Kyle retired from the Army in 2022 after 20 years of service, including time in Infantry and Special Forces. He served in every major American conflict since 9/11, primarily as a Special Operator with US Special Operations Command. One of his most challenging moments was responding to the 2015 terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali. This experience, along with lessons learned throughout his career, led him to create Blu Bearing Solutions, a company focused on training law enforcement and private citizens to effectively respond to active threat situations.

Blake enlisted in the Army in 2010, completing Infantry and airborne training with the 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Afghanistan, earning a Purple Heart for combat injuries, and spent two years recovering before finishing his contract. Afterward, he joined the Fayetteville Police Department as a detective in the gun, gang, and cartel unit, later joining the SWAT team as an assaulter and qualified Police Sniper.

Jenay DeCaussin is the current female Tactical Games National Champion. She transitioned from competitive CrossFit to TTG in 2022, where she learned to shoot and, like many ambassadors, uses a Staccato pistol. Passionate about self-defense and a community rooted in freedom and hard work, Jenay works full-time as a CrossFit coach and athlete. She competes to honor God and the mentors who have invested in her.

Katie Knight is a top athlete known for winning the 2021 World's Toughest Mudder and the 2022 GORUCK Games. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she excels in strength, endurance, CrossFit, ultramarathons, The Tactical Games, obstacle course races, and hybrid competitions. Katie enjoys trail running, mountain biking, fishing, bow shooting, and spending time with her red golden retriever, Doug.

Kirt Finnell is a Tactical Games Elite Competitor and is currently serving as a Special Forces operator. Competing since 2022, he has 2 Tactical division wins and 2 Elite division wins as well as the 2023 National Title in the Tactical division. He competes for the All Guard National Shooting Team and enjoys shooting many other styles of competition.

Julie, a passionate advocate for health, fitness, and outdoor adventure, has served as a firefighter paramedic since 1999. As she approaches retirement in 2026, she continues her mission through the Peer Crisis Response K9 Team, supporting first responders nationwide alongside the IAFF and Florida Fire Marshal’s Office. Julie leads by example, inspiring others to embrace challenges and live boldly.

Erin Switzer joins Born Primitive with 20+ years in special operations, starting as a Reconnaissance Marine. An avid outdoorsman and extreme sports enthusiast, he enjoys skydiving, dirtbikes, street bikes, and snowboarding. His experience and passion make him a valuable asset in testing and evaluating products for functionality, comfort, and durability.

Rachel graduated from The Citadel with a degree in Criminal Justice, where she also played Division I volleyball. After joining the Charleston Police Department, she served for 7 years as a Narcotics Detective and Firearms Instructor in Special Investigations. She later became a CrossFit Games Regional athlete and transitioned to her current role as a Federal Agent, becoming the first woman on a high-level tactical team in her organization.

Ed Guerra brings 22+ years of special operations experience. Beginning his career with the 75th Ranger Regiment, he served as a Recce Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Small Unit Ranger Tactics Instructor and 75th Ranger Regiment Assessment and Selection Cadre, preparing candidates for the Regiment. Selected for The Special Missions Unit in 2014, he deployed to various combat theaters across the world, operating in critical roles such as Assaulter, Sniper Team Member, and Senior Enlisted Tactical Advisor. Now, as the leader of Obsidian Spear Group, he applies his expertise to ensure the highest level of training and preparedness for law enforcement, private security professionals, and responsible citizens

Rick retired from the U.S. Army in 2021 after 25 years of service, including time with the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Special Forces Group, and the Special Missions Unit. Rick's combat experience and knowledge is drawn from multiple deployments to various combat theaters across the world between 2005 and 2015. With over 16 years as a tactical and firearms instructor, he now serves as a lead instructor for Obsidian Spear Group. In his free time, Rick stays active with fitness, skiing, and motorcycles.

Jeffrey Thompson is a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran with over a decade of service, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. He served in Afghanistan, Germany, and Colombia, earning honors like the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge. As a Shooting and CQB Instructor, he shares his expertise with others. In 2018, Jeffrey founded Subsecond LLC, a leader in tactical gear and belts, known for innovation, quality, and customization. Subsecond products are proudly handmade in the USA.

Aiyana is a passionate shooter, fitness enthusiast, and expert in the outdoor and tactical industries. Professionally, she specializes in managing corporate liabilities, saving companies millions. Outside work, she thrives in high-performance environments, whether on her sport bike, skiing, or mastering tactical skills, always pushing boundaries and staying mission-ready.

Jonathan Menocal is a law enforcement officer with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, serving since 2018 in various roles, including Uniform Patrol, General Investigations, Crime Suppression, and currently the Special Response Team (SRT). As part of the largest full-time SWAT team in the Southeast, he handles high-risk incidents and serves as an explosive breacher, sniper, and lead firearms instructor. Jonathan also provides tactical and firearms instruction nationwide and internationally. A certified NRA and FDLE instructor, he’s a Grand Master in USPSA’s Limited Optics Division and holds a Criminal Justice degree from Florida International University.

Jordan Sessions, a Firefighter/Paramedic from Austin, Texas, began her journey in competitive dance, overcoming challenges and achieving success. In 2022, she transitioned to public service, combining her drive for physical endurance and community service. When not responding to calls, Jordan pushes herself in the gym, biking, kayaking, or trekking, always testing her limits. Her mission: live boldly.

Sully retired from the SEAL teams in 2020 after nearly two decades in Special Operations, including 12 years with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He conducted high-value target missions and hostage rescues worldwide. Before retiring, he earned a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston. Sully now leads the Community First Project, a non-profit providing free training to law enforcement, and is the founder and president of BlueForce Strategies, offering intelligence and security solutions to select clients.

Jeremy and Jackie Yedesko, a husband-and-wife team since 2007, own Full Auto Fitness in Greenville, SC. With over a decade of coaching experience in CrossFit, Weightlifting, and Gymnastics, they’ve earned podium finishes in tactical athlete competitions. They created the Sawmill Showdown, a functional fitness 2-gun competition at the Sawmill Tactical Training Complex. As ambassadors of the sport, they promote a lifestyle where fitness and competitive shooting intersect.

Greg retired from 20 years of Navy service as a SEAL in 2017, with 16 years as a TIER1 operator at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He completed 14 combat deployments supporting various operations worldwide. Greg now runs a contracting service training Law Enforcement and DOD personnel and founded Brainwave Neuro Performance Center in Tucson, AZ, using MeRT to treat cognitive issues like TBI, PTSD, depression, and more.

Travis served 20 years as a Navy SEAL with SEAL Teams 1 & 5 and a tier-one Special Mission Unit, deploying on combat and contingency operations. He helped develop force-on-force training guidelines for Naval Special Warfare and now consults and trains military and law enforcement special mission units nationwide.

Jason retired from the Australian Army in 2022 after 21 years of service, including 17+ years as a Special Operator in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). He deployed on over 20 operations worldwide, including in SE Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. Jason spent two years with NSWDG in the U.S., cross-training on TTPs. Passionate about realistic training, he now provides training to military and law enforcement teams globally.

Nate retired from the U.S. Navy after 24 years as a SEAL in 2022. He spent 4 years at SEAL Team 2 and SEAL Team 4 then spent the rest of his career at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. During his time at Development Group, he did 18 combat deployments to multiple countries. In 2018, Nate set the first (ELR) Extreme Long-Range cold bore world record using a TUBBGUN ™ with a Schneider barrel by impacting a 36”X 36” target 3 times in a row at 2011 yards. Shooting has always been a passion, and the opportunity to make precision rifle barrels could not be passed up. Nate trained with Gary Schneider to learn the barrel making process and then moved Schneider Rifle Barrels LLC to Canadian, TX where he and his wife Christie own and run the business.

Christie, an avid hunter and shooter, grew up competing in high-power rifle competitions with iron sights. She placed 2 nd in a co-ed high power national match at the age of 18 against hundreds of men and women and recently placed 4 th in the 2023 Global King of 1 Mile competition against 100 other competitors. Christie comes from a shooting bloodline and has a strong drive for perfecting equipment and ammunition to assist others in boosting performance. She is COO of Schneider Rifle Barrels, specializing in the making of 416 stainless steel rifle barrels for hunters and competitive shooters.

Mike served over 9 years in Naval Special Warfare, with extensive combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. He held various roles, including JTAC, Intelligence Analyst, Lead Breacher, and Communications Specialist, and spent his last 3 years teaching combat shooting and developing the Combatives program at BUDS. Mike has trained thousands of military, law enforcement, and civilians. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego and a Bachelor’s from Boston University.