EAST Group

06/04/2026

Everything that we at E.A.S.T. Group is focused to prepare individuals, first responders, safety teams, schools, and churches across Ohio and a multi-state network of clientele that has become family.

Our core values are rooted in providing, developing, and implementing realistic solutions that work to prepare, prevent, and act when necessary to save lives. Whether on Main Street USA, a Metropolis, or Mosul our training stems from real life situations and preparing others to go into harms way.

To continue supporting that mission and furthering our reach we have several classes and off-site trainings throughout the month of June. Information and instruction from private, State, and Federal entities are just some of the many ways that we stay adept of the latest information and knowledge.

Planning and being prepared are multi-faceted, and being able to have a wide experience and knowledge is crucial. Action plans, threat assessments, de-escalation, response, reunification, and tacmed are just some of the topics we are focused on this month when we aren’t instructing classes on the range.

Beyond instruction, these events pose as excellent opportunity to network and stem great conversation.

Thank you to the many agencies, instructors, and organizations putting on training to further the safety of others. Training the trainer an extremely important opportunity to get away from the flagpole and refresh.

06/03/2026

⚠️ Unpopular opinion of the day. ⚠️

If you are instructing a class such as structures and witness fundamental issues with a student, STOP and fix them. We aren't talking a full on separate class for them, but correct as the issues arrive. As instructors seeing this, the more these bad habits go untamed and uncorrected, the more they get stuck into their memory.

Case in point on a church security team video sent over to us. In a team scenario, two of the students had grip that were best described as a completely messed up and awkward ☕️teacup grip.☕️ They had over an inch of excess space between their primary hand and where the beavertail and slide meet up.

The other wanted to be a 🚂 train conductor 🚂 and was working on what would have been railroad tracks on his thumb upon firing. Their thumb was so firmly wrapped around back of the slide you could see the white knuckles.

As a safety team lead you need to ask yourself, is this person truly ready for this type of environment? Are they fundamentally sound? Will this person be an asset or a liability? Be comfortable in needing to have conversations with staff and instructors!

****ms ****mstraining

06/03/2026

Is your county represented at the Ohio School Safety Center summit this week? Do you see a pin marking in your county or area of your school district? If not, these are questions to ask your administration and law enforcement agencies.

We recognize a few districts in here, but unfortunately didn't see a few LE agencies we wish could have attended. We'll be talking about the Summit a little later.

****mstraining

06/02/2026

If you are signed up for Buckeye Fi****ms Association newsletters and emails, we're at the top of this mornings message.

We have several opportunities in conjunction with BFA this year as we continue their support of the fight for our 2A rights here in Ohio. Check it out, sign up, attend a class.

@topfans

06/01/2026

Unpopular opinion. A piece of paper, a CHL, or the 2A given rights and a firearm do little to nothing to prepare you for defending yourself.

Marksmanship, safety procedures, legal aspects are EXTREMELY important to being a law-abiding and responsible firearm owner, but it doesn’t get you ready to carry that firearm. Carrying, knowing what to do, when to do, when NOT to do, is a whole different aspect and a lifestyle that must be built.

Standing, working from low ready or a bench is impossible to show more than just the marksmanship. Movement, ability to find and use cover, 360-degree environment, critical thinking, drawing from concealment, and much more can’t be instructed in the flat indoor range.

Seek regular, realistic training, and further your journey in being your OWN first responder.

@topfans

05/31/2026

Optics. Its more than just throwing a red dot on top of your chosen pistol and calling it good. You'll find the dot, right?

Discussion between different optics, use, challenges, what happens when it doesn't work, movement, mutliple target acquisition, and more. We spent the last part of the day in the training house working under differing lighting conditions.

One student running an off body option from 945 Industries, another a new holster from Red Hill Tactical, FFL Licensed. G***k, Walther, and CZ fi****ms.

The grounds of our facility are still quite wet, but it was a gorgeous day of training to be outside!

@topfans

05/29/2026

Great use of vehicle construction and cover around his cruiser. Utilized the windows and above to watch for movement of the threat. Officer positioned to provide a good angle with vehicle density and when the armed threat appeared he took the shot that was needed. His shot had the intended results.

Getting out of the vehicle is KEY to survival. Maximizing the density of the vehicle works. You don't have to chase, when the threat comes you already have the angle to do what is necessary.

05/29/2026

Change the picture

Does this image look familiar to you? A North American Rescue or similar tourniquet still in the shrink wrap clear plastic is how they ship in, but its not meant to stay that way! If this is what your tourniquet looks like on your belt, plate carrier, IFAK, med kit, or bags, its time to change what the picture looks like.

At a recent medical training and seminar, we attended by EMS, Fire, and law enforcement this is something that was seen not on one, but several individuals in attendance.

What if? Sometimes getting these out of the shrink wrap is a pest anyways, have you ever tried opening plastic or similar non textured material with sweaty hands, bloody gloves, and all under duress? The answer is that while not impossible is more difficult and more time consuming. Time is life. Time wasted in the struggle of doing so is time that the TQ is not being applied.

What else are we missing by not taking the tourniquet out from the plastic that it shipped in? Is it functionally ready, are there any issues with it, and have you staged the TQ for use? When you purchase the TQ, you should remote the plastic, unbuckle and make sure that the material is free from damage or defect, flagging the windless strap to the side, and then create a usable loop to stage in your holder. All of these are imperative to being able to quickly place the tourniquet into action on self or others.

Why are we so particular about this? We have considerable experience in working on the tacmed side of things from the most controlled environments to care under fire in other parts of the country and world.

As we wrap up Stop the Bleed month at E.A.S.T. Group, make sure your gear is ready and operational. You might only get one change to saving a life…and it could be yours!

@topfans

05/28/2026

A gun store experience from here in Ohio. When we hear "keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction," this proves a point. Where is the safe direction? Didn't pan out too well in this case!

In a recent trip to another store here in Ohio, one of our E.A.S.T. family experienced a situation where a firearm was not checked by an employee before handing it to another, and then to the potential customer. Simple steps. Complacency in this case can lead to bad situations.

https://www.wfmj.com/news/local-news/fin-feather-fur-outfitters-employee-grazed-by-accidental-gunfire/article_ccd01cb0-1a14-4007-bea8-a8bd9a7de509.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawSFP6FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeypvlxrq8qTiwOifK903Ne1D6l6cAyC_aHBSdKaQk2pectWNXzsCWKVScM14_aem_c-TDaFa2h2rmH5klJrrNFg

BOARDMAN - An employee was left injured after a loaded gun went off inside Fin, Feather and Fur Outfitters in Boardman Wednesday afternoon.