? It's possible he said something that was threatening, but his body posture does not show a change indicating an imminent threat.

Was she an "innocent party" in this? Most of the videos being shown are the last 30-45 seconds of the incident - not the full thing. There are videos that show the whole incident from the start to finish. At one point during the incident she is seen in her car with him out of frame - meaning she had every opportunity to leave. And while she has no legal obligation to get out of there, be smart and leave. Instead, she got out of her car with her gun in hand. This is (in my non-lawyer fi***rm instructor opinion) where she's lose out on the 'Stand Your Ground' law. This is the point where she isn't standing her ground, but approaching and being the aggressor. Being in the relative safety of your vehicle (as he had no displayed weapon) then leaving it to re-engage is a very poor choice - and the one that may lead her to getting jail time.

Both parties made mistakes. One person lost his life because of it, the other may lose her freedom. Don't fight over stupid stuff - your life isn't worth a parking spot.

The incident occurred midday Tuesday in North Lauderdale and was captured on cellphone and dashcam video obtained by ABC News.

06/12/2026

Regardless of what the police chief may have called this, it wasn't horseplay - it was downright stupidity. There are universal safety rules for a reason, and these two officers broke several of them. And because of their carelessness and negligence, one of the officers got shot.

The fi***rm rules are simple:
1) Treat all fi***rms as if they are real and loaded
2) Do not point your fi***rm at anything you do not wish to engage
3) Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to engage
4) Know your target and what's around it

Complacence of these rules is what leads to injuries like this...or sometimes worse.

Newly released video shows a police officer getting shot by a fellow cop in what the chief described as "horseplay."

06/05/2026

Good luck this weekend in your home opener!

06/01/2026

June 1–7 is CPR & AED Awareness Week.
Every year, the American Heart Association highlights how fast, confident action can double or triple a person’s chance of survival during cardiac arrest.

Learn more here:
👉 https://cpr.heart.org/en/training-programs/cpr-and-aed-awareness/cpr-and-aed-awareness-week

If your team, organization, or family needs CPR/AED certification, MRJ Strategy offers hybrid and on‑site training throughout Central Illinois.

Practical Training. Real‑world Readiness.

Message me to schedule your class.

Celebrate National CPR and AED Awareness Week in your community. AHA has created free materials that you can print on your home or office printer.

04/09/2026

I have no idea what you're talking about...

04/06/2026

In addition to my regular instruction, I also serve as a Civilian Role Player at the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois. One of today’s scenarios focused on proper fi***rm carry and storage — open carry, concealed carry, and plain‑view considerations.

During the debrief, a cadet asked a question about concealed carry law. The instructor, knowing I teach this material extensively on the civilian side, asked me to step in and explain it to the group.

It was a small moment, but it meant a lot to have my expertise trusted and relied on. I’m grateful for the chance to support the next generation of officers and to help bridge the gap between civilian and law‑enforcement perspectives on responsible fi***rm handling.