From Apprentice to Instructor: The Journey of Mike Pyles and the MTAC Instructor Pipeline
How commitment, mentorship, and sweat equity created one of Indiana’s most trusted LE instructors.
When MTAC launched its instructor apprenticeship program, it wasn’t to fill a roster. It was to create a filter and a forge.
Over time, experienced SWAT and LE instructors started reaching out, many saying the same thing:
“Let me know if you ever need help.”
At first, that used to frustrate me. Not because I didn’t value their interest, but because I had no way of knowing who had the right intentions, who could teach, and who just wanted to be near the logo once MTAC started gaining recognition.
The truth is: looking good on paper doesn’t mean you’re good with people.
Being great at tactics doesn’t make you a great instructor.
And not everyone who wants to teach… should.
So we built the MTAC apprenticeship.
It’s not fast. It’s not open. And it’s not about getting your name on a flyer.
It’s about service, standards, and time in the trenches.
One of the first to go through that process was Mike Pyles.
His apprenticeship didn’t follow a perfect timeline. It took nearly six years, with pauses and life events that pulled him in other directions. But Mike kept showing up. He continued to learn, help, and align with our standards. During that time, he was hired full-time as a hospital police officer and, without hesitation, began accumulating law enforcement instructor credentials.
Today, Mike is the Lead Instructor on the Training Cadre at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis—one of the largest hospital systems in the state. He helps prepare their police, security officers, and healthcare staff for real-world threats and high-consequence decision-making.
Mike also holds two FLETC instructor certifications, with a third scheduled this fall.
He recently began pursuing his Master’s in Criminal Justice, adding academic depth to his already extensive real-world experience.
At MTAC, we believe in something simple:
Knowledge isn't enough unless it’s pressure tested.
Mike Pyles embodies that mindset.
He didn't just study the material—he lived it, taught it, and stress-tested it.
As MTAC’s reputation grows, more people will want to be “part of it.” But our apprenticeship model ensures one thing: if you're going to wear the patch, you'll need to earn it the way Mike did—with time, grit, humility, and purpose.
Interested in the MTAC apprenticeship?
It starts with showing up as a student, a teammate, and a servant leader.
This isn't a title you apply for. It’s one you earn with time, grit, and trust.