About Citizens' Defense Academy
Be Ready When It Matters Most.
Citizens’ Defense Academy (CDA) provides hands-on training in Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, and Personal Protection for individuals, families, and communities. With locations in Gallia County, OH and Tioga County, PA — plus mobile training options — we prepare you to respond confidently to medical emergencies, violent threats, and natural disasters.
Who We Are
At Citizens’ Defense Academy, we believe quality training saves lives. Our mission is to provide practical, real-world instruction that empowers everyday citizens to protect themselves, their families, and their communities with confidence.
Our Instructor Cadre is made up of certified professionals from diverse operational and instructional backgrounds, including Red Cross First Aid, Munio Self-Defense, NRA, USCCA, USLS, law enforcement, military firearms instruction, emergency response, and personal protection. Members of our team have also served as contracted instructors for respected organizations such as Legal Heat, Protect His House (PHH), and the Emergency Response Training & Certification Agency (ERTCA) in partnership with the MSU Police Academy.
We are committed to continuous improvement and ongoing professional development. Our instructors regularly train in evolving techniques, legal standards, medical protocols, and defensive strategies to ensure every course reflects current best practices and real-world application.
Beyond our core team, we partner with Independent Instructors and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) specializing in survival, technology, intelligence analysis, emergency preparedness, and personal security. Our martial arts instructors bring experience in disciplines including Karate, Aikido, Jujitsu, Krav Maga, and other proven defensive systems to provide well-rounded, effective training.
Whether you are seeking self-defense skills, firearms instruction, less-lethal tactics, emergency medical training, preparedness education, travel safety, or home-defense strategies, Citizens’ Defense Academy delivers professional, accessible instruction designed for real people and real-world situations — without unnecessary complexity or inflated costs.
Our goal is simple: equip you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to respond confidently when it matters most.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
CONCEALED CARRY & HANDGUN TRAINING
Arizona (AZ)
Florida (FL)
Ohio (OH)
Utah (UT)
Virginia (VA)
West Virginia (WV)
Choosing a Handgun
Basics of Pistol Shooting (BOP)
Defensive Pistol
Advanced Defensive Pistol (ADP)
ADP - Adverse Weather
ADP - Shoot & Move
ADP - Low/No Light Shooting
ADP - Decerning Targets
ADP - Alternative Shooting Positions
ADP -Weapons Retention
OTHER FIREARMS TRAINING
Range Safety Officer (RSO) - NRA
Basics of Rifle Shooting
AR- Fundamentals
Defensive Rifle
Basic Shotgun Shooting
Defensive Shotgun
Home Defense Fundamentals
Proper Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Firearm
Personal Protection In The Home (PPITH)
Personal Protection Outside The Home (PPOTH)
PERSONAL PROTECTION
Self-Defense (for Women)
Munio Defensive Key Chain
Tactical Pen Techniques
Situational Awareness
Realtor Safety (CE Approved)
Travel Safety
Holiday Safety
Make Your Home a Hard Target
LESS-LETHAL ALTERNATIVES
O.C. "Pepper" Spray (Mace, ASP, Sabre) Pepper Ball Launchers (Byrna, Sabre)
TASER (Drive Stun, Projectile)
EMERGENCY READINESS
First Aid / CPR/ AED (Red Cross)
Building Your First-Aid Kit
Emergency First Aid Fundamentals
Stop The Bleed
Emergency Preparedness
Everyday Carry (EDC)
Emergency Communications
Fire Prevention
COMING SOON
COMING SOON
CONCEALED CARRY
California (CA)
District of Columbia (DC)
Kentucky (KY)
Maryland (MD)
Michigan (MI)
New Jersey (NJ)
EMERGENCY READINESS
First-aid /CPR for Pets
Wilderness First Aid
PERSONAL PROTECTION
NRA-Refuse To Be A Victim
Campus Safety
Kubaton
COMING SOON
MISSION
Our mission is to train and empower citizens through awareness, preparedness, and self-defense while building resilient communities rooted in constitutional principles, personal responsibility, and unity as one nation under God.