Dr. Jimmy Turner
Dr. Jimmy, Director of Training and Lead Instructor at Cohutta Pines, is a Marine Corps veteran dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge and confidence to protect their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Drawing inspiration from the Declaration of Independence, his teaching emphasizes awareness, prevention, and a survivor’s mindset. With decades of military and civilian defensive training experience, he holds numerous instructor certifications across firearms, self-defense, and emergency response. Deeply committed to community service, Dr. Jimmy volunteers his time and regularly offers free workshops to help others stay safe. A lifelong resident of the Southeast, he proudly calls Tennessee and Northwest Georgia home with his wife, sons, and grandson.
Handgun Essentials: A Comprehensive Training Experience
This comprehensive handgun training combines safety fundamentals, practical application, and personalized coaching in a supportive environment. Students begin with essential knowledge of handgun operation and safety before progressing to hands-on range exercises that build real-world confidence and precision.
Foundations: Learn multi-layered safety principles, handgun anatomy, and marksmanship basics using training guns.
Practical Skills: Apply techniques through extensive range time, live-fire drills, and individualized instruction.
Confidence & Community: Leave with a solid understanding of safe handling, improved skills, and a network of responsible firearm owners.
Marksmanship Essentials
This immersive training day focuses on the fundamentals that make every shot count. Whether you’re a beginner building a solid foundation or an experienced shooter fine-tuning performance, you’ll spend the day reinforcing core techniques and developing consistent accuracy through structured, hands-on practice.
Fundamentals Reinforced: Master sight alignment, trigger control, grip, and stance for dependable accuracy.
Precision Drills: Engage in live-fire exercises from close to extended ranges to improve control and consistency.
Confidence & Readiness: Build safe, confident gun-handling habits you can apply in any environment.
Rapid Deployment
This course moves experienced shooters from fundamentals into practical defensive work—safe holster handling, efficient draws from multiple positions, and timed drills that prioritize accuracy under pressure. After a skills assessment students progress from deliberate practice to speed work, receiving individualized coaching and strict safety oversight throughout.
Efficient Deployment: Safe, repeatable holster techniques and rapid draw mechanics from standing, seated, and compromised positions.
Speed with Accuracy: Progressive drills that reduce time-to-first-shot while maintaining anatomically significant hits.
Defensive Mindset & Safety: Threat assessment, decision-making under stress, and strict safety protocols with individualized feedback.