Your Training Environment and Experience
Ministry of Defense believes that everyone who intends to possess or use a firearm needs to participate in regular training and frequent practice. Our goal, then, is to make that training as accessible, enjoyable, trustworthy, and altogether constructive as possible for you.
We have been there, staring down life and its many, often-overwhelming complexities: work, money, the kids' piano lessons, that funny sound the car makes when you turn the key, the dog's itchy ears...there are about a million reasons not to train, right?
That's why we are so proud of you and excited for the change this training is going to make in your life, your confidence, and your attitude!
After all, if you can cut through the excuses and seek us out, the least we can do is provide excellent training! For us, it begins with respect for your time, goals, and inquisitiveness and ends when we deliver training that is friendly, methodical, thorough, and reliable. And that is exactly what we do! Along the way, we'll have some fun, share some laughs, and maybe even happen into a little bit of bonding—which is very easy to do with firearms folks!
By the end of each of our classes, we hope you'll think of both your firearm and your instructor as familiar old friends that you can count on!
Meet Our Lead Instructor
Welcome to Ministry of Defense! My name is Bryan Berg, and my calling in life is to accelerate and elevate your understanding and safe use of firearms. You see, Dad taught me to shoot a .22LR during my childhood, and later I bought a couple more guns as a young adult. I went through hunter's ed, took a concealed carry class and got my license, joined the NRA, and even bought a gun safe for secure storage of my firearms. After all of that, I felt like an expert shooter and a staunch advocate for the 2nd Amendment.
At age 41, I encountered REAL training.
By then I was a single at-home dad, living under the illusion that I had developed the first clue about how to protect my family, whether at home, on the town, or in the wild. I learned SO many things that I had never even guessed at! That was the breakthrough event in an ongoing process by which I have become not only a better shooter and a real advocate of the 2nd Amendment, but also a truly protective father. I can't take a mulligan on the 41 long years it took me to get there, but I can spare you that delay. My pain, your gain! Ministry of Defense represents my commitment to helping you become "Ready. Set. Trained."
My instructional approach is much more like community college than boot camp. You will find no insults here, no screaming, no unchecked ego. Instead, you may depend on Ministry of Defense for patience, clarity, and responsiveness. We pledge to respect you as a student and help you bear the burdens of your journey because we are on the same path, always.
Credentials include NRA Instructor certification for pistol, rifle, shotgun, and personal protection inside and outside the home. I am NRA-certified as a Chief Range Safety Officer. Accolades include: Distinguished Graduate of Front Sight's 4-Day Defensive Handgun course where I also won the Man-on-Man competition; Distinguished Graduate of Front Sight's 4-Day Practical Rifle course (I was the lone DG out of 30-some students); and completion of Front Sight's 2-Day Tactical Handgun, 2-Day Advanced Tactical Handgun, and Handgun Combat Master Prep courses. In early 2023, I will attend Tom Givens' Basic Instructor class, with the intent to continue on through his unparalleled "Rangemaster" program. In addition to training, I continue to study by reading and keeping in touch with reliable social media sources so that I can bring you the best information and techniques available. Areas of interest include handguns, carbines, shotguns, long-range rifles, tactics, reloading, and firearms law.
When I take off my Ministry of Defense hat, you'll probably find me doing my best as a father in one way or another. Quite often that means Kiddo and I are adventuring outdoors: shooting, spotting wildlife, flyfishing, or taking our Vizsla for a hike. I also enjoy cooking, practicing Spanish, running my online flyfishing shop, and playing the piano.
If you want to improve your firearms proficiency and become a better overall practitioner of the 2nd Amendment, I encourage and invite you attend one of our classes! And as always, Kiddo and I really appreciate your support!
 ...your documents laid on the table with care, Bryan knows that the students so soon will be there! |  Our attorney, Mr. Edward Dindinger, will help you understand Idaho law as it pertains to firearms. To learn more about Edward's legal practice, please enlarge the photo and click the link to his firm's website. |  Learn in the comfort and convenience of our Meridian classroom. |
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 In our classroom, you will find wisdom, knowledge, and an appropriate blend of answers and thought-provoking questions. |  Hanging targets for the new generation of America's 2nd Amendment practitioners. |  Sample range setup for MoD.Handgun.1, designed to maximize your comfort so you can focus on training. |
 Our philosophy in action: teach you everything you need to know about handling your firearm beforehand so that when it's time to shoot, the only new element is the "bang!" |  Student shooting steel in MoD.Handgun.1. |  Bryan earning Distinguished Graduate at Front Sight's 4-Day Defensive Handgun class. He also earned a Challenge Coin for winning the Man-on-Man Competition. |
 Bryan at Front Sight for their 4-Day Practical Rifle class. Bryan earned the only Distinguished Graduate certificate in the class of over 30 students. |  Bryan at Front Sight's Advanced Tactical Handgun class. |  Bryan's current NRA instructor credentials. |
 Bryan's current NRA Chief Range Safety Officer credential. |