American Reconstruction Concepts

 Michael Caughran is forged from the crucible of America's most elite survival training program. As a US Air Force SERE Instructor, he didn't just survive the selection process—he graduated with distinction and became part of the only team in SERE tech school history with zero quitters. When the military needed to train the trainers, they turned to Michael.

For years, Michael has been the man responsible for preparing America's warriors to survive, evade, resist, and escape in the world's most hostile environments. He's consistently developed programs that keep others alive in extreme chaos.

But Michael's expertise extends far beyond the classroom. He's an entrepreneur who founded his own ghillie suit manufacturing company, understanding camouflage and concealment from both the theoretical and practical sides. He's managed training academies and personally refined the tactics, techniques, and procedures now used by military units, law enforcement agencies, and civilians across the country.

When special operations forces need to disappear into hostile territory, when law enforcement officers face life-or-death situations, when civilians need to protect their families—they're using methods in part that Michael helped refine.

His approach to training is uncompromising: he knows that in the real world, there are no participation trophies. There's only survival and failure. Michael's students don't just learn skills—they develop the warrior mindset that transforms ordinary people into protectors.

Michael brings the same intensity and precision to civilian training that he brought to preparing America's elite warriors for combat. He's someone who has literally written the book on staying alive when everyone wants you dead.

He has an associates degree for Survival Instructor through the Community Collage of the Air Force.

Core Competencies:

· SERE 370 Urban Evasion Train the Trainer Course 

· SERE 350 Advanced Train the Trainer Program

· S-V80-A Combat Survival Training Course

· S-V81-A Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Training Instructor Course

· S-V81-C  Artic Survival Training Course

· S-V84-AF Underwater Egress Training with Helicopter Emergency Egress Device

· S-V85-A  Emergency Parachute and Water Survival   Training

· Airborne Course U.S. Army Airborne School; Ft. Benning, GA

· USAF Combatives  Level 1 and 2, Basic and Senior Instructor

· USAF VA Vehicle Acquisition course graduate 

· Certified Pistol Instructor – NRA

· Wilderness Medicine and First Responder Medical Course - NOLS

· Basic Life Support - American Red Cross

· Safety Member Certification - Sheepdog Church Security Training

· Forcible Entry - Stevens County Fire 

· SCBA Operations - Stevens County Fire

· Fighting Rifle -Life and Liberty Dynamics

· Advanced Fieldcraft Levels 1-3 –   Liberatus Group Security Training

· Combat Carbine Levels 1-3 - Liberatus Group Security Training

· Sniper Levels 1-2 – American Freedom Defense

· Concealed Carry Home Defense – America Freedom Defense

· Carbine Level 1-2 American Freedom Defense

· Handgun Level 1-5 American Freedom Defense

· Fire/Movement SUT – TR Defensive Training

  · Pistol/Rifle Deployment and Vehicle Defense - TR Defensive Training

· Fundamentals of Long Range Precision Shooting - Fritz Precision Shooting

· Interrogation and Neuro Linguistic Programming – ASIG

· Surveillance/Surveillance Detection/Surveillance Devices - ASIG

Mike has served as a USAF SERE Specialist for over 10 years. During his tenure as a trainer he has been assigned to various divisions and spent the majority of that time as an developer and trainer of other instructors. Mike has built entire military programs from the ground up.

Post service he's built his own cross fit gym. 

Operated with distinction as a contractor.

And now is pursuing a further career in Executive Protection where he protects congressman and other high net worth individuals. 

Mike truly has a passion for training and equipping others. 

Education:

Bachelor of Science – Business Administration 

Master of Science – Administration of Justice & Security

Core Competencies:

Firearms instructor 

Less-Lethal Weapons Instructor 

Close Quarters Battle 1 & 2 Instructor 

Enhanced Active Shooter Strategies Instructor 

Civilian Response & Casualty Care Instructor 

Taser Instructor 

Force on Force Scenario Instructor 

Force Options Simulator Instructor 

Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor 

Driving Simulator Instructor 

Grey Man Academy Instructor 

ICS 100/200/700/800 

Certified AR15 Armor

Certified Sig P320 Armorer 

 André began his study of martial arts at the age of 6, forging the virtues of courage and honor through Judo at the Seiki-Kan Dojo in Spokane, Washington — developing a disciplined lifestyle and combat mindset that would define all future training. Judo led into wrestling and gymnastics, which further developed into the study of firearms skills and the alert, aware combat mindset.

Every weekend during his university years was devoted to firearms training at the prestigious United States Marksmanship Academy (USMA) under the tutelage of James R. Jarrett, where André eventually served as an assistant instructor for close combat pistol courses.

His ties to the USMA led him to train under Professor Bradley J. Steiner, where he studied American Combato – a combat martial art system rooted in the WWII systems developed by Rex Applegate, WE Fairbairn, Anthony Sykes, Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Patrick Dermot O'Neil, Brown and Begala, and others. The system has continued to evolve with the incorporation of lessons learned from combat around the world.

Training in the American Combato System spans over 35 years, of which more than 30 years was under the direct supervision of the originator of the system, whose pedigree includes Col. Rex Applegate, Charlie Nelson, John McSweeny, Bob Koga, Jim Harrison, and other affiliates of the International Combat Martial Arts Federation (ICMAF).

Over the years of training, two foundational truths have developed as core beliefs:

"First a warrior, or all else is folly." – First recalled from John McSweeny but apparently attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche
 

"The weapon is the man." – Axiom
 

With this ideology, it becomes apparent that the development of the Man is critical to all else. Once developed, that Weapon augments capability by gaining expertise in all other tools of the trade, including sticks, tomahawks, knives, and firearms as well as "improvised weapons" at hand as Force Multipliers.

André, as a committed servant leader, endeavors to pass on these great gifts to the next generation of sheep dog protectors, including alert and self-reliant citizens, soldiers, warriors, and first responders. He trains in harmony with Real World Self Defense and Professor Mark Bryan's, who is the highest ranking instructor of American Combato (9th Degree).

1. Hand-to-hand using natural weapons and improvised tools
2. Baton/stick/walking stick
3. Knife work
4. Tomahawk
5. Combat Pistol – point / instinctive shooting

1. Master Combat Handgun
2. Master Combat Shotgun
3. High Power Rifle
4. Baton techniques of Bob Koga in addition to the Kengla Military Method techniques

1. Certificate of Merit – Combat Oriented Police Shooter
2. Hole-in-one club member

In alignment with our spirit of adventure and service, Michael, Lucas, Ralph and Mike often donate their time to the betterment of others by volunteering in their local church, community and neighbors. It's a joy for them to give back to their community whenever the opportunity presents itself.

We give our Lord and Savior, King Jesus all the glory for saving our souls and giving us life more abundantly. Without Him, our perspective grows dark and terrible, but with him, there is nothing we can’t achieve, no mountain we can’t climb, no battle we can’t win, no challenge without a great and brilliant hope. He makes our lives beautiful and meaningful. He deserves all the glory and although none of our courses are specifically religious, we want to be intentional to thank Him for all He is and does for us.

At American Reconstruction Concepts, our vision is to inspire and educate and enable people in the same spirit as our forefathers at the beginning of our great country. We realize that freedom isn't free and besides the duty of each generation to stand up and protect it, there is also the responsibility to educate the next generation of the great inheritance, principles and freedoms that we enjoy but are being eroded by ignorance and enemies of the cause of liberty.