ABOUT US
Reality Based Training
For Real Life Threats
Based out of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, we are a training organization dedicated to delivering reality-based, scenario-driven tactical instruction to civilians. We believe that effective training must reflect real-life situations you may face, not unrealistic range environments or static drills.
Our courses are designed to be fun, engaging, challenging, and safe, guiding you from foundational skills to advanced tactics. Every course is built to develop confidence, competence, and the ability to respond decisively under stress. At Kinetic Observations Group, we train the way life happens: kinetic, unpredictable, and real.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Kinetic Observations represents the fusion of real-time awareness, behavior-based analysis, and decisive action. It refers to the ability to read environments dynamically, identifying threats, assessing intent, detecting anomalies, and making informed decisions under pressure.
It’s the disciplined practice of observing not just what is visible, but what is developing, allowing you to anticipate danger before it fully forms. Ultimately, Kinetic Observations is about empowering you to think, perceive, and act like modern tactical problem-solvers where every observation has purpose, every decision is informed, and every action is intentional.
OUR TEAM
Our team at Kinetic Observations Group consists of a hand-selected, diverse group of tactical professionals from diverse career fields in the private sector, law enforcement, and military special operations. Together they bring decades of real-world operational experience to every course taught. Their backgrounds span multiple theaters, mission sets, and disciplines giving students access to elite-level knowledge that has been forged, tested, and refined under the most demanding conditions.
What sets this cadre apart is not only their expertise, but their purpose. Each instructor is driven by a shared commitment to equip everyday civilians with practical, lifesaving skills rooted in reality, not theory. They believe personal security begins with preparedness, confidence, and a clear understanding of how to protect yourself and the people you love.
With a focus on safety, professionalism, mentorship, and scenario-based learning, the instructors of Kinetic Observations Group deliver training that is both accessible and high-level—ensuring every student leaves more capable, more aware, and better prepared for the world around them.
JONATHAN TROTTER
FOUNDER/CEO
A native of North Carolina, Jonathan is the founder and CEO of Kinetic Observations Group. Over the last sixteen years he’s worked for clients across multiple industries as a security advisor, criminal street gang expert, and contractor.
In 2009 he served as an advisor on the FBI Human Trafficking Rapid Response Task Force. He certified as a criminal street-gang expert and countered Hispanic gang and cartel violence. He also developed and implemented a program that reduced recidivism by 85% among more than 1,000 active gang members over the course of four years.
He's contracted and worked in executive protection for government officials, intelligence personnel, platinum-selling recording artists, religious leaders, and corporate executives. In 2025 he founded Talos Global Initiative, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on combating crimes against humanity including child exploitation and human trafficking. In 2026 he founded Kinetic Observations Group to deliver reality-based, scenario-driven tactical training to civilians.
He holds a degree from North Carolina State University and resides in the Piedmont Triad area.
Qualifications and Experience:
FBI Human Trafficking Rapid Response Task Force; Diplomatic Security; Counterterrorism Executive Protection High Threat; Intelligence Analysis; Criminal Street Gang Expert; Defensive Tactics and Combatives Instructor; Firearms Instructor; Range Safety Officer; Krav Maga/Krav Hagganah; EMT Basic; TCCC; SERE Level A; USA Boxing Coach; Certified Personal Trainer (CPT); Criminal Street Gangs and Threat Group Investigations; Texas Gang Investigators Association; North Carolina Gang Investigators Association; Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Farsi.